ENCLOSED CAVITY STRUCTURES
20210002128 · 2021-01-07
Inventors
Cpc classification
B81B7/0077
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B81C1/00269
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B81C2203/0109
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
B81B7/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B81C1/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
An example of a cavity structure comprises a cavity substrate comprising a substrate surface, a cavity extending into the cavity substrate, the cavity having a cavity bottom and cavity walls, and a cap disposed on a side of the cavity opposite the cavity bottom. The cavity substrate, the cap, and the one or more cavity walls form a cavity enclosing a volume. A component can be disposed in the cavity and can extend above the substrate surface. The component can be a piezoelectric or a MEMS device. The cap can have a tophat configuration. The cavity structure can be micro-transfer printed from a source wafer to a destination substrate.
Claims
1. A cavity structure, comprising: a cavity substrate comprising a substrate surface; a cavity extending into the cavity substrate away from the substrate surface, the cavity having one or more cavity walls; and a cap disposed on or over the cavity substrate, wherein (i) the cap is disposed on the substrate surface, or (ii) the cap is disposed on a structure disposed on the substrate surface, wherein the cavity substrate, the cap, and the one or more cavity walls form at least a portion of an enclosed cavity that encloses a volume.
2. The cavity structure of claim 1, wherein the cavity comprises a cavity bottom disposed in the cavity substrate that, in part, encloses the volume.
3. The cavity structure of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the one or more cavity walls are disposed on and extend away from the substrate surface toward the cap.
4. The cavity structure of claim 1, comprising a destination substrate, the cavity substrate is disposed on the destination substrate, and wherein the cavity extends through the cavity substrate to the destination substrate and at least a portion of the destination substrate forms a cavity bottom.
5. The cavity structure of claim 4, wherein the cap is disposed on the destination substrate or a layer disposed on the destination substrate.
6. The cavity structure of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises a portion of the cavity walls (e.g., one or more cavity wall portions).
7. The cavity structure of claim 1, comprising at least a portion of a structure tether physically attached to the cavity substrate (e.g., a broken or separated structure tether or wherein the structure tether is attached to an anchor on a wafer).
8. The cavity structure of claim 1, comprising at least a portion of a cap tether physically attached to the cap (e.g., a broken or separated cap tether or wherein the cap tether is attached to an anchor on a wafer).
9. The cavity structure of claim 1, wherein the cavity has a cavity length and a cavity width, and wherein the cap is disposed on the substrate surface or the structure on the substrate surface such that the one or more cavity walls are within a distance over the cavity substrate to the cap that is no greater than at least one of ten times the cavity length and ten times the cavity width (e.g., at least one of five times the cavity length and five times the cavity width, at least one of two times the cavity length and two times the cavity width, at least one of the cavity length and the cavity width), or wherein the cap is disposed on the substrate surface or the structure on the substrate surface such that the cap is closer to the one or more cavity walls than to a substrate edge of the cavity substrate.
10. The cavity structure of claim 1, wherein the cap is a separate non-native structure from the cavity substrate.
11. The cavity structure of claim 1, wherein the cap has a cap internal side facing the enclosed cavity and the cap internal side is substantially planar.
12. The cavity structure of claim 1, comprising a component disposed in the enclosed cavity.
13. The cavity structure of claim 12, wherein the component is laterally suspended in the enclosed cavity.
14. The cavity structure of claim 12, comprising a component support disposed at least partially within the enclosed cavity, wherein the component is disposed on the component support such that a portion of the component overhangs the component support.
15. The cavity structure of claim 12, comprising a broken or separated component tether attached to the component.
16. The cavity structure of claim 12, wherein the component has a component surface on a side of the component opposite the cavity bottom, and wherein the component surface is substantially in a common plane with (e.g., within 5% of a thickness of the component) or extends above the substrate surface.
17. The cavity structure of claim 12, wherein the component is one or more of a piezoelectric component and a micro-electronic-mechanical structure (MEMS) component.
18. The cavity structure of claim 12, wherein the component is an electrical component or electrical transducer and the cavity structure comprises one or more component electrodes disposed on one or more of the cavity substrate, the one or more cavity walls, and the cap, wherein the one or more component electrodes extend from inside the enclosed cavity to outside the enclosed cavity.
19. The cavity structure of claim 10, comprising a plurality of components disposed within the enclosed cavity.
20. The cavity structure of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises a contact portion in contact with the one or more cavity walls or the substrate surface, a cap wall portion extending away from the contact portion and the substrate surface, and a top portion on and in contact with the cap wall portion.
21. The cavity structure of claim 1, wherein one or more of the one or more cavity walls are at a non-orthogonal angle to the substrate surface.
22. The cavity structure of claim 17, wherein a line or a point forms the cavity bottom.
23. The cavity structure of claim 1, wherein (i) the volume is under at least a partial vacuum, (ii) the volume contains an added gas, or (iii) the volume contains a liquid.
24. The cavity structure of claim 1, wherein the volume contains air or an inert gas.
25. The cavity structure of claim 1, wherein adhesive adheres (i) the cap to the substrate surface or the structure on the substrate surface, (ii) one or more of the one or more cavity walls to the substrate surface, or (iii) both (i) and (ii).
26. The cavity structure of claim 25, wherein the adhesive layer is patterned.
27. The cavity structure of claim 25, wherein the adhesive layer is unpatterned.
28. The cavity structure of claim 25, wherein the adhesive layer adheres the cap to the one or more of the one or more cavity walls.
29. The cavity structure of claim 25, wherein the adhesive layer adheres the cap to the substrate surface of the cavity substrate.
30. The cavity structure of claim 1, comprising an encapsulation layer disposed over the cap, the one or more cavity walls, and at least a portion of the cavity substrate that encloses the cavity.
31. The cavity structure of claim 1, wherein the cavity substrate comprises an anisotropically etchable material or a material that is differentially etchable from the component.
32. The cavity structure of claim 1, wherein the cavity substrate has a substrate area, the cap has a cap area, and the cap area is less than the substrate area.
33. The cavity structure of claim 1, comprising a destination substrate and wherein at least one cavity structure is adhered to the destination substrate.
34. The cavity structure of claim 33, wherein the destination substrate is a semiconductor substrate comprising a circuit electrically or optically connected to the component.
35. The cavity structure of claim 33, wherein the cavity structure comprises a broken or separated tether.
36. The cavity structure of claim 1, wherein the cap is a tophat cap (e.g., and comprises a broken or separated cap tether).
37. The cavity structure of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises one or more flat cap contact portions, one or more cap wall portions extending upward from the one or more cap contact portions, and a cap top portion connected to the one or more cap wall portions.
38. The cavity structure of claim 37, wherein the cap top portion is flat (e.g., substantially parallel to the one or more cap contact portions).
39. The cavity structure of any one of the preceding claims, wherein (i) the cap is disposed on the substrate surface.
40. The cavity structure of any one of claims 1-38, wherein (ii) the cap is disposed on a structure disposed on the substrate surface.
41. The cavity structure of claim 40, wherein the structure is a component support that additionally supports the component such that at least a portion of the component is suspended within the enclosed cavity (e.g., wherein the at least a portion of the component overhangs the component support).
42. The cavity structure of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the one or more walls are formed by a component support that additionally supports the component such that at least a portion of the component is suspended within the enclosed cavity (e.g., wherein the at least a portion of the component overhangs the component support).
43. The cavity structure of claim 1, comprising a component support disposed at least partially within the enclosed cavity, wherein the component is disposed on the component support such that at least a portion of the component is suspended within the enclosed cavity.
44. The cavity structure of claim 1, wherein the cap surrounds a component support that at least partially suspends the component in the enclosed cavity.
45. The cavity structure of claim 44, wherein the cap is disposed on the substrate surface.
46. The cavity structure of claim 44, wherein the component is laterally suspended by the component support.
47. The cavity structure of claim 46, wherein the component support is disposed on the substrate surface.
48. The cavity structure of claim 1, wherein exclusively the cavity substrate, the cap, and the one or more cavity walls form the enclosed cavity that encloses the volume.
49. A cavity structure wafer, comprising: a source wafer comprising a sacrificial layer having sacrificial portions laterally spaced apart by anchors; and a plurality of cavity structures according to claim 1 each disposed entirely and directly over a corresponding one of the sacrificial portions.
50. The cavity structure wafer of claim 49, wherein the cavity substrate of each of the plurality of cavity structures is physically attached to the source wafer by at least one respective structure tether.
51. The cavity structure wafer of claim 49, wherein the sacrificial portions comprise a sacrificial material that is an anisotropically etchable material or is a material that is differentially etchable from the cavity substrate of each of the plurality of cavity structures.
52. A cavity structure wafer comprising: a source wafer comprising spaced apart anchors; and a plurality of cavity structures according to claim 1, each suspended such that a gap exists between the cavity structure and the source wafer.
