Abstract:
A process for filling one or more etched holes defined in a frontside surface of a wafer substrate. The process includes the steps of: (i) depositing a layer of a thermoplastic first polymer onto the frontside surface and into each hole; (ii) reflowing the first polymer; (iii) exposing the wafer substrate to a controlled oxidative plasma; (iv) optionally repeating steps (i) to (iii); (v) depositing a layer of a photoimageable second polymer; (vi) selectively removing the second polymer from regions outside a periphery of the holes using exposure and development; and (vii) planarizing the frontside surface to provide holes filled with a plug comprising the first and second polymers, which are different than each other. Each plug has a respective upper surface coplanar with the frontside surface.
Abstract:
Fluidic cartridges, and manufacture thereof, having a plurality of circuit element subtypes containing pneumatically operated diaphragm members, where the diaphragm materials are selected for yield point, chemical resistance, breathability and other properties individually according to the fluidic element subtype are provided. A process of in-situ edge-bonded decoupage for forming diaphragm members inside a cartridge, and fluidic circuits having diaphragm members as active and passive circuit elements, including pumps, valves, vents, waste receptacles, reagent reservoirs, and cuvettes with optical windows, where the material composition of each individual diaphragm member may be selected from an assortment of materials during manufacture are also provided.
Abstract:
A microfluidic system comprising an integrated circuit having a bonding surface bonded to a polymeric microfluidics platform. The microfluidic system comprises one or more microfluidics devices controlled by control circuitry in the integrated circuit. At least one of the microfluidic devices comprises a MEMS actuator positioned in a MEMS layer of the integrated circuit. The MEMS layer is covered with a polymeric layer which defines the bonding surface of the integrated circuit.
Abstract:
A silicon structure of the present invention is provided with a silicon substrate (1) to become a base, and a plurality of fibrous projections (2) made of silicon dioxide and directly joined to a silicon-made surface (1a) of the silicon substrate (1). By arbitrarily constructing an area where these fibrous projections (2) are formed in a predetermined area, it is possible to render the area to have at least either hydrophilicity or water retentivity, so as to provide a silicon structure useful for a variety of devices.
Abstract:
The described embodiments relate to slotted substrates (300) and methods of forming same. One exemplary method forms a first slot portion (410a) into a first surface (302) of a substrate (300), the first slot portion (410a) defining a footprint (404) at the first surface (302). The method also forms a second slot portion (410a1) through the first slot portion (410a); and, forms a third slot portion (410a2) through a second surface (303) of the substrate (300) sufficiently to intercept the second slot portion (410a1) to form a fluid-handling slot (305) through the substrate (300).
Abstract:
A substrate plate (10) for at least one MEMS device (12) to be mounted thereon, the MEMS device (12) having a certain footprint on the substrate plate, and the substrate plate having a pattern (14) of electrically conductive leads to be connected to electric components (28) of the MEMS device (12), said pattern (14) forming contact pads (36, 38) within the footprint of the MEMS device (12) and comprising at least one lead structure (42) that extends on the substrate plate (10) outside of the footprint of the MEMS device (12) and connects a number of said contact pads (36) to an extra contact pad (44) said lead structure (42) being a shunt bar that interconnects a plurality of contact pads (36) of the MEMS device (12) and is arranged to be removed by means of a dicing cut (48) separating the substrate plate (10) into a plurality of chip-size units (10'), characterized in that at least a major part of said extra contact pad (44) is formed within the footprint of one of the MEMS devices (12).
Abstract:
Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren zur Erzeugung eines zumindest bereichsweise lichten Zwischenraums (A) zwischen wenigstens einem ersten Element (26) und wenigstens einem zweiten Element (27) eines mikrofluidischen Bauteils (25). Bei dem Verfahren sind die Werkstoffe der Elemente (26,27) zumindest hinsichtlich einer ihrer Eigenschaften unterschiedlich, wobei in einem ersten Verfahrensschritt das erste Element (26) hergestellt und in einem zweiten Verfahrensschritt der Werkstoff des zweiten Elementes (27) dem ersten Element (26) zugeführt wird und wobei in einem dritten Verfahrensschritt das zweite Element (27) zumindest bereichsweise einer Volumenverringerung unterzogen wird, derart, dass der zumindest bereichsweise lichte Zwischenraum (A) entsteht. Dadurch wird ein Verfahren bereitgestellt, bei dem mit vergleichsweise geringem Aufwand zumindest ein Teil einer Mikrostruktur (Mikrospalt, Mikrokanal, Mikrokavität, etc.) herstellbar ist. Die Erfindung betrifft auch ein mikrofluidisches Bauteil (25), welches aufgrund seiner Ausgestaltung besonders gut mit dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren herstellbar ist.
Abstract:
A method of forming a suspended beam in a MEMS process is disclosed. In the process a pit (8) is etched into a substrate (5). Sacrificial material (10) is deposited in the pit (8) and on the surrounding substrate surface. The sacrificial material (10) is then removed from the surrounding substrate surface and from the periphery of the pit (8) so that there is a gap between the sacrificial material and at least two sidewalls of the pit. The sacrificial material is then heated so that it reftows such that the remaining sacrificial material contacts the sidewalls of the pit. Material for the beam (12), which is typically a metal, is then deposited on the substrate surface and the reflowed sacrificial material, and the sacrificial material is then removed to form the suspended beam. The beam could be used as the heating element in an inkjet printer.