Method for fabricating monolithic chip containing integrated circuitry and suspended microstructure
First Claim
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1. A method of fabricating a microchip which includes a suspended microstructure and circuitry, said method comprising the steps of;
- (1) forming transistors in a first region of a surface of a substrate said step including the formation of dielectrics on said substrate,(2) forming a layer of material on said surface which will act as an etch stop for the etching of oxide,(3) removing dielectrics formed on said substrate during said formation of said transistors from a second region of said substrate, except for a layer of oxide on said surface, said second region defining where said microstructure will be formed,(4) passivating said surface in said second region,(5) depositing a layer of spacer oxide over said surface of said substrate to act as a spacer for the formation of said suspended microstructure,(6) etching anchor openings in said spacer oxide layer defining anchors from which said suspended microstructure will be supported,(7) depositing a layer of polysilicon over said spacer oxide form which said suspended microstructure will be formed,(8) etching said polysilicon to form said polysilicon into said microstructure,(9) removing said spacer oxide from said first region of said surface,(10) forming a protective layer of oxide over said polysilicon in said second region,(11) forming conductive paths on said microchip for electrically interconnecting said transistors to form a circuit and for electrically interconnecting said microstructure to said circuit,(12) passivating said first region of said microchip, and(13) etching said spacer oxide layer to remove all of said oxide and release said microstructure into a suspended state.
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Abstract
The invention comprises a method for fabricating a monolithic chip containing integrated circuitry as well as a suspended polysilicon microstructure. The inventive method comprises 67 processes which are further broken down into approximately 330 steps. The processes and their arrangement allow for compatible fabrication of transistor circuitry and the suspended polysilicon microstructure on the same chip.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of fabricating a microchip which includes a suspended microstructure and circuitry, said method comprising the steps of;
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(1) forming transistors in a first region of a surface of a substrate said step including the formation of dielectrics on said substrate, (2) forming a layer of material on said surface which will act as an etch stop for the etching of oxide, (3) removing dielectrics formed on said substrate during said formation of said transistors from a second region of said substrate, except for a layer of oxide on said surface, said second region defining where said microstructure will be formed, (4) passivating said surface in said second region, (5) depositing a layer of spacer oxide over said surface of said substrate to act as a spacer for the formation of said suspended microstructure, (6) etching anchor openings in said spacer oxide layer defining anchors from which said suspended microstructure will be supported, (7) depositing a layer of polysilicon over said spacer oxide form which said suspended microstructure will be formed, (8) etching said polysilicon to form said polysilicon into said microstructure, (9) removing said spacer oxide from said first region of said surface, (10) forming a protective layer of oxide over said polysilicon in said second region, (11) forming conductive paths on said microchip for electrically interconnecting said transistors to form a circuit and for electrically interconnecting said microstructure to said circuit, (12) passivating said first region of said microchip, and (13) etching said spacer oxide layer to remove all of said oxide and release said microstructure into a suspended state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification