Hermetically sealed transducer and methods for producing the same
First Claim
1. A hermetically sealed semiconductor transducer, comprising:
- a transducer wafer having at least one semiconductor element disposed on a top surface thereof;
at least one electrical contact, coupled to said semiconductor element, disposed on said top surface of said transducer wafer and extending from said semiconductor element to an outer portion of said top surface;
a cover member dimensioned to surround said semiconductor element;
a peripheral glass frit bond between said transducer wafer and said cover member and between at least a portion of said electrical contact and said cover member;
said cover member having an aperture in a top portion thereof, said aperture positioned above a region bounded by said peripheral glass frit bond, said aperture employed to prevent air gap formation in said peripheral glass frit bond;
a sealing member for hermetically sealing said aperture;
whereby a vacuum is maintained between said semiconductor element and said cover member, said semiconductor element thereby being hermetically sealed from the external environment, while at least a portion of said electrical contact remains exposed to enable external wire attachment thereto.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A reduced size, hermetically sealed semiconductor transducer and methods for fabricating the same. In a preferred embodiment, the transducer comprises a transducer wafer including a diaphragm which deflects upon the application of a force thereto. At least one semiconductor transducer element and one electrical contact are disposed on a top surface of the transducer wafer, with the electrical contact coupled to the semiconductor element and extending to a peripheral portion of the wafer. A cover member is provided that is dimensioned to surround the semiconductor element. A peripheral glass frit bond is formed between the cover member and the transducer wafer, and between the cover member and at least a portion of the electrical contact. An aperture is formed in a top portion of the cover member, positioned above a region bