Patent ID: 7910390

Claim:
A method of producing a resonant MEMS device: creating an insulation layer on top of a substrate; disposing at least one sensor electrode on the insulation layer; electrically coupling a transition layer having a thickness in the range of 0.5 Angstrom (Å) to 100 Angstroms (Å) to the sense electrode via multiple flows of tunneling electrons within the transition layer; coupling a micro-mechanical structure to the at least one sense electrode through the transition layer, wherein said micro-mechanical structure is configured to generate the multiple flows of tunneling electrons within the transition layer; resonating the micro-mechanical structure at an oscillation amplitude and an oscillation frequency; controlling the tunnelling effect via at least one control voltage; and sensing, at the at least one sensor electrode, an electrical characteristic associated with a change in the oscillation amplitude or oscillation frequency of the micro-mechanical structure.