Carbon Nanotube Interface for Electromechanical Device Stress Filtering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electromechanical devices, such as gyrometers and accelerometers, face limitations in vibration, thermal expansion, and impact resistance, leading to reliability issues due to interface limitations, which introduce biases in sensor components.

Innovation Solution

The use of carbon nanotube-based interfaces for surface-mounting electronic components, providing mechanical and thermal filtering, as well as electrical conductivity, to mitigate stress and enhance reliability by leveraging the exceptional mechanical resistance and thermal conductivity of carbon nanotubes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional surface-mounting methods (gluing or soldering) are used, then components can be mounted on the substrate, but the interface elements have limitations in vibration resistance, thermal expansion compatibility, and impact resistance, leading to reliability issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface reliabilityVSAvoidmechanical and thermal stresses

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameters of the interface by using carbon nanotubes with exceptional mechanical properties (Young's modulus of 1 TPa, strength of 100 GPa) and thermal conductivity, replacing traditional gluing or soldering materials to achieve superior vibration, thermal expansion, and impact resistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs carbon nanotube-based composite materials as the interface element, leveraging the unique properties of carbon nanotubes to create an interface that simultaneously provides mechanical support, thermal management, and electrical connectivity, resolving the limitations of traditional single-material interfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Measurement precision

If traditional interface elements are used, then components can be connected to the substrate, but they introduce biases that generate drift in sensor-type components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor accuracyVSAvoidbiases and drift

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical interface elements (glue, solder) with carbon nanotube-based interfaces that provide superior mechanical stability and thermal management, eliminating the mechanical and thermal stresses that cause bias and drift in sensor components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Strength

If carbon nanotube-based interfaces are used, then mechanical resistance and thermal conductivity are improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses carbon nanotubes as an intermediary material between the component and substrate, which can be integrated through various manufacturing approaches including direct growth on the component, deposition from solution, or transfer from a template substrate, balancing the need for exceptional properties with manufacturing feasibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The carbon nanotube-based interfaces effectively reduce mechanical and thermal stresses, improving the reliability and signal quality of electromechanical devices by providing a robust mechanical and electrical link between components and their supports, thereby enhancing their performance under high thermal and mechanical stresses.

Implementation Method 1

the nanotube-based interface also provides the thermal link between the component and the support

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the nanotube-based interface also provides the electrical link between the component and its support

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS8253209B2Electromechanical device comprising electronic components and at least one nanotube-based interface, and manufacturing method

Publication Date: 2012.08.28 THALES SA

AI summary

The invention relates to an electromechanical device comprising a package and at least one component surface-mounted in the package, characterized in that it also comprises at least one nanotube-based interface providing a mechanical link for vibratory and thermal filtering between said component and the package.Advantageously, the nanotube-based interface can also serve as an electrical and/or thermal interface with the electrical contacts with which the package is equipped.