• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2011.10a
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• pp.882-885
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• 2011

This paper presents testing and self-calibration of RF circuits using MEMS switches to identify process-related defects and out of specification circuits. We have developed a novel multi-tone dither test technique where the test stimulus is generated by modulating the RF carrier signal with a multi-tone signal generated using an Arbitrary Waveform Generator (AWG) with additive white Gaussian noise. This test stimulus is provided as input to the RF circuit and peak-to-average ratio (PAR) is measured at the output. For a faulty circuit, a significant difference is observed in the value of PAR as compared to a fault-free circuit. Simulation is performed for various circuit conditions such as fault-free as well as fault-induced and their corresponding PARs are stored in the look-up table. This testing and self-calibration technique is exhaustive and efficient for present-day communication systems.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.741-745
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• 2007

Supplying power to microsystems that have no physical connection to the outside is difficult, and using batteries is not always appropriate. This paper discusses how to generate electricity from mechanical energy when vibrated in a cantilever beam. A model for the system predicts that the output power of the system is maximized when the mechanical damping in the system is minimized. Furthermore, to cover a wide frequency range and to be useful in a number of applications, a system of beams with different resonant frequencies has been designed and optimized. This information makes it possible to determine what design alternatives are feasible for the creation of a micro power supply for any specific application of MEMS.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2009.04b
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• pp.53-54
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• 2009

Nowadays, source of MEMS, USN, Hybrid parts pay attention to energy harvesting. On this paper, energy harvesting was studied using piezoelectric effect. And, piezoelectric generator was designed and fabricated. Generators were designed by FEM simulation program and generators were made by attaching cymbal type metal plates on upper and bottom sides of a disc type piezoelectric ceramic. Using fabricated generators, output voltages dependant on thickness of ceramic, displacement of vibration, frequency of vibration were measured.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.209-213
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• 2010

This paper describes the fabrication and characteristics of AlN piezoelectric MPG(micro power generator). The micro energy harvester was fabricated to convert ambient vibration energy to electrical power as a AlN piezoelectric cantilever with Si proof-mass. To be compatible with CMOS process, AlN thin film was grown at low temperature by RF magnetron sputtering and micro power generators were fabricated by MEMS technologies. X-ray diffraction pattern proved that the grown AlN film had highly(002) orientation with low value of FWHM(full width at the half maximum, $\theta=0.276^{\circ}$) in the rocking curve around(002) reflections. The implemented harvester showed the $198.5\;{\mu}m$ highest membrane displacement and generated 6.4 nW of electrical power to $80\;k{\Omega}$ resistive load with $22.6\;mV_{rms}$ voltage from 1.0 G acceleration at its resonant frequency of 389 Hz. From these results, the AlN piezoelectric MPG will be possible to suitable with the batch process and confirm the possibility for power supply in portable, mobile and wearable microsystems.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.96-97
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• 2012

In nitride and oxide film deposition, sputtered metals react with nitrogen or oxygen gas in a vacuum chamber to form metal nitride or oxide films on a substrate. The physical properties of sputtered films (metals, oxides, and nitrides) are strongly influenced by magnetron plasma density during the deposition process. Typical target power densities on the magnetron during the deposition process are ~ (5-30) W/cm2, which gives a relatively low plasma density. The main challenge in reactive sputtering is the ability to generate a stable, arc free discharge at high plasma densities. Arcs occur due to formation of an insulating layer on the target surface caused by the re-deposition effect. One current method of generating an arc free discharge is to use the commercially available Pinnacle Plus+ Pulsed DC plasma generator manufactured by Advanced Energy Inc. This plasma generator uses a positive voltage pulse between negative pulses to attract electrons and discharge the target surface, thus preventing arc formation. However, this method can only generate low density plasma and therefore cannot allow full control of film properties. Also, after long runs ~ (1-3) hours, depends on duty cycle the stability of the reactive process is reduced due to increased probability of arc formation. Between 1995 and 1999, a new way of magnetron sputtering called HIPIMS (highly ionized pulse impulse magnetron sputtering) was developed. The main idea of this approach is to apply short ${\sim}(50-100){\mu}s$ high power pulses with a target power densities during the pulse between ~ (1-3) kW/cm2. These high power pulses generate high-density magnetron plasma that can significantly improve and control film properties. From the beginning, HIPIMS method has been applied to reactive sputtering processes for deposition of conductive and nonconductive films. However, commercially available HIPIMS plasma generators have not been able to create a stable, arc-free discharge in most reactive magnetron sputtering processes. HIPIMS plasma generators have been successfully used in reactive sputtering of nitrides for hard coating applications and for Al2O3 films. But until now there has been no HIPIMS data presented on reactive sputtering in cluster tools for semiconductors and MEMs applications. In this presentation, a new method of generating an arc free discharge for reactive HIPIMS using the new Cyprium plasma generator from Zpulser LLC will be introduced. Data (or evidence) will be presented showing that arc formation in reactive HIPIMS can be controlled without applying a positive voltage pulse between high power pulses. Arc-free reactive HIPIMS processes for sputtering AlN, TiO2, TiN and Si3N4 on the Applied Materials ENDURA 200 mm cluster tool will be presented. A direct comparison of the properties of films sputtered with the Advanced Energy Pinnacle Plus + plasma generator and the Zpulser Cyprium plasma generator will be presented.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2005.10b
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• pp.264-266
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• 2005