53. A cavity structure, comprising: a cavity substrate defining one or more cavity walls of a cavity and in part enclosing sides of a volume; a component disposed in the enclosed cavity and physically connected to the one or more cavity walls such that the component is suspended within the enclosed cavity; and at least a portion of a structure tether physically connected to the cavity substrate or a layer disposed on the cavity substrate.
54. The cavity structure of claim 53, wherein the cavity has no defined top or bottom.
55. A cavity structure system, comprising: a destination substrate; and a cavity structure according to claim 1 disposed on the destination substrate.
56. The cavity structure system of claim 55, comprising a plurality of cavity structures according to claim 1 disposed on the destination substrate.
57. The cavity structure system of claim 55, wherein the cavity structure comprises a component electrically connected to component electrodes and destination substrate electrical connections disposed on the destination substrate and electrically connected to the component electrodes.
58. The cavity structure system of claim 55, wherein the cavity structure is disposed on a side of the destination substrate and the side of the destination substrate forms a bottom of the cavity.
59. The cavity structure system of claim 55, wherein the cavity structure is disposed on a side of the destination substrate and the destination substrate comprises a destination substrate pit, hole, indentation, or cavity extending from the side of the destination substrate into the destination substrate, and wherein the cavity structure is disposed over the destination substrate pit, hole, indentation, or cavity.
60. The cavity structure system of claim 55, wherein the cavity in the cavity substrate extends through the cavity substrate.
61. The cavity structure system of claim 55, wherein the cap has a planar interior surface.
62. The cavity structure system of claim 55, wherein the cap has a tophat configuration comprising (i) one or more cap contact portions in contact with the structure disposed on the substrate surface, the substrate surface, or the destination substrate, (ii) one or more cap wall portions extending away from the one or more cap contact portions and away from the cavity substrate, and (iii) a cap top portion connected to the one or more cap wall portions.
63. A cavity structure, comprising: a substrate comprising a substrate surface; and a cap disposed on the substrate surface, the cap comprising (i) one or more flat cap contact portions in contact with the substrate, (ii) one or more cap wall portions extending away from the one or more cap contact portions and away from the substrate surface, and (iii) a cap top portion connected to the one or more cap wall portions, the cap enclosing a volume between the cap and the substrate.
64. The cavity structure of claim 63, wherein the substrate comprises a cavity disposed in the substrate that forms a portion of the volume.
65. The cavity structure of claim 63, comprising a component at least partially suspended within the volume.
66. A cavity structure, comprising: a cavity substrate comprising a substrate surface; a cavity extending into the cavity substrate away from the substrate surface, the cavity having one or more cavity walls; a cap disposed over the cavity substrate; and a destination substrate, wherein the cavity substrate is disposed on the destination substrate and the cap is disposed on the destination substrate or a layer disposed on the destination substrate, and wherein the destination substrate, the cavity substrate, the cap, and the one or more cavity walls form at least a portion of an enclosed cavity that encloses a volume.
67. The cavity structure of claim 66, wherein the cavity extends through the cavity substrate to the destination substrate and at least a portion of the destination substrate forms a cavity bottom.
68. The cavity structure of claim 66, wherein the destination substrate is planar.
69. The cavity structure of claim 66, wherein destination substrate has a surface and comprises a cavity in the destination substrate that extends into the destination substrate in a direction away from the surface.
70. The cavity structure of claim 69, wherein the destination substrate is non-planar.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0043] The foregoing and other objects, aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent and better understood by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
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[0095] The features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which like reference characters identify corresponding elements throughout. In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS
[0096] Certain embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward, inter alia, structures and methods of printing (e.g., micro-transfer printing) arrays of cavity structures (structures incorporating cavities) from a cavity structure source wafer (a cavity substrate) to a destination substrate (a target substrate) using a transfer device (e.g., a stamp). In some embodiments, a cavity is formed in a substrate (e.g., a destination or cavity substrate) and structures are provided (e.g., by micro-transfer printing) over the cavity to form a cavity structure. Cavity structures can comprise one or more components enclosed in a cavity and covered with a cap. In some embodiments, each cavity structure is transferred from the cavity substrate to the destination substrate or a cavity formed in the destination substrate and then enclosed with the cap on the destination substrate. In some embodiments, an entire enclosed cavity structure with the component enclosed by a cap can be micro-transfer printed to the destination substrate. Suitable enclosed components can be micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) components such as acoustic resonators or other (e.g., electrically operated) components that require or benefit from mechanical motion in an enclosed volume of space.
[0097] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure and as illustrated in
[0098] According to some embodiments, an opening of cavity 20 in cavity substrate 10 has the same area as cavity floor 22, for example the opening in substrate surface 12 for cavity 20 has the same area as cavity floor 22.
[0099] Component 30 can be supported by a component support 32 (e.g., post) in a variety of configurations, for example supported by component support 32 extending from cavity floor 22 (e.g., a post 32 extending from cavity bottom 22) as in
[0100] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure and as illustrated in
[0101] Component 30 can be disposed in cavity 20 with component support 32 in a variety of configurations. As shown in
[0102] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure and as shown in
[0103] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure and as illustrated in
[0104] As illustrated, for example, in
[0105] Component 30 can be an electrical device (e.g., an integrated circuit) or an electrical transducer (e.g., an acoustic wave filter). Cavity structure 99 can comprise one or more component electrodes 50 electrically connected to or disposed on component 30, for example as illustrated in
Cavity Structures with Tophat Caps
[0106] In some embodiments and as illustrated in
[0107] Cap wall portion 44 can be equivalent to, provide, or comprise extended cavity wall 24E. Cap contact portion 42 can be adhered to substrate surface 12 (or a layer disposed on substrate surface 12), for example as shown in
[0108] In some embodiments, component 30 has a component surface 34 on a side of component 30 opposite cavity floor 22 so that component 30 is between component surface 34 and cavity floor 22. Component surface 34 can be substantially in a common plane with substrate surface 12 (shown, for example in
[0109] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure and as shown in
[0110] According to some embodiments, component 30 is a transfer printed (e.g., micro-transfer printed or printable) component 30 with a component tether 31, for example as shown in
[0111] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, cavity 20 has a planar cavity floor 22 that meets cavity walls 24 at substantially ninety degrees (e.g., within 10, 5, 3 or 1 degree or within the limitations of the materials and manufacturing processes used.) Such cavities 20 can be constructed by disposing a patterned sacrificial layer (for example an oxide layer such as a buried oxide (BO.sub.x) layer, for example comprising silicon dioxide, or a silicon nitride layer) on cavity substrate 10, constructing cavity walls 24 on cavity substrate 10 adjacent to and in contact with (but not on) the patterned sacrificial layer, forming (with or without a seed layer) or disposing component 30 on the sacrificial layer, and then etching the patterned sacrificial layer to release component 30 from cavity substrate 10, leaving component 30 attached to an anchor by a component tether 31. In some embodiments, component 30 and cavity walls 24 are differentially etchable from the patterned sacrificial layer so that releasing component 30 by etching does not unduly deleteriously impact component 30 or cavity walls 24.
[0112] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a protective layer is disposed on cavity substrate 10 and component 30 is disposed on the protective layer. The protective layer can be differentially etchable from cavity substrate 10 or a patterned sacrificial layer disposed on cavity substrate 10. For example, where cavity substrate 10 comprises a semiconductor material such as silicon or a compound semiconductor material, a protective layer can comprise a silicon oxide or silicon nitride. When the sacrificial layer is etched to release component 30, the protective layer and component 30 are not. In some embodiments, cavity substrate 10 is anisotropically etchable, for example comprising crystalline silicon, with slow and fast etch planes. Such planes are typically not parallel to substrate surface 12, and can be intentionally made so by selecting a silicon substrate with appropriate crystallographic orientation, and are therefore, at a non-perpendicular angle to cavity walls 24. Such a cavity 20 (e.g., as shown in
[0113] In some embodiments in which cavity walls 24 are not orthogonal to substrate surface 12, the opening of cavity 20 in cavity substrate 10 (e.g., the area of cavity 20 coincident with the plane of substrate surface 12) can be equal to the area of cavity floor 22 in combination with the area of cavity walls 24 (e.g., in cavity substrate 10) parallel to substrate surface 12.
