Artificial Cochlea Design Using Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems

摘要

The use of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) in the design of an artificialcochlea 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.