Recently, on-line diagnosis methods through wired and wireless networks are widely adopted in the diagnosis of industrial Electric Facilities, such as generators, transformers and motors. Also smart sensors which includes sensors, signal conditioning circuits and micro-controller in one board are widely studied in the field of condition monitoring. This paper suggests an self-powered system suitable for condition-monitoring smart sensors, which uses parasitic vibrations of the facilities as energy source. First, vibration-driven noise patterns of the electric facilities are presented. And then, an electromagnetic generator which uses mechanical mass-spring vibration resonance are suggested and designed. Finally energy consumption of the presented smart sensor, which consists of MEMS vibration sensors, signal conditioning circuits, a low-power consumption micro-controller, and a ZIGBEE wireless tranceiver, are presented. The usefulness and limits of the presented electromagnetic generators in the field of electric facility monitoring are also suggested.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.918-924
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• 2009

In this paper, we designed micro-structured electromagnetic transducers for energy harvesting and verified the performance of proposed transducers using finite element analysis software, COMSOL Multiphysics. To achieve higher energy transduce efficiency, around the magnetic core material, three-dimensional micro-coil structures with high number of turns are fabricated using semiconductor fabrication process technologies. To find relations between device size and energy transduce efficiency, generated electrical power values of seven different sizes of transducers ($3{\times}3\;mm^2$, $6{\times}6\;mm^2$, $9{\times}9\;mm^2$, $12{\times}12\;mm^2$, $15{\times}15\;mm^2$, $18{\times}18\;mm^2$, and $21{\times}21\;mm^2$) are analyzed on various magnetic flux density environment ranging from 0.84 T to 1.54 T and it showed that size of $15{\times}15\;mm^2$ device can generate $991.5\;{\mu}W$ at the 8 Hz of environmental kinetic energy. Compare to other electromagnetic energy harvesters, proposed system showed competitive performance in terms of power generation, operation bandwidth and size. Since proposed system can generate electric power at very low frequency of kinetic energy from typical life environment including walking and body movement, it is expected that proposed system can be effectively applied to various pervasive computing applications including power source of embodied medical equipment, power source of RFID sensors and etc. as an secondary power sources.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.306-306
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• 2008

기계적 에너지를 전기적 에너지로 변환하는 에너지 변환소자인 압전 세라믹스는 액추에이터, 변압기, 초음파모터, 초음파 소자 및 각종 센서로 응용되고 있으며, 그 응용분야는 크게 증가하고 있다. 최근에는 이러한 압전 소자를 앞으로 도래하는 ubiquitous, 무선 모바일 시대의 휴대용 전자제품, robotics, MEMS 분야 등의 대체 에너지원으로 응용하기 위한 연구가 진행되고 있다. 특히 인간의 걷기 운동 등과 같은 일상적인 동작으로 필요한 전력을 얻을 수 있고, 세라믹 소자를 이용하기 때문에 전자노이즈가 발생되지 않을 뿐 아니라 반영구적으로 사용할 수 가 있어서, 기존 이차전지를 대체 또는 보완 할 수 있는 방안도 검토되고 있다. PZT계 세라믹스는 높은 유전상수와 우수한 압전특성으로 전자세라믹스 분야에서 가장 널리 사용되어지고 있지만 $1200^{\circ}C$ 이상의 높은 소결온도 때문에 $1000^{\circ}C$ 부근에서 급격히 휘발되는 PbO로 인한 환경오염과 기본조성의 변화로 인한 압전 특성의 저하가 문제시 되고 있다. 또한 적층 세라믹스의 제작 시 구조적 특성상 내부전극이 도포된 상태에서 동시 소결이 필요한데, 융점이 낮은 Ag전극 대신 값비싼 Pd나 Pt가 다량 함유된 Ag/Pd, Ag/Pt 전극이 사용되고 있어 경제성이 떨어지는 단점을 갖게 된다. 순수 Ag 전극을 사용하거나 Ag의 비율이 높은 내부전극을 사용하기 위해서는 $900^{\circ}C$ 이하에서 소결되고 우수한 전기적 특성을 보이는 압전 세라믹스를 개발 하는 것이 필요하다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 압전특성이 우수한 $(Pb_{1-x}Cd_x)(Ni_{1/3}/Nb_{2/3})_{0.25}(Zr_{0.35}/Ti_{0.4})O_3$ 계의 조성을 설계하고, 소걸온도를 낮추기 위해서 2 단계 하소법을 이용하였다. 또한 $MnCO_3$, $SiO_2$, $Pb_3O_4$ 등을 소량 첨가하여 액상 소결 특성을 부여하여 소결 온도를 감소시키려는 시도도 하였다. 분말을 볼 밀링 (ball milling)을 통해 24시간 동안 혼합하고, 혼합된 분말은 $800^{\circ}C$에서 2시간 동안 하소하였다. 하소한 분말을 다시 72시간 동안 볼 밀링 하여 최종 분말을 얻었다. 최종 분말에 PVB를 첨가하여 직경 15mm의 디스크 형태로 성형한 후, 850~$975^{\circ}C$ 범위에서 온도를 변화시키면서 소결을 하였다. 최종 분말 및 소결된 시편을 XRD분석을 통하여 상을 확인하였고, SEM을 이용하여 미세조직을 관찰 하였다. 전기적 특성을 평가하기 위하여 두께를 1mm로 연마한 시편에 Ag 전극을 도포하여 $650^{\circ}C$에서 열처리한 후, 분극처리 하였다. 압전특성은 $d_{33}$-meter로 측정하였고, impedance analyzer를 이용하여 압전 특성 (전기기계결합계수 및 기계적품질계수)을 측정 하였다. 또한 강유전체 특성 평가 장치 (Precision-LC)를 이용하여 분극-전계 특성을 평가하였다. 이상의 연구를 통하여 소결 온도가 $900^{\circ}C$인 경우에서도 양호한 압전 특성을 확보 할 수 있었다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.295-295
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• 2007