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[0115] As shown in
[0116] In step 165 a destination substrate 80 or cavity substrate 10 is provided and a cavity 20 formed in the substrate (step 170). In some embodiments, as also shown in
[0117] In step 190 and as shown in
[0118] Component 30 structure is removed to a destination substrate 80 and contacted to destination substrate 80 over cavity 20 in destination substrate 80, as shown in
[0119] In step 150 and as shown in FIG. 7J1, a released cap 40 is transfer printed (e.g., micro-transfer printed) from a cap source wafer (discussed further subsequently) onto component support 32 (such that portions of component support 32 act as extended cavity walls 24E) and stamp 70 removed, as shown in the cross section of FIG. 7K1 and corresponding perspective of FIG. 7L1, thereby forming enclosed cavity 20. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 7J2, in step 150 a released cap 40 is transfer printed (e.g., micro-transfer printed) from a cap source wafer (as discussed further subsequently) onto destination substrate 80 and stamp 70 removed, as shown in the cross section of FIG. 7K2 and the perspective of FIG. 7L2. The process is then done (step 195). Thus, component support 32 can be considered to form extended cavity walls 24E of an enclosed cavity 20 (e.g., when disposed in contact with cap 40 around a perimeter of cavity 20). As shown in FIGS. 7J1-7L2, cavity 20 in destination substrate 80, component support 32, and cap 40 together form enclosed cavity 20 that surrounds component 30 disposed on a separate portion of component support 32 that acts as a post 32 and does contribute towards forming enclosed cavity 20.
[0120] FIGS. 7J1-7L2 illustrate transfer printing component 30 to destination substrate 80 (step 190) before transfer printing cap 40 (step 150). In some embodiments of the present disclosure, cap 40 is transfer printed to component 30 structure to form cavity structure 99 (e.g., between steps 160 and 180) before transfer printing cavity structure 99 from cavity structure source wafer 90 to destination substrate 80. Cap 40 sits over component support 32 such that component support 32 does not act, in the illustrated embodiments of FIGS. 7J1-7L2, as extended cavity walls 24E.
[0121] In the embodiments illustrated in
[0122] As shown in
[0123] As shown in
[0124] Any one of cap tether 41, component tether 31, or structure tether 91 can be broken (e.g., fractured) or separated as a consequence of micro-transfer printing cap 40, component 30, or cavity structure 99, respectively.
[0125] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, cavity 20 comprises a volume (a space) that is under a vacuum or partial vacuum, comprises a volume filled with a gas, for example air, or an added gas such as dry air, nitrogen, helium, or inert gas, or comprises a volume containing a liquid. Cavity 20 can be hermetically sealed, e.g., with cap 40, cavity wall(s) 24 (e.g., including extended cavity wall(s) 24E), and cavity floor 22 (if present).
[0126] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a cavity structure 99 comprises a cavity substrate 10 comprising cavity walls 24 enclosing the sides of a cavity 20. A component 30 is disposed in cavity 20 and physically connected to cavity walls 24 with component tethers 31. At least a portion of a structure tether 91 is physically connected to cavity substrate 10 or a layer disposed on cavity substrate 10. In some embodiments, cavity 20 has no top and no bottom, for example as shown in
[0127] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure and as shown in
[0128] As described in the following paragraphs, illustrative methods according to some embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the successive cross sections of
[0129] In step 150 and as shown in
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[0131] As shown in
[0132] Some methods of the present disclosure, and as shown in
[0133] In some embodiments and as shown in the successive cross sections of
[0134] As shown in
[0135] As shown in
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[0137] In step 100 and as shown in
[0138] As shown in
[0139] In some methods in accordance with
[0140] Cap 40 can be constructed and transfer printed according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in the successive cross sections of
[0141] As shown in
[0142] Cap source wafer 62 and reinforcement layer 64 are patterned 200 to form a structure with a non-planar topography having cap source wafer trenches 66, for example by etching through a patterned mask, as shown in
[0143] As shown, for example, in
[0144] In some embodiments, cap 40 is formed over component 30 such that in cavity structure 99, component 30 is connected to and suspended from cap 40. Such a structure can be formed by, for example, forming component 30, performing a patterned deposition to deposit material onto component 30 such that it protrudes from a top surface thereof and also defines cap wall portion(s) 44, performing a patterned or unpatterned deposition to form cap top portion 44, and etching under component 30 to remove any material under component 30 (e.g., such that combined cap 40 and component 30 can be together transfer printed) and between cap wall portion(s) 44 and the material protruding upward from component 30 to cap top portion 46. Thus, in some embodiments, cap 40 is also component support 32. In some embodiments, component support 32 protrudes from a top surface of component 30.
[0145] In some illustrative embodiments illustrated in
[0146] In some embodiments, cap 40 is transfer printed with a stamp 70 that contacts cap top portion 46 (as shown in
[0147] Cap 40 can be transparent and can, for example, comprise a silicon oxide (SiO.sub.x), such as silicon dioxide (x=2). According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, cavity substrate 10 can be patterned (e.g., as shown in
Components Supported by Cavity Floor
[0148] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, component 30 in cavity 20 of cavity substrate 10 is physically connected by component support 32 to cavity walls 24 or substrate surface 12, as shown in
[0149] In some embodiments, a component 30 on a component support 32 on substrate surface 12 of cavity substrate 10 extends over an edge of component support 32 in two dimensions, for example as shown in
[0150] In some embodiments, a component 30 on a component support 32 extends over an edge of component support 32 in one dimension or direction and does not extend over an edge of component support 32 in an orthogonal dimension or direction (e.g., as shown in
[0151] In some embodiments, a component support 32 extends over substrate surface 12 of cavity substrate 10 to form a ridge that has a length greater than a dimension of component 30, for example a component support 32 length parallel to substrate surface 12 greater than a width W of component 30 in which the length of component 30 is oriented orthogonally to the length of component support 32 (e.g., as shown in
[0152] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a micro-transfer-printed component 30 does not extend over an edge of a component support 32 on substrate surface 12 of cavity substrate 10 (e.g., as in
[0153] In some embodiments, any one, combination, or all of a component center, centroid, or center of mass (any one or more of which is referred to generically as a component center) of component 30 can be disposed over component support 32 so that component support 32 is between component center, component centroid, or component center of mass and cavity substrate 10. It is understood that in a given arrangement, a component center of mass may not be in the same location as a center or centroid of component 30. In some embodiments, this arrangement can provide a robust mechanical structure that can help keep component 30 adhered to component support 32, especially when exposed to mechanical stress, such as vibration.
[0154] According to some embodiments and as illustrated in
[0155] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, cavity structure 99 comprises a cavity 20 formed or disposed in or on substrate surface 12 of cavity substrate 10. Cavity 20 can have a cavity floor 22 and cavity walls 24. Component support 32 (e.g., post 32) can be disposed on cavity floor 22. Cavity structure 99 comprises a cap 40 disposed over cavity 20 to enclose (e.g., surround) cavity 20. In some embodiments, cap 40 can have a small opening (e.g., hole) through cap 40 so that enclosed cavity 20 is not completely sealed (e.g., environmentally) (e.g., such that gas and/or liquid can enter and exit enclosed cavity 20). In some embodiments, cap 40 is adhered to cavity walls 24, for example with a patterned layer of adhesive 48 rather than an unpatterned layer of adhesive 48 as shown in
[0156] In some embodiments, component 30 is micro-transfer printed from a component source wafer and includes a separated or broken (e.g., fractured) component tether 31. In some such embodiments, component 30 can be adhered to component support 32, for example with a patterned layer of adhesive 48. In some embodiments, component 30 is not micro-transfer printed and is instead, for example, constructed in place using photolithographic techniques, as described further subsequently. Similarly, in some embodiments, cap 40 is micro-transfer printed from a cap source wafer 62 and includes a separated or broken (e.g., fractured) cap tether 41. In some embodiments, cap 40 is not micro-transfer printed and is, for example, laminated or spread over cavity 20 to enclose cavity 20. According to some embodiments, a cavity structure 99 can be or is printed or placed on a destination substrate 80, such as a printed circuit board (PCB) or a glass, polymer, or semiconductor substrate, for example. In some embodiments, a cavity structure 99 can be constructed on, for example, a semiconductor cavity structure source wafer 90 with sacrificial portions 94 and structure anchors 96 and structure tethers 91 connecting cavity structures 99 to structure anchors 96 (e.g., as shown in
[0157] According to some embodiments, two or more component supports 32 are disposed within cavity 20 or two or more components 30 are disposed within cavity 20, or both (e.g., each component 30 on a respective component support 32). In some embodiments, a component support 32 within cavity 20 can have two or components 30 disposed on each component support 32. According to some embodiments, one or more component electrodes 50 of the two or more components 30 disposed within cavity 20 are electrically connected, for example a component top or bottom electrode 54, 56 of a first component 30 is electrically connected to a component top or bottom electrode 54, 56 of a second component 30, where first and second components 30 are both disposed within a common cavity 20 and can be, but are not necessarily, disposed on a common component support 32, e.g., to form a common circuit (e.g., as described further below with respect to
[0158] According to some embodiments and referring to the flow diagram of
[0159] In some embodiments, providing component electrodes 50 can comprise providing a component top electrode 54 disposed on component top side 38, providing a component bottom electrode 56 disposed on component bottom side 39, or both.
