The asymmetric resonance responses of a thermally actuated silicon microcantilever of a portable, cantilever-based nanoparticle detector (Cantor) is analysed. For airborne nanoparticle concentration measurements, the cantilever is excited in its first in-plane bending mode by an integrated p-type heating actuator. The mass-sensitive nanoparticle (NP) detection is based on the resonance frequency (f₀) shifting due to the deposition of NPs. A homemade phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit is developed for tracking of f₀. For deflection sensing the cantilever contains an integrated piezo-resistive Wheatstone bridge (WB). A new fitting function based on the Fano resonance is proposed for analysing the asymmetric resonance curves including a method for calculating the quality factor Q from the fitting parameters. To obtain a better understanding, we introduce an electrical equivalent circuit diagram (ECD) comprising a series resonant circuit (SRC) for the cantilever resonator and voltage sources for the parasitics, which enables us to simulate the asymmetric resonance response and discuss the possible causes. Furthermore, we compare the frequency response of the on-chip thermal excitation with an external excitation using an in-plane piezo actuator revealing parasitic heating of the WB as the origin of the asymmetry. Moreover, we are able to model the phase component of the sensor output using the ECD. Knowing and understanding the phase response is crucial to the design of the PLL and thus the next generation of Cantor.

Date Published: 2 June 2017
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 10246, Smart Sensors, Actuators, and MEMS VIII, 102460K (2 June 2017); doi: 10.1117/12.2266084

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 10246:
Smart Sensors, Actuators, and MEMS VIII
Luis Fonseca; Mika Prunnila; Erwin Peiner, Editor(s)