Technologies for fabrication of MEMS, optics and photonics at the micro- and nanoscale continue to advance and diversify due to rising demands for miniaturization, cost reduction, functional integration, and increased performance. Examples include diffractive optics, sub-wavelength optics, microrefractive optics, optical waveguides, photonic crystals, plasmonic devices, and heterogeneously integrated active and passive micro- and nano-optical devices. These devices are playing increasing roles in a wide range of applications, including sensors and actuators, communications, imaging, biomedical, data storage, and other areas. Both conventional and unconventional micro- and nanofabrication techniques serve as fundamental enablers for wide ranges of MEMS and passive and active optical components and devices.
KEYWORDS: Computer aided design, Microelectromechanical systems, Solid modeling, Monte Carlo methods, Finite element methods, 3D modeling, Data modeling, Manufacturing, Systems modeling, Electronic design automation
The latest advances in MEMS technology have enabled the design of a new generation of electronic microsystems products. These systems may combine numerous analog/mixed signal microelectronics blocks and MEMS functions on a single chip or on two or more chips assembled within an integrated package. As designers have begun to use CAD tools to insert MEMS into these new products, additional requirements and constraints on the tools are emerging. As the MEMS designs move from prototypes to manufacturing production new CAD issues emerge.
Integration of smart materials and control circuitry with MEMS devices to form smart structures is becoming an important technology. With the development of smart microsystems, integrated design tools become a growing need. We have developed a CAD tool suite for integrated MEMS and ICs, which can help MEMS designers shorten design and validation time. This suite enables both accurate device design and systems design by providing 3D analysis tools as well as system level design tools inspired by VLSI CAD. This integrated MEMS CAD tool suite aids in implementing mixed-technology designs in multi signal and energy domains. Our MEMS CAD tools include: (1) physical design, (2) mixed-domain FEA enabling device analysis, (3) schematic design entry and system level behavioral simulation, (4) macromodel extraction, (5) placement and routing synthesis tools, and (6) layout extraction and DRC verification tools. The strength of our IC- enabled MEMS design suite is that it allows recursive simulation and verification between device level and system level design, which is very important for smart structures and sensory systems that require a lot of IC control circuitry. Examples of microtransducers design in smart structure applications are provided to demonstrate the design tools. Discussion of the merit and limitations of our tools are also included.
MEMS design tools are increasingly important as micro systems find wider applications. Though established structured design methodologies are in place for VLSI design, these tools cannot be applied to MEMS design without adaptation. Several needs must be met to enable MEMS design: (1) non-linear, dynamic and multi-energy domain design and simulation; (2) expression of complex and curvilinear geometries; (3) arbitrary orientation and placement of MEMS components; and (4) comprehensive, 3D visualization and analyses.
Although MEMS device designers currently make use of process simulation, 3D visualization and finite element/boundary element analysis tools, MEMS systems designers lack the design and verification tools enjoyed by electronic circuit and systems designers. System level and circuit level simulation tools for MEMS are beginning to become available, but an important issue is the availability of macromodels. This paper discusses an integrated CAD tool suite based on extensions to VLSI electronic circuit and systems tools to handle signals in multiple energy domains. These tools maintain synchronized physical, structural and behavioral design views and work in conjunction with a library of MEMS schematic symbols, layout generators, and behavioral models. Integration of electronic circuit and systems tools and MEMS systems tools allow designers to address the important problems of ensuring system performance goals are met, system partitioning and determining the degree of integration of sensing/actuating devices and interface/calibration electronics. These new physical design and simulation tools are applied to fabricated design examples and the results are critiqued. Discussions of the merits and limitations of our tools and other design tools is also included. Links between system level tools and MEMS device design tools are also described.
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