[0160] In some embodiments, a substrate is patterned to form cavity substrate 10 and component support 32, for example a glass or polymer substrate patterned using photolithographic methods and materials.
[0161] In some embodiments and as shown in
[0162] In some embodiments and as shown in
[0163] As described with respect to
Components Disposed Over Divided Cavity
[0164] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure and as shown in
[0165] A component 30 can be disposed on or in contact (e.g., direct contact) with component support 32 and can extend from component support 32 into cavity 20 over cavity floor 22. Component 30 can extend in wall direction D beyond component support 32 in one or two directions and a portion of component 30 can be at least partially separated by a gap G from cavity substrate 10 (shown in cross section 26C), for example separated from a bottom of cavity 20 (e.g., cavity floor 22). Thus, the extended portions (ends) of component 30 are not in contact (e.g., direct physical contact) with cavity substrate 10 and are suspended over cavity floor 22 in cavity 20. Indeed, with the exception of the portion of component 30 in contact with component support 32, component 30 is not in contact with any cavity substrate 10 structure, such as cavity walls 24, or a bottom (cavity floor 22) of cavity 20. The portion of component 30 in contact with component support 32 can be no more than 50% of the area or dimension (e.g., length) of a surface of component 30 (e.g., no more than 40% of the area or dimension, no more than 30% of the area or dimension, no more than 20% of the area or dimension, no more than 10% of the area or dimension, or no more than 5% of the area or dimension). Suitable gaps G can have a size of no more than ten microns (e.g., no more than five microns, no more than two microns, or no more than one micron), for example.
[0166] Component support 32 can extend entirely along a height of cavity walls 24 so that the top of component support 32 can be substantially co-planar with substrate surface 12 or can extend to only a portion of and less than the height of cavity walls 24 (e.g., as shown in
[0167] In some embodiments of a cavity structure 99 of the present disclosure, cavity substrate 10 has a substrate surface 12 and component 30 is disposed within cavity 20 so that a component surface 34 of component 30 opposite cavity substrate 10 does not extend beyond substrate surface 12. In some embodiments, component support 32 can extend to substrate surface 12 and component 30 can be disposed at least partially above substrate surface 12 in a direction opposite cavity substrate 10. In some embodiments of a cavity structure 99 of the present disclosure, cavity substrate 10 has a substrate surface 12 and a component surface 34 of component 30 opposite cavity substrate 10 extends beyond substrate surface 12 and protrudes above substrate surface 12 so that component 30 is disposed at least partially above substrate surface 12. In some embodiments, component 30 is disposed completely above substrate surface 12.
[0168] Component support 32 can at least partially divide cavity 20 into first and second cavity portions 28, 29 and component 30 can extend into first cavity portion 28 and second cavity portion 29. For example, a first end of component 30 can extend into first cavity portion 28 and a second end of component 30 opposite the first end can extend into second cavity portion 29. (First and second cavity portions 28, 29 together can comprise cavity 20. First and second cavity portions 28, 29 can be formed separately or together (e.g., simultaneously). Cavity 20 can have a length greater than a width, that is have a rectangular non-square perimeter and/or cross section. Cavity 20 can have a curved cross section so that first and second cavity walls 24 are curved, for example if cavity 20 forms a half cylinder or vertically oriented cylinder. The cavity walls 24 are then the opposing sides of cavity 20.
[0169] Component support 32 can substantially bisect cavity 20. By substantially bisect, it is meant that component support 32, within the normal limitations of a useful manufacturing process, divides the length of cavity 20 into two substantially equal portions or pockets (e.g., first cavity portion 28 and second cavity portion 29). In some embodiments, cavity 20 is formed by etching two portions of cavity substrate 10 that each define one of first cavity portion 28 and second cavity portion 29 with component support 32 disposed therebetween. In some embodiments, cavity 20 is formed (e.g., by etching) and component support 32 is subsequently or consequently disposed or formed therebetween. First and second cavity portions 28, 29 can be substantially identical (e.g., in one or more of shape and size) or have different shapes and sizes. One or more patterned layers of dielectric 60 (encapsulation layer 60) can insulate portions of component 30, form portions of component support 32, or can encapsulate structures such as component 30 or component top and bottom electrodes 54, 56, or both. Thus, component support 32 can comprise materials of cavity substrate 10, component 30, dielectric layer 60, or component top and bottom electrodes 54, 56.
[0170] Components 30 can comprise one or more layers of different materials (e.g., including one or more layers of piezoelectric material) or one or more layers can be provided on component 30 (for example component top and bottom electrodes 54, 56, dielectric layers 60, or encapsulation layers 60). A component 30 is on or in contact with component support 32 if one or more layers of component 30 are in direct or indirect physical contact with component support 32. For example, component 30 can be in physical contact with component support 32 through one or more layers disposed on component 30 or through one or more layers disposed on component support 32.
[0171] As shown in
[0172] The perspectives of
[0173] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, cavity 20 has substantially planar, vertical, and rectangular cavity walls 24 and cavity floor 22. Cavity 20 can be disposed or formed in cavity substrate 10 and can be disposed partially above substrate surface 12, for example as shown in
[0174] Cavity structure 99 can comprise a cap 40 disposed over cavity 20 and in contact with and adhered to cavity substrate 10 (as shown in
[0175] In some embodiments of the present disclosure and as shown in
[0176] Component top electrode 54 can be disposed on a side of component 30 opposite cavity 20 and cavity substrate 10 and component bottom electrode 56 can be disposed on a side of component 30 adjacent cavity 20 and cavity substrate 10. As used in this context, an opposite side is a side for which component 30 is between the side and the cavity 20 or cavity substrate 10. As used in this context, an adjacent side is a side for which component 30 is not between the side and the cavity 20 or cavity substrate 10. Component top and bottom electrodes 54, 56 can electrically control or respond to component 30. Although only one each of component top and bottom electrodes 54, 56 are illustrated in
[0177] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, component support 32 has a first support end in contact with first cavity wall 24 and a second support end in contact with second cavity wall 24. Component top electrode 54 can extend along component support 32 to the first support end and first cavity wall 24 and component bottom electrode 56 can extend along component support 32 to the second support end and second cavity wall 24. Referring to
[0178] In some embodiments and as shown in
[0179] The two or more components 30 in a common cavity 20 can be electrically connected, as shown, or can be electrically separate. By providing two or more components 30 in a common cavity 20, more components 30 can be provided in a smaller area or structure and additional signal processing can be provided by components 30. The two or more components 30 can all be a same kind of component 30 or can be different kinds of devices, the two or more components 30 can all comprise similar or the same materials or can comprise one or more different materials. The two or more components 30 can provide similar or the same one or more functions or can provide one or more different functions.
[0180]
[0181] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a method is performed in accordance with
[0182] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a method of making a cavity structure 99 comprises providing a cavity substrate 10 having a substrate surface 12, cavity substrate 10 comprising a material that is anisotropically etchable, disposing a component 30 on substrate surface 12, for example by constructing or micro-transfer printing component 30 on substrate surface 12, etching cavity substrate 10 to undercut component 30 thereby forming component support 32 on which component 30 is disposed and cavity 20 into which component 30 extends, and optionally disposing a cap 40 over cavity 20 to enclose cavity 20. Cap 40 can comprise portions of cavity walls 24 so that cavity 20 extends above substrate surface 12, for example as shown in
[0183] Additional layers, for example patterned titanium, nickel, or gold layers can be provided to coat or protect various elements of overhanging device cavity structure 99, for example component 30, from etchants or other process steps. Such layers can have a thickness of one micron or less, for example about 100 nm. Cavity substrate circuit 16 can be formed using conventional photolithographic methods and materials before, after, or during any steps used to form overhanging device cavity structure 99. Alternatively, cavity substrate circuit 16 can be transferred (e.g., micro-transfer printed) to substrate surface 12 before, after, or during any steps used to form overhanging device cavity structure 99.
[0184] In some embodiments of the present disclosure a method is performed in accordance with
[0185] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a method of making a cavity structure 99 comprises providing a cavity substrate 10 and forming a cavity 20 in the cavity substrate 10, cavity 20 comprising a first cavity wall 24 and a second cavity wall 24 opposing the first cavity wall 24. Cavity 20 is at least partially filled with a removable material 68 and a support cavity is formed in removable material 68 that extends from the first cavity wall 24 to the second cavity wall 24. A component support 32 is formed in the support cavity that at least partially divides cavity 20. A component 30 is disposed on component support 32 and removable material 68. Removable material 68 is then removed so that component 30 extends from component support 32 into cavity 20. Optionally, a cap 40 is disposed over cavity 20. In some embodiments, a cap 40 is provided when component 30 is disposed entirely within cavity 20 thereby forming an enclosed cavity.
