Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to a MEMS device and a method of manufacture thereof. The RF electrode, and hence, the dielectric layer thereover, has a curved upper surface that substantially matches the contact area of the bottom surface of the movable plate. As such, the movable plate is able to have good contact with the dielectric layer and thus, good capacitance is achieved.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a microfluidic device comprising: a substrate provided with a fluid channel; a plurality of electro osmotic flow drive sections for providing electro osmotic flow in the channel, each drive section comprising electric field electrodes, exposed to the channel, and one or more gate electrodes, separated from the channel by an insulating layer, and control means connected to said electrodes of each drive section so as to control the direction of the electro osmotic flow in the channel.
Abstract:
A semiconductor accelerometer is formed by attaching a semiconductor layer to a handle wafer by a thick oxide layer. Accelerometer geometry is patterned in the semiconductor layer, which is then used as a mask to etch out a cavity in the underlying thick oxide. The mask may include one or more apertures, so that a mass region will have corresponding apertures to the underlying oxide layer. The structure resulting from an oxide etch has the intended accelerometer geometry of a large volume mass region supported in cantilever fashion by a plurality of piezo-resistive arm regions to a surrounding, supporting portion of the semiconductor layer. Directly beneath this accelerometer geometry is a flex-accommodating cavity realized by the removal of the underlying oxide layer. The semiconductor layer remains attached to the handle wafer by means of the thick oxide layer that surrounds the accelerometer geometry, and which was adequately masked by the surrounding portion of the top semiconductor layer during the oxide etch step. In a second embodiment support arm regions are dimensioned separately from the mass region, using a plurality of buried oxide regions as semiconductor etch stops.
Abstract:
Some embodiments of the present invention provide processes and apparatus for electrochemically fabricating multilayer structures (98) (e.g. mesoscale or microscale structures) with improved endpoint detection and parallelism maintenance for materials (e.g. layers) that are planarized during the electrochemical fabrication process. Some methods involve the use of a fixture during planarization that ensures that planarized planes of material are parallel to other deposited planes within a given tolerance. Some methods involve the use of an endpoint detection fixture (292, 294, 296, 298) that ensures precise heights of deposited materials relative to an initial surface of a substrate (82), relative to a first deposited layer, or relative to some other layer formed during the fabrication process. In some embodiments planarization may occur via lapping while other embodiments may use a diamond fly cutting machine (408).
Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to the formation of a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) cantilever switch in a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) back end of the line (BEOL) process. The cantilever switch is formed in electrical communication with a lower electrode in the structure. The lower electrode may be either blanket deposited and patterned or simply deposited in vias or trenches of the underlying structure. The excess material used for the lower electrode is then planarized by chemical mechanical polishing or planarization (CMP). The cantilever switch is then formed over the planarized lower electrode.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: a bonding step of bonding a first substrate with optical transparency and a second substrate having a surface on which a functional element is provided to each other such that the functional element faces the first substrate; a thinning step of thinning at least one of the first and second substrates; and a through-hole forming step of forming a cavity and a through-hole communicated with the cavity in at least part of a bonding portion between the first and second substrates. According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent irregularities or cracks caused by the presence or absence of the cavity and more regularly thin the substrate. In addition, it is possible to manufacture a semiconductor device capable of contributing to the miniaturization of devices and electronic equipment having the devices, using a more convenient process.
Abstract:
Some embodiments of the present invention provide processes and apparatus for electrochemically fabricating multilayer structures (98) (e.g. mesoscale or microscale structures) with improved endpoint detection and parallelism maintenance for materials (e.g. layers) that are planarized during the electrochemical fabrication process. Some methods involve the use of a fixture during planarization that ensures that planarized planes of material are parallel to other deposited planes within a given tolerance. Some methods involve the use of an endpoint detection fixture (292, 294, 296, 298) that ensures precise heights of deposited materials relative to an initial surface of a substrate (82), relative to a first deposited layer, or relative to some other layer formed during the fabrication process. In some embodiments planarization may occur via lapping while other embodiments may use a diamond fly cutting machine (408).
Abstract:
On produit un accéléromètre à semi-conducteurs en fixant une couche semi-conductrice à une tranche de support par l'intermédiaire d'une couche d'oxyde épaisse. Une configuraton d'accéléromètre est produite dans la couche semi-conductrice, qui est alors utilisée comme un masque permettant de graver une cavité dans l'oxyde épais sous-jacent. Le masque peut comprendre une ou plusieurs ouvertures, de sorte qu'une région formant la masse présentera des ouvertures correspondantes à celles de la couche d'oxyde sous-jacente. La structure obtenue à partir d'une gravure d'oxyde présente la configuration d'accéléromètre prescrite composée d'une région formant une masse de large volume soutenue en porte-à-faux par une multiplicité de régions piézorésistives en forme de bras qui relient la masse à une partie de support périphérique de la couche semi-conductrice. Immédiatement au-dessous de cette configuration d'accéléromètre se trouve une cavité destinée à la flexion, créée lorsqu'on enlève la couche d'oxyde sous-jacente. La couche semi-conductrice demeure fixée à la tranche de support par l'intermédiaire de la couche d'oxyde épaisse qui entoure la configuration d'accéléromètre, et qui a été masquée de manière appropriée par la partie périphérique de la couche semi-conductrice supérieure au cours de l'étape de gravure de l'oxyde. Selon un second mode de réalisation, les régions de support en forme de bras sont dimensionnées séparément de la région formant la masse, et l'on utilise une multiplicité de régions d'oxyde enfouies comme élément d'arrêt de gravure de semi-conducteur.