Patent classifications
B81B7/00
MICROFABRICATED ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCERS AND RELATED APPARATUS AND METHODS
Micromachined ultrasonic transducers integrated with complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) substrates are described, as well as methods of fabricating such devices. Fabrication may involve two separate wafer bonding steps. Wafer bonding may be used to fabricate sealed cavities in a substrate. Wafer bonding may also be used to bond the substrate to another substrate, such as a CMOS wafer. At least the second wafer bonding may be performed at a low temperature.
MEMS DEVICE, HEAD AND LIQUID JET DEVICE
Provided are an MEMS device, a head, and a liquid jet device in which substrates are inhibited from warping, so that a primary electrode and a secondary electrode can be reliably connected to each other. Included are a primary substrate 30 provided with a bump 32 including a primary electrode 34, and a secondary substrate 10 provided with a secondary electrode 91 on a bottom surface of a recessed portion 36 formed by an adhesive layer 35. The primary substrate 10 and the secondary substrate 30 are joined together with the adhesive layer 35, the primary electrode 34 is electrically connected to the secondary electrode 91 with the bump 32 inserted into the recessed portion 36, and part of the bump 32 and the adhesive layer 35 forming the recessed portion 36 overlap each other in a direction in which the bump 32 is inserted into the recessed portion 36.
3D MEMS DEVICE WITH HERMETIC CAVITY
A three dimensional (3D) micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device is provided. The device comprises a central MEMS wafer, and top and bottom cap wafers. The MEMS wafer includes a MEMS structure, such as an inertial sensor. The 5 top cap wafer, the bottom cap wafer and the MEMS wafers are stacked along a stacking axis and together form at least one hermetic cavity enclosing the MEMS structure. At least one of the top cap wafer and the bottom cap wafer is a silicon-on- insulator (SOI) cap wafer comprising a cap device layer, a cap handle layer and a cap insulating layer interposed between the cap device layer and the cap handle layer. At 10 least one electrically conductive path extends through the SOI cap wafer, establishing an electrical convection between an outer electrical contact provided on the SOI cap wafer and the MEMS structure.
SEMICONDUCTOR SENSOR DEVICE
The purpose of the present invention is to improve the pressure resistance of a cavity in a semiconductor sensor device employing a resin package, and to do so without adversely affecting the embeddability of an electrically conductive member. The semiconductor sensor device has a gap 1a sealed in an airtight manner inside a laminate structure of a plurality of laminated substrates 1, 4, and 5, and has a structure in which the outside of the laminate structure is covered by a resin, wherein a platy component 2 having at least one side that is greater in length than the length of one side of the gap 1a along this side is arranged to the outside of an upper wall 1b of the gap 1, the upper wall 1b of the gap being mechanically suspended by the platy component 2.
Side Ported MEMS Sensor Device Package and Method of Manufacturing Thereof
A MEMS sensor device package comprises a sensor assembly comprising a sensor device and a sensor circuit communicating coupled to the sensor device, The MEMS sensor device package further comprises an assembly package housing having a top member and a bottom member attached to the top member for encapsulating the sensor assembly. A passageway fluidly coupled the sensor device to attributes outside the package housing the passageway is embedded into the package housing, wherein the top member comprising a top wall and side walls, the side walls are attached to the bottom member, and the passageway is embedded into at least one of the side walls.
Protective Coating on Trench Features of a Wafer and Method of Fabrication Thereof
A coating for protecting a wafer from moisture and debris due to dicing, singulating, or handling the wafer is provided. A semiconductor sensor device comprises a wafer having a surface and at least one trench feature and the protective coating covering the trench feature. The trench feature comprises a plurality of walls and the walls are covered with the protective coating, wherein the walls of the trench feature are formed as a portion of the semiconductor sensor device. The semiconductor sensor device further comprises a patterned mask formed on the wafer before the trench feature is formed, wherein the protective coating is formed directly to the trench feature and the patterned mask. The semiconductor sensor device is selected from a group consisting of a MEMS die, a sensor die, a sensor circuit die, a circuit die, a pressure die, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a microphone, a speaker, a transducer, an optical sensor, a gas sensor, a bolometer, a giant megnetoresistive sensor (GMR), a tunnel magnetoresistive (TMR) sensor, an environmental sensor, and a temperature sensor.
INORGANIC WAFER HAVING THROUGH-HOLES ATTACHED TO SEMICONDUCTOR WAFER
A process comprises bonding a semiconductor wafer to an inorganic wafer. The semiconductor wafer is opaque to a wavelength of light to which the inorganic wafer is transparent. After the bonding, a damage track is formed in the inorganic wafer using a laser that emits the wavelength of light. The damage track in the inorganic wafer is enlarged to form a hole through the inorganic wafer by etching. The hole terminates at an interface between the semiconductor wafer and the inorganic wafer. An article is also provided, comprising a semiconductor wafer bonded to an inorganic wafer. The semiconductor wafer is opaque to a wavelength of light to which the inorganic wafer is transparent. The inorganic wafer has a hole formed through the inorganic wafer. The hole terminates at an interface between the semiconductor wafer and the inorganic wafer.
Vent Attachment System For Micro-Electromechanical Systems
A method of installing a vent to protect an open port of a micro-electrical mechanical system (MEMS) device, the vent being of the type comprising an environmental barrier membrane attached to a carrier and the vent further being attached to a liner, the method comprising the steps of: (a) feeding the vent to a die attach machine with die ejectors and at least one of a vacuum head and a gripper head; (b) detaching the vent from said liner using the die ejectors; (c) picking up the vent with at least one of the vacuum head and the gripper head of the die attach machine; (d) disposing the vent over the open port of the MEMS device; and (e) securing the vent over the open port of the MEMS device.
CMOS-MEMS-CMOS PLATFORM
A sensor chip includes a first substrate with a first surface and a second surface including at least one CMOS circuit, a first MEMS substrate with a first surface and a second surface on opposing sides of the first MEMS substrate, a second substrate, a second MEMS substrate, and a third substrate including at least one CMOS circuit. The first surface of the first substrate is attached to a packaging substrate and the second surface of the first substrate is attached to the first surface of the first MEMS substrate. The second surface of the first MEMS substrate is attached to the second substrate. The first substrate, the first MEMS substrate, the second substrate and the packaging substrate are provided with electrical inter-connects.
USE OF A REACTIVE, OR REDUCING GAS AS A METHOD TO INCREASE CONTACT LIFETIME IN MICRO CONTACT MEMS SWITCH DEVICES
A MEMS device comprises an electro mechanical element in a sealed chamber containing a gas comprising a reactive gas selected to react with any contaminants that may be present or formed on the operating surfaces of the device in a manner to maximize the electrical conductivity of the surfaces during operation of the device. The MEMS device may comprise a MEMS switch having electrical contacts as the operating surfaces. The reactive gas may comprise hydrogen or an azane, optionally mixed with an inert gas, or any combination of the gases. The corresponding process provides a means to substantially reduce or eliminate contaminants present or formed on the operating surfaces of MEMS devices in a manner to maximize the electrical conductivity of the surfaces during operation of the devices.