Abstract:
The current invention provides for encapsulated release structures, intermediates thereof and methods for their fabrication. The multi-layer structure has a capping layer, that preferably comprises silicon oxide and/or silicon nitride, and which is formed over an etch resistant substrate. A patterned device layer, preferably comprising silicon nitride, is embedded in a sacrificial material, preferably comprising polysilicon, and is disposed between the etch resistant substrate and the capping layer. Access trenches or holes are formed in to capping layer and the sacrificial material are selectively etched through the access trenches, such that portions of the device layer are release from sacrificial material. The etchant preferably comprises a noble gas fluoride NGF2x (wherein Ng=Xe, Kr or Ar: and where x=1, 2 or 3). After etching that sacrificial material, the access trenches are sealed to encapsulate released portions the device layer between the etch resistant substrate and the capping layer. The current invention is particularly useful for fabricating MEMS devices, multiple cavity devices and devices with multiple release features.
Abstract:
A microelectromechanical system comprises a beam and an electrode coupled to the beam via electrostatic interaction. The beam is designed to undergo elastic flexural deformation and has an approximately constant cross section. The beam consists of several flat faces that extend over the length of the beam, each having a thickness of less than an external dimension of the cross section. A flexural vibration frequency of the beam is then increased compared with a solid beam of the same external dimensions. Such a microelectromechanical system is suitable for applications requiring very short transition times, or for producing high-frequency oscillators and resonators.
Abstract:
A method for forming a vibrating micromechanical structure having a single crystal silicon (SCS) micromechanical resonator formed using a two-wafer process, including either a Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) or insulating base and resonator wafers, wherein resonator anchors, capacitive air gap, isolation trenches, and alignment marks are micromachined in an active layer of the base wafer; the active layer of the resonator wafer is bonded directly to the active layer of the base wafer; the handle and dielectric layers of the resonator wafer are removed; windows are opened in the active layer of the resonator wafer; masking the active layer of the resonator wafer with photoresist; a SCS resonator is machined in the active layer of the resonator wafer using silicon dry etch micromachining technology; and the photoresist is subsequently dry stripped. A patterned SCS cover is bonded to the resonator wafer resulting in hermetically sealed chip scale wafer level vacuum packaged devices.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a MEMS structure including forming a porous layer having a predetermined thickness on the top surface of a substrate over an area where a cavity is to be formed; forming the cavity by etching the substrate below the porous layer; forming a membrane layer on the top surface to seal the cavity; and forming a structure on the upper side of the membrane layer. After forming a cantilever structure on the membrane layer and etching the membrane layer, a cantilever structure is produced in a floating state over the cavity. Also, at least one inlet hole and outlet hole can be formed in the porous layer and the membrane, thereby providing a sealed fluidic channel.
Abstract:
Thermally induced frequency variations in a micromechanical resonator are actively or passively mitigated by application of a compensating stiffness, or a compressive/tensile strain. Various composition materials may be selected according to their thermal expansion coefficient and used to form resonator components on a substrate. When exposed to temperature variations, the relative expansion of these composition materials creates a compensating stiffness, or a compressive/tensile strain.
Abstract:
A method for fabricating a variable capacitive device including providing a base silicon-bearing compound electrode which is vertically-inclined with respect to a substrate, depositing a sacrificial layer on the base electrode, depositing a silicon-bearing compound electrode on the sacrificial layer which is also vertically-inclined with respect to the substrate, and removing the sacrificial layer from between the base silicon-bearing compound electrode and the grown silicon-bearing compound electrode. A variable capacitive device having a fixed vertically-inclined silicon-bearing compound electrode and a movable vertically-inclined silicon-bearing compound electrode produced by arranging a sacrificial layer on a base silicon-bearing compound electrode, depositing a grown silicon-bearing compound electrode on the sacrificial layer, and etching the sacrificial layer. Between the fixed silicon-bearing compound and the movable silicon-bearing compound electrode is a nanogap, the nanogap having a uniform width.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a microbeam oscillator. Tuning of the oscillator is carried out by addition or subtraction of material to an oscillator member in order to change the mass of the oscillator member.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a microbeam oscillator. Tuning of the oscillator is carried out by addition or subtraction of material to an oscillator member in order to change the mass of the oscillator member.
Abstract:
A micromechanical switch includes a substrate, at least one pair of support members fixed to the substrate, and at least one pair of beam members placed in proximity and parallel to each other above the substrate, and connected to one of the support members, respectively, each of the beam members having a moving portion which is movable with a gap with respect to the substrate. A contact portion is provided on the moving portion, and a driving electrode is placed on the substrate between the pair of beam members to attract the moving portions of the beam members in a direction in a plane substantially parallel to the substrate with an electrostatic force so that the contact portions of the bean members which are opposed to each other are short-circuited.
Abstract:
A microelectromechanical structure and method is disclosed. A ceramic substrate preferably is formed from low temperature co-fired ceramic sheets. A low loss photodefinable dielectric planarizing layer is formed over one surface of the ceramic substrate. This layer can be a sacrificial layer or a subsequent sacrificial layer added. A photodefined conductor is printed over the low loss dielectric planarizing layer and formed with the sacrificial layer into a structural circuit component. In one aspect of the invention, a switch is formed with a biasing actuator and deflectable member formed over the biasing actuator and moveable into open and closed circuit positions.