Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) micro-scale shells are presented with selectively removed regions/openings and which can be used in sensors and actuators, including gyroscopes. Example shells consisting of a suspended ring-shaped resonator that is supported using multiple beams that are not in the plane of the ring and are attached to a support post can be formed. Shells with various sizes and geometries of selectively removed regions and openings allow the creation of micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors and actuators with a wide range of engineered mechanical and electrical properties. These shells can be used to form stacked 3D structures for various types of MEMS sensor and actuator devices, such as resonant gyroscopes, with sense and drive electrodes that conform to the curved profile of the resonant shell using for gyroscopes. 3D shells formed from a starting parent substrate are released and separated from their parent substrate using a number of techniques.

Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) micro-scale shells are presented with openings of various sizes and geometries on the surface. The shell consist of a suspended ring-shaped resonator, multiple support beams, a support post, and a cap region that connects the support beams to the support post. Shells with openings of various sizes and geometries allow the creation of micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors and actuators with a wide range of engineered mechanical and electrical properties. The openings on the shell surface can, for example, control the mechanical quality factor (Q) and resonance frequencies of the shell when the shell is used as a suspended proof mass of a mechanical resonator of a vibratory gyroscope. The shells can also serve as mechanical supporting layers and/or an electrode connection layer for MEMS actuators and sensors that use 3D shells as proof masses.

Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) micro-scale shells are presented with openings of various sizes and geometries on the surface. The shell consist of a suspended ring-shaped resonator, multiple support beams, a support post, and a cap region that connects the support beams to the support post. Shells with openings of various sizes and geometries allow the creation of micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors and actuators with a wide range of engineered mechanical and electrical properties. The openings on the shell surface can, for example, control the mechanical quality factor (Q) and resonance frequencies of the shell when the shell is used as a suspended proof mass of a mechanical resonator of a vibratory gyroscope. The shells can also serve as mechanical supporting layers and/or an electrode connection layer for MEMS actuators and sensors that use 3D shells as proof masses.