Phase-change material (PCM) contacts with slot lower portions and contact dielectric for reducing parasitic capacitance and improving manufacturability in PCM RF switches
First Claim
1. A radio frequency (RF) switch comprising:
- a phase-change material (PCM) and a heating element approximately underlying an active segment of said PCM;
a contact dielectric over said PCM;
PCM contacts comprising slot lower portions and wide upper portions;
said slot lower portions of said PCM contacts extending through said contact dielectric and connected to passive segments of said PCM;
said wide upper portions of said PCM contacts being situated over said contact dielectric and over said slot lower portions of said PCM contacts;
wherein said contact dielectric separates said wide upper portions of said PCM contacts from said heating element so as to reduce a parasitic capacitance of said RF switch.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In fabricating a radio frequency (RF) switch, a phase-change material (PCM) and a heating element underlying an active segment of the PCM are provided. A contact uniformity support layer is formed over the PCM. The PCM and the contact uniformity support layer are patterned. A contact dielectric is formed over the contact uniformity support layer. Slot lower portions of PCM contacts are formed extending through the contact dielectric and through the contact uniformity support layer, and connected to passive segments of the PCM. Wide upper portions of the PCM contacts are formed over the contact dielectric and over the slot lower portions of the PCM contacts. The contact dielectric separates the wide upper portions of the PCM contacts from the heating element so as to reduce parasitic capacitance of the RF switch. The contact uniformity support layer maintains a substantially constant thickness of the passive segments of the PCM.
33 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A radio frequency (RF) switch comprising:
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a phase-change material (PCM) and a heating element approximately underlying an active segment of said PCM; a contact dielectric over said PCM; PCM contacts comprising slot lower portions and wide upper portions; said slot lower portions of said PCM contacts extending through said contact dielectric and connected to passive segments of said PCM; said wide upper portions of said PCM contacts being situated over said contact dielectric and over said slot lower portions of said PCM contacts; wherein said contact dielectric separates said wide upper portions of said PCM contacts from said heating element so as to reduce a parasitic capacitance of said RF switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 12, 14)
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5. A radio frequency (RF) switch comprising:
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a phase-change material (PCM) and a heating element approximately underlying an active segment of said PCM; a contact dielectric over said PCM; PCM contacts comprising slot lower portions and wide upper portions; said slot lower portions of said PCM contacts extending through said contact dielectric and connected to passive segments of said PCM, wherein a contact uniformity support layer over said PCM maintains a substantially constant thickness of said passive segments of said PCM; said wide upper portions of said PCM contacts being situated over said contact dielectric and over said slot lower portions of said PCM contacts. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15)
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16. A radio frequency (RF) switch comprising:
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a phase-change material (PCM) and a heating element approximately underlying an active segment of said PCM; a contact dielectric over said PCM; PCM contacts comprising slot lower portions and wide upper portions; said slot lower portions of said PCM contacts extending through said contact dielectric and connected to passive segments of said PCM; said wide upper portions of said PCM contacts being situated over said contact dielectric and over said slot lower portions of said PCM contacts. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification