Batch Fine Magnetic Pattern Transfer Method on Permanent Magnets Using Coercivity Change during Heating for Magnetic MEMS

Abstract

In magnetic microelectromechanical systems (MEMSs), permanent magnets in the form of a thick film or thin plate are used for structural and manufacturing purposes. However, the geometric shape induces a strong self-demagnetization field during thickness–direction magnetization, limiting the surface magnetic flux density and output power. The magnets must be segmented or magnetized in a fine and multi-pole manner to weaken the self-demagnetization field. Few studies have been performed on fine multi-pole magnetization techniques that can generate a higher surface magnetic flux density than segmented magnets and are suitable for mass production. This paper proposes a batch fine multi-pole magnetic pattern transfer (MPT) method for the magnets of MEMS devices. The proposed method uses two master magnets with identical magnetic patterns to sandwich a target magnet. Subsequently, the coercivity of the target magnet is reduced via heating, and the master magnet’s magnetic pattern is transferred to the target magnet. Stripe, checkerboard, and concentric circle patterns with a pole pitch of 0.3 mm are magnetized on the NdFeB master magnets N38EH with high intrinsic coercivity via laser-assisted heating magnetization. The MPT yields the highest surface magnetic flux density at 160 °C, reaching 39.7–66.1% of the ideal magnetization pattern on the NdFeB target magnet N35.