Abstract:
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. A first substrate is arranged over a second substrate. A wafer bonding process is performed on the semiconductor device. First regions of the device are enclosed by the bonding process. Second regions of the device remain exposed. One or more processes are performed on the exposed second regions, after performing the wafer bonding process. The one or more processes include a fill process that forms a fill material within the exposed second regions. An edge seal material is applied on the first and second substrates after performing the one or more processes.
Abstract:
A method for manufacturing a protective layer for protecting an intermediate structural layer against etching with hydrofluoric acid, the intermediate structural layer being made of a material that can be etched or damaged by hydrofluoric acid, the method comprising the steps of: forming a first layer of aluminium oxide, by atomic layer deposition, on the intermediate structural layer; performing a thermal crystallization process on the first layer of aluminium oxide, forming a first intermediate protective layer; forming a second layer of aluminium oxide, by atomic layer deposition, above the first intermediate protective layer; and performing a thermal crystallization process on the second layer of aluminium oxide, forming a second intermediate protective layer and thereby completing the formation of the protective layer. The method for forming the protective layer can be used, for example, during the manufacturing steps of an inertial sensor such as a gyroscope or an accelerometer.
Abstract:
New compositions and methods of using those compositions as protective layers during the production of semiconductor and MEMS devices are provided. The compositions comprise a cycloolefin copolymer dispersed or dissolved in a solvent system, and can be used to form layers that protect a substrate during acid etching and other processing and handling. The protective layer can be photosensitive or non-photosensitive, and can be used with or without a primer layer beneath the protective layer. Preferred primer layers comprise a basic polymer in a solvent system.
Abstract:
A method for manufacturing a multi-layer substrate structure such as a CSOI wafer structure (cavity-SOI, silicon-on-insulator) comprising obtaining a first and second wafer, such as two silicon wafers, wherein at least one of the wafers may be optionally provided with a material layer such as an oxide layer (302, 404), forming a cavity on the bond side of the first wafer (306, 406), depositing, preferably by ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition), a material layer, such as thin alumina layer, on either wafer arranged so as to at least in places face the other wafer and cover at least portion of the cavity of the first wafer, such as bottom, wall and/or edge thereof, and enable stopping etching, such as dry etching, into the underlying material (308, 408), and bonding the wafers provided with at least the aforesaid ALD layer as an intermediate layer together to form the multi-layer semiconductor substrate structure (310, 312). A related multi-layer substrate structure is presented.
Abstract:
A method of forming a MEMS device includes forming a sacrificial layer over a substrate. The method further includes forming a metal layer over the sacrificial layer and forming a protection layer overlying the metal layer. The method further includes etching the protection layer and the metal layer to form a structure having a remaining portion of the protection layer formed over a remaining portion of the metal layer. The method further includes etching the sacrificial layer to form a movable portion of the MEMS device, wherein the remaining portion of the protection layer protects the remaining portion of the metal layer during the etching of the sacrificial layer to form the movable portion of the MEMS device.
Abstract:
A method includes forming a MEMS device, forming a bond layer adjacent the MEMS device, and forming a protection layer over the bond layer. The steps of forming the bond layer and the protection layer include in-situ deposition of the bond layer and the protection layer
Abstract:
A method of protecting a substrate during fabrication of semiconductor, MEMS devices. The method includes application of a protective thin film which typically has a thickness ranging from 3 angstroms to about 1,000 angstroms, wherein precursor materials used to deposit the protective thin film are organic-based precursors which include at least one fluorine-comprising functional group at one end of a carbon back bone and at least one functional bonding group at the opposite end of a carbon backbone, and wherein the carbon backbone ranges in length from 4 carbons through about 12 carbons. In many applications at least a portion of the protective thin film is removed during fabrication of the devices.
Abstract:
Techniques for preventing bending/buckling of suspended micro/nanostructures during oxidation are provided. In one aspect, a method for oxidizing a structure is provided. The method includes providing the structure having at least one suspended element selected from the group consisting of: a microstructure, a nanostructure and a combination thereof; surrounding the at least one suspended element in a cladding material; and oxidizing the at least one suspended element through the cladding material, wherein the cladding material physically constrains and thereby prevents distortion of the at least one suspended element during the oxidation.
Abstract:
A method for producing a micromechanical diaphragm sensor, and a micromechanical diaphragm sensor produced with the method. The micromechanical diaphragm sensor has at least one first diaphragm as well as a second diaphragm, which is disposed essentially on top of the first diaphragm. Furthermore, the micromechanical diaphragm sensor has a first cavity and a second cavity, which is essentially disposed above the first cavity.
Abstract:
The method of etching a sacrificial layer according to the present invention includes the steps of forming a sacrificial layer having a protrusive shape on a base layer, forming a covering film covering the sacrificial layer, forming a protective film made of a material whose etching selection ratio to the sacrificial layer is greater than the etching selection ratio of the covering film to the sacrificial layer on a portion of the covering film opposed to the side surface of the sacrificial layer, and etching the sacrificial layer after the formation of the protective film.