Abstract:
A process is described for manufacturing submicron, ultra-high aspect ratio microstructures using a trench-filling etch masking technique. Deep trenches are etched into a substrate, the trenches are filled with an appropriate trench-filling material, and deep etching into the substrate is carried out with the trench-filling material serving as a mask.
Abstract:
A single mask, low temperature reactive ion etching process for fabricating high aspect ratio, released single crystal microelectromechanical structures independently of crystal orientation.
Abstract:
A masking process resulting from a modified version of the SCREAM process is used for the fabrication of ultra-high aspect ratio, wafer-free, single crystal silicon movable micromechanical devices and frame structures of large vertical depth and narrow linewidth. The process is single-mask, self-aligned and allows the formation of releasable three-dimensional frame-like objects of arbitrary shape which can be made up to about half the wafer thickness in depth and can be subsequently lifted off the substrate and placed on any other material to be used as a mask or to be integrated with other devices. The process consists of a single lithography step and a repeated sequence of thermal oxidations and reactive ion etchings.
Abstract:
A microelectromechanical compound stage microactuator assembly capable of motion along x, y, and z axes for positioning and scanning integrated electromechanical sensors and actuators is fabricated from submicron suspended single crystal silicon beams. The microactuator incorporates an interconnect system for mechanically supporting a central stage and for providing electrical connections to componants of the microactuator and to devices carried thereby. The microactuator is fabricated using a modified single crystal reactive etching and metallization process which incorporates an isolation process utilizing thermal oxidation of selected regions of the device to provide insulating segments which define conductive paths from external circuitry to the actuator components and to microelectronic devices such as gated field emitters carried by the actuator.
Abstract:
Self-aligned, opposed, nanometer dimension tips are fabricated in pairs, one of each pair being located on a movable, single crystal beam, with the beam being movable in three dimensions with respect to a substrate carrying the other tip of a pair. Motion of one tip with respect to the other is controlled or sensed by transducers formed on the supporting beams. Spring means in each beam allow axial motion of the beam. The tips and beams are fabricated from single crystal silicon substrate, and the tips may be electrically isolated from the substrate by fabricating insulating segments in the beam structure.
Abstract:
Mechanically movable microstructure fabricated from a single crystal such as silicon and actuator structures for providing a high degree of controlled, precision motion of nanometer-scale variable impedances.
Abstract:
A submicron resistor having negligible parasitic capacitance includes an isolated released beam carried on a single crystal silicon wafer. The resistor is fabricated by defining a resistor region in the substrate, doping the region to produce the desired resistivity, and etching around the region to produce a resistive island. The island is then isolated from the substrate by oxidation, and is released by removing the oxide to produce an isolated, released resistor beam.
Abstract:
Mechanically movable microstructure fabricated from a single crystal such as silicon and actuator structures for providing a high degree of controlled, precision motion of nanometer-scale.
Abstract:
A selective chemical vapor deposition (CVD) tungsten process is used to fabricate three-dimensional tungsten cantilever beams on a substrate. Two beams form micromechanical tweezers that move in three dimensions by the application of potential differences between the beams, and between the beams and the silicon substrate. A high deposition rate selective tungsten CVD process is used to fabricate beams of greater than 3 micrometers thickness in patterned, CVD silicon dioxide trenches ion-implanted with silicon. Tweezers 200 micrometers in length with a cross section of 2.7 by 2.5 micrometers will close upon application of a voltage of less than 150 volts.