Abstract:
A MEMS anti-phase vibratory gyroscope includes two measurement masses with a top cap and a bottom cap each coupled with a respective measurement mass. The measurement masses are oppositely coupled with each other in the vertical direction. Each measurement mass includes an outer frame, an inner frame located within the outer frame, and a mass located within the inner frame. The two measurement masses are coupled with each other through the outer frame. The inner frame is coupled with the outer frame by a plurality of first elastic beams. The mass is coupled with the inner frame by a plurality of second elastic beams. A comb coupling structure is provided along opposite sides of the outer frame and the inner frame. The two masses vibrate toward the opposite direction, and the comb coupling structure measures the angular velocity of rotation.
Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to a method for forming a MEMS device and a MEMS device formed by the method. When forming the MEMS device, sacrificial material is deposited around the switching element within the cavity body. The sacrificial material is eventually removed to free the switching element in the cavity. The switching element has a thin dielectric layer thereover to prevent etchant interaction with the conductive material of the switching element. During fabrication, the dielectric layer is deposited over the sacrificial material. To ensure good adhesion between the dielectric layer and the sacrificial material, a silicon rich silicon oxide layer is deposited onto the sacrificial material before depositing the dielectric layer thereon.
Abstract:
A producing method for a diaphragm-type resonant MEMS device includes forming a first silicon oxide film, forming a second silicon oxide film, forming a lower electrode, forming a piezoelectric film, forming an upper electrode, laminating the first silicon oxide film, the second silicon oxide film, the lower electrode, the piezoelectric film, and the upper electrode in this order on a first surface of a silicon substrate, and etching the opposite side surface of the first surface of the silicon substrate by deep reactive ion etching to form a diaphragm structure, in which the proportion R2 of the film thickness t2 of the second silicon oxide film with respect to the sum of the film thickness t1 of the first silicon oxide film and the film thickness t2 of the second silicon oxide film satisfies the following condition: 0.10 μm≦t1≦2.00 μm; and R2≧0.70.
Abstract:
Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) structures, methods of manufacture and design structures are disclosed. The method includes forming a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) beam structure by venting both tungsten material and silicon material above and below the MEMS beam to form an upper cavity above the MEMS beam and a lower cavity structure below the MEMS beam.
Abstract:
There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a MEMS device, and technique of fabricating or manufacturing a MEMS device, having mechanical structures encapsulated in a chamber prior to final packaging. The material that encapsulates the mechanical structures, when deposited, includes one or more of the following attributes: low tensile stress, good step coverage, maintains its integrity when subjected to subsequent processing, does not significantly and/or adversely impact the performance characteristics of the mechanical structures in the chamber (if coated with the material during deposition), and/or facilitates integration with high-performance integrated circuits. In one embodiment, the material that encapsulates the mechanical structures is, for example, silicon (polycrystalline, amorphous or porous, whether doped or undoped), silicon carbide, silicon-germanium, germanium, or gallium-arsenide.
Abstract:
A non-volatile memory device and method of manufacturing a non-volatile micro-electromechanical memory cell. The method comprises the first step of depositing a first layer of sacrificial material on a substrate by use of Atomic Layer Deposition The second step of the method is providing a cantilever (101) over at least a portion of the first layer of sacrificial material. The third step is depositing, by use of Atomic Layer Deposition, a second layer of sacrificial material over the first layer of sacrificial material and over a portion of the cantilever such that a portion of the cantilever is surrounded by sacrificial material. The fourth step is providing a further layer material (107) which covers at least a portion of the second layer of sacrificial material. Finally, the last step is etching away the sacrificial material surrounding the cantilever, thereby defining a cavity (102) in which the cantilever is suspended.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a method of improving the adhesion of a hydrophobic self-assembled monolayer (SAM) coating to a surface of a MEMS structure, for the purpose of preventing stiction. The method comprises treating surfaces of the MEMS structure with a plasma generated from a source gas comprising oxygen and, optionally, hydrogen. The treatment oxidizes the surfaces, which are then reacted with hydrogen to form bonded OH groups on the surfaces. The hydrogen source may be present as part of the plasma source gas, so that the bonded OH groups are created during treatment of the surfaces with the plasma. Also disclosed herein is an integrated method for release and passivation of MEMS structures which may be adjusted to be carried out in a either a single chamber processing system or a multi-chamber processing system.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to the use of deposited thin films for chemical or biological analysis. The invention further relates to the use of these thin films in separation adherence and detection of chemical of biological samples. Applications of these thin films include desorption-ionization mass spectroscopy, electrical contacts for organic thin films and molecules, optical coupling of light energy for analysis, biological materials manipulation, chromatographic separation, head space adsorbance media, media for atomic molecular adsorbance or attachment, and substrates for cell attachment.
Abstract:
The invention proposes a method for manufacturing micromechanical components, and a micromechanical component, in which a movable element (4) is produced on a sacrificial layer (2). In a subsequent step the sacrificial layer (2) beneath the movable element (4) is removed so that the movable element (4) becomes movable. After removal of the sacrificial layer (2), a protective layer (7) is deposited on a surface of the movable element (4). Silicon oxide and/or silicon nitride is used for the protective layer (7).
Abstract:
The invention includes methods of forming microstructure devices. In an exemplary method, a substrate is provided which includes a first material and a second material. At least one of the first and second materials is exposed to vapor-phase alkylsilane-containing molecules to form a coating over the at least one of the first and second materials.