Scaling for MEMS Virtual Prototyping: Size and Motion Dynamics Visualizations

Abstract

This paper deals with the challenges found in scaling velocity and size for a CAD virtual prototyping system for Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS). These are miniaturized machines or devices used e.g. in medical or motorcar applications. In a MEMS the size and velocities of its moving parts can be vastly different, spanning several orders of magnitude. This makes it difficult to show the devices being designed in virtual action on a computer screen. A simple down scaling to bring the fast moving object into an observable range, can bring the slow one to a standstill. The image would no longer be a truthful scaling. A similar dilemma happens with the downscaling of small objects, because they would not be observable anymore. Our research aims at finding default values and their boundaries for the parameters that determine the scaled size and motion of objects relative to each other on a computer screen. This is required for informative and pleasant, truthful images that are suitable for a Virtual Prototyping system. In this paper we analyze and illustrate these issues with the example of a micropump and the layered fluidic flow in a microchannel.