[0186] As noted above, if a material comprising cavity substrate 10 is anisotropically etchable, cavity 20 can be formed in cavity substrate 10 by anisotropically etching the cavity material. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a method of making a cavity structure 99 comprises providing a cavity substrate 10 having a substrate surface 12 and spaced-apart sacrificial portions 94 separated by a component support 32. A component 30 is disposed on the substrate surface 12 and covering at least a portion of sacrificial portions 94 and component support 32 such that no portion of component 30 extends beyond the area that bounds sacrificial portions 94 and component support 32. Sacrificial portions 94 are etched to undercut component 30 and form a cavity 20 comprising a first cavity wall 24 and a second cavity wall 24 opposing first cavity wall 24. The component support 32 extends from first cavity wall 24 to second cavity wall 24 and at least partially divides cavity 20. A cap 40 is optionally disposed over cavity 20. In some embodiments, cavity 20 is at least partially filled with removable material 68 after sacrificial portions 94 are etched, component 30 is then at least partially disposed on removable material 94, and removable material 94 is removed.
Examples of Components, Wafers, Structures, Materials, and Methods
[0187] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, micro-transfer printing can include any method of transferring components 30 from a cavity structure source wafer 90 to a destination substrate 80 by contacting components 30 on cavity structure source wafer 90 with a patterned or unpatterned stamp 70 to remove components 30 from cavity structure source wafer 90, transferring stamp 70 and contacted components 30 to destination substrate 80, and contacting components 30 to a surface of destination substrate 80. Components 30 can be adhered to stamp 70 or destination substrate 80 by, for example, van der Waals forces, electrostatic forces, magnetic forces, chemical forces, adhesives, or any combination of the above depending on the construction of stamp 70. In some embodiments, components 30 are adhered to stamp 70 with separation-rate-dependent adhesion, for example kinetic control of viscoelastic stamp materials such as can be found in elastomeric transfer devices such as a PDMS stamp 70.
[0188] Cavity Structures
[0189] Cavity structure 99 can comprise component top and bottom electrodes 54, 56 on opposing component top and bottom sides 38, 39 of component 30, for example as shown in
[0190] Components
[0191] Components 30 can be any transfer printable structure and can include any one or more of a wide variety of active or passive (or active and passive) components 30 including MEMs and piezoelectric devices. Components 30 can be any one or more of integrated devices, integrated circuits (such as CMOS circuits), light-emitting diodes, photodiodes, sensors, electrical or electronic devices, optical devices, opto-electronic devices, magnetic devices, magneto-optic devices, magneto-electronic devices, and piezoelectric device, materials or structures. Components 30 can comprise electronic component circuits that operate component 30. Component 30 can be responsive to electrical energy, to optical energy, to electromagnetic energy, to mechanical energy, or to a combination thereof, for example. In some embodiments, an acoustic wave transducer comprises component 30. In some embodiments, two acoustic wave transducers both comprise component 30, for example when used in an acoustic wave filter or sensor.
[0192] In some embodiments, component 30 comprises a piezoelectric material. Component 30 can be at least a portion of a piezoelectric transducer or piezoelectric resonator. For example, component 30 can be used in an acoustic wave filter or sensor, such as a bulk acoustic wave filter or sensor or a surface acoustic wave filter or sensor. For example, in some embodiments in which component top and bottom electrodes 54, 56 extend over a substantial portion of component top and bottom sides 38, 39 of component 30 comprising a piezoelectric material, respectively, component top and bottom electrodes 54, 56 can provide an electrical field in component 30 that, when controlled at a suitable frequency can cause resonant mechanical vibrations in component 30 such that component 30 and component electrodes 50 serve as an acoustic wave transducer. In some embodiments, a component top electrode 54 and a component bottom electrode 56 are provided on component top and bottom sides 38, 39, respectively, to form a two-electrode acoustic wave filter for a component 30 comprising a piezoelectric material. In some embodiments, two component top electrodes 54 and two component bottom electrodes 56 are provided on component top and bottom sides 38, 39, respectively, to form a four-electrode acoustic wave filter for a component comprising a piezoelectric material. Two component top electrodes 54 can be interdigitated or two component bottom electrodes 56 can be interdigitated, or both. In some embodiments, because one or more ends of component 30 are not adhered to a surface and are free to move, resonant frequencies of mechanical vibration in component 30 can be controlled and a high quality (high Q) acoustic wave transducer (or filter) is provided. Similarly, high-quality sensors and the like can be achieved when components 30 can deform more readily (e.g., because they overhang a component support 32 or are laterally suspended in an enclosed cavity 20). Various arrangements and patterns of component top and bottom electrodes 54, 56 can be used in various embodiments and can be implemented in bulk or surface acoustic wave transducers (e.g., in bulk or surface acoustic wave filters, respectively) with a corresponding variety of resonant modes in component 30 using two, three, four or more component electrodes 50.
[0193] Components 30 can comprise one or more different component materials, for example non-crystalline (e.g., amorphous), polycrystalline, or crystalline semiconductor materials such as silicon or compound semiconductor materials or crystalline piezoelectric materials. In some embodiments, component 30 comprises a layer of piezoelectric material disposed over or on a layer of dielectric material, for example an oxide or nitride such as a silicon oxide (e.g., silicon dioxide) or silicon nitride. In some embodiments, component 30 comprises a component material different from the component support 32 material. In some embodiments, the component 30 material can be the same as or substantially similar to the component support 32 material.
[0194] In certain embodiments, components 30 can be native to and formed on sacrificial portions of cavity substrate 10 and can include seed layer(s). Components 30 and cavity structures 99 can be constructed, for example using photolithographic processes and materials. Components 30 and cavity structures 99 can be micro-devices having at least one of a length and a width less than or equal to 500 microns (e.g., a length and a width less than or equal to 200 microns, a length and a width less than or equal to 100 microns, a length and a width less than or equal to 50 microns, a length and a width less than or equal to 25 microns, a length and a width less than or equal to 15 microns, a length and a width less than or equal to 10 microns, or a length and a width less than or equal to five microns), and alternatively or additionally a thickness of less than or equal to 250 microns (e.g., less than or equal to 100 microns, less than or equal to 50 microns, less than or equal to 25 microns, less than or equal to 15 microns, less than or equal to 10 microns, less than or equal to five microns, less than or equal to two microns, or less than or equal to one micron).
[0195] Components 30 can be unpackaged dice (each an unpackaged die) transferred directly from native component source wafers on or in which components 30 are constructed to cavity substrate 10 (e.g., to component support 32 thereon or therein). Anchors and component tethers 31 can each be or can comprise portions of component source wafer that are not sacrificial portions and can include layers formed on component source wafers, for example dielectric or metal layers and for example layers formed as a part of photolithographic processes used to construct or encapsulate components 30.
[0196] For example, in some embodiments in which top and bottom component electrodes 50, extend over a substantial portion of component top and bottom sides 38, 39 of component 30, respectively, component electrodes 50 can provide an electrical field in component 30 that, when controlled at a suitable frequency can cause resonant mechanical vibrations in component 30 such that the component 30 and component electrodes 50 serve as an acoustic wave transducer. In some embodiments, a component top and bottom electrode 54, 56 are provided on component top and bottom sides 38, 39, respectively, to form a two-electrode acoustic wave filter. In some embodiments, two component top electrodes 54 and two component bottom electrodes 56 are provided on component top and bottom sides 38, 39, respectively, to form a four-electrode acoustic wave filter. Two component top electrodes 54 can be interdigitated or two component bottom electrodes 56 can be interdigitated, or both. In some embodiments, because one or more ends of component 30 are not adhered to (or otherwise in contact with) a surface and are free to move, resonant frequencies of mechanical vibration in component 30 can be controlled and a high quality (high Q) acoustic wave transducer (or filter) is provided. Various arrangements and patterns of component top and bottom electrodes 54, 56 can be used in various embodiments and can implement bulk or surface acoustic wave transducers (e.g., in bulk or surface acoustic wave filters, respectively) with a corresponding variety of resonant modes in component 30 using two, three, four or more component electrodes 50.
[0197] In some embodiments according to the present disclosure, components 30 can have a variety of shapes and form factors, for example a rectangular form factor commonly used for integrated circuits. In some embodiments, for example where components 30 are used in acoustic transducers, various component 30 shapes can be useful, for example circular or disc-shaped or x-shaped, cross-shaped, or the shape of a plus sign. In general, according to some embodiments, components 30 can have any useful shape in either two dimensions or three dimensions. Such shapes can be useful, for example in enabling vibrational resonance modes for acoustic devices.
