Abstract:
In fabricating a microelectromechanical structure (MEMS), a method of forming a narrow gap in the MEMS includes a) depositing a layer of sacrificial material on the surface of a supporting substrate, b) photoresist masking and at least partially etching the sacrificial material to form at least one blade of sacrificial material, c) depositing a structural layer over the sacrificial layer, and d) removing the sacrificial layer including the blade of the sacrificial material with a narrow gap remaining in the structural layer where the blade of sacrificial material was removed.
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 including a perforated pre-sealing layer and an integrated getter layer are provided. The integrated getter layer may be disposed between other layers of a perforated pre-sealing layer. The perforated pre-sealing layer may include at least one perforation, and a sealing layer may be provided on the pre-sealing layer to close the perforation.
Abstract:
A MEMS structure having a temperature-compensated resonator member is described. The MEMS structure comprises an asymmetric stress inverter member coupled with a substrate. A resonator member is housed in the asymmetric stress inverter member and is suspended above the substrate. The asymmetric stress inverter member is used to alter the thermal coefficient of frequency of the resonator member by inducing a stress on the resonator member in response to a change in temperature.
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 microshells 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 pre-sealing layer includes a large surface area getter layer to remove contaminants from the space ultimately enclosed by the microshell to improve the pressure control and cleanliness of 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:
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.