Date of Award
12-22-2016
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
First Advisor
Robert A. Lake, PhD.
Abstract
Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) based devices, and specifically microswitches, continue to offer many advantages over competing technologies. To realize the benefits of micro-switches, improvements must be made to address performance and reliability shortfalls which have long been an issue with this application. To improve the performance of these devices, the micro-contacts used in this technology must be understood to allow for design improvements, and offer a means for testing to validate this technology and determine when such improvements are ready for operational environments. To build devices which are more robust and capable of continued operation after billions of cycles requires that improved fabrication techniques be identified and perfected to allow for more sophisticated designs to be tested.
AFIT Designator
AFIT-ENG-DS-16-D-003
DTIC Accession Number
AD1032060
Recommended Citation
Laurvick, Tod V., "Improvements to Micro-Contact Performance and Reliability" (2016). Theses and Dissertations. 492.
https://scholar.afit.edu/etd/492