[0198] In some embodiments, component 30 comprises a piezoelectric material and is a piezoelectric device. Component 30 can be at least a portion of a piezoelectric transducer or piezoelectric resonator. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, component 30 is an acoustic wave filter, sensor, or a resonator. Component 30 can be a surface acoustic wave filter or a bulk acoustic wave filter. In some embodiments of cavity structure 99, component 30 comprises one or more of aluminum nitride, zinc oxide, bismuth ferrite, lead zirconate titanate, lanthanum-doped lead zirconate titanate, potassium niobate, or potassium niobate, and (K,Na)NbO.sub.3 (KNN).
[0199] A component material of component 30 can be or include one or more of a semiconductor, a compound semiconductor, a III-V semiconductor, a II-VI semiconductor, or a ceramic (e.g., a synthetic ceramic). For example, a component material can be or include one or more of GaN, AlGaN, AlN, gallium orthophosphate (GaPO.sub.4), Langasite (La.sub.3Ga.sub.5SiO.sub.14), lead titanate, barium titanate (BaTiO.sub.3), lead zirconate titanate (Pb[Zr.sub.xTi.sub.1-x]O.sub.3 0x1), potassium niobate (KNbO.sub.3), lithium niobate (LiNbO.sub.3), lithium tantalate (LiTaO.sub.3), sodium tungstate (Na.sub.2WO.sub.3), Ba.sub.2NaNb.sub.5O.sub.5, Pb.sub.2KNb.sub.5O.sub.15, zinc oxide (ZnO), Sodium potassium niobate ((K,Na)NbO.sub.3) (NKN), bismuth ferrite (BiFeO.sub.3), Sodium niobate (NaNbO.sub.3), bismuth titanate (Bi.sub.4Ti.sub.3O.sub.12), sodium bismuth titanate (Na.sub.0.5Bi.sub.0.5TiO.sub.3), wurtzite, and polyvinylidene fluoride. A component material can be or include a piezoelectric material that exhibits a piezoelectric effect.
[0200] Components 30 formed or disposed in or on cavity structure 99 can be processed, formed, or constructed using integrated circuit, micro-electro-mechanical, or photolithographic methods and materials, for example. Photolithographic methods and materials are also useful to form top and bottom component electrodes 50 and any component circuit. Components 30, in certain embodiments, can be constructed using foundry fabrication processes used in the art. Layer(s) of materials can be used, including materials such as metals, oxides, nitrides and other materials used in the integrated-circuit art. Each component 30 can be or include a complete semiconductor integrated circuit and can include, for example, any combination of one or more of a transistor, a diode, a light-emitting diode, and a sensor. Components 30 can have different sizes, for example, at least 100 square microns (e.g., at least 1,000 square microns, at least 10,000 square microns, at least 100,000 square microns, or at least 1 square mm). Alternatively or additionally for example, components 30 can be no more than 100 square microns (e.g., no more than 1,000 square microns, no more than 10,000 square microns, no more than 100,000 square microns, or no more than 1 square mm). Components 30 can have variable aspect ratios, for example between 1:1 and 10:1 (e.g., 1:1, 2:1, 5:1, or 10:1). Components 30 can be rectangular or can have other shapes, such as polygonal or circular shapes for example.
[0201] In some embodiments, component 30 comprises a device material different from a component support 32 material. In some embodiments, component support 32 can comprise component 30 material. A component support 32 material can be or comprise a patterned dielectric layer 60, can comprise conductors, or can comprise an electrical conductor (e.g., a metal).
[0202] Component Source Wafers
[0203] According to various embodiments, a component source wafer can be provided with components 30, patterned sacrificial portions, component tethers 31, and anchors already formed, or they can be constructed as part of a method in accordance with certain embodiments. A component source wafer and components 30, micro-transfer printing device (e.g., a stamp 70), and cavity substrate 10 can be made separately and at different times or in different temporal orders or locations and provided in various process states.
[0204] The spatial distribution of any one or more of components 30 and cavity structures 99 is a matter of design choice for the end product desired. In some embodiments, all components 30 in an array on a component source wafer or cavity structures 99 in an array on a cavity structure source wafer 90 are transferred to a transfer device (e.g., stamp 70). In some embodiments, a subset of components 30 or cavity structures 99 is transferred. By varying the number and arrangement of stamp posts 72 on transfer stamps 70, the distribution of components 30 on stamp posts 72 of transfer stamp 70 can be likewise varied, as can the distribution of components 30 on cavity substrate 10 or cavity structures 99 on cavity structure source wafer 90.
[0205] A component source wafer can be any source wafer or substrate with transfer printable components 30 that can be transferred with a transfer device 70 (e.g., a stamp 70). For example, a component source wafer can be or comprise a semiconductor (e.g., silicon) in a crystalline or non-crystalline form, a compound semiconductor (e.g., comprising GaN or GaAs), a glass, a polymer, a sapphire, or a quartz wafer. Sacrificial portions (comparable to sacrificial portions 94 of cavity structure source wafer 90 or in cavity substrate 10) can be formed of a patterned oxide (e.g., silicon dioxide) or nitride (e.g., silicon nitride) layer or can be an anisotropically etchable portion of a sacrificial layer of a component source wafer.
[0206] Stamps
[0207] Stamps 70 can be patterned or unpatterned and can comprise stamp posts 72 having a stamp post area on the distal end of stamp posts 72. Stamp posts 72 can have a length, a width, or both a length and a width that is similar (e.g., within 50% of) or substantially equal (e.g., within 1% of) to a length, a width, or both a length and a width of component 30, respectively, or not. In some embodiments, stamp posts 72 can be smaller than components 30 or have a dimension, such as a length and/or a width, substantially equal to or smaller than a length or a width of component support 32 in one or two orthogonal directions. In some embodiments, stamp posts 72 each have a contact surface of substantially identical area.
[0208] In exemplary methods, a viscoelastic elastomer (e.g., PDMS) stamp 70 (e.g., comprising a plurality of stamp posts 72 that can be patterned) is constructed and arranged to retrieve and transfer arrays of components 30 from their native component source wafer onto non-native target substrates, e.g., cavity substrates 10. In some embodiments, stamp 70 mounts onto motion-plus-optics machinery (e.g., an opto-mechatronic motion platform) that can precisely control stamp 70 alignment and kinetics with respect to both component source wafers and cavity substrates 10 with component supports 32. During micro-transfer printing, the motion platform brings stamp 70 into contact with components 30 on a component source wafer, with optical alignment performed before contact. Rapid upward movement of the print-head (or, in some embodiments, downward movement of component source wafer) breaks (e.g., fractures) or separates component tether(s) 31 forming broken (e.g., fractured) or separated component tethers 31, transferring component(s) 30 to stamp 70 or stamp posts 72. The populated stamp 70 then travels to cavity substrate 10 (or vice versa) and one or more components 30 are then aligned to component supports 32 and printed. Similarly, a cavity structure 99 can be micro-transfer printed with a stamp 70 from a cavity structure source wafer 90 to a destination substrate 80 forming broken (e.g., fractured) or separated structure tethers 91.
[0209] Cavity Substrates
[0210] Cavity substrate 10 can be any target substrate, for example with component supports 32, to which components 30 are transferred (e.g., micro-transfer printed) or formed. Cavity substrate 10 can be any suitable substrate, for example as found in the integrated circuit or display industries and can include one or more glass, polymer, semiconductor, crystalline semiconductor, compound semiconductor, ceramic, sapphire, quartz, or metal materials. Cavity substrates 10 can be semiconductor substrates (for example silicon) or compound semiconductor substrates. In certain embodiments, cavity substrate 10 is or comprises a member selected from the group consisting of polymer (e.g., plastic, polyimide, PEN, or PET), resin, metal (e.g., metal foil) glass, quartz, a semiconductor, and sapphire. In certain embodiments, a cavity substrate 10 has a thickness from 5 microns to 20 mm (e.g., 5 to 10 microns, 10 to 50 microns, 50 to 100 microns, 100 to 200 microns, 200 to 500 microns, 500 microns to 0.5 mm, 0.5 to 1 mm, 1 mm to 5 mm, 5 mm to 10 mm, or 10 mm to 20 mm). In some embodiments, cavity substrate 10 can be processed using photolithographic methods and include photolithographic materials. Cavity substrate 10 can comprise multiple layers (e.g., including an adhesive layer) and substrate surface 12 can be the top, exposed surface of cavity substrate 10. In some embodiments, cavity substrate comprises a single uniform material composition rather than comprising multiple layers.
