Abstract:
A scanning device includes a frame, having a central opening, and an array including a plurality of parallel mirrors contained within the central opening of the frame. Hinges respectively connect the mirrors to the frame and define respective, mutually-parallel axes of rotation of the mirrors relative to the frame. A main drive applies a driving force to the array so as to drive an oscillation of the mirrors about the hinges at a resonant frequency of the array. A sensor is configured to detect a discrepancy in a synchronization of the oscillation among the mirrors in the array, and an adjustment circuit applies a corrective signal to at least one of the mirrors in order to alleviate the detected discrepancy.
Abstract:
MEMS devices (such as interferometric modulators) may be fabricated using a sacrificial layer that contains a heat vaporizable polymer to form a gap between a moveable layer and a substrate. One embodiment provides a method of making a MEMS device that includes depositing a polymer layer over a substrate, forming an electrically conductive layer over the polymer layer, and vaporizing at least a portion of the polymer layer to form a cavity between the substrate and the electrically conductive layer. Another embodiment provides a method for making an interferometric modulator that includes providing a substrate, depositing a first electrically conductive material over at least a portion of the substrate, depositing a sacrificial material over at least a portion of the first electrically conductive material, depositing an insulator over the substrate and adjacent to the sacrificial material to form a support structure, and depositing a second electrically conductive material over at least a portion of the sacrificial material, the sacrificial material being removable by heat-vaporization to thereby form a cavity between the first electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer.
Abstract:
A MEMS acoustic transducer provided with: a substrate of semiconductor material, having a back surface and a front surface opposite with respect to a vertical direction; a first cavity formed within the substrate, which extends from the back surface to the front surface; a membrane which is arranged at the upper surface, suspended above the first cavity and anchored along a perimeter thereof to the substrate; and a combfingered electrode arrangement including a number of mobile electrodes coupled to the membrane and a number of fixed electrodes coupled to the substrate and facing respective mobile electrodes for forming a sensing capacitor, wherein a deformation of the membrane as a result of incident acoustic pressure waves causes a capacitive variation of the sensing capacitor. In particular, the combfingered electrode arrangement lies vertically with respect to the membrane and extends parallel thereto.
Abstract:
A method for forming a MEMS structure includes forming, on a MEMS substrate, an interconnect structure having conductive lines and a first conductive plug of a semiconductor material, forming an etch stop layer on the interconnect structure, forming a dielectric layer over the etch stop layer, bonding a silicon substrate over the dielectric layer, forming a second and third conductive plugs of the semiconductor material in the silicon substrate, wherein the second conductive plug is configured to be electrically coupled with the first conductive plug and third conductive plug is configured to function as an anti-stiction bump, forming a MEMS device electrically coupled with the second conductive feature, and forming a bonding pad on the silicon substrate and surrounded by the second conductive plug.
Abstract:
MEMS devices (such as interferometric modulators) may be fabricated using a sacrificial layer that contains a heat vaporizable polymer to form a gap between a moveable layer and a substrate. One embodiment provides a method of making a MEMS device that includes depositing a polymer layer over a substrate, forming an electrically conductive layer over the polymer layer, and vaporizing at least a portion of the polymer layer to form a cavity between the substrate and the electrically conductive layer. Another embodiment provides a method for making an interferometric modulator that includes providing a substrate, depositing a first electrically conductive material over at least a portion of the substrate, depositing a sacrificial material over at least a portion of the first electrically conductive material, depositing an insulator over the substrate and adjacent to the sacrificial material to form a support structure, and depositing a second electrically conductive material over at least a portion of the sacrificial material, the sacrificial material being removable by heat-vaporization to thereby form a cavity between the first electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer.
Abstract:
MEMS accelerometers have a substrate, and a proof mass portion thereof which is separated from the substrate surrounding it by a gap. An electrically-conductive anchor is coupled to the proof mass, and a plurality of electrically-conductive suspension anus that are separated from the proof mass extend from the anchor and are coupled to the substrate surrounding the proof mass. A plurality of sense and actuation electrodes are separated from the proof mass by gaps and are coupled to processing electronics. The fabrication methods use deep reactive ion etch bulk micromachining and surface micromachining to form the proof mass, suspension arms and electrodes. The anchor, suspension arms and electrodes are made in the same process steps from the same electrically conductive material, which is different from the substrate material.
Abstract:
Disclosed are MEMS accelerometers and methods for fabricating same. An exemplary accelerometer comprises a substrate, and a proof mass that is a portion of the substrate and which is separated from the substrate surrounding it by a gap. An electrically-conductive anchor is coupled to the proof mass, and a plurality of electrically-conductive suspension anus that are separated from the proof mass extend from the anchor and are coupled to the substrate surrounding the proof mass. A plurality of sense and actuation electrodes are separated from the proof mass by gaps and are coupled to processing electronics. Capacitive sensing is used to derive electrical signals caused by forces exerted on the proof mass, and the electrical signals are processed by the processing electronics to produce x-, y- and z-direction acceleration data. Electrostatic actuation is used to induce movements of the mass for force balance operation, or self-test and self-calibration. The fabrication methods use deep reactive ion etch bulk micromachining and surface micromachining to form the proof mass, suspension arms and electrodes. The anchor, suspension arms and electrodes are made in the same process steps from the same electrically conductive material, which is different from the substrate material.
Abstract:
Disclosed are MEMS accelerometers and methods for fabricating same. An exemplary accelerometer comprises a substrate, and a proof mass that is a portion of the substrate and which is separated from the substrate surrounding it by a gap. An electrically-conductive anchor is coupled to the proof mass, and a plurality of electrically-conductive suspension anus that are separated from the proof mass extend from the anchor and are coupled to the substrate surrounding the proof mass. A plurality of sense and actuation electrodes are separated from the proof mass by gaps and are coupled to processing electronics. Capacitive sensing is used to derive electrical signals caused by forces exerted on the proof mass, and the electrical signals are processed by the processing electronics to produce x-, y- and z-direction acceleration data. Electrostatic actuation is used to induce movements of the mass for force balance operation, or self-test and self-calibration. The fabrication methods use deep reactive ion etch bulk micromachining and surface micromachining to form the proof mass, suspension arms and electrodes. The anchor, suspension arms and electrodes are made in the same process steps from the same electrically conductive material, which is different from the substrate material.
Abstract:
A manufacturing method of a suspended microstructure includes the steps of providing a substrate having a surface; forming a first depositing layer over a part of the surface; forming a second depositing layer over the first depositing layer and another part of the surface wherein an adhesion between the first depositing layer and the substrate is weaker than that between the second depositing layer and the substrate; forming a hole through the second depositing layer to partially expose the surface of the substrate; and filling the hole with an etchant to remove a part of the substrate so as to form a cavity.
Abstract:
A micro-nano channel structure, a method for manufacturing the micro-nano channel structure, a sensor, a method for manufacturing the sensor, and a microfluidic device are provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure. The micro-nano channel structure includes: a base substrate; a base layer, on the base substrate and including a plurality of protrusions; and a channel wall layer, on a side of the plurality of the protrusions away from the base substrate, and the channel wall layer has a micro-nano channel; a recessed portion is provided between adjacent protrusions of the plurality of the protrusions, and an orthographic projection of the micro-nano channel on the base substrate is located within an orthographic projection of the recessed portion on the base substrate.