Abstract:
An example provides a method including providing a substrate including an area having a plurality of pores and etching the area of the substrate to remove the plurality of pores to form a recess in the substrate. In some examples, the recess may form, at least in part, a device.
Abstract:
A method of forming a suspended beam in a MEMS process is disclosed. In the process a pit (8) is etched into a substrate (5). Sacrificial material (10) is deposited in the pit (8) and on the surrounding substrate surface. The sacrificial material (10) is then removed from the surrounding substrate surface and from the periphery of the pit (8) so that there is a gap between the sacrificial material and at least two sidewalls of the pit. The sacrificial material is then heated so that it reftows such that the remaining sacrificial material contacts the sidewalls of the pit. Material for the beam (12), which is typically a metal, is then deposited on the substrate surface and the reflowed sacrificial material, and the sacrificial material is then removed to form the suspended beam. The beam could be used as the heating element in an inkjet printer.
Abstract:
A slot (18) is formed that reaches through a first side (21) of a silicon substrate (12) to a second side of the silicon substrate (12). A trench (15) is laser patterned. The trench (15) has a mouth at the first side (21) of the silicon substrate (12). The trench (15) does not reach the second side of the silicon substrate (12). the trench (15) is dry etched until a depth of at least a portion of the trench (15) is extended approximately to the second side of the silicon substrate (12). A wet etch is performed to complete formation of the slot (18). the wet etch etches silicon from all surfaces of the trench (15).
Abstract:
A thermal bend actuator ( 6 ) is provided with a group of upper arms ( 23, 25, 26 ) and a group of lower arms ( 27, 28 ) which are non planar, so increasing the stiffness of the arms. The arms ( 23, 25, 26,27,28 ) may be spaced transversely of each other and do not overly each other in plan view, so enabling all arms to be formed by depositing a single layer of arm forming material
Abstract:
Three dimensional silicon structures are fabricated from {100} silicon wafers by a single side, multiple step ODE etching process. All etching masks (26, 28) are formed one on top of the other prior to the initiation of etching, with the coarsest mask (28) formed last and used first. Once the coarse anisotropic etching is completed, the coarse mask is removed and the finer anisotropic etching is done. The three dimensional structure may be a thermal ink jet channel plate, in which case the etching process is a two-step process in which the coarse etching step provides the ink reservoir (30) and the fine etching step provides the ink channels (32).
Abstract:
Fluidic cartridges, and manufacture thereof, having a plurality of circuit element subtypes containing pneumatically operated diaphragm members, where the diaphragm materials are selected for yield point, chemical resistance, breathability and other properties individually according to the fluidic element subtype are provided. A process of in-situ edge-bonded decoupage for forming diaphragm members inside a cartridge, and fluidic circuits having diaphragm members as active and passive circuit elements, including pumps, valves, vents, waste receptacles, reagent reservoirs, and cuvettes with optical windows, where the material composition of each individual diaphragm member may be selected from an assortment of materials during manufacture are also provided.