The SAD (safety and arming device) is an indispensable fuse component that ensures safe and reliable performance during the use of ammunition. Because the application of electronic devices for smart munitions is increasing, miniaturization of the SAD has become one of the key issues for next-generation artillery fuses. Based on MEMS technology, various types of miniaturized SADs have been proposed and fabricated. However, none of them have been reported to have been used in actual munitions due to their lack of high impact endurance and complicated explosive train arrangements. In this research, a new MEMS SAD using a ball driven mechanism, is successfully demonstrated based on a UV LIGA (lithography, electroplating and molding) process. Unlike other MEMS SADs, both high impact endurance and simple structure were achieved by using a ball driven mechanism. The simple structural design also simplified the fabrication process and increased the processing yield. The ball driven type MEMS SAD performed successfully under the desired safe and arming conditions of a spin test and showed fine agreement with the FEM simulation result, conducted prior to its fabrication. A field test was also performed with a grenade launcher to evaluate the SAD performance in the firing environment. All 30 of the grenade samples equipped with the proposed MEMS SAD operated successfully under the high-G setback condition.

The digital in-line holographic microscope (DIHM) was developed for a 2D imaging technology and has recently been adapted to 3D imaging methods, providing new approaches to obtaining volumetric images with both a high resolution and wide field-of-view (FOV), which allows the physical limitations to be overcome. However, during the sectioning process of 3D image generation, the out-of-focus image of the object becomes a significant impediment to obtaining evident 3D features in the 2D sectioning plane of a thick biological sample. Based on phase retrieved high-resolution holographic imaging and a 3D deconvolution technique, we demonstrate that a high-resolution 3D volumetric image, which significantly reduces wave-front reconstruction and out-of-focus artifacts, can be achieved. The results show a 3D volumetric image that is more finely focused compared to a conventional 3D stacked image from 2D reconstructed images in relation to micron-size polystyrene beads, a whole blood smear, and a kidney tissue sample. We believe that this technology can be applicable for medical-grade images of smeared whole blood or an optically cleared tissue sample for mobile phytological microscopy and laser sectioning microscopy.

Al-Cu thin films were fabricated by RF magnetron sputtering from aluminum (Al) and copper (Cu) metal targets to improve the acoustic performance of SAW devices on LiNbO₃ substrates. To optimize the electrode material for SAW devices, Al-Cu films with various compositions were fabricated and their electrical, mechanical, and acoustic properties were comprehensively evaluated. The Al-Cu films exhibited a gradual decrease in resistivity with increasing Al content. The double-electrode SAW devices composed of Al-Cu films demonstrated a resonant frequency of 70 MHz and an average insertion loss of −16.1 dB, which was significantly lower than that of devices made with traditional Au or Al electrodes. Additionally, the SAW devices showed an increase in the FWHM values of the resonant frequency and a decrease in the insertion loss as the Al content in the IDT electrode decreased. These findings indicate that improving the performance of SAW devices can be achieved by reducing the density of the IDT electrodes, rather than focusing solely on their electrical characteristics.