Patent classifications
G01J5/0225
CMOS CAP FOR MEMS DEVICES
A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device embedded with micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) components in a MEMS region. The MEMS components, for example, are infrared (IR) thermoconforms. The device is encapsulated with a CMOS compatible IR transparent cap to hermetically seal the MEMS sensors in the MEMS region. The CMOS cap includes a base cap with release openings and a seal cap which seals the release openings.
SCALABLE THERMOELECTRIC-BASED INFRARED DETECTOR
Device and method of forming the device are disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate prepared with a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) region and a sensor region. A substrate cavity is formed in the substrate in the sensor region, the substrate cavity including cavity sidewalls and cavity bottom surface and a membrane which serves as a substrate cavity top surface. The cavity bottom surface includes a reflector. The method also includes forming CMOS devices in the CMOS region, forming a micro-electrical mechanical system (MEMS) component on the membrane, and forming a back-end-of-line (BEOL) dielectric disposed on the substrate having a plurality of interlayer dielectric (ILD) layers. The BEOL dielectric includes an opening to expose the MEMS component. The opening forms a BEOL cavity above the MEMS component.
Scalable thermoelectric-based infrared detector
Device and method of forming the device are disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate prepared with a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) region and a sensor region. A substrate cavity is formed in the substrate in the sensor region, the substrate cavity including cavity sidewalls and cavity bottom surface and a membrane which serves as a substrate cavity top surface. The cavity bottom surface includes a reflector. The method also includes forming CMOS devices in the CMOS region, forming a micro-electrical mechanical system (MEMS) component on the membrane, and forming a back-end-of-line (BEOL) dielectric disposed on the substrate having a plurality of interlayer dielectric (ILD) layers. The BEOL dielectric includes an opening to expose the MEMS component. The opening forms a BEOL cavity above the MEMS component.
ON-BOARD RADIATION SENSING APPARATUS
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for providing on-board electromagnetic radiation sensing using beam splitting in a radiation sensing apparatus. The radiation sensing apparatuses can include a micro-mirror chip including a plurality of light reflecting surfaces. The apparatuses can also include an image sensor including an imaging surface. The apparatuses can also include a beamsplitter unit located between the micro-mirror chip and the image sensor. The beamsplitter unit can include a beamsplitter that includes a partially-reflective surface that is oblique to the imaging surface and the micro-mirror chip. The apparatuses can also include an enclosure configured to enclose at least the beamsplitter and a light source. With the apparatuses, the light source can be attached to a printed circuit board (PCB). Also, the enclosure can include an inner surface that has an angled reflective surface that is configured to reflect light from the light source in a direction towards the beamsplitter.
INFRARED SENSOR STRUCTURE
The present disclosure discloses an infrared sensor structure, comprises a cantilever switch array, the cantilever switch array comprises cantilever switches, and each cantilever switch comprises a cantilever beam and a switch corresponding to the cantilever beam, vertical heights from the cantilever beams to the switches in different cantilever switches are different from each other, when the cantilever beams are deformed towards the switches and connect to the switches, the switches turn on; wherein, deformations of different cantilever beams produced by absorbing infrared signal are different from each other, the intensity of the infrared signal can be quantified by number of the switches on, so as to realize detection of the infrared signal. The manufacturing of the infrared sensor structure in the present disclosure can be compatible with the existing semiconductor CMOS process.
Method for manufacturing a thermoelectric-based infrared detector having a MEMS structure above a hybrid component
Device and method of forming a device are disclosed. The device includes a substrate with a transistor component disposed in a transistor region and a micro-electrical mechanical system (MEMS) component disposed on a membrane over a lower sensor cavity in a hybrid region. The MEMS component serves as thermoelectric-based infrared sensor, a thermopile line structure which includes an absorber layer disposed over a portion of oppositely doped first and second line segments. A back-end-of-line (BEOL) dielectric is disposed on the substrate having a plurality of inter layer dielectric (ILD) layers with metal and via levels. The ILD layers include metal lines and via contacts for interconnecting the components of the device. The metal lines in the metal levels are configured to define a BEOL or an upper sensor cavity over the lower sensor cavity, and metal lines of a first metal level of the BEOL dielectric are configured to define a geometry of the MEMS component.
CMOS cap for MEMS devices
A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device embedded with micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) components in a MEMS region. The MEMS components, for example, are infrared (IR) thermosensors. The device is encapsulated with a CMOS compatible IR transparent cap to hermetically seal the MEMS sensors in the MEMS region. The CMOS cap includes a base cap with release openings and a seal cap which seals the release openings.
Vacuum Packaged Infrared Sensor Arrays
A vacuum packaged infrared sensor array with excellent performances is described. The individual pixel of the infrared sensor array has a thermopile made of recrystallized amorphous silicon resulting in low resistance, low thermal noise, high integration and high sensitivity. The vacuum in the packaged infrared sensor array is enhanced by low temperature oxidization of a porous silicon layer formed in a lid silicon substrate which is bonded with the infrared sensor array silicon substrate. The driving force for lowering oxidization temperature is reduction in surface energy of porous silicon. It has been reported that the surface energy is 0.0001 J/cm.sup.2 for porous silicon and 0.2 J/cm.sup.2 for planar crystal silicon.
SEQUENTIAL BEAM SPLITTING IN A RADIATION SENSING APPARATUS
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for providing electromagnetic radiation sensing using sequential beam splitting. The apparatuses can include a micro-mirror chip having a plurality of light reflecting surfaces, an image sensor having an imaging surface, and a beamsplitter unit located between the micro-mirror chip and the image sensor. The beamsplitter unit includes a plurality of beamsplitters aligned along a horizontal axis that is parallel to the micro-mirror chip and the imaging surface. The beamsplitters implement the sequential beam splitting. Because of the structure of the beamsplitter unit, the height of the arrangement of the micro-mirror chip, the beamsplitter unit, and the image sensor is reduced such that the arrangement can fit within a mobile device. Within a mobile device, the apparatuses can be utilized for human detection, fire detection, gas detection, temperature measurements, environmental monitoring, energy saving, behavior analysis, surveillance, information gathering and for human-machine interfaces.
Radiation detector and method for manufacturing a radiation detector
A radiation detector includes a substrate and a membrane suspended above the substrate by spacers, wherein the spacers electrically contact a radiation sensor formed in the membrane and thermally insulate the membrane from the substrate.