| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/H004742/1 |
| Title: |
Smart Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) Actuators |
| Principal Investigator: |
Li, Professor L |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
College of Engineering |
| Organisation: |
Swansea University |
| Scheme: |
First Grant - Revised 2009 |
| Starts: |
13 April 2010 |
Ends: |
12 April 2012 |
Value (£): |
100,703
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Electronic Devices & Subsys. |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
| Panel Date | Panel Name | Outcome |
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02 Jun 2009
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ICT Prioritisation Panel (June 09)
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Announced
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Microactuators are widely used in many important micro devices/systems in different engineering disciplines. Examples include micro gyroscopes in inertial systems; micro tunable electronic devices (switches, tunable capacitors, tunable inductors) in microwave/ radio frequency systems; micro tunable photonic devices (scanners, tunable filters, attenuators, tunable lasers) in optical systems; micro devices (micropump) in biological/ medical systems. Currently more and more novel microactuators are being developed to meet specific requirements, but the majority of these microactuators are without integrated driving circuits. Complex bench top characterisation equipment has to be used to drive and determine the movement of these microactuators. This is a big problem that disadvantages microactuators from being widely used by end-users. A solution to this problem has never been thoroughly investigated previously. As microactutaor development will inevitably be shifted from laboratory research into industrial applications, the development of integrated close-loop controlled microactuators is very necessary and timely. In this project, so called 'smart' microactuators that integrate conventional microactuators with driving electronics will be developed to address the limitations of present microactuators. Two integrated sub-systems, namely electronic drivers and wireless transmission systems, will be investigated following several new techniques proposed in this project. The technique of the combination of classical integrated circuits with MEMS based power electronics will provide a novel solution for programmable high voltage/ high power drivers for the microactuators. Dual-channel radio frequency transmission systems will be utilised to construct wireless control systems for the microactuators. A holistic approach of combining the two sub-systems will be pursued to arrive at an integrated, smart microactuator system.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.swan.ac.uk |