Abstract:
Resonator systems with controlled quality factors including a resonator having a plurality of ports and a first quality factor greater than the system quality factor, and an amplifier providing negative feedback among the ports to render the system quality factor independent of the resonator quality factor.
Abstract:
Released film structures are employed in measuring the mechanical properties of the film material. By measuring the deformation of thin film structures held under intrinsic tensile stress and then released, these mechanical properties can be accurately measured.
Abstract:
A polysilicon microstructure is formed on a silicon substrate. Beneath the microstructure, are diffused regions in the substrate. The microstructure is capacitively coupled to these diffused regions so that one such capacitor acts as an excitation capacitor and the other capacitor acts as a sense capacitor. By applying an AC voltage to the excitation capacitor, the electrostatic force between the substrate and the microstructure changes causing a mechanical vibration in the microstructure. A DC voltage is applied to the sense capacitor. The mechanical vibration, which changes its capacitance, will develop a current through the sense capacitor. A phenomenon may then be sensed by the vibrating microstructure. A polymer film disposed on the microstructure can sorb a gas of interest. As the mass of the polymer film and vibrating microstructure increases, its frequency or phase changes. The current through the sense capacitor will exhibit a commensurate frequency or phase shift. Detection of such frequency or phase shift in the sense capacitor current will transduce the detection of the vapor of interest.
Abstract:
Various applications are directed to a material stack having a strained active material therein. In connection with an embodiment, an active material (e.g. a semiconductor material) is at least initially and partially released from and suspended over a substrate, strained, and held in place. The release and suspension facilitates the application of strain to the semiconductor material.
Abstract:
Low temperature, multi-layered, planar microshells for encapsulation of devices such as MEMS and microelectronics. The microshells include a planar perforated pre-sealing layer, below which a non-planar sacrificial layer is accessed, and a sealing layer to close the perforation in the pre-sealing layer after the sacrificial material is removed. In an embodiment, the pre-sealing layer has perforations formed with a damascene process to be self-aligned to the chamber below the microshell. The sealing layer may include a nonhermetic layer to physically occlude the perforation and a hermetic layer over the nonhermetic occluding layer to seal the perforation. In a particular embodiment, the hermetic layer is a metal which is electrically coupled to a conductive layer adjacent to the microshell to electrically ground the microshell.
Abstract:
Low temperature, multi-layered, planar microshells for encapsulation of devices such as MEMS and microelectronics. The microshells include a planar perforated pre-sealing layer, below which a non-planar sacrificial layer is accessed, and a sealing layer to close the perforation in the pre-sealing layer after the sacrificial material is removed. In an embodiment, the pre-sealing layer has perforations formed with a damascene process to be self-aligned to the chamber below the microshell. The sealing layer may include a nonhermetic layer to physically occlude the perforation and a hermetic layer over the nonhermetic occluding layer to seal the perforation. In a particular embodiment, the hermetic layer is a metal which is electrically coupled to a conductive layer adjacent to the microshell to electrically ground the microshell.
Abstract:
Low temperature, multi-layered, planar microshells for encapsulation of devices such as MEMS and microelectronics. The microshells include a planar perforated pre-sealing layer, below which a non-planar sacrificial layer is accessed, and a sealing layer to close the perforation in the pre-sealing layer after the sacrificial material is removed. In an embodiment, the pre-sealing layer has perforations formed with a damascene process to be self-aligned to the chamber below the microshell. The sealing layer may include a nonhermetic layer to physically occlude the perforation and a hermetic layer over the nonhermetic occluding layer to seal the perforation. In a particular embodiment, the hermetic layer is a metal which is electrically coupled to a conductive layer adjacent to the microshell to electrically ground the microshell.
Abstract:
A MEMS coupler and a method to form a MEMS structure having such a coupler are described. In an embodiment, a MEMS structure comprises a member and a substrate. A coupler extends through a portion of the member and connects the member with the substrate. The member is comprised of a first material and the coupler is comprised of a second material. In one embodiment, the first and second materials are substantially the same. In one embodiment, the second material is conductive and is different than the first material. In another embodiment, a method for fabricating a MEMS structure comprises first forming a member above a substrate. A coupler comprised of a conductive material is then formed to connect the member with the substrate.
Abstract:
Microshells for encapsulation of devices such as MEMS and microelectronics. In an embodiment, the microshells include a planar perforated pre-sealing layer, below which a non-planar sacrificial layer is accessed, and a sealing layer to close the perforation in the pre-sealing layer after the sacrificial material is removed. The sealing layer may include a nonhermetic layer to physically occlude the perforation and a hermetic layer over the nonhermetic occluding layer to seal the perforation as a function of the dimension of the perforation to form cavities having different vacuum levels on the same substrate.
Abstract:
Multi-layered, planar microshells having low stress for encapsulation of devices such as MEMS and microelectronics. The microshells may include a perforated pre-sealing layer, below which a sacrificial layer is accessed, and a sealing layer to close the perforation in the pre-sealing layer after the sacrificial material is removed. The sealing layer may further include a nonhermetic layer to physically occlude the perforation and a hermetic layer over the nonhermetic occluding layer to seal the perforation. The various layers may be formed employing processes having opposing stresses to tune the residual stress of the multi-layered microshell. In an embodiment, the hermetic layer is a metal which is deposited with a process tuned to impart a tensile stress to lower the residual stress in the microshell below the magnitude of cumulative stress present in sealing layer and pre-sealing layer.