Abstract:
The invention relates to a layered micro-electronic and/or micro-mechanic structure, comprising at least three alternating electrically conductive layers with insulating layers between the conductive layers. There is also provided a via in a first outer layer, said via comprising an insulated conductive connection made of wafer native material through the layer, an electrically conductive plug extending through the other layers and into said via in the first outer layer in order to provide conductivity through the layers, and an insulating enclosure surrounding said conductive plug in at least one selected layer of said other layers for insulating said plug from the material in said selected layer. It also relates to micro-electronic and/or micro-mechanic device comprising a movable member provided above a cavity such that it is movable in at least one direction. The device has a layered structure according to the invention. Methods of making such a layered MEMS structure is also provided.
Abstract:
A wafer level method of making a micro-electronic and/or micro-mechanic device, having a capping with electrical wafer through connections (vias), comprising the steps of providing a first wafer of a semiconductor material having a first and a second side and a plurality of holes and/or recesses in the first side, and a barrier structure extending over the wafer on the second side, said barrier comprising an inner layer an insulating material, such as oxide, and an outer layer of another material. Then, metal is applied in said holes so as to cover the walls in the holes and the bottom of the holes. The barrier structure is removed and contacts are provided to the wafer through connections on the back-side of the wafer. Bonding structures are provided on either of said first side or the second side of the wafer. The wafer is bonded to another wafer carrying electronic and micro-electronic/mechanic components, such that the first wafer forms a capping structure covering the second wafer. Finally the wafer is singulated to individual devices.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method of providing a planar substrate with electrical through connections (vias). The method comprises providing a hole in said substrate and a treatment to render the substrate surface exhibiting a lower wettability than the walls inside the hole. The planar substrate is exposed to a molten material with low resistivity, whereby the molten material is drawn into the hole(s). It also relates to a semiconductor wafer as a starting substrate for electronic packaging applications, comprising low resistivity wafer through connections having closely spaced vias.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method of making a fluid communication channel between a micro mechanical structure provided on a front side of a device and the back side of said device. It comprises making the required structural components by lithographic and etching processes on said front side. Holes are then drilled from the back side of said device in precise alignment with the structures on said front side, to provide inlets and/or outlets to and/or from said micromechanical structure.
Abstract:
The invention relates in one aspect to a method of micro-packaging a component. At least a first and a second semi-conductor substrate are provided, one of which has electrical through connections (vias). A depression in either one of said substrates or in both is etched. A component is provided above vias and connected thereto. The substrates are joined to form a sealed package. The invention also relates to a micro-packaged electronic or micromechanic device, comprising a thin-walled casing of a semi-conductor material having electrical through connections through the bottom of the casing. An electronic or micromechanic component is attached to said electrical through connections, and the package is hermetically sealed for maintaining a desired atmosphere, suitably vacuum inside the box.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method of making an electrical connection between a first (top) and a second (bottom) surface of a conducting or semi-conducting substrate. It comprising creating a trench in the first surface, and establishing an insulating enclosure entirely separating a portion of said substrate, defined by said trench. It also relates to a product usable as a starting substrate for the manufacture of micro-electronic and/or micro-mechanic devices, comprising a flat substrate of a semi-conducting or conducting material, and having a first and a second surface and at least one electrically conducting member extending through said substrate. The electrically conducting member is insulated from surrounding material of the flat substrate by a finite layer of an insulating material, and comprises the same material as the substrate, i.e. it is made from the wafer material.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a device comprising a base substrate(700) with a micro component (702) attached thereto. Suitably it is provided with routing elements (704) for conducting signals to and from said component (702). It also comprises spacer members (706) which also can act as conducting structures for routing signals vertically. There is a capping structure (708) of a glass material, provided above the base substrate (700), bonded via said spacer members (706), preferably by eutectic bonding, wherein the capping structure (708) comprises vias (710) comprising metal for providing electrical connection through said capping structure. The vias can be made by a stamping/pressing method entailing pressing needles under heating to soften the glass and applying pressure, to a predetermined depth in the glass. However, other methods are possible, e-g- drilling, etching, blasting.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method of making through-substrate-vias in glass substrates. A first substrate (10) is provided on which a plurality of needles (11) protruding vertically from the substrate are made. A second substrate (14) made of glass is then provided. The substrates are located adjacent each other such that the needles on the first substrate face the second substrate. Heat is applied to a temperature where the glass softens, by heating the glass or the needle substrate or both. A force (F) is applied such that the needles on the first substrate penetrate into the glass to provide impressions in the glass. Finally, the first substrate is removed and material filling the impressions in the second substrate made of glass is provided. There is also provided a device, comprising a silicon substrate (100; 200). There is a cavity (102) in which a MEMS component (104) is accommodated, and a cap wafer (300) made of a material having a low dielectric constant, preferably glass. The cap wafer has through substrate vias of metal, and is bonded to the silicon substrate.
Abstract:
The application discloses a method of providing a metal coating on a substrate (10), and electrically insulating sections/parts of the metal coated substrate from each other. A substrate is provided with an insulating material in the substrate, said insulating first material extending through the thickness of the substrate and protruding above one surface of the substrate. It forms an enclosed section/portion (14) of the substrate. A protective structure (15) is provided on the insulating material such that it covers the entire circumference thereof. The insulating material is selectively etched to create an under-etch (18) under said protective structure. Finally conductive material (19) is deposited to provide a metal coating over the substrate, whereby the underetch will provide a disruption in the deposited metal coating, thereby electrically insulating the enclosed section from the surrounding substrate.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method of making a starting substrate wafer for semiconductor engineering having electrical wafer through connections (140; 192). It comprises providing a wafer (110; 150) having a front side and a back side and having a base of low resistivity silicon and a layer of high resistivity material on the front side. On the wafer there are islands of low resistiviy material in the layer of high resistivity material. The islands are in contact with the silicon base material. Trenches are etched from the back side of the wafer but not all the way through the wafer to provide insulating enclosures defining the wafer through connections(140; 192). The trenches are filled with insulating material. Then the front side of the wafer is grinded to expose the insulating material to create the wafer through connections. Also there is provided a wafer substrate for making integrated electronic circuits and/or components, comprising a low resisitivity silicon base (110) having a high resistivity top layer (122) suitable for semiconductor engineering, characterized by having low resistivity wafer through connections (140).