Abstract:
A method of manufacturing an external force detection sensor in which a sensor element is formed by through-hole (20) dry etching of an element substrate (3), and an electrically conductive material is used as an etching stop layer (18) during the dry etching.
Abstract:
The present invention provides merged-mask processes for fabricating micromachined devices in general and mirrored assemblies for use in optical scanning devices in particular. A method of fabricating a three dimensional structure, comprising, providing a substrate, applying a layer of a first masking material onto the substrate, applying a layer of a second masking material onto the layer of the first masking material, patterning the layer of the second masking material, applying a layer of a third masking material onto the portions not covered by the patterned layer of the second masking material, the layer of the third masking material is at least as thick as the combined thickness of the layers of the first and second masking materials, patterning the layers of the first and third masking materials, etching the exposed portions of the substrate, etching the exposed portions of the layers of the first and third masking materials and etching the exposed portions of the substrate.
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:
A method of manufacturing an external force detection sensor in which a sensor element is formed by through-hole (20) dry etching of an element substrate (3), and an electrically conductive material is used as an etching stop layer (18) during the dry etching.
Abstract:
The invention provides a single mask, low temperature reactive ion etching process for fabricating high aspect ratio, released single crystal microelectromechanical structures independent of crystal orientation. A dielectric mask (12) on a single-crystal substrate (154) is patterned to define isolating trenches. A protective conformal layer (28) is applied to the resultant structure. The conformal layer (28) on the floor of the trenches is removed and a second etch deepens the trench to expose the mesa walls which are removed during the release step by isotropic etching. A metal layer (44) is formed on the resultant structure providing opposed plates (156) and (158) of a capacitor. The cantilever beam (52) with the supporting end wall (152) extends the grid-like structure (150) into the protection of the deepened isolation trenches (54). A membrane can be added to the released structures to increase their weight for use in accelerometers, and polished for use as movable mirrors.
Abstract:
A two etchant etch method for etching a layer that is part of a masked structure is described. The method is useful, for example, in microelectrical mechanical system (MEMS) applications, and in the fabrication of integrated circuits and other electronic devices. The method can be used advantageously to optimize a plasma etch process capable of etching strict profile control trenches with 89° +/-1° sidewalls in silicon layers formed as part of a mask structure where the mask structure induces variations in etch rate. The inventive two etchant etch method etches a layer in a structure with a first etchant etch until a layer in a fastest etching region is etched. The layer is then etched with a second etchant until a layer in a region with a slowest etch rate is etched. A second etchant may also be selected to provide sidewall passivation and selectivity to an underlying layer of the structure.