What’s New in MEMS+ 6.1
MEMS+® 6.1 was released in June 2016. This full release has multiple new features and enhancements:
- New options that make it easier to import designs:
- New Layout component makes it much easier to convert an existing layout to a MEMS+ model
- New Rigid Geometry component allows users to create rigid components of arbitrary shape by importing solid geometry in ACIS SAT or SAB format
- The Rigid Plate component can be designated as fixed which is useful for modeling mechanical anchors
- Multiple improvements for modeling devices that use electrostatic combs:
- Effects of small side-wall angle on capacitance and electrostatic force
- New add-on component for squeezed-film damping
- Enclosure options for Curved Comb Stator models
- Faster simulations when combs disengage out-of-plane
- Multiple improvements for modeling capacitive microphones:
- Back-plate perforations of different shapes (triangles, diamonds, hexagons,…) are allowed and users can override the capacitance to account for the perforation shape
- Noise produced by back-plate perforations and edges is properly calculated in Cadence simulations
- Back-plate flexibility can be modeled using Movable Gap components
- New capability for Reduced-Order Models (ROMs):
- ROMS exported in MROM format can be simulated with the built-in Simulator and MATLAB® scripts as well as in Simulink®
- General usability improvements:
- Easier-to-use Measure function reports distance and snap-point coordinates on the canvas
- Faster 3D rendering: up to 3X faster in Innovator and 6X faster in Scene3D
- Internal mechanical connections are preserved when portions of a design are replicated, copied or mirrored

Quarter microphone with flexible back plate modeled in with the new Movable Gap capabilities in MEMS+ 6.1. Process-induced stress in electrodes patterned on the diaphragm and backplace causes deformation.
