摘要:
This invention aims at providing a novel semiconductor accelerometer comprising a smaller number of substrates and a production method thereof.An insulating film is formed on a main plane of a P-type silicon substrate, and a beam-like movable electrode is formed on the insulating film. Fixed electrodes are then formed on both sides of the movable electrode in self-alignment with the movable electrode by diffusing an impurity into the P-type silicon substrate, and the insulating film below the movable electrode is etched and removed. There is thus produced a semiconductor accelerometer comprising the P-type silicon substrate 1, the movable electrode 4 having the beam structure and disposed above the P-type silicon substrate 1 with a predetermined gap between them, and the fixed electrodes 8, 9 consisting of the impurity diffusion layer and formed on both sides of the movable electrode 4 on the P-type silicon substrate 1 in self-alignment with the movable electrode 4. This sensor can detect acceleration from the change (increase/decrease) of a current between the fixed electrodes 8 and 9 resulting from the displacement of the movable electrode 4 due to acceleration.
摘要:
A semiconductor yaw rate sensor, which can be structured easily by means of an IC fabrication process, such that a yaw rate detection signal due to a current value is obtained by means of a transistor structure and a method of producing the same is disclosed. A weight supported by beams is disposed at a specified interval from a surface of a semiconductor substrate, and movable electrodes and excitation electrodes are formed integrally with the weight. Fixed electrodes for excitation use are fixed to the substrate in correspondence to the excitation electrodes. Along with this, source electrodes as well as drain electrodes are formed by means of a diffusion layer on a surface of the substrate at positions opposing the movable electrodes, such that drain current changes in correspondence with displacement of the movable electrodes by means of Corioli's force due to yaw rate, and the yaw rate is detected by this current.
摘要:
Adverse effects due to electrostatic force between a semiconductor substrate and a movable electrode are avoided with a new structure. A movable electrode of beam structure is disposed at a specified interval above a p-type silicon substrate. Fixed electrodes, each composed of an impurity diffusion layer, are disposed on both sides of the movable electrode on the p-type silicon substrate; these fixed electrodes are self-aligningly with respect to the movable electrode. The movable electrode is displaced in accompaniment to the action of acceleration, and acceleration is detected by change (fluctuation) in current between the fixed electrodes generated by means of this displacement. Additionally, an electrode for movable electrode upward-movement use is disposed above the movable electrode, a potential difference is given between the movable electrode and the electrode for movable electrode upward-movement use, and attractive force of the movable electrode to the silicon substrate is alleviated.
摘要:
The present invention provides a semiconductor physical-quantity sensor which can perform measurement of high accuracy without occurrence of deformation or displacement of a fixed electrode for vibration use even if voltage applied to the fixed electrode for vibration use is changed, and which can increase a dielectric breakdown voltage between the fixed electrode for vibration use and a substrate without varying a thickness of an insulative sacrificial layer or causing sacrificial-layer etching time to be affected. A semiconductor physical-quantity sensor according to the present invention forms an electrode-anchor portion on a sufficiently thick insulation film and causes dielectric breakdown voltage with a semiconductor substrate to be increased. In particular, the sufficiently thick insulation film is given by a LOCOS oxide film formed during sensor detection-circuit fabrication or separation of a diffusion electrode.
摘要:
A semiconductor sensor having a thin-film structure body, in which thin-film structure is prevented from bending due to the internal stress distribution in the thickness direction, is disclosed. A silicon-oxide film is formed as a sacrificial layer on a silicon substrate, and a polycrystalline-silicon thin film is formed on the silicon-oxide film. Thereafter, phosphorus (P) is ion-implanted in the surface of the polycrystalline-silicon thin film, and thereby the surface state of the polycrystalline-silicon thin film is modified. A portion of distribution of stress existing in the thickness direction of the polycrystalline-silicon thin film is changed by this modification, and stress distribution is adjusted. By removal of the silicon-oxide film, a movable member of the polycrystalline-silicon thin film is disposed above the silicon substrate with a gap interposed therebetween.
摘要:
A semiconductor physical quantity sensor includes a substrate and a beam structure having movable electrodes and spacing a given distance from an upper surface of the substrate. First fixed electrodes and second fixed electrodes are fixedly provided on the upper surface of the substrate. Each first fixed electrode faces one side of the corresponding movable electrode, while each second fixed electrode faces the other side of the corresponding movable electrode. A laminated structure of a lower layer insulating film, conductive films and an upper layer insulating film is arranged at an upper portion of the substrate. The conductive layers form a first wiring pattern for the first fixed electrodes, a second wiring pattern for the second fixed electrodes and a lower electrode. The first wiring pattern is electrically connected to the first fixed electrodes via openings formed in the upper layer insulating film and anchors of the first fixed electrodes, respectively. The second wiring pattern is electrically connected to the second fixed electrodes via openings formed in the upper layer insulating film and anchors of the second fixed electrodes, respectively. The lower electrode is electrically connected to the beam structure via an opening formed in the upper layer insulating film and an anchor of the beam structure.
摘要:
A flow sensor, which can detect flow velocity in a wide range including high flow velocity area with simple structure. A flow sensor includes a substrate having a hollow portion; and a thin film structure portion provided above the hollow portion. The thin film structure portion is provided with a heater formed in a center portion, an upper and a lower stream temperature detectors for detecting temperature of the fluid, a fluid thermometer for detecting temperature of the fluid, and thermal couple films provided on the substrate at a portion, where is between the heater and both temperature detectors. According to this structure, the thermal couple films enhance thermal coupling between the heater and the temperature detectors. Accordingly, it can prevent the temperature of the upper stream temperature detector from falling to around the temperature of the fluid, and it can raise a certain flow velocity at which a cooling of the low stream temperature detector due to the flowing fluid exceeds a heating by the heater. Therefore, it can detect flow velocity in a wide range including high flow velocity area.
摘要:
A sensor for measuring a physical amount such as an amount of air includes a membrane structure composed of metal stripes sandwiched between first and second insulating layers. A metal layer made of platinum or the like is formed on the first insulating layer and then heat-treated to improve its properties. Then, the metal layer is etched into a form of the metal stripes. The second insulating layer made of a material such as silicon dioxide is formed on the etched metal stripes. Since the metal layer is heat-treated before it is etched into the form of metal stripes, the metal stripes are not deformed by the heat-treatment. The second insulating layer can be formed on the metal stripes without generating cracks in the second insulating layer.
摘要:
A semiconductor acceleration sensor, which prevents an adhesion of a movable portion to a fixed portion due to an electrostatic force generated during being handled. The acceleration sensor has a sensor portion and a handling portion. The sensor portion has a first semiconductor layer; a movable portion including a weight portion supported to the first semiconductor layer for moving in accordance with an acceleration externally applied thereto and movable electrodes integrally formed with the weight portion; and fixed electrodes having a detection surface confronted to a detection surface of the movable electrodes and supported to the first semiconductor layer. The handling portion is to be contacted during being handled, and is provided at surrounding portion of the sensor portion with a trench interposed therebetween. The sensor portion is electrically insulated from the handling portion by the trench.
摘要:
A flow sensor, which includes a diaphragm, is made such that the diaphragm is flat or outwardly deformed to allow fluid flow rate measurements at higher flow rates. The diaphragm is made of an upper set of insulating films, electric devices, and a lower set of insulating films. The component layers of the diaphragm are formed such that the average stress in the upper set of insulating films is more compressive than the average stress in the lower set of insulating films.