Characterization of synchronization in a unidirectionally coupled system of nonlinear micromechanical resonators

In this paper the experimental results of synchronization in an electronically coupled system of micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) resonators with hysteresis in frequency-domain are entailed. First the hysteretic responses of the individual MEMS resonators are characterized by changing the excitation voltage. These resonators are then interconnected in a ring of unidirectionally coupled system. The coupled system is shown to exhibit oscillations in the self-excited mode while changing the coupling strength past a threshold value. In the presence of the ac excitation signal, the coupled system is shown to exhibit the stable and unstable behaviors that lead to regions of synchronization. Sensitivity with regards to the coupling strength, excitation frequency and excitation amplitude is also shown in the experiments. These behavior characteristics of the coupled system will naturally be harnessed to be used as a sensor.