Abstract:
A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a first substrate including a first face and a second face opposite the first face. A second substrate is bonded to the first face of the first substrate such that the second face of the first substrate faces away from the second substrate. One or more recesses are arranged in the second face of the first substrate and are configured to compensate for thermal expansion or thermal contraction.
Abstract:
One example discloses an chip, comprising: a substrate; a first side of a passivation layer coupled to the substrate; a device, having a device height and a cavity, wherein a first device surface is coupled to a second side of the passivation layer which is opposite to the first side of the passivation layer; and a set of structures coupled to the second side of the passivation layer and configured to have a structure height greater than or equal to the device height.
Abstract:
One example discloses an chip, comprising: a substrate; a first side of a passivation layer coupled to the substrate; a device, having a device height and a cavity, wherein a first device surface is coupled to a second side of the passivation layer which is opposite to the first side of the passivation layer; and a set of structures coupled to the second side of the passivation layer and configured to have a structure height greater than or equal to the device height.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a machine for machining a part by micro-electrical discharge machining, said machine comprising a mechanism (44, 45, 46, 48) for modifying the configuration of the machine so as to alternatively and reversibly switch from a machining configuration to a sharpening configuration in which the tip of a same etching electrode (20) and another electrode (64) are dipped in an electrolyte bath in order to sharpen the tip of the etching electrode by electrochemnical corrosion.
Abstract:
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes patterning a layer of photoresist onto a surface of a wafer to define metal feature areas and residual metal areas. A layer of metal is deposited over the patterned layer of photoresist, the metal layer includes metal feature portions in the metal feature areas, residual metal areas in the residual metal areas, and residual metal flaps at the edges of the metal feature portions. The wafer is sprayed with high-pressure solvent at a pressure to dissolve the layer of photoresist and to physically remove the residual metal portions from the residual metal areas, leaving only at least a portion of the residual metal flaps. The wafer is sprayed with a stream of frozen gas particles to remove the residual metal flaps.
Abstract:
In one aspect, the invention includes a method of forming a void region associated with a substrate, comprising: a) providing a substrate; b) forming a sacrificial mass over the substrate; c) subjecting the mass to hydrogen to convert a component of the mass to a volatile form; and d) volatilizing the volatile form of the component from the mass to leave a void region associated with the substrate. In another aspect, the invention includes a method of forming a capacitor construction, comprising: a) forming a first capacitor electrode over a substrate; b) forming a sacrificial material proximate the first capacitor electrode; c) forming a second capacitor electrode proximate the sacrificial material, the second capacitor electrode being separated from the first capacitor electrode by the sacrificial material, at least one of the first and second electrodes being a metal-comprising layer; and d) subjecting the sacrificial material to conditions which transport a component from the sacrificial material to the metal-comprising layer, the transported component leaving a void region between the first and second capacitor electrodes.
Abstract:
A semiconductor package that contains an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) die and a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) die. The MEMS die and the ASIC die are coupled to a substrate that includes an opening that extends through the substrate and is in fluid communication with an air cavity positioned between and separating the MEMS die from the substrate. The opening exposes the air cavity to an external environment and, following this, the air cavity exposes a MEMS element of the MEMS die to the external environment. The air cavity separating the MEMS die from the substrate is formed with a method of manufacturing that utilizes a thermally decomposable die attach material.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a microelectrode platform that may be used for multiple biosystem applications including cell culturing techniques and biosensing. Also disclosed are microfabrication techniques for inexpensively producing microelectrode platforms.
Abstract:
MEMS devices (40) using etched cavities (42) are desirably formed using multiple etching steps. Preliminary cavities (20) formed by locally anisotropic etching to nearly the final depth have irregular (46) sidewalls (44) and steep and/or inconsistent sidewall (44) to bottom (54) intersection angles (48). This leads to less than desired cavity diaphragm (26) burst strengths. Final cavities (42) with smooth sidewalls (50), smaller and consistent sidewall (50) to bottom (54) intersection angles (58), and having more than doubled cavity diaphragm (26) burst strengths are obtained by treating the preliminary cavities (20) with TMAH etchant, preferably relatively dilute TMAH etchant. In a preferred embodiment, a cleaning step is performed between the etching step and the TMAH treatment step to remove any anisotropic etching by-products present on the preliminary cavities' (20) initial sidewalls (44). The multi-step cavity etching procedure is especially useful for forming robust MEMS pressure sensors, but is applicable to any type of MEMS device.
Abstract:
A method of nanomachining is provided. The method includes plunging a nanometer-scaled tip into a surface of a substrate at a first location in a first direction that is substantially perpendicular to the surface, thereby displacing a first portion of the substrate with the tip. The method also includes withdrawing the tip from the substrate in a second direction that is substantially opposite to the first direction. The method further includes moving at least one of the tip and the substrate laterally relative to each other. In addition, the method also includes plunging the tip into the substrate at a second location in a third direction that is substantially parallel to the first direction, thereby displacing a second portion of the substrate with the tip and withdrawing the tip from the substrate in a fourth direction that is substantially opposite to the third direction.