Abstract:
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first dielectric layer located above the substrate, a moving-gate transducer, and a proof mass. The moving-gate transducer is at least partially formed within the substrate and is at least partially formed within the first dielectric layer. The proof mass includes a portion of the first dielectric layer and a portion of a silicon layer. The silicon layer is located above the first dielectric layer.
Abstract:
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device may include a MEMS structure above a first substrate. The MEMS structure comprising a central static element, a movable element, and an outer static element. A portion of bonding material between the central static element and the first substrate. A second substrate above the MEMS structure, with a portion of a dielectric layer between the central static element and the second substrate. A supporting post comprises the portion of bonding material, the central static element, and the portion of dielectric material.
Abstract:
An integrated MEMS device comprises two substrates where the first and second substrates are coupled together and have two enclosures there between. One of the first and second substrates includes an outgassing source layer and an outgassing barrier layer to adjust pressure within the two enclosures. The method includes depositing and patterning an outgassing source layer and a first outgassing barrier layer on the substrate, resulting in two cross-sections. In one of the two cross-sections a top surface of the outgassing source layer is not covered by the outgassing barrier layer and in the other of the two cross-sections the outgassing source layer is encapsulated in the outgassing barrier layer. The method also includes depositing conformally a second outgassing barrier layer and etching the second outgassing barrier layer such that a spacer of the second outgassing barrier layer is left on sidewalls of the outgassing source layer.
Abstract:
A distributed sensor system is disclosed that provides spatial and temporal data in an operating environment. The distributed sensor nodes can be coupled together to form a distributed sensor system. For example, a distributed sensor system comprises a collection of Sensor Nodes (SN) that are physically coupled and are able to collect data about the environment in a distributed manner. An example of a distributed sensor system comprises a first sensor node and a second sensor node. Each sensor node has a plurality of sensors or a MIMS device. Each sensor node can also include electronic circuitry or a power source. A joint region is coupled between a first flexible interconnect region and a second flexible interconnect region. The first sensor node is coupled to the first flexible interconnect region. Similarly, the second sensor node is coupled to the second flexible interconnect region.
Abstract:
A cell phone is provided having multiple sensors configured to detect and measure different parameters of interest. The cell phone includes at least one monolithic integrated multi-sensor (MIMS) device. The MIMS device comprises at least two sensors of different types formed on a common semiconductor substrate. For example, the MIMS device can comprise an indirect sensor and a direct sensor. The cell phone couples a first parameter to be measured directly to the direct sensor. Conversely, the cell phone can couple a second parameter to be measured to the indirect sensor indirectly. Other sensors can be added to the cell phone by stacking a sensor to the MIMS device or to another substrate coupled to the MIMS device. This supports integrating multiple sensors such as a microphone, an accelerometer, and a temperature sensor to reduce cost, complexity, simplify assembly, while increasing performance.
Abstract:
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device may include a MEMS structure above a first substrate. The MEMS structure comprising a central static element, a movable element, and an outer static element. A portion of bonding material between the central static element and the first substrate. A second substrate above the MEMS structure, with a portion of a dielectric layer between the central static element and the second substrate. A supporting post comprises the portion of bonding material, the central static element, and the portion of dielectric material.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a sensor with at least one silicon-based micromechanical structure, which is integrated with a sensor chamber of a foundation wafer, and with at least one covering that covers the foundation wafer in the region of the sensor chamber, and to a method for producing a sensor. It is provided that in the sensor of the invention, the covering (13) comprises a first layer (32) (deposition layer) that is permeable to an etching medium and the reaction products, and a hermetically sealing second layer (34) (sealing layer) located above it, and that in the method of the invention, at least the sensor chamber (28) present in the foundation wafer (11) after the establishment of the structure (26) is filled with an oxide (30), in particular CVD oxide or porous oxide; the sensor chamber (28) is covered by a first layer (32) (deposition layer), in particular of polysilicon, that is transparent to an etching medium and the reaction products or is retroactively made transparent; the oxide (30) in the sensor chamber (28) is removed through the deposition layer (32) with the etching medium; and next, a second layer (34) (sealing layer), in particular of metal or an insulator, is applied to the deposition layer (32) and hermetically seals off the sensor chamber (28).
Abstract:
The invention relates to a sensor with at least one silicon-based micromechanical structure, which is integrated with a sensor chamber of a foundation wafer, and with at least one covering that covers the foundation wafer in the region of the sensor chamber, and to a method for producing a sensor. It is provided that in the sensor of the invention, the covering (13) comprises a first layer (32) (deposition layer) that is permeable to an etching medium and the reaction products, and a hermetically sealing second layer (34) (sealing layer) located above it, and that in the method of the invention, at least the sensor chamber (28) present in the foundation wafer (11) after the establishment of the structure (26) is filled with an oxide (30), in particular CVD oxide or porous oxide; the sensor chamber (28) is covered by a first layer (32) (deposition layer), in particular of polysilicon, that is transparent to an etching medium and the reaction products or is retroactively made transparent; the oxide (30) in the sensor chamber (28) is removed through the deposition layer (32) with the etching medium; and next, a second layer (34) (sealing layer), in particular of metal or an insulator, is applied to the deposition layer (32) and hermetically seals off the sensor chamber (28).
Abstract:
A micro device including an insulating substrate having a recess formed on a surface, and a beam-like silicon structure on the front surface of the insulating substrate surrounding the recess. The beam-like structure includes at least one functional section, and the functional section has a supporting section bonded to the insulating substrate and at least one cantilever integral with the supporting section and extending across the recess. The micro device also has an electrically conductive film electrically connected to the supporting section, on the surface of the recess at least directly under a cantilever. The electrically conductive film prevents the surface of the recess from being positively charged in the dry etching process. Thus, an etching gas having a positive charge is not subjected to electrical repulsion from the recess and does not impinge on the back surface of the silicon substrate, and therefore erosion of the cantilever does not occur. As a result, since the beam-like structure is formed with high accuracy in shape and dimensions, the micro device has improved reliability and an improved degree of freedom in design.