Abstract:
MEMS Switch Designs and Related Methods. According to one embodiment, a movable, trilayered microcomponent suspended over a substrate is provided and includes a first electrically conductive layer patterned to define a movable electrode. The first metal layer is separated from the substrate by a gap. The microcomponent further includes a dielectric layer formed on the first metal layer and having an end fixed with respect to the substrate. Furthermore, the microcomponent includes a second electrically conductive layer formed on the dielectric layer and patterned to define an electrode interconnect for electrically communicating with the movable electrode.
Abstract:
According to one embodiment, a movable MEMS component (100) suspended over a substrate (102) is provided. The component (100) can include a structural layer (112) having a movable electrode (114) separated from a substrate (102) by a gap. The component (100) can also include at least one standoff bump (118) attached to the structural layer (112) and extending into the gap for preventing contact of the movable electrode (114) with conductive material when the component moves.
Abstract:
A method for fabricating a trilayered beam MEMS device includes depositing a sacrificial layer (310) on a substrate and depositing and removing a portion of a first conductive layer on the sacrificial layer (310) to form a first conductive microstructure (312); depositing a structural layer (322) on the first conductive microstructure (312); the sacrificial layer (310), and the substrate (300) and forming a via through the structural layer (322) to the first conductive microstructure (312); depositing a second conductive layer (336) on the structural layer (322) and in the via; forming a second conductive microstructure (324) by removing a portion of the second conductive layer (336), wherein the second conductive microstructure (324) electrically communicates with the first conductive microstructure (312) through the via; and removing a sufficient amount of the sacrificial layer (310) so as to separate the first conductive microstructure (312) from the substrate, wherein the structural layer (322) is supported by the substrate at a first end is freely suspended above the substrate at an opposing second end.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method of producing a microsystem structure with lateral gaps and the corresponding microsystem structure. The inventive method consists in: (a) depositing a first sacrificial layer (CS1) on the substrate (S); (b) forming a structural element (SE), add-on structure, on said sacrificial layer, which is intended to form a mobile add-on structure with two degrees of freedom (YY, XX); (c) covering the free surface of the structural element (SE) with a second sacrificial layer of thickness e = dg which is equal to the linear dimension of the gap; (d) covering the first sacrificial layer (CS1) and the free surface of the second sacrificial layer (CS2) with a layer of material (SM) which is intended to form another add-on structure; and (e) etching the second sacrificial layer (CS2) and subsequently the first sacrificial layer (CS1) so as to prevent, at least partially, any contact between the structural element (SE) in the direction of the first and second degree of freedom and any other add-on structure and the substrate (S), in order to produce lateral gaps having a width that is essentially equal to the thickness of the sacrificial layer (CS2). The invention is suitable for the production of microsystem structures and components containing same.
Abstract:
The invention provides a microfabrication process which may be used to manufacture a MEMS device. The process comprises depositing one or a stack of layers on a base layer, said one layer or an uppermost layer in said stack of layers being a sacrificial layer; patterning said one or a stack of layers to provide at least one aperture therethrough through which said base layer is exposed; depositing a photosensitive layer over said one or a stack of layers; and passing light through said at least one aperture to expose said photosensitive layer.
Abstract:
The present invention provides an electrostatic drive type MEMS device and a manufacturing method thereof, in which flattening the surface of a driving side electrode, improving performance, and further the improvements of the degree of freedom of designing in the manufacturing process are implemented. In addition, the present invention provides a GLV device using this MEMS device, and further a laser display using this GLV device. In the present invention an electrostatic drive type MEMS device includes a substrate side electrode and a beam having a driving side electrode driven by electrostatic attraction force or electrostatic repulsion force that acts between the substrate side electrode and driving side electrode, in which the substrate side electrode is formed of an impurities-doped conductive semiconductor region in a semiconductor substrate.
Abstract:
Monolithically integrated pressure sensors of outstanding quality and versatility are produced through micromechanical surface structures definition techniques. A microphonic cavity in the semiconductor substrate is monolithically formed by cutting by plasma etching the front side or the back side of the silicon wafer a plurality of trenches or holes deep enough to extend for at least part of its thickness into a purposely made doped buried layer of opposite type of conductivity of the substrate and of the epitaxial layer grown over it; electrochemically etching through such trenches, the silicon of the buried layer with an electrolytic solution suitable for selectively etching the doped silicon of said opposite type of conductivity, making the silicon of the buried layer porous; and oxidizing and leaching away the silicon so made porous. Preferably, the trenches or holes for accessing the doped buried layer are cut through the epitaxial layer and not through the rear of the monocrystalline silicon substrate thus avoiding the burden of precisely aligning the mask on the rear surface with the masks that are used on the front surface of the substrate. Moreover, the thickness of the substrate is normally much greater than that of the epitaxial layer and thus the need to cut relatively deep and narrow trenches requiring the use of special plasma etching equipment is avoided.
Abstract:
A fabrication method for a MEMS structure, the MEMS structure including a fixing portion fixed to the substrate and a floating portion floating above the substrate. A sacrificial layer deposited on the substrate is patterned to have a groove forming a space surrounding the area corresponding to the area in which the fixing portion is to be formed. If the MEMS structure is deposited on the sacrificial layer, a sidewall is formed inside the space and the fixing portion and the floating portion are formed on the sacrificial layer. If the sacrificial layer is removed using an etchant, the sacrificial layer at the bottom of the fixing portion is protected from the etchant by the sidewall and accordingly, the sacrificial layer except the area surrounded by the sidewall is removed. Therefore, only the sacrificial layer under the floating portion is removed. Because the connecting portion is fabricated to have the same thickness as the fixing portion and the floating portion, a strong/durable MEMS structure is provided. Additionally, the boundary between the fixing portion and the floating portion can be precisely determined, and adjustment of the length of the floating portion can be precisely controlled.
Abstract:
A micro mechanical component, in particular an accelerometer, of the present invention comprises a diamond base, and a diamond cantilever supported on the base and relatively driving to the base. A process for producing a micromechanical component involves forming of a dummy layer promoting the growth of diamond, depositing a diamond layer by vapor phase synthesis (CVD), and removing said dummy layer.