[0211] Cavities
[0212] Cavity 20 (e.g., enclosed cavity 20) can be of any useful size, for example having at least one of a length and a width no greater than 10 mm (e.g., no greater than 1 mm, no greater than 500 microns, no greater than 100 microns, no greater than 50 microns, no greater than 25 microns, or no greater than 10 microns). Cavity 20 can have a length greater than a width and component support 32 can extend across a width of cavity 20. In some embodiments, component support 32 physically extends from (e.g., attaches to) side(s) of cavity 20, for example from cavity walls 24 or substrate surface 12, and edge(s) of component 30 and does not attach to cavity floor 22. The length of cavity 20 can be at least 1.5 times (e.g., at least two times, at least three times, or at least four times) greater than the width of cavity 20. Cavity 20 can have a depth of no greater than 1 mm (e.g., no greater than 500 microns, no greater than 100 microns, no greater than 50 microns, no greater than 20 microns, no greater than 10 microns, or no greater than 5 microns). In some embodiments, component 30 has a thickness of not more than two microns (e.g., not more than one micron, or not more than 500 nm) and can be separated from a floor of cavity 20 by no more than 50 microns (e.g., no more than 20 microns, no more than 10 microns, no more than 5 microns, or no more than 2 microns). Components 30 having a length of approximately 250 microns provided on a component support 32 have been constructed (e.g., in accordance with the embodiments shown in
[0213] Cavity Structure Source Wafers
[0214] A cavity structure source wafer 90 can be any source wafer or substrate with transfer printable cavity structures 99 that can be transferred with a transfer device (e.g., a stamp 70). For example, a cavity structure source wafer 90 can be or comprise a semiconductor (e.g., silicon) in a crystalline or non-crystalline form, a compound semiconductor (e.g., comprising GaN or GaAs), a glass, a polymer, a sapphire, or a quartz wafer. Sacrificial portions 94 can be formed of a patterned oxide (e.g., silicon dioxide) or nitride (e.g., silicon nitride) layer or can be an anisotropically etchable portion of sacrificial layer 92 of cavity structure source wafer 90.
[0215] Structure anchors 96 and structure tethers 91 can each be or can comprise portions of cavity structure source wafer 90 that are not sacrificial portions 94 and can include layers formed on cavity structure 99, for example dielectric or metal layers and for example layers formed as a part of photolithographic processes used to construct or encapsulate cavity structure 99.
Destination Substrates
[0216] Destination substrate 80 can be any destination substrate or target substrate to which cavity structure 99 are transferred (e.g., micro-transfer printed), for example integrated circuit substrates, printed circuit boards, or similar substrates used in various embodiments. Destination substrate 80 can be, for example substrates comprising one or more of glass, polymer, quartz, ceramics, metal, and sapphire. Destination substrates 80 can be semiconductor substrates (for example silicon) or compound semiconductor substrates. In certain embodiments, destination substrate 80 is or comprises a member selected from the group consisting of polymer (e.g., plastic, polyimide, PEN, or PET), resin, metal (e.g., metal foil) glass, a semiconductor, and sapphire. In certain embodiments, a destination substrate 80 has a thickness from 5 microns to 20 mm (e.g., 5 to 10 microns, 10 to 50 microns, 50 to 100 microns, 100 to 200 microns, 200 to 500 microns, 500 microns to 0.5 mm, 0.5 to 1 mm, 1 mm to 5 mm, 5 mm to 10 mm, or 10 mm to 20 mm). One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that where embodiments are described as including cavity substrate 10 or destination substrate 80, for example having cavity 20 disposed therein, analogous embodiments exist using destination substrate 80 or cavity substrate 10 in their place, respectively.
[0217] Electrical Conductors
[0218] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, components 30 can have one or more component electrodes 50 on a component top side 38 (e.g., component surface 34) of components 30 or components 30 can have one or more component electrodes 50 on a component bottom side 39 of components 30 on a side of component 30 adjacent to cavity floor 22. Component electrodes 50 can be electrically connected to destination substrate electrical connections 82.
[0219] Patterned electrical conductors such as component electrodes 50 (e.g., wires, traces, or electrodes (e.g., electrical contact pads) such as those found on printed circuit boards, flat-panel display substrates, and in thin-film circuits) can be formed on any combination of components 30, component supports 32, cavity substrate 10, and destination substrate 80, and any one can comprise electrodes (e.g., electrical contact pads) that electrically connect to components 30. Such patterned electrical conductors and electrodes (e.g., contact pads) can comprise, for example, metal, transparent conductive oxides, or cured conductive inks and can be constructed using photolithographic methods and materials, for example metals such as aluminum, gold, or silver deposited by evaporation and patterned using pattern-wise exposed, cured, and etched photoresists, or constructed using imprinting methods and materials or inkjet printers and materials, for example comprising cured conductive inks deposited on a surface or provided in micro-channels in or on any combination of component 30, cavity substrate 10, component supports 32, or destination substrate 80.
[0220] Component Supports
[0221] In some embodiments, component support 32 extends or protrudes from a cavity surface (e.g., cavity floor 22 or cavity wall 24) of cavity 20 of cavity substrate 10. In some embodiments, component supports 32 have a substantially rectangular cross section parallel to substrate surface 12. In some embodiments, component supports 32 have non-rectangular cross sections, such as circular or polygonal cross sections for example. In some embodiments, component supports 32 have a flat surface on a distal end of each component support 32 in a direction parallel to cavity substrate 10 substrate surface 12, e.g., can be a mesa.
[0222] A component support 32 can be a pedestal, post, wall, or ridge of patterned and shaped material. A component support 32 can comprise the same material as cavity substrate 10 or can comprise a different material from cavity substrate 10 or component 30 or both. For example, in some embodiments, component supports 32 comprise the same material (e.g., silicon or other semiconductor materials) as cavity substrate 10 and are patterned in cavity substrate 10, for example by patterned etching using photoresists and other photolithographic processes, by stamping, or by molding. In some embodiments, component supports 32 are formed on cavity substrate 10 (e.g., by coating). In some embodiments, component supports 32 comprise different materials from cavity substrate 10, for example by coating a material in a layer on cavity substrate 10 and pattern-wise etching the coated layer to form component supports 32.
[0223] A component support 32 material can be a dielectric, can comprise conductors (e.g., electrodes), or can be a conductor (e.g., a metal). In some embodiments, component supports 32 can comprise any material to which components 30 can be adhered or connected. For example, a component support 32 can be or comprise a dielectric material, such as an oxide (e.g., silicon dioxide) or nitride (e.g., silicon nitride) or polymer, resin, or epoxy and can be organic or inorganic. Component supports 32 can be a cured resin and can be deposited in an uncured state and cured or patterned before components 30 are micro-transfer printed to component supports 32 or cured after components 30 are micro-transfer printed to component supports 32. Component supports 32 can be electrically conductive and comprise, for example, metals or metallic materials or particles. Component supports 32 can be formed using photolithographic processes, for example component supports 32 can be formed by coating a resin over a substrate and then patterning and curing the resin using photolithographic processes (e.g., coating a photoresist, exposing the photoresist to patterned radiation, curing the photoresist, etching the pattern to form component supports 32 and cavity substrate 10, and stripping the photoresist). In some embodiments, component supports 32 can be constructed by inkjet deposition or imprinting methods, for example using a mold, and can be imprinted structures. In some embodiments, component supports 32 can be printed into cavity 20.
[0224] Adhesive
[0225] In some embodiments, a layer of adhesive 48, such as a layer of resin, polymer, or epoxy, either curable or non-curable, adheres components 30 onto component supports 32 of cavity substrate 10 and can be disposed, for example by coating or lamination. In some embodiments, a layer of adhesive 48 is disposed in a pattern and can be disposed using inkjet, screening, or photolithographic techniques, for example. In some embodiments, a layer of adhesive 48 is coated, for example with a spray or slot coater, and then patterned, for example using photolithographic techniques. In some embodiments, solder is pattern-wise coated and disposed on component support 32 or component electrodes 50, for example by screen printing, and improves an electrical connection between a component 30 and an electrical conductor on component support 32.
[0226] Construction
[0227] Certain embodiments of the present disclosure can be constructed, for example, by photolithographic methods and materials, including material deposition by evaporative, spin, or slot coating, patterning, curing, etching, and stripping photoresists, and pattern-wise or blanket etching deposited materials, for example with gas, wet, or dry etchants. Materials can include metals (for example, such as aluminum, gold, silver, tin, tungsten, and titanium), polymers (for example such as photoresists, resins, epoxies, and polyimide), and oxides and nitrides (for example such as silicon dioxide and silicon nitride). Some elements of a cavity structure 99 can be micro-transfer printed from a source wafer, for example component 30, cap 40, or cavity substrate circuit 16. In some embodiments, if a component 30 is micro-transfer printed from a source wafer, component 30 can comprise a component tether 31. Likewise, in some embodiments, if cap 40 is micro-transfer printed from a source wafer, cap 40 can comprise a cap tether 41. In some embodiments, if cavity substrate circuit 16 is micro-transfer printed from a source wafer, cavity substrate circuit 16 can comprise a circuit tether (not shown in the Figures).
