Date of Award

12-1996

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

First Advisor

Victor M. Bright, PhD

Abstract

The use of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) in the design of an artificial cochlea is investigated in depth. Interdigitated finger (comb), cantilever, bridge, and mirror resonators are presented as possible devices used to implement the artificial cochlea. These resonators are demonstrated to be extremely high Q devices, capable of being tuned with a simple DC bias. This suggests a possible change to existing cochlea models that claim highly complex AC feedback as being responsible for changes in the damping of the basilar membrane. The new cochlea model presented here, using MEMS to approximate the tuning of the basilar membrane, may be closer to the workings of the actual cochlea, as we understand it today.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GCS-ENG-96D-06

DTIC Accession Number

ADA321310

Comments

The DTIC-sourced PDF of this thesis has some portions illegible.

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