Abstract:
Method for manufacturing a semiconductor pressure sensor, wherein, in a silicon substrate (2), trenches (6a) are dug and delimit walls (7a); a closing layer (10) is epitaxially grown, that closes the trenches (6a) at the top and forms a suspended membrane (13); a heat treatment is performed so as to cause migration of the silicon of the walls (7a) and to form a closed cavity (11) underneath the suspended membrane; and structures (25a, 25b, 26a-26d) are formed for transducing the deflection of the suspended membrane (13) into electrical signals.
Abstract:
An integrated semiconductor chemical microreactor (21) for real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) monitoring, has a monolithic body (2) of semiconductor material; a number of buried channels (3) formed in the monolithic body (2); an inlet trench (14) and an outlet trench (15) for each buried channel (3); and a monitoring trench (16) for each buried channel (3), extending between the inlet and outlet trenches (14, 15) thereof from the top surface (4) of the monolithic body (2) to the respective buried channel (3). Real-time PCR monitoring is carried out by channeling light beams into the buried channels (3), whereby the light beams impinge on the fluid therein, and by collecting and processing light beams coming out from the monitoring trenches (16) and emitted by the fluid within the buried channels (3).
Abstract:
Integrated microreactor, formed in a monolithic body (50) and including a semiconductor material region (2, 23) and an insulating layer (25, 30); a buried channel (21) extending in the semiconductor material region; a first and a second access trench (40a, 40b) extending in the semiconductor material region (2, 23) and in the insulating layer (25, 30), and in communication with the buried channel (21); a first and a second reservoir (41a, 41b) formed on top of the insulating layer (25, 30) and in communication with the first and the second access trench; a suspended diaphragm (45) formed by the insulating layer (25, 30), laterally to the buried channel (21); and a detection electrode (28), supported by the suspended diaphragm (45), above the insulating layer (25, 30), and inside the second reservoir.
Abstract:
The process comprises the steps of forming, on top of a semiconductor material wafer (10), a holed mask (16) having a lattice structure and comprising a plurality of openings (18) each having a substantially square shape and a side with an inclination of 45° with respect to the flat (110) of the wafer; carrying out an anisotropic etch in TMAH of the wafer (10), using said holed mask (16), thus forming a cavity (20), the cross section of which has the shape of an upside-down isosceles trapezium; and carrying out a chemical vapour deposition (CVD) using TEOS, thus forming a TEOS layer (24) which completely closes the openings of the holed mask (16) and defines a diaphragm (26) overlying the cavity (20) and on which a suspended integrated structure can subsequently be manufactured.
Abstract:
The process comprises the steps of forming, in a wafer (1) of monocrystalline semiconductor material, trenches (45) extending between, and delimiting laterally, protruding regions (48); forming masking regions (55, 56), implanted with nitrogen ions, the masking regions surrounding completely the tips of the protruding regions (48); and forming retarding regions (57) on the bottom of the trenches (45), wherein nitrogen is implanted at a lower dose than the masking regions. A thermal oxidation is then carried out and starts at the bottom portion of the protruding regions (48) and then proceeds downwards; thereby, a continuous region (65) of buried oxide is formed and is overlaid by non-oxidized regions (60) corresponding to the tips of the protruding regions and forming nucleus regions for a subsequent epitaxial growth. The masking regions (55, 56) and the retarding regions (57) are formed through two sucdessive implants, including an angle implant, wherein the protruding regions (48) shield the bottom portions of the adjacent protruding regions (48), as well as the bottom of the trenches (45), and a is made perpendicularly to the wafer (1).
Abstract:
The method allows formation of buried cavities in a wafer (25) of monocrystalline semiconductor material. Initially, at least one cavity (21) is formed in a substrate (10) of monocrystalline semiconductor material, by timed TMAH etching silicon, then the cavity is covered with a material inhibiting epitaxial growth (22); finally, a monocrystalline epitaxial layer (26) is grown above the substrate (10) and the cavities (21). Thereby, the cavity (21) is completely surrounded by monocrystalline material. Starting from this wafer, it is possible to form a thin membrane (52). The original wafer (25) must have a plurality of elongate cavities or channels (21), parallel and adjacent to one another. Trenches (44) are then excavated in the epitaxial layer (26), as far as the channels (21), and the dividers between the channels are removed by timed TMAH etching.