Research on an On-Chip MEMS Based Safety and Arming Device with a Mechanical Encryption System

Abstract

The design and characterization of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based on-chip SAD (Safety and Arming Device) are proposed. An encryption system has been integrated into the device to enhance its reliability during the electromagnetic interference. The conversion between safe status and arm status is reversible due to the bidirectional actuation design of the slider and pawl on the SOI (Silicon on Insulator) chip, being driven by the chevron electrothermal actuators. The width of each tooth on the slider, which contains coding information, is different from that of its adjacent neighbor. Additionally, the different teeth width, respectively 32 μm, 82 μm, requiring different decoding displacement of 100 μm and 150 μm, corresponds to the different decoding voltage of 13.5 V and 14.8 V. The travel range of interrupter in the SAD will only be limited by the chip dimension and be able to cover the motion of ±1 mm in the present research, due to the capability of motion retention. Finally, the SAD is integrated with a copper azide exploding chip to measure the average velocity of the titanium flyer for the application feasibility validation.