摘要:
Embodiments of the invention are directed to multi-layer, multi-material fabrication methods (e.g. electrochemical fabrication methods) which provide improved versatility in producing complex microdevices and in particular in removing sacrificial material from passages, channels, or cavities that are complex or that include etching access ports in their final configurations that are small relative to passage, channel, or cavity lengths. Embodiments of the present invention provide for removal of sacrificial material from these passages, channels or cavities using one or more initial or preliminary removal steps that occur prior to completion of the such passages that results from the completion of the layer forming steps. In some embodiments, first sacrificial material is replaced after a secondary solid sacrificial material after the initial removal step or steps. In other embodiments, the first sacrificial material is replaced after a liquid material after the initial removal step or steps. In some embodiments, desired structure formation may occur along or separately from one or more etchant directing manifolds that can force etchant into the passages, channels, and cavities.
摘要:
Some embodiments of the invention are directed to electrochemical fabrication methods for forming structures or devices (e.g. microprobes for use in die level testing of semiconductor devices) from a core material and a shell or coating material that partially coats the surface of the structure. Other embodiments are directed to electrochemical fabrication methods for producing structures or devices (e.g. microprobes) from a core material and a shell or coating material that completely coats the surface of each layer from which the probe is formed including interlayer regions. Additional embodiments of the invention are directed to electrochemical fabrication methods for forming structures or devices (e.g. microprobes) from a core material and a shell or coating material wherein the coating material is located around each layer of the structure without locating the coating material in inter-layer regions. Each of these groups of embodiments incorporate both the core material and the coating material during the formation of each layer and each layer is also formed with a sacrificial material that is removed after formation of all layers of the structure. In some embodiments the core material may be a genuine structural material while in others it may be only a functional structural material (i.e. a material that would be removed with sacrificial material if it were accessible by an etchant during removal of sacrificial material.
摘要:
RF and microwave radiation directing or controlling components are provided that may be monolithic, that may be formed from a plurality of electrodeposition operations and/or from a plurality of deposited layers of material, that may include switches, inductors, antennae, transmission lines, filters, and/or other active or passive components. Components may include non-radiation-entry and non-radiation-exit channels that are useful in separating sacrificial materials from structural materials. Preferred formation processes use electrochemical fabrication techniques (e.g. including selective depositions, bulk depositions, etching operations and planarization operations) and post-deposition processes (e.g. selective etching operations and/or back filling operations).
摘要:
Various embodiments of the invention are directed to formation of mesoscale or microscale devices using electrochemical fabrication techniques where structures are formed from a plurality of layers as opened structures which can be folded over or other otherwise combined to form structures of desired configuration. Each layer is formed from at least one structural material and at least one sacrificial material. The initial formation of open structures may facilitate release of the sacrificial material, ability to form fewer layers to complete a structure, ability to locate additional materials into the structure, ability to perform additional processing operations on regions exposed while the structure is open, and/or the ability to form completely encapsulated and possibly hollow structures.
摘要:
Embodiments of the invention provide electrochemical fabrication processes that may be used for the fabrication of space transformers or the co-fabrication of microprobe arrays along with one or more space transformers.
摘要:
Electrochemical fabrication processes and apparatus for producing multi-layer structures include operations or means for providing enhanced monitoring of build operations or detection of the results of build operations, operations or means for build problem recognition, operations or means for evaluation of corrective action options, operations or means for making corrective action decisions, and operations or means for executing actions based on those decisions.
摘要:
Embodiments of the invention provide fabrication processes for the co-fabrication of microprobe arrays along with one or more space transformers wherein the fabrication processes include the forming and adhering of a plurality of layers to previously formed layers and wherein at least a portion of the plurality of layers are formed from at least one structural material and at least one sacrificial material that is at least in part released from the plurality of layers after formation and wherein the space transformer includes a plurality of interconnect elements that connect one side to the array of probes that has a first spacing to another side that has a second spacing where the second spacing is greater than the first spacing. In some embodiments, the fabrication process includes a plurality of electrodeposition operations.
摘要:
Embodiments of the invention provide methods for packaging integrated circuits and/or other electronic components with electrochemically fabricated structures which include conductive interconnection elements. In some embodiments the electrochemically produced structures are fabricated on substrates that include conductive vias while in other embodiments, the substrates are solid blocks of conductive material, or conductive material containing passages that allow the flow of fluid to maintain desired thermal properties of the packaged electronic components.
摘要:
Embodiments of multi-layer three-dimensional structures and formation methods provide structures with effective feature (e.g. opening) sizes (e.g. virtual gaps) that are smaller than a minimum feature size (MFS) that exists on each layer as a result of the formation method used in forming the structures. In some embodiments, multi-layer structures include a first element (e.g. first patterned layer with a gap) and a second element (e.g. second patterned layer with a gap) positioned adjacent the first element to define a third element (e.g. a net gap or opening resulting from the combined gaps of the first and second elements) where the first and second elements have features that are sized at least as large as the minimum feature size and the third element, at least in part, has dimensions or defines dimensions smaller than the minimum feature size.
摘要:
Multi-layer microscale or mesoscale structures are fabricated with adhered layers (e.g. layers that are bonded together upon deposition of successive layers to previous layers) and are then subjected to a heat treatment operation that enhances the interlayer adhesion significantly. The heat treatment operation is believed to result in diffusion of material across the layer boundaries and associated enhancement in adhesion (i.e. diffusion bonding). Interlayer adhesion and maybe intra-layer cohesion may be enhanced by heat treating in the presence of a reducing atmosphere that may help remove weaker oxides from surfaces or even from internal portions of layers.