Artificial Cochlea Design Using Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems

Abstract

The use of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) in the design of an artificial cochlea is investigated in depth. Interdigitated finger (comb), cantilever, bridge, and mirror resonators are presented as possible devices used to implement the artificial cochlea. These resonators are demonstrated to be extremely high Q devices, capable of being tuned with a simple DC bias. This suggests a possible change to existing cochlea models that claim highly complex AC feedback as being responsible for changes in the damping of the basilar membrane. The new cochlea model presented here, using MEMS to approximate the tuning of the basilar membrane, may be closer to the workings of the actual cochlea, as we understand it today.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 17, 1996
Accession Number
ADA321310

Entities

People

  • George C. Dalton Ii

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Computers
  • Control Systems
  • Ear
  • Electromechanical Devices
  • Electron Microscopes
  • Electronics
  • Fabrication
  • Lc Circuits
  • Mechanics
  • Membranes
  • Microelectromechanical Systems
  • Modulus Of Elasticity
  • Phase
  • Resonant Frequency
  • Test Equipment
  • Transducers
  • Very Large Scale Integration

Readers

  • Combustion Dynamics and Shock Wave Physics.
  • Integrated Circuit Design and Technology.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems