Patent classifications
B81C3/001
Extended acid etch for oxide removal
A preclean process may be omitted from a eutectic bonding sequence. To remove oxide from one or more surfaces of a device wafer of a micro-electromechanical-system (MEMS) structure, a duration of an acid-based etch process in the eutectic bonding sequence may be increased relative to the duration of the acid-based etch process when the preclean process is performed. The increased duration of the acid-based etch process enables the acid-based etch process to remove the oxide from the one or more surfaces of the device wafer without the use of a preceding preclean process. This reduces the complexity and cycle time of the eutectic bonding sequence, reduces the risk of stiction between suspended mechanical components of the MEMS structure, and/or reduces the likelihood that the MEMS structure may be rendered defective or inoperable during manufacturing, which increases process yield.
Attachment Method for Microfluidic Device
In embodiments, a silicon part and a titanium part may be soldered together without breakage or instability. In embodiments, silicon and titanium may be soldered together with a soft solder joint including indium silver, where the temperature excursion between solder solidus and use temperature limits the strain between the two surfaces. In embodiments a silicon micropump surface may be treated to remove its silicon oxide coating, and then Ti—W, Nickel, and gold layers successively sputtered onto it. A corresponding titanium manifold may be ground flat, and plated with electroless nickel. The nickel plated manifold may then be baked, so as to create a transition from pure Ti to Ni—Ti alloy to pure Ni at the surface of the manifold, and for protection of the upper Ni surface, a layer of gold may be added. The two surfaces may then be soldered in forming gas.
Support structure for MEMS device with particle filter
Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method for forming a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device. The method includes forming a filter stack over a carrier substrate. The filter stack comprises a particle filter layer having a particle filter. A support structure layer is formed over the filter stack. The support structure layer is patterned to define a support structure in the support structure layer such that the support structure has one or more segments. The support structure is bonded to a MEMS structure.
Vacuum bag having integral ultrasonic transducers
Systems and methods are provided for enhanced vacuum bags. One embodiment is a method that includes placing a laminate comprising uncured fiber reinforced polymer onto a mandrel, laying up a vacuum bag, which includes integral ultrasonic transducers within a gas-impermeable layer, atop the laminate, and sealing the vacuum bag to the mandrel. The method also includes drawing a vacuum on the laminate via the vacuum bag, removing gas between the integral ultrasonic transducers and the laminate, and interrogating the laminate with the integral ultrasonic transducers.
MICRO-ELECTRO-MECHANICAL SYSTEM (MEMS) DEVICE and fabrication method thereof
A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device includes a first substrate, an interconnect layer, a MEMS device layer, a stopper and a second substrate. The interconnect layer is disposed on the first substrate and includes a plurality of conductive layers and a plurality of dielectric layer stacked alternately. The MEMS device layer is bonded on the interconnect layer and includes a proof mass. The stopper is disposed directly under the proof mass and spaced apart from the proof mass, where the stopper is surrounded by a portion of the interconnect layer, and the stopper includes a bottom portion constructed of one of the plurality of conductive layers, and a silicon-based layer disposed on the bottom portion. The second substrate includes a cavity and is bonded on the MEMS device layer.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTERFACING A METALLIC MICROCHANNEL AND A METALLIC CAPILLARY
Embodiments disclosed are systems and methods for interfacing a metallic capillary in a microchannel of a metallic body. A method may include inserting a portion of the metallic capillary into a portion the microchannel of the metallic body, sintering the portion of the metallic capillary to the portion of the microchannel of the metallic body, disposing a sacrificial powder at least proximate to the metallic capillary and the metallic body after sintering the portion of the metallic capillary and the portion of the microchannel of the metallic body, and infiltrating at least the portion of the metallic capillary sintered to the portion of the microchannel of the metallic body with an infiltrant in the presence of the sacrificial powder disposed at least proximate to the metallic capillary and the metallic body.
UNDERCUT-FREE PATTERNED ALUMINUM NITRIDE STRUCTURE AND METHODS FOR FORMING THE SAME
A microstructure may be provided by forming a metal layer such as a molybdenum layer over a substrate. An aluminum nitride layer is formed on a top surface of the metal layer. A surface portion of the aluminum nitride layer is converted into a continuous aluminum oxide-containing layer by oxidation. A dielectric spacer layer may be formed over the continuous aluminum oxide-containing layer. Contact via cavities extending through the dielectric spacer layer, the continuous aluminum oxide containing layer, and the aluminum nitride layer and down to a respective portion of the at least one metal layer may be formed using etch processes that contain a wet etch step while suppressing formation of an undercut in the aluminum nitride layer. Contact via structures may be formed in the contact via cavities. The microstructure may include a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) device containing a piezoelectric transducer.
METHOD OF BONDING SUBSTRATES AND SEPARATING A PORTION OF THE BONDED SUBSTRATES THROUGH THE BOND, SUCH AS TO MANUFACTURE AN ARRAY OF LIQUID LENSES AND SEPARATE THE ARRAY INTO INDIVIDUAL LIQUID LENSES
A method of forming a bond between substrates and manipulating the bond comprises: emitting a first laser energy onto a strip of an absorption material disposed between a first substrate and a second substrate until the strip diffuses into the first substrate and the second substrate resulting in workpiece with a bond between the first substrate and the second substrate; emitting a second laser energy through the workpiece at the bond to create a fault line through the bond, the first substrate, and the second substrate, the second laser energy provided by an approximated Bessel beam, the approximated Bessel beam incident upon the bond having a diameter that is greater than a width of the bond; and repeating emitting the second laser energy step along a length of the bond to create a series of fault lines through the bond, the series of fault lines forming a contour.
MICROCHIP
Providing a microchip that effectively suppresses the peeling of a bonded substrate that has been bonded together and that is unlikely to leak liquid. A microchip includes: a bonded substrate that includes a plurality of substrates, each of the substrates having a main surface and a side surface, the main surfaces being bonded each other; and a microchannel located inside the bonded substrate. The substrates include a first substrate with a large thickness and a remaining substrate with a smaller thickness than the first substrate. At least the first substrate has a side surface having a gradient and extending to an outermost side of the bonded substrate when one end of the bonded substrate is viewed from a direction parallel to the main surface.
MEMS device, liquid ejecting head, liquid ejecting apparatus, manufacturing method of MEMS device, manufacturing method of liquid ejecting head, and manufacturing method of liquid ejecting apparatus
Provided are an MEMS device, a liquid ejecting head, a liquid ejecting apparatus, a manufacturing method of a MEMS device, a manufacturing method of a liquid ejecting head and a manufacturing method of a liquid ejecting apparatus. Provided is a MEMS device that includes a first substrate on which a flexibly deformable thin film member is laminated, a second substrate disposed at an interval with respect to the first substrate, and an adhesion layer that adheres the first substrate to the second substrate, in which an end of the thin film member extends to the outside of the end of the first substrate in an in-plane direction of the first substrate.