Counter operation in nonlinear micro-electro-mechanical resonators

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the first experimental implementation of a 2-bit binary counter using coupled nonlinear MEMS resonators, advancing the development of mechanical logic systems based on nonlinear dynamics.

Contribution

It presents the first experimental realization of controlling nonlinear behavior in coupled MEMS resonators to perform binary counting.

Findings

Successful demonstration of a 2-bit binary counter

Control of nonlinear states in coupled MEMS resonators

Advancement towards mechanical logic systems

Abstract

This paper discusses a logical operation of multi-memories that consist of coupled nonlinear micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) resonators. A MEMS resonator shows two coexisting stable states when nonlinear responses appear. Previous studies addressed that a micro- or nano-electrical-mechanical resonator can be utilized as a mechanical 1-bit memory or mechanical logic gates. The next phase is the development of logic system with coupled multi-resonators. From the viewpoint of application of nonlinear dynamics in coupled MEMS resonators, we show the first experimental success of the controlling nonlinear behavior as a 2-bit binary counter.