Abstract:
Le domaine général de l'invention est celui des procédés de réalisation des modules électroniques comprenant d'une part des composants électroniques de puissance (3) réalisés sur substrat (1) en nitrure de gallium (GaN) et d'autre part des micro-interrupteurs (10) à activation électrostatique de type MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System). Les composants électroniques et les micro-interrupteurs selon l'invention sont réalisés sur un seul substrat en nitrure de gallium et le procédé de réalisation comporte au moins les étapes suivantes :- Etape 1 : Réalisation des composants de puissance (3) sur le substrat en nitrure de gallium; - Etape 2 : Dépôt d'une première couche de passivation commune (4) sur lesdits composants et sur le substrat; - Etape 3 : Réalisation des micro-interrupteurs (10) sur ledit substrat.
Abstract:
A MEMS device and method, comprising: a substrate; a beam; and a cavity located therebetween; the beam comprising a first beam layer and a second beam layer, the first beam layer being directly adjacent to the cavity, the second beam layer being directly adjacent to the first beam layer; the first beam layer comprising a metal or a metal alloy containing silicon; and the second beam layer comprising a metal or a metal alloy substantially not containing silicon. Preferably the second beam layer is thicker than the first beam layer e.g. at least five times thicker, and the first beam layer comprises a metal or alloy containing between 1 % and 2% of silicon. The second beam layer provides desired mechanical and/ or optical properties whilst the first beam layer prevents spiking.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a semiconductor actuator comprising a substrate base (1), a bending structure (2) which is connected to the substrate base and can be bent at least partially in relation to the substrate base and is provided with semiconductor compounds based on nitrides of main group III elements, and at least two electrical supply contacts (3a, 3b) for impressing an electrical current into the bending structure or for applying an electrical voltage to the bending structure. At least two of the supply contacts are interspaced respectively on the bending structure and/or integrated into the same.
Abstract:
A method of fabricating micro-electromechanical switches (MEMS) using a process starting with a copper damascene interconnect layer, made of metal conductors inlaid in a dielectric (150). All, or portions, of the interconnects are recessed to a degree sufficient to provide a capacitive air gap when the switch is in the closed state, as well as provide space for a protective layer of, for example, Ta/TaN. The metal structures defined within the area specified for the switch act as actuator electrodes to pull down the movable beam (160) and provide one or more paths for the switched signal to traverse. The advantage of an air gap is that air is not subject to charge storage or trapping that can cause reliability and voltage drift problems. Instead of recessing the electrodes to provide a gap, one may just add dielectric on or around the electrode. The next layer is another dielectric layer which is deposited to the desired thickness of the gap formed between the moveable beam (160) that forms the switching device. Vias are fabricated through this dielectric to provide connections between the metal interconnect layer and the next metal layer which will also contain the switchable beam. The via layer is then patterned and etched to provide a cavity area which contains the lower activation electrodes as well as the signal paths. The cavity is then back-filled with a sacrificial release material.
Abstract:
A phased-array antenna system and other types of radio frequency (RF) devices and systems using microelectromechanical switches ("MEMS") and low-temperature co-fired ceramic ("LTCC") technology and a method of fabricating such phased-array antenna system and other types of radio frequency (RF) devices are disclosed. Each antenna or other type of device includes at least two multilayer ceramic modules (212, 214) and a MEMS device (211) fabricated on one of the modules (212). Once fabrication of the MEMS device (211) is completed, the two ceramic modules (212, 214) are bonded together, hermetically sealing the MEMS device, as well as allowing electrical connections between all device layers. The bottom ceramic module (212) has also cavities (241) at the backside for mounting integrated circuits (220). The internal layers (236) are formed using conducting, resistive and high-k dielectric pastes available in standard LTCC fabrication and low-loss dielectric LTCC tape materials.
Abstract:
A bistable structure provided by the invention is characterized as including a deflection element that has mechanically constrained end points and a compliant span between the end points that is substantially free to deflect between two stable positions when a force is applied at a point along the span. The deflection element span is provided, as-fabricated, curved in one of the two stable positions and in a mechanically unstressed condition along the length of the span. The as-fabricated curve of the deflection element span includes a curve maxima at a point along the span length that is at least about 1/4 of the span length from the end points of the span. The deflection element span is constrained to substantially prohibit development of a second bending mode that is characteristic for the span as the element deflects between the stable positions.
Abstract:
A bistable structure provided by the invention is characterized as including a deflection element that has mechanically constrained end points and a compliant span between the end points that is substantially free to deflect between two stable positions when a force is applied at a point along the span. The deflection element span is provided, as-fabricated, curved in one of the two stable positions and in a mechanically unstressed condition along the length of the span. The as-fabricated curve of the deflection element span includes a curve maxima at a point along the span length that is at least about 1/4 of the span length from the end points of the span. The deflection element span is constrained to substantially prohibit development of a second bending mode that is characteristic for the span as the element deflects between the stable positions.
Abstract:
Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) structures, methods of manufacture and design structures are provided. The method of forming a MEMS structure includes forming fixed actuator electrodes and a contact point on a substrate. The method further includes forming a MEMS beam over the fixed actuator electrodes and the contact point. The method further includes forming an array of actuator electrodes in alignment with portions of the fixed actuator electrodes, which are sized and dimensioned to prevent the MEMS beam from collapsing on the fixed actuator electrodes after repeating cycling. The array of actuator electrodes are formed in direct contact with at least one of an underside of the MEMS beam and a surface of the fixed actuator electrodes.
Abstract:
Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) structures, methods of manufacture and design structures are provided. The method of forming a MEMS structure includes forming fixed actuator electrodes and a contact point on a substrate. The method further includes forming a MEMS beam over the fixed actuator electrodes and the contact point. The method further includes forming an array of actuator electrodes in alignment with portions of the fixed actuator electrodes, which are sized and dimensioned to prevent the MEMS beam from collapsing on the fixed actuator electrodes after repeating cycling. The array of actuator electrodes are formed in direct contact with at least one of an underside of the MEMS beam and a surface of the fixed actuator electrodes.
Abstract:
An electrical circuit comprising at least two negative capacitance insulators connected in series, one of the two negative capacitance insulators is biased to generate a negative capacitance. One of the negative capacitance insulators may include an air-gap which is part of a nanoelectromechnical system (NEMS) device and the second negative capacitance insulator includes a ferroelectric material. Both of the negative capacitance insulators may be located between the channel and gate of a field effect transistor. The NEMS device may include a movable electrode, a dielectric and a fixed electrode and arranged so that the movable electrode is attached to at least two points and spaced apart from the dielectric and fixed electrode, and the ferroelectric capacitor is electrically connected to either of the electrodes.