Mode localization in two coupled nearly identical MEMS cantilevers for mass sensing

International audienceThis paper investigates the mass sensing in a mode-localized sensor composed of two weakly coupled MEMS cantilevers with lengths 98mm and 100mm. The two resonators are connected by a coupling beam near the fixed end, and the shortest cantilever is electrostatically actuated with a combined AC-DC voltage. The DC actuation voltage is tuned to compensate the length difference and geometrical imperfections in order to dynamically equilibrate the system. An analytical model of the device using the Euler Bernoulli beam theory is presented and the required DC voltage to reach the balanced state is used. A mass perturbation is then added on the long cantilever and the eigenstate shifts and amplitude ratios in each mode are calculated for different couplings. Results show that the amplitude ratio of the second mode is the best output metric for the mass detection. For the validation of the model, an experimental investigation is carried out by using devices fabricated with the Multi-User MEMS Processes. Three different couplings are considered and the long cantilever is designed with a mass attached at its end. Instead of adding a mass on the device, we remove this part with a probe to introduce the perturbation. When the mass is removed, theexperimental frequency responses of the device show localized vibrations, which are in good agreement with the theoretical results