This volume addresses the cutting edge issues in micro-finance, including: how far micro-finance can contribute to reducing poverty, enhancing women's status, empowering poor clients and improving the health, nutrition and education of the poor; the role of savings in micro-finance; how to recruit, develop and maintain high-quality clients; and how to replicate successful micro-finance systems.

Research and innovation in areas such as circuits, microsystems, packaging, biocompatibility, miniaturization, power supplies, remote control, reliability, and lifespan are leading to a rapid increase in the range of devices and corresponding applications in the field of wearable and implantable biomedical microsystems, which are used for monitoring, diagnosing, and controlling the health conditions of the human body. This book provides comprehensive coverage of the fundamental design principles and validation for implantable microsystems, as well as several major application areas. Each component in an implantable device is described in details, and major case studies demonstrate how these systems can be optimized for specific design objectives. The case studies include applications of implantable neural signal processors, brain-machine interface (BMI) systems intended for both data recording and treatment, neural prosthesis, bladder pressure monitoring for treating urinary incontinence, implantable imaging devices for early detection and diagnosis of diseases as well as electrical conduction block of peripheral nerve for chronic pain management. Implantable Biomedical Microsystems is the first comprehensive coverage of bioimplantable system design providing an invaluable information source for researchers in Biomedical, Electrical, Computer, Systems, and Mechanical Engineering as well as engineers involved in design and development of wearable and implantable bioelectronic devices and, more generally, teams working on low-power microsystems and their corresponding wireless energy and data links. - First time comprehensive coverage of system-level and component-level design and engineering aspects for implantable microsystems. - Provides insight into a wide range of proven applications and application specific design trade-offs of bioimplantable systems, including several major case studies - Enables Engineers involved in development of implantable electronic systems to optimize applications for specific design objectives.

This book presents inductive and hybrid levitation micro-systems and their applications in micro-sensors and –actuators. It proposes and discusses analytical and quasi-finite element techniques for modeling levitation micro-systems based on the Lagrangian formalism. In particular, micro-bearings, -actuators, -accelerators and –accelerometers based on inductive levitation are comprehensively described with accompanying experimental measurements.

Space Microsystems and Micro/Nano Satellites covers the various reasoning and diverse applications of small satellites in both technical and regulatory aspects, also exploring the technical and operational innovations that are being introduced in the field. The Space Microsystem developed by the author is systematically introduced in this book, providing information on such topics as MEMS micro-magnetometers, MIMUs (Micro-inertia-measurement unit), micro-sun sensors, micro-star sensors, micro-propellers, micro-relays, etc. The book also examines the new technical standards, removal techniques or other methods that might help to address current problems, regulatory issues and procedures to ameliorate problems associated with small satellites, especially mounting levels of orbital debris and noncompliance with radio frequency and national licensing requirements, liabilities and export controls, Summarizing the scientific research experiences of the author and his team, this book holds a high scientific reference value as it gives readers comprehensive and thorough introductions to the micro/nano satellite and space applications of MEMS technology. - Covers various reasoning and diverse applications for small satellites in both technical and regulatory aspects - Represents the first publication that systematically introduces the Space Microsystem developed by the author - Examines new technical standards, removal techniques and other methods that might help to address current problems, regulatory issues and procedures

In ten sections this book describes the principles and technology of Micro Mechanical Systems. Section one is a general introduction to the historical background and the parallels to microelectronics, reviewing the motivation for microsystems, and discussing microphysics and design and the evolution from microcomponents to microsystems. Section two covers the areas of photolithographic microfabrication, basic concepts of planar processing, materials, and processes. Section three looks at micromachining by machine tools, its history, basic principles and preparation methods. Section four discusses tribological aspects of microsystems. Section five covers fabrication, performance and examples of silicon microsensors. Section six looks at electric and magnetic micro-actuators for micro-robots. Section seven covers energy source and power supply methods. Section eight covers controlling principles and methods of micro mechanical systems and section nine gives examples of microsystems and micromachines. The final section discusses the future problems and outlook of micro mechanical systems.

This book introduces the basic tools used in the mechanical design of microsystems, the fabrication methods for these systems, and several applications of this technology. The links between micro- and nanotechnologies are also discussed and light is shed on the potential applications of microsystems to nano-scale manipulation of matter. The book is a systematic, updated and quite complete treatise of its subject.

This book systematically describes the design options for micro systems as well as the equations needed for calculating the behavior of their basic elements. The fundamental equations needed to calculate the effects and forces that are important in micro systems are also provided. Readers do not require previous knowledge of fabrication processes. This second edition of the volume is a thoroughly revised and extended update. The target audience primarily comprises experts in the field of micro systems and the book is also suitable for graduate engineering students. For quick reference, equations are presented in tables that can be found in an index at the end of the book.

This book introduces the exciting and fast-moving field of MOEMS to graduate students, scientists, and engineers by providing a foundation of both micro-optics and MEMS that will enable them to conduct future research in the field. Born from the relatively new fields of MEMS and micro-optics, MOEMS are proving to be an attractive and low-cost solution to a range of device problems requiring high optical functionality and high optical performance. MOEMS solutions include optical devices for telecommunication, sensing, and mobile systems such as v-grooves, gratings, shutters, scanners, filters, micromirrors, switches, alignment aids, lens arrays, and hermetic wafer-scale optical packaging. An international team of leading researchers contributed to this book, and it presents examples and problems employing cutting-edge MOEM devices. It will inspire researchers to further advance the design, fabrication, and analysis of MOEM systems.

Mechanics of Microsystems Alberto Corigliano, Raffaele Ardito, Claudia Comi, Attilio Frangi, Aldo Ghisi and Stefano Mariani, Politecnico di Milano, Italy A mechanical approach to microsystems, covering fundamental concepts including MEMS design, modelling and reliability Mechanics of Microsystems takes a mechanical approach to microsystems and covers fundamental concepts including MEMS design, modelling and reliability. The book examines the mechanical behaviour of microsystems from a ‘design for reliability’ point of view and includes examples of applications in industry. Mechanics of Microsystems is divided into two main parts. The first part recalls basic knowledge related to the microsystems behaviour and offers an overview on microsystems and fundamental design and modelling tools from a mechanical point of view, together with many practical examples of real microsystems. The second part covers the mechanical characterization of materials at the micro-scale and considers the most important reliability issues (fracture, fatigue, stiction, damping phenomena, etc) which are fundamental to fabricate a real working device. Key features: Provides an overview of MEMS, with special focus on mechanical-based Microsystems and reliability issues. Includes examples of applications in industry. Accompanied by a website hosting supplementary material. The book provides essential reading for researchers and practitioners working with MEMS, as well as graduate students in mechanical, materials and electrical engineering.

It is challenging at best to find a resource that provides the breadth of information necessary to develop a successful micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) design. Micro Electro Mechanical System Design is that resource. It is a comprehensive, single-source guide that explains the design process by illustrating the full range of issues involved,