Abstract:
To form an isolation structure in a semiconductor substrate, at least two trenches are formed with a rib therebetween in the semiconductor substrate, and then the semiconductor material in the area of the trenches and particularly the rib is converted to an electrically insulating material. For example, this is accomplished by thermal oxidation of silicon semiconductor material of the rib.
Abstract:
It is intended to provide a membrane structure element that can be easily manufactured, has an excellent insulating property and high quality; and a method for manufacturing the membrane structure element. The manufacturing method is for manufacturing a membrane structure element including a membrane formed of a silicon oxide film and a substrate which supports the membrane in a hollow state by supporting a part of a periphery of the membrane. The method includes: a film formation step of forming a heat-shrinkable silicon oxide film 13 on a surface of a silicon substrate 2 by plasma CVD method; a heat treatment step of performing a heat treatment to cause the thermal shrinkage of the silicon oxide film 13 formed on the substrate 1; and a removal step of removing a part of the substrate 2 in such a manner that a membrane-corresponding part of the silicon oxide film 13 is supported as a membrane in a hollow state with respect to the substrate 2 to form a recessed part 4.
Abstract:
A method of fabricating a thick silicon dioxide layer without the need for long deposition or oxidation and a device having such a layer are provided. Deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) is used to create high-aspect ratio openings or trenches and microstructures or silicon pillars, which are then oxidized and/or refilled with LPCVD oxide or other deposited silicon oxide films to create layers as thick as the DRIE etched depth allows. Thickness in the range of 10-100 nullm have been achieved. Periodic stiffeners perpendicular to the direction of the trenches are used to provide support for the pillars during oxidation. The resulting SiO2 layer is impermeable and can sustain large pressure difference. Thermal tests show that such thick silicon dioxide diaphragms or layers can effectively thermally isolate heated structures from neighboring structures and devices within a distance of hundred of microns. Such SiO2 diaphragms or layers of thickness 50-60 nullm can sustain an extrinsic shear stress up to 3-5 Mpa. These thick insulating microstructures or layers can be used in thermal, mechanical, fluidic, optical, and bio microsystems.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a method of smoothing a trench sidewall after a deep trench silicon etch process which minimizes sidewall scalloping present after the silicon trench etch. The method comprises exposing the silicon trench sidewall to a plasma generated from a fluorine-containing gas, at a process chamber pressure within the range of about 1 mTorr to about 30 mTorr, for a time period within the range of about 10 seconds to about 600 seconds. A substrate bias voltage within the range of about null10 V to about null40 V is applied during the performance of the post-etch treatment method of the invention.
Abstract:
L' invention concerne la fabrication d'une structure fixe (20) de semi-conducteur définissant un volume (10), par exemple d'un microsystème électromécanique MEMS (1). Le procédé comprend : la détermination préalable (E100) d'épaisseurs Ei en fonction de distances fonctionnelles (b,p,c) associées à des éléments (30, 32, 34), la formation (E210, E220, E230) d'au moins un élément sur un substrat (21), cette formation (E210, E220, E230) comprenant une oxydation thermique (E214, E224, E234) du substrat (21) pour former une couche (23, 26, 27) d'épaisseur E1 en oxyde, suivie d'une gravure sélective (E216, E226, E236) de la couche (23, 26, 27) d'oxyde pour définir ledit volume (10) dans une portion gravée (25) par mise à nu du substrat sous-jacent et pour définir l'élément dans une portion non gravée (24), et une oxydation ultérieure (E240) du substrat pour former une couche (28) d'épaisseur E4 en oxyde, de sorte à obtenir les éléments présentant lesdites distances fonctionnelles.
Abstract:
The invention concerns a micromechanical sensor and a method for the production thereof. According to the invention, the diaphragm can be reliably mounted regardless of process-related vibrations of the cavern etching process and the diaphragm can be provided in any shape due to the fact that a suitable binding of the diaphragm in an oxide layer produced by local oxidation is formed. The micromechanical sensor comprises: at least one substrate (1); an outer oxide layer (9) formed in a laterally outer region (4) in the substrate (1); a diaphragm (15) formed in a laterally inner diaphragm region (5) and having a number of perforations (16), and; a cavern (14) etched into the substrate (1) underneath the diaphragm (15), said diaphragm (15) being suspended in a suspending region (10) of the outer oxide layer (9), this region tapering toward the binding points (12) of the diaphragm (15), and the diaphragm (15) is, in the vertical height thereof, placed between a top side (17) and an underside (19) of the outer oxide layer (9).
Abstract:
The invention relates to methods for producing insulation structures for micromechanical sensors according to a monocrystalline surface technique. According to known methods, silicon structures defined by deep trenches are etched and the lower side thereof facing the substrate is exposed by a release etch step. The filling of said trenches with a dielectrically insulating material, such as silicon dioxide, enables the silicon structure to be solidly clutched on three sides. The invention is based on the fact that instead of filling trenches, thin-walled silicon is converted into an electrically non-conductive material. This can be carried out, for example, by means of thermal oxidation of narrow silicon sections previously exposed by trenches. In a minimal configuration, two trenches (holes) must be etched per section with the desired structural depth. The interlying silicon section must be narrow enough to be able to be fully thermally oxidised.