Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Pressure sensor
- Patent Title (中): 压力传感器
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Application No.: US11250548Application Date: 2005-10-17
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Publication No.: US07207227B2Publication Date: 2007-04-24
- Inventor: Pelle Rangsten , Edvard Kalvesten , Marianne Mechbach
- Applicant: Pelle Rangsten , Edvard Kalvesten , Marianne Mechbach
- Applicant Address: SE Järfälla
- Assignee: Silex Microsystems AB
- Current Assignee: Silex Microsystems AB
- Current Assignee Address: SE Järfälla
- Agency: Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
- Priority: SE0103471 20011015
- Main IPC: G01L9/16
- IPC: G01L9/16

Abstract:
In manufacturing a pressure sensor a recess that will form part of the sensor cavity is formed in a lower silicon substrate. An SOI-wafer having a monocrystalline silicon layer on top of a substrate is bonded to the lower silicon substrate closing the recess and forming the cavity. The supporting substrate of the SOI-wafer is then etched away, the portion of the monocrystalline layer located above the recess forming the sensor diaphragm. The oxide layer of the SOI-wafer here acts as an “ideal” etch stop in the case where the substrate wafer is removed by dry (plasma) or wet etching using e.g. KOH. This is due to high etch selectivity between silicon and oxide for some etch processes and it results in a diaphragm having a very accurately defined and uniform thickness. The cavity is evacuated by forming a opening to the cavity and then sealing the cavity by closing the opening using LPCVD. Sensor paths for sensing the deflection of the diaphragm are applied on the outer or inner surface of the diaphragm. The monocrystalline diphragm gives the sensor a good long-term stability. Also the sensor path can be made of monocrystalline material, this giving the sensor even better good long-term characteristics. An increased sensitivity can be obtained by making active portions of the sensor paths freely extending, unsupported by other material of the pressure sensor, by suitable etching procedures.
Public/Granted literature
- US20060032039A1 PRESSURE SENSOR Public/Granted day:2006-02-16
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