Abstract:
A method of forming a suspended semiconductor film is provided comprising providing a semiconductor structure including a layer of semiconductor film over a sacrificial layer, the semiconductor film secured to a substrate; depositing a film of material over the semiconductor film that has a tensile or compressive strain with respect to the semiconductor film patterning the deposited film to leave opposed segments spaced from each other by a central portion of the semiconductor film; patterning the semiconductor film and removing the sacrificial layer beneath the semiconductor film to leave a semiconductor film section anchored to the substrate at at least two anchor positions, with the film segments remaining on the semiconductor film adjacent to the anchor positions and spaced from each other by the central position of the suspended semiconductor film such that the film segments apply a tensile or compressive stress to the suspended semiconductor film.
Abstract:
A method for controlling residual stress in a structure in a MEMS device and a structure thereof includes selecting a total thickness and an overall equivalent stress for the structure. A thickness for each of at least one set of alternating first and second layers is determined to control an internal stress with respect to a neutral axis for each of the at least alternating first and second layers and to form the structure based on the selected total thickness and the selected overall equivalent stress. Each of the at least alternating first and second layers is deposited to the determined thickness for each of the at least alternating first and second layers to form the structure.
Abstract:
A two-dimensional driving actuator comprises a flat spring structure, and a driver for driving the flat spring structure. The flat spring structure includes a moving plate, a moving inner frame surrounding the moving plate, first torsion bars coupling the moving plate and the moving inner frame so as to allow the moving plate to be vibrated relative to the moving inner frame, a fixed outer frame surrounding the moving inner frame, and second torsion bars coupling the moving inner frame and the fixed outer frame so as to allow the moving inner frame to be vibrated relative to the fixed outer frame. The flat spring structure is manufactured from a single semiconductor substrate. The first and second torsion bars are made of different materials.
Abstract:
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) based sensor comprises: a substrate defining a plane; a first conductive material layer having a first stress, a first portion of the first conductive material layer being connected to the substrate and extending in a substantially parallel direction to the plane defined by the substrate and a second portion being disconnected from the substrate and extending in a substantially non-parallel direction to the plane defined by the substrate; and a sensor material layer formed over at least the second portion of the first conductive material layer, the sensor material layer having a second stress that is less than the first stress of the first conductive material layer. The stresses form a stress gradient that bends the second portion of the first conductive material layer and the sensor material layer formed over the second portion of the first conductive material layer away from the substrate.
Abstract:
A suspended semiconductor film is anchored to a substrate at at least two opposed anchor positions, and film segments are deposited on the semiconductor film adjacent to one or more of the anchor positions to apply either tensile or compressive stress to the semiconductor film between the film segments. A crystalline silicon film may be anchored to the substrate and have tensile stress applied thereto to reduce the lattice mismatch between the silicon and a silicon-germanium layer deposited onto the silicon film. By controlling the level of stress in the silicon film, the size, density and distribution of quantum dots formed in a high germanium content silicon-germanium film deposited on the silicon film can be controlled.
Abstract:
A thin film made of an amorphous material having a supercooled liquid phase region is formed on a substrate. Then, the thin film is heated to a temperature within the supercooled liquid phase region and is deformed by its weight, mechanical external force, electrostatic external force or the like, thereby to form a thin film-structure. Thereafter, the thin film-structure is cooled down to room temperature, which results in the prevention of the thin film's deformation.
Abstract:
A method for controlling bow in wafers which utilize doped layers is described. The method includes depositing a silicon-germanium layer onto a substrate, depositing an undoped buffer layer onto the silicon-germanium layer, and depositing a silicon-baron layer onto the undoped layer.
Abstract:
A method of fabricating an encapsulated micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) and making of same that includes forming a dielectric layer, patterning an upper surface of the dielectric layer to form a trench, forming a release material within the trench, patterning an upper surface of the release material to form another trench, forming a first encapsulating layer that includes sidewalls within the another trench, forming a core layer within the first encapsulating layer, and forming a second encapsulating layer above the core layer, where the second encapsulating layer is connected to the sidewalls of the first encapsulating layer. Alternatively, the method includes forming a multilayer MEMS structure by photomasking processes to form a first metal layer, a second layer including a dielectric layer and a second metal layer, and a third metal layer. The core layer and the encapsulating layers are made of materials with complementary electrical, mechanical and/or magnetic properties.
Abstract:
A cavity forming formed in an encapsulation structure under a vacuum in a vacuum chamber is sealed with a capping layer. A stiff protective layer under tensile stress is deposited on the capping layer prior to venting the vacuum chamber to atmospheric pressure. The capping layer is preferably aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and the protective layer is preferably null-TiN having a suitable high Young's modulus.
Abstract:
A device for use in a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) optical device. The device includes a substrate having opposing first and second sides and a diffusion barrier layer formed over at least the first side. The device further includes a light reflective optical layer formed over the diffusion barrier layer on the first side of the substrate. The second side may desirably have a stress balancing layer located thereover.