기계적 에너지를 전기적 에너지로 변화하는 에너지 변환소자인 압전 세라믹스는 액츄에이터, 변압기, 초음파모터, 초음파 소자 및 각종 센서로 응용되고 있으며, 그 응용분야는 크게 증가하고 있다. 최근 이러한 에너지 변화 소자는 앞으로 도래하는 ubiquitous, 무선 모바일 시대의 휴대용 전자제품, robotics, 항공우주, 자동차, 의료, 건축, MEMS 분야 등의 대체 에너지원으로 응용하기 위한 연구가 진행되고 있다. 특히 인간의 동작 등과 같은 일상적인 동작으로 필요한 전력을 얻을 수 있고, 세라믹 소자를 이용하기 때문에 전자노이즈가 발생되지 않을 뿐 아니라 반영구적으로 사용할 수가 있어서, 기존 이차전지, 연료전지를 대체 또는 보완 할 수 있는 방안도 검토되고 있다. PZT계 세라믹스는 높은 유전상수와 압전특성으로 전자세라믹스분야에서 가장 널리 사용되어지고 있지만 $1200^{\circ}C$이상의 높은 소결온도 때문에 $1000^{\circ}C$ 부근에서 급격히 휘발되는 PbO로 인한 환경오염과 기본조성의 변화로 인한 압전 특성의 저하가 문제시되고 있다. 또한, 적층 세라믹스의 제작 시 구조적 특성상 내부 전극이 도포된 상태에서 동시 소결이 필요한데, 융점이 낮은 Ag전극 대신 값비싼 Pd나 Pt가 다량 함유된 Ag/Pd, Ag/Pt 전극이 사용되고 있어 경제적인 문제가 발생하게 된다. 따라서 순수 Ag 전극을 사용하거나, Ag의 비율이 높은 내부 전극을 사용하기 위해서는 $950^{\circ}C$ 이하에서 소결되는 압전 세라믹스를 개발 하는 것이 필요하다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 압전특성이 우수한 $(Pb_{1-x}Cd_x)\;[(Ni_{1/3}/Nb_{2/3})_{0.25}Zr_{0.35}Ti_{0.4}]O_3$계의 조성을 설계하여, 소결온도를 낮추기 위해서 2단계 하소법을 이용하였다. 분말을 ball milling을 통해 24시간 동안 혼합하였다. 혼합된 분말은 $800^{\circ}C$에서 2시간 동안 하소하였다. 하소한 분말을 72시간 동안 ball milling 하여 최종 분말을 얻었다. 최종 분말에 PVB를 첨가하여 ${\Phi}21$ disk 형태로 성형한 후, $800{\sim}950^{\circ}C$ 소결을 하였다. 최종 분말 및 소결된 시편을 XRD분석을 통하여 상을 확인하였고, SEM을 이용하여 미세조직을 관찰하였다. 전기적 특성을 확인하기 위하여 두께 1mm로 연마한 시편에 Ag 전극을 도포하여 열처리한 후, 분극 처리하였다. 압전특성은 $d_{33}$ 미터로 측정하였고, impedance analyzer를 이용하여 주파수 및 impedance 특성을 측정하였다. 그 결과 $900^{\circ}C$에서 우수한 압전 특성 및 전기적 특성을 확보 할 수 있었다.