Abstract:
Magnetically actuated micro-electro-mechanical capacitor switches in laminate are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a first layer comprising a coil and magnetic element, the magnetic element made from one of nickel and iron; a second layer comprising a flexible member, wherein a permanent magnet is attached to the flexible member; a conductive plate having an insulating dielectric coating, the conductive plate attached to one of the flexible member or a magnet; and a third layer comprising a transmission line and magnetic material, wherein the transmission line comprises one or more of a signal conductor and one or more ground conductors in near proximity.
Abstract:
A method of forming at least one Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) includes forming a lower wiring layer on a substrate. The method further includes forming a plurality of discrete wires from the lower wiring layer. The method further includes forming an electrode beam over the plurality of discrete wires. The at least one of the forming of the electrode beam and the plurality of discrete wires are formed with a layout which minimizes hillocks and triple points in subsequent silicon deposition.
Abstract:
A method of forming a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) includes forming a lower electrode on a first insulator layer within a cavity of the MEMS. The method further includes forming an upper electrode over another insulator material on top of the lower electrode which is at least partially in contact with the lower electrode. The forming of the lower electrode and the upper electrode includes adjusting a metal volume of the lower electrode and the upper electrode to modify beam bending.
Abstract:
Provided herein are new methods for the fabrication of gold (Au) alloys and films containing metal or semimetal oxides such as oxides of vanadium (V), for example, Au—V2O5 for use in electrical, mechanical, and microelectromechanical systems (“MEMS”). An example embodiment provides a thin film of an alloy comprising Au—V2O5 in a MEMS for a contact switch. Also described herein are gold-metal oxide thin films for use in, e.g. wear-resistant MEMS. Measurements of contact force and electrical contact resistance between pairs of Au or Au—V films show that increased hardness and resistivity in the alloy films results in higher contact resistance and less adhesion than in pure Au.
Abstract translation:本文提供了用于制造金(Au)合金和含有金属或半金属氧化物如钒(V)氧化物(例如Au-V 2 O 5)的膜的新方法, / SUB,用于电气,机械和微机电系统(“MEMS”)。 示例性实施例在用于接触开关的MEMS中提供包含Au-V 2 O 5 O 5的合金薄膜。 本文还描述了用于例如金属氧化物薄膜的金 - 金属氧化物薄膜。 耐磨MEMS。 Au或Au-V薄膜对接触力和电接触电阻的测量表明,合金薄膜中增加的硬度和电阻率导致比纯Au更高的接触电阻和更小的粘附力。
Abstract:
A three-dimensional micro- electromechanical (MEM) varactor is described wherein a movable beam and fixed electrode are respectively fabricated on separate substrates coupled to each other. The movable beam with comb-drive electrodes are fabricated on the “chip side” while the fixed bottom electrode is fabricated on a separated substrate “carrier side”. Upon fabrication of the device on both surfaces of the substrate, the chip side device is diced and “flipped over”, aligned and joined to the “carrier” substrate to form the final device. Comb-drive (fins) electrodes are used for actuation while the motion of the electrode provides changes in capacitance. Due to the constant driving forces involved, a large capacitance tuning range can be obtained. The three dimensional aspect of the device avails large surface area. When large aspect ratio features are provided, a lower actuation voltage can be used. Upon fabrication, the MEMS device is completely encapsulated, requiring no additional packaging of the device. Further, since alignment and bonding can be done on a wafer scale (wafer scale MEMS packaging), an improved device yield can be obtained at a lower cost.
Abstract:
A MEMS relay is provided. The MEMS relay includes a first wafer, a second wafer, and a third wafer that are sequentially stacked. The first wafer includes driving electrodes positioned at the bottom surface of the first wafer, input signal electrodes and output signal electrodes formed adjacent to each other and corresponding to the driving electrodes, via holes formed through the first wafer on the driving electrodes, the input signal electrodes, and the output signal electrodes, and metal pads formed over the via holes. The second wafer includes a body including a sealing unit used to hermetically seal the first and third wafers with the second wafer interposed therebetween, a driving unit which is formed inside and isolated from the body, is an integrated body consisting of a silicon substrate, a passivation layer formed on the silicon substrate, and contact electrodes formed on the passivation layer, and is located lower than the top surface of the body by a predetermined distance, and a connection supporter which extends from two opposing sides of the driving unit to the inner surface of the body. The third wafer includes a hollow in which the driving unit can be rotated.
Abstract:
A thermal metamaterial device comprises at least one MEMS thermal switch, including a substrate layer including a first material having a first thermal conductivity, and a thermal bus over a first portion of the substrate layer. The thermal bus includes a second material having a second thermal conductivity higher than the first thermal conductivity. An insulator layer is over a second portion of the substrate layer and includes a third material that is different from the first and second materials. A thermal pad is supported by a first portion of the insulator layer, the thermal pad including the second material and having an overhang portion located over a portion of the thermal bus. When a voltage is applied to the thermal pad, an electrostatic interaction occurs to cause a deflection of the overhang portion toward the thermal bus, thereby providing thermal conductivity between the thermal pad and the thermal bus.
Abstract:
Various arrangements for a microelectromechanical (MEMS) die and a controller die in vertically stacked structures are disclosed. The orientations of the MEMS die and the controller die vary in the various arrangements. In one embodiment, a backside surface of the MEMS die is operably connected to a frontside surface of the controller die. In another embodiment, a backside surface of the MEMS die is operably connected to a backside surface of the controller die. In another embodiment, a frontside surface of the MEMS die is operably connected to a backside surface of the controller die. In yet another embodiment, a frontside surface of the MEMS die is operably connected to a frontside surface of the controller die.
Abstract:
A method includes obtaining an active feature layer having a first surface bearing one or more active feature areas. A first capacitor plate of a first capacitor is formed on an interior surface of a cap. A second capacitor plate of the first capacitor is formed on an exterior surface of the cap. The first capacitor plate of the first capacitor overlays and is spaced apart from the second capacitor plate of the first capacitor along a direction that is orthogonal to the exterior surface of the cap to form the first capacitor. The cap is coupled with the first surface of the active feature layer such that the second capacitor plate of the first capacitor is in electrical communication with at least a first active feature of the active feature layer. The cap is bonded with the passive layer substrate.
Abstract:
A method of forming at least one Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) includes forming a beam structure and an electrode on an insulator layer, remote from the beam structure. The method further includes forming at least one sacrificial layer over the beam structure, and remote from the electrode. The method further includes forming a lid structure over the at least one sacrificial layer and the electrode. The method further includes providing simultaneously a vent hole through the lid structure to expose the sacrificial layer and to form a partial via over the electrode. The method further includes venting the sacrificial layer to form a cavity. The method further includes sealing the vent hole with material. The method further includes forming a final via in the lid structure to the electrode, through the partial via.