Microelectronic diamond capacitive transducer
First Claim
1. A microelectronic capacitive transducer comprising:
- a first electrically conductive layer;
a diaphragm positioned opposite said first electrically conductive layer, said diaphragm comprising a first diamond layer; and
mounting means for mounting said diaphragm so as to be moveable relative to said first electrically conductive layer and defining a cavity therebetween.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A capacitive transducer includes a first electrically conductive layer, and a diamond diaphragm mounted opposite the first electrically conductive Layer so as to be moveable relative to the first electrically conductive layer. The first electrically conductive layer defines a first plate for the transducer, while the diaphragm defines the second plate for the transducer. In one embodiment of the transducer, the diamond layer is degeneratively doped providing the second plate. The microelectronic capacitive transducer preferably also includes an insulating layer on a face of the diamond layer adjacent the electrically conductive layer defining an overpressure stop for the transducer. The transducer includes absolute or differential pressure sensing embodiments. The microelectronic capacitive transducer may also be configured as an actuator. The diamond layer may be highly oriented diamond including semiconductor devices formed therein to provide signal conditioning. A fabrication method is also disclosed.
30 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A microelectronic capacitive transducer comprising:
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a first electrically conductive layer; a diaphragm positioned opposite said first electrically conductive layer, said diaphragm comprising a first diamond layer; and mounting means for mounting said diaphragm so as to be moveable relative to said first electrically conductive layer and defining a cavity therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A microelectronic capacitive transducer comprising:
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a first electrically conductive layer; a diaphragm positioned opposite said first electrically conductive layer, said diaphragm comprising a first diamond layer; mounting means for mounting said diaphragm so as to be moveable relative to said first electrically conductive layer and defining a cavity therebetween; and a second diamond layer on a face of said first diamond layer adjacent said first electrically conductive layer thereby defining an overpressure stop. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A microelectronic capacitive transducer comprising:
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a first electrically conductive layer; a diaphragm positioned opposite said first electrically conductive layer, said diaphragm comprising a first highly oriented diamond layer; mounting means for mounting said diaphragm so as to be moveable relative to said first electrically conductive layer and defining a cavity therebetween; a second highly oriented diamond layer laterally adjacent said first highly oriented diamond layer and integrally formed therewith; and signal conditioning means formed in said second highly oriented diamond layer for generating an output signal responsive to movement of said diaphragm relative to said first electrically conductive layer. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A microelectronic capacitive transducer comprising:
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a first electrically conductive layer; a diaphragm positioned opposite said first electrically conductive layer, said diaphragm comprising a first diamond layer having a dopant concentration of greater than about 1019 cm-3 so as to be electrically conducting; and mounting means for mounting said diaphragm so as to be moveable relative to said first electrically conductive layer and defining a cavity therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification