Abstract:
A process cycles between etching and passivating chemistries to create rough sidewalls that are converted into small structures. In one embodiment, a mask is used to define lines in a single crystal silicon wafer. The process creates ripples on sidewalls of the lines corresponding to the cycles. The lines are oxidized in one embodiment to form a silicon wire corresponding to each ripple. The oxide is removed in a further embodiment to form structures ranging from micro sharp tips to photonic arrays of wires. Fluidic channels are formed by oxidizing adjacent rippled sidewalls. The same mask is also used to form other structures for MEMS devices.
Abstract:
A process for facilitating modification of an etched trench is provided. The process comprises: (a) providing a wafer comprising an etched trench, the trench having a photoresist plug at its base; and (b) removing a portion of the photoresist by subjecting the wafer to a biased oxygen plasma etch. The process is particularly suitable for preparing a trench for subsequent argon ion milling. Printhead integrated circuits fabricated by a process according to the invention have improved ink channel surface profiles and/or surface properties.
Abstract:
A semiconductor wafer comprises an SOI comprising a device layer on an oxide layer supported on a handle layer. Micro-mirrors are formed in the device layer, and access bores extend through the handle layer and the oxide layer to the micro-mirrors for accommodating optical fibers to the micro-mirrors. The access bores are accurately aligned with the micro-mirrors, and the access bores are accurately formed of circular cross-section. Each access bore comprises a tapered lead-in portion extending to a parallel portion. The diameter of the parallel portion is selected so that the optical fibers are a tight fit therein for securing the optical fibers in alignment with the micro-mirrors. The tapered lead-in portions of the access bores are formed to a first depth by a first dry isotropic etch for accurately forming the taper and the circular cross-section of the tapered lead-in portions. The parallel portions are formed from the first depth to a second face of the handle layer by a second dry etch, namely, an anisotropic etch carried out using the Bosch process. By so etching the access bores the access bores are accurately formed of circular transverse cross-section and of accurate dimensions.
Abstract:
Improved fabrication processes for microelectromechanical structures, and unique structures fabricated by the improved processes are disclosed. In its simplest form, the fabrication process is a modification of the know SCREAM process, extended and used in such a way as to produce a combined vertical etch and release RIE process, which may be referred to as a “combination etch”. Fabrication of a single-level micromechanical structure using the process of the present invention includes a novel dry etching process to shape and release suspended single crystal silicon elements, the process combining vertical silicon reactive ion etching (Si-RIE) and release etches to eliminate the need to deposit and pattern silicon dioxide mask layers on the sides of suspended structures and to reduce the mechanical stresses in suspended structures caused by deposited silicon dioxide films.
Abstract:
A method for adjusting with high precision the width of gaps between micromachined structures or devices in an epitaxial reactor environment. Providing a partially formed micromechanical device, comprising a substrate layer, a sacrificial layer including silicon dioxide deposited or grown on the substrate and etched to create desired holes and/or trenches through to the substrate layer, and a function layer deposited on the sacrificial layer and the exposed portions of the substrate layer and then etched to define micromechanical structures or devices therein. The etching process exposes the sacrificial layer underlying the removed function layer material. Cleaning residues from the surface of the device, then epitaxially depositing a layer of gap narrowing material selectively on the surfaces of the device. The selection of deposition surfaces determined by choice of materials and the temperature and pressure of the epitaxy carrier gas. The gap narrowing epitaxial deposition continues until a desired gap width is achieved, as determined by, for example, an optical detection arrangement. Following the gap narrowing step, the micromachined structures or devices may be released from their respective underlying sacrificial layer.
Abstract:
A method of anisotropic plasma etching of silicon to provide laterally defined recess structures therein through an etching mask employing a plasma, the method including anisotropic plasma etching in an etching step a surface of the silicon by contact with a reactive etching gas to removed material from the surface of the silicon and provide exposed surfaces; polymerizing in a polymerizing step at least one polymer former contained in the plasma onto the surface of the silicon during which the surfaces that were exposed in a preceding etching step are covered by a polymer layer thereby forming a temporary etching stop; and alternatingly repeating the etching step and the polymerizing step. The method provides a high mask selectivity simultaneous with a very high anisotropy of the etched structures.
Abstract:
La présente invention concerne un substrat microstructuré comportant une pluralité d'au moins une microstructure élémentaire (3) et le procédé de fabrication dudit substrat microstructuré. Ladite au moins une microstructure élémentaire (3), d'une part, présente une forme allongée et des extrémités inférieure (3a) et supérieure (3b) longitudinales opposées, l'extrémité inférieure (3a) étant reliée au substrat et, d'autre part, comporte une cavité ouverte (5) au niveau de son extrémité supérieure (3b), ledit substrat microstructuré comprenant de l'alumine à sa surface. La présente invention concerne également un dispositif de stockage électrique, plus particulièrement une batterie tout solide, comportant le substrat microstructuré selon l'invention.
Abstract:
A method is provided for etching silicon in a plasma processing chamber, having an operating pressure and an operating bias. The method includes: performing a first vertical etch in the silicon to create a hole having a first depth and a sidewall; performing a deposition of a protective layer on the sidewall; performing a second vertical etch to deepen the hole to a second depth and to create a second sidewall, the second sidewall including a first trough, a second trough and a peak, the first trough corresponding to the first sidewall, the second trough corresponding to the second sidewall, the peak being disposed between the first trough and the second trough; and performing a third etch to reduce the peak.
Abstract:
A method of removing a polymeric coating from sidewalls of an etched trench defined in a silicon wafer is provided. The method comprises etching the wafer in a biased plasma etching chamber using an O2 plasma. The chamber temperature is in the range of 90 to 180 °C.