NanoMEMS Systems on Chip

Abstract

NanoMEMS exploits the convergence between nanotechnology and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) brought about by advances in the ability to fabricate nanometer-scale electronic and mechanical device structures. While the "nano" aspect of this field is in its infancy, and is not expected to reach maturity until well into the 21st century, its "MEMS" aspect is a topic of much current and near-term impact in, for instance, RF / Wireless communications. In this context, we discuss the fundamentals of NanoMEMS, in particular, as it relates to its most speculative and futuristic paradigms and applications, and then focus on the RF/Wireless MEMS aspect, specifically in its role as enabler of ubiquitous wireless connectivity.

Expert Analysis

The field of Nanotechnology, which aims at exploiting advances in the fabrication and controlled manipulation of nanoscale objects, is attracting worldwide attention. This attention is predicated upon the fact that obtaining early supremacy in this field of miniaturization may well be the key to dominating the world economy of the 21st century, and beyond. NanoMEMS exploits the convergence between nanotechnology and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) brought about by advances in the ability to fabricate nanometer-scale electronic and mechanical device structures. Indeed, the impact of our ability to make and control objects possessing dimensions down to atomic scales, perhaps first considered by the late Richard Feynman in his 1959 talk "There is Plenty of Room at the Bottom" is expected to be astounding. In particular, miniaturization, he insinuated, has the potential to fuel radical paradigm shifts encompassing virtually all areas of science and technology, thus giving rise to an unlimited amount of technical applications. Since high technology fuels the prosperity of the world's most developed nations, it is easy to see why the stakes are so high.

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