[0228] As shown in
[0229] Various embodiments of structures and methods were described herein. Structures and methods were variously described as transferring components 30, printing components 30, transfer printing components 30, or micro-transferring components 30. As used herein, micro-transfer-printing involves using a transfer device (e.g., an elastomeric stamp 70, such as a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamp 70) to transfer a component 30 using controlled adhesion. For example, an exemplary transfer device can use kinetic or shear-assisted control of adhesion between a transfer device and a component 30. It is contemplated that, in certain embodiments, where a method is described as including micro-transfer-printing a component 30, other analogous embodiments exist using a different transfer method. As used herein, transferring a component 30 or transfer printing a component 30 (e.g., from a cavity structure source wafer 90 to a destination substrate 80) can be accomplished using any one or more of a variety of known techniques. For example, in certain embodiments, a pick-and-place method can be used. As another example, in certain embodiments, a flip-chip method can be used (e.g., involving an intermediate, handle or carrier substrate). In methods according to certain embodiments, a vacuum tool, electrostatic tool or other transfer device is used to transfer (e.g., transfer print) a component 30.
[0230] Examples of micro-transfer printing processes suitable for disposing components 30 onto destination substrates 80 are described in Inorganic light-emitting diode displays using micro-transfer printing (Journal of the Society for Information Display, 2017, DOI #10.1002/jsid.610, 1071-0922/17/2510-0610, pages 589-609), U.S. Pat. No. 8,722,458 entitled Optical Systems Fabricated by Printing-Based Assembly, U.S. Pat. No. 10,103,069 entitled Pressure Activated Electrical Interconnection by Micro-Transfer Printing, U.S. Pat. No. 8,889,485 entitled Methods for Surface Attachment of Flipped Active Components, U.S. Pat. No. 10,468,363 entitled Chiplets with Connection Posts, U.S. Pat. No. 10,224,460 entitled Micro-Assembled LED Displays and Lighting Elements, and U.S. Pat. No. 10,153,256, entitled Micro-Transfer Printable LED Component, the disclosure of each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0231] For a discussion of various micro-transfer printing techniques, see also U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,622,367 and 8,506,867, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Micro-transfer printing using compound micro-assembly structures and methods can also be used in certain embodiments, for example, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/822,868, filed Aug. 10, 2015, entitled Compound Micro-Assembly Strategies and Devices, which is hereby also incorporated by reference in its entirety. In some embodiments, any one or more of component 30, cavity structure 99, or cavity structure system 97 is a compound micro-assembled structure (e.g., a compound micro-assembled macro-system).
[0232] Operation
[0233] In certain embodiments a structure including component 30 disposed on component support 32 can be operated, for example, by providing power or control signals to component top and bottom electrodes 54, 56, for example from cavity substrate circuit 16 or an external controller (not shown in the Figures) and, optionally, cavity substrate electrodes 58. In some such embodiments, component 30 responds to the power and control signals and operates to process any signals provided. Cavity substrate circuit 16 can control or otherwise operate or respond to components 30. Component 30 can be, for example, a mechanically resonant piezoelectric device. By adhering or otherwise contacting a center portion of component 30 to component support 32, some resonant modes of component 30, for example undesired modes, can be controlled, inhibited, suppressed, or reduced. In particular, resonant modes that extend and contract the length of component 30 can be preferentially enabled and other modes suppressed, similarly to a solidly mounted resonator, but in a more mechanically isolated structure, providing better performance in a more controlled structure that can be more easily constructed with fewer externally induced complications.
[0234] As is understood by those skilled in the art, the terms over and under are relative terms and can be interchanged in reference to different orientations of the layers, elements, and substrates included in various embodiments of the present disclosure. Furthermore, a first layer or first element on a second layer or second element, respectively, is a relative orientation of the first layer or first element to the second layer or second element, respectively, that does not preclude additional layers being disposed therebetween. For example, a first layer on a second layer, in some implementations, means a first layer directly on and in contact with a second layer. In other implementations, a first layer on a second layer includes a first layer and a second layer with another layer therebetween (e.g., and in mutual contact). In some embodiments, a component 30 has connection posts extending therefrom and is disposed on a cavity substrate 10 or a component support 32 with connection posts disposed between cavity substrate 10 or component support 32 and component 30.
[0235] Headings are provided herein for the convenience of the reader and are not intended to be limiting with respect to any particular subject matter. One of ordinary skill in the art, having read the specification as a whole, will readily appreciate and understand that embodiments expressly described under one heading may be used with, adapted to, modified from, or otherwise relate to embodiments expressly described under another heading.
[0236] Having described certain implementations of embodiments, it will now become apparent to one of skill in the art that other implementations incorporating the concepts of the disclosure may be used. Therefore, the disclosure should not be limited to certain implementations, but rather should be limited only by the spirit and scope of the following claims.
[0237] Throughout the description, where apparatus and systems are described as having, including, or comprising specific elements, or where processes and methods are described as having, including, or comprising specific steps, it is contemplated that, additionally, there are apparatus and systems of the disclosed technology that consist essentially of, or consist of, the recited elements, and that there are processes and methods according to the disclosed technology that consist essentially of, or consist of, the recited processing steps.
[0238] It should be understood that the order of steps or order for performing certain action is immaterial so long as operability is maintained. Moreover, two or more steps or actions in some circumstances can be conducted simultaneously. The disclosure has been described in detail with particular reference to certain embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the following claims.
PARTS LIST
[0239] A cross section line/direction [0240] B cross section line/direction [0241] D wall direction [0242] D1 distance [0243] D2 distance [0244] G gap [0245] L cavity length [0246] S separation distance [0247] W cavity width [0248] 10 cavity substrate [0249] 11 substrate edge [0250] 12 substrate surface [0251] 16 cavity substrate circuit [0252] 20 cavity/enclosed cavity [0253] 22 cavity floor/cavity bottom [0254] 24 cavity wall [0255] 24E extended cavity wall [0256] 28 first cavity portion [0257] 29 second cavity portion [0258] 30 component [0259] 31 component tether [0260] 32 component support/post/wall/ridge [0261] 34 component surface [0262] 35 mask [0263] 36 protection layer [0264] 38 component top side [0265] 39 component bottom side [0266] 40 cap [0267] 41 cap tether [0268] 42 cap contact portion [0269] 44 cap wall portion [0270] 46 cap top portion [0271] 48 adhesive [0272] 50 component electrode [0273] 52 component contact pad [0274] 54 component top electrode [0275] 56 component bottom electrode [0276] 58 cavity substrate electrode [0277] 60 encapsulation layer/dielectric layer [0278] 62 cap source wafer [0279] 64 reinforcement layer [0280] 66 cap source wafer trench [0281] 68 removable material [0282] 70 stamp/transfer device [0283] 72 stamp post/structured stamp post [0284] 80 destination substrate [0285] 82 destination substrate electrical connections [0286] 84 destination substrate adhesive layer [0287] 90 cavity structure source wafer [0288] 91 structure tether [0289] 92 sacrificial layer [0290] 93 etch front [0291] 94 sacrificial portion/gap [0292] 95 cap anchor [0293] 96 structure anchor [0294] 97 cavity structure system [0295] 98 cavity structure wafer [0296] 99 cavity structure [0297] 100 provide structure source wafer step [0298] 110 provide cavity substrate step [0299] 111 form component support [0300] 120 form component step [0301] 130 optional form sidewalls step [0302] 140 provide cap source wafer step [0303] 150 dispose cap step [0304] 160 optional encapsulation step [0305] 165 provide destination substrate step [0306] 170 form cavity step [0307] 175 form cavity and release cavity structure step [0308] 180 release cavity structure step [0309] 185 micro-transfer print component step [0310] 190 micro-transfer print cavity structure step [0311] 195 done step [0312] 200 structure cap source wafer step [0313] 210 deposit and pattern cap step [0314] 220 deposit material step [0315] 230 pattern cap step [0316] 240 release cap from cap source wafer step [0317] 300 provide patterned substrate with substrate post step [0318] 302 provide patterned substrate with substrate post and walls step [0319] 306 provide substrate step [0320] 310 dispose component step [0321] 312 micro-transfer print component from component source wafer step [0322] 314 form component step [0323] 316 optional form etch mask step [0324] 318 form cavity with substrate post and walls step [0325] 320 dispose cap step [0326] 322 micro-transfer print cap with walls step [0327] 324 form walls step [0328] 325 micro-transfer print or laminate cap step [0329] 330 optional encapsulate module step [0330] 340 optional micro-transfer print module from module substrate step [0331] 400 provide substrate step [0332] 401 provide substrate step [0333] 410 etch cavity step [0334] 411 etch cavity step [0335] 420 partially fill cavity with removable material step [0336] 430 form support cavity step [0337] 440 form support step [0338] 450 form device step [0339] 460 remove removable material step [0340] 470 optional dispose cap step