Abstract:
A MEMS device comprises a first membrane structure having a reinforcement region formed from one piece of the first membrane structure, wherein the reinforcement region has a larger layer thickness than an adjoining region of the first membrane structure. The MEMS device includes an electrode structure, wherein the electrode structure is vertically spaced apart from the first membrane structure.
Abstract:
A method for manufacturing a structural layer in a silicon wafer is provide. The silicon wafer has at least two areas vertically recessed to at least two recess depths, with the first recess depth being greater than the second recess depth. The method includes forming a silicon dioxide pattern, a mask layer and a silicon dioxide pad layer, etching the structural layer in a main LOCOS oxidation process, and removing the formed layers exposing the recessed structural layer. The manufactured structural layer has a bump structure with the recess depth smaller than the second recess depth, and the recessed area has no edge steps.
Abstract:
Deep via technology is used to construct an integrated silicon cantilever and cavity oriented in a vertical plane which creates an electrostatically-switched MEMS switch in a small wafer area. Another embodiment is a small wafer area electrostatically-switched, vertical-cantilever MEMS switch wherein the switch cavity is etched within a volume defined by walls grown internally within a silicon substrate using through vias.
Abstract:
Deep via technology is used to construct an integrated silicon cantilever and cavity oriented in a vertical plane which creates an electrostatically-switched MEMS switch in a small wafer area. Another embodiment is a small wafer area electrostatically-switched, vertical-cantilever MEMS switch wherein the switch cavity is etched within a volume defined by walls grown internally within a silicon substrate using through vias.
Abstract:
Deep via technology is used to construct an integrated silicon cantilever and cavity oriented in a vertical plane which creates an electrostatically-switched MEMS switch in a small wafer area. Another embodiment is a small wafer area electrostatically-switched, vertical-cantilever MEMS switch wherein the switch cavity is etched within a volume defined by walls grown internally within a silicon substrate using through vias.
Abstract:
A MEMS device is formed by forming a sacrificial layer over a substrate and forming a first metal layer over the sacrificial layer. Subsequently, the first metal layer is exposed to an oxidizing ambient which oxidizes a surface layer of the first metal layer where exposed to the oxidizing ambient, to form a native oxide layer of the first metal layer. A second metal layer is subsequently formed over the native oxide layer of the first metal layer. The sacrificial layer is subsequently removed, forming a released metal structure.
Abstract:
An HF vapor etch etches high aspect ratio openings to form MEMS devices and other tightly-packed semiconductor devices with 0.2 μm air gaps between structures. The HF vapor etch etches oxide plugs and gaps with void portions and oxide liner portions and further etches oxide layers that are buried beneath silicon and other structures and is ideally suited to release cantilevers and other MEMS devices. The HF vapor etches at room temperature and atmospheric pressure in one embodiment. A process sequence is provided that forms MEMS devices including cantilevers and lateral, in-plane electrodes that are stationary and vibration resistant.
Abstract:
A method of fabricating a thick silicon dioxide layer without the need for long deposition or oxidation and a device having such a layer are provided. Deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) is used to create high-aspect ratio openings or trenches and microstructures or silicon pillars, which are then oxidized and/or refilled with LPCVD oxide or other deposited silicon oxide films to create layers as thick as the DRIE etched depth allows. Thickness in the range of 10-100 μm have been achieved. Periodic stiffeners perpendicular to the direction of the trenches are used to provide support for the pillars during oxidation. The resulting SiO2 layer is impermeable and can sustain large pressure difference. Thermal tests show that such thick silicon dioxide diaphragms or layers can effectively thermally isolate heated structures from neighboring structures and devices within a distance of hundred of microns. Such SiO2 diaphragms or layers of thickness 50-60 μm can sustain an extrinsic shear stress up to 3-5 Mpa. These thick insulating microstructures or layers can be used in thermal, mechanical, fluidic, optical, and bio microsystems.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing an insulating micro-structure by etching a plurality of trenches in a silicon substrate and filling said trenches with insulating materials. The trenches are etched and then oxidized until completely or almost completely filled with silicon dioxide. Additional insulating material is then deposited as necessary to fill any remaining trenches, thus forming the structure. When the top of the structure is metallized, the insulating structure increases voltage resistance and reduces the capacitive coupling between the metal and the silicon substrate. Part of the silicon substrate underlying the structure is optionally removed further to reduce the capacitive coupling effect. Hybrid silicon-insulator structures can be formed to gain the effect of the benefits of the structure in three-dimensional configurations, and to permit metallization of more than one side of the structure.
Abstract:
A simple and cost-effective possibility is proposed for producing optically transparent regions (5, 6) in a silicon substrate (1), by the use of which both optically transparent regions of any thickness and optically transparent regions over a cavity in a silicon substrate are able to be implemented. For this purpose, first at least a specified region (5, 6) of the silicon substrate (1) is etched porous. Thereafter, the specified porous region (5, 6) of the silicon substrate (1) is oxidized.