Methods of manufacture for MEMS switches with reduced switching voltage
First Claim
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1. A method of fabricating a switch comprising:
- forming a first cantilevered electrode over a first fixed electrode;
forming a second cantilevered electrode with an end that overlaps the first cantilevered electrode;
forming a third cantilevered electrode operable to directly contact the first cantilever electrode upon an application of a voltage to a second fixed electrode; and
forming a hermetically sealed volume encapsulating the first fixed electrode, the second fixed electrode, the first cantilevered electrode, and the second cantilevered electrode,wherein the forming the hermetically sealed volume comprises;
forming at least one hole in a nitride liner to gain access to a sacrificial resist;
removing the sacrificial resist; and
closing the at least one hole by deposition of additional liner material, andwherein a material which forms the hermetically sealed volume comprises nitride.
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Abstract
An approach includes a method of fabricating a switch. The approach includes forming a first cantilevered electrode over a first fixed electrode, forming a second cantilevered electrode with an end that overlaps the first cantilevered electrode, forming a third cantilevered electrode operable to directly contact the first cantilevered electrode upon an application of a voltage to a second fixed electrode, and forming a hermetically sealed volume encapsulating the first fixed electrode, the second fixed electrode, the first cantilevered electrode, and the second cantilevered electrode.
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11 Claims
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1. A method of fabricating a switch comprising:
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forming a first cantilevered electrode over a first fixed electrode; forming a second cantilevered electrode with an end that overlaps the first cantilevered electrode; forming a third cantilevered electrode operable to directly contact the first cantilever electrode upon an application of a voltage to a second fixed electrode; and forming a hermetically sealed volume encapsulating the first fixed electrode, the second fixed electrode, the first cantilevered electrode, and the second cantilevered electrode, wherein the forming the hermetically sealed volume comprises; forming at least one hole in a nitride liner to gain access to a sacrificial resist; removing the sacrificial resist; and closing the at least one hole by deposition of additional liner material, and wherein a material which forms the hermetically sealed volume comprises nitride. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification