Abstract:
A method for protecting a material of a microstructure comprising said material and a noble metal layer (8) against undesired galvanic etching during manufacture comprises forming on the structure a sacrificial metal layer (12) having a lower redox potential than said material, the sacrificial metal layer (12) being electrically connected to said noble metal layer (8).
Abstract:
A method is provided for fabricating a MEMS device on a workpiece by forming a mercaptain mask (306) on a gold structure (309). The mask (306) is used to inhibit anodic etching of polysilicon structures (303) during the acid etch process that is used to remove the oxide dielectric layer from the workpiece to expose the polysilicon structures of the MEMS device (303) to allow their movement. The mercaptain can be utilised to adhere to the exposed gold surface (309) to form a self-mask (306) on the gold surface (309). As such, a workpiece having numerous gold surfaces, such as numerous optomechanical switches, each having various types of gold structures, can be placed in a mercaptain solution. The mercaptain selectively coats the gold surfaces to form self-adhering mercaptain masks on all the exposed gold surfaces.
Abstract:
The present invention provides merged-mask processes for fabricating micro-machined devices in general and mirrored assemblies for use in optical scanning devices in particular. The process includes (a) providing a substrate having a predetermined thickness; (b) applying a first masking layer on a first portion of the substrate and a second masking layer on a second portion of the substrate, said second masking layer being at least as thick as the first masking layer; (c) etching a portion of the second masking layer to provide a first exposed portion of the substrate; (d) etching the first exposed portion of the substrate to a first depth; (e) etching the second masking layer to provide a second exposed portion of the substrate; and (f) etching simultaneously the first exposed portion of the substrate to a second depth and the second exposed portion of the substrate to a first depth. The process further comprises patterning the first masking layer before applying the second masking layer to provide the second portion of the substrate for etching and etching the first masking layer to expose the second portion of the substrate. The first and second masking layers are applied prior to etching the substrate.
Abstract:
본 발명에 따르는 방법은 멤브레인 (2) 을 포함하는 기판 (1) 내에 미세 구조물을 제조하는 것에 관한 것이다. 멤브레인 (2) 은 에칭 방법에 의해 야기되는 재료 약화 및 기판 내에 리세스 (3) 를 생성하기 위한 재료 제거에 의하여 생성된다. 이를 위해 제 1 방법 단계에서 유리로 구성된 기판 (1) 내에는 레이저 방사선을 이용하여 둘레 윤곽 (5) 을 따라 개질부들 (4) 이 기판 (1) 내에 도입된다. 이와 같이 개질된 기판 (1) 상에는 제 1 단계에서 습식 화학 에칭조에 대하여 비저항성인 희생층 (6) 이 적용되고 그 위에 에칭 매질에 대해 저항성인 멤브레인층 (7) 이 적용된다. 이후, 추가적으로 도시되지 않은 에칭 매질에 의한 에칭 부식이 수행된다. 이때 에칭 부식은 둘레 윤곽 (5) 을 따라서 기판 재료의 선형, 그루브형 제거를 야기한다. 희생층 (6) 에 도달한 이후, 희생층은 둘레 윤곽 (5) 에 상응하여 횡방향으로 붕해된다. 이를 통해 둘레 윤곽 (5) 에 의하여 에워싸이는 영역은 점착성 또는 결합성을 상실하고 기판 (1) 으로부터 부분적으로 분리될 수 있다.
Abstract:
An acceleration sensor is formed using an etched layer sandwiched between first and second substrates. In this case, a structure including a movable portion which is displaceable in the thickness direction of the substrates, and a support frame are formed in the etched layer. In addition, first and second fixed electrodes are formed on the first and second substrates, respectively, at a position facing the movable portion. Further, a remaining sacrificial layer is provided on the substrate by leaving a portion of a second sacrificial layer when a first sacrificial layer is entirely etched away. Therefore, when the first sacrificial layer is etched away, corrosion of the structure and the support beams is prevented because the second sacrificial layer is preferentially corroded as compared to the structure.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an actuator, an optical scanner, and an image forming apparatus capable of decreasing a moment of inertia when a movable portion is swung by further decreasing variations in the shape of the movable portion during manufacturing as compared with a prior art.SOLUTION: The optical scanner 1 includes a light reflection portion 211 having light reflection characteristics, a plate-like movable portion 21 having the light reflection portion 211 and swingable around the swing center axis, connection portions 23 and 24 connected to the movable portion 21 and twisted accompanied by the swing of the movable portion 21, and a support portion 22 for supporting the connection portions 23 and 24. The movable portion 21 is formed into a shape (cross shape) where four corners of a square are notched to be rectangular when seen from a plane in the plate thickness direction of the movable portion 21. A section perpendicular to the swing center axis of the connection portions 23 and 24 is formed into a shape where a width increases and decreases from the first surface of the movable portion 21 to a second surface facing the first surface.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fine structure formation method improving controllability of etching in fine machining using isotropic etching, and realizing uniform machining even in a large substrate. SOLUTION: In the fine structure formation method, an etching solution is used on a workpiece provided with a mask having a predetermined opening to carry out etching of the workpiece from the opening, and a recess is formed on a surface of the workpiece. Insoluble matter is provided by a reaction between a substance included in the workpiece and the etching solution, and etching is stopped by the insoluble matter accumulated on an exposed face of the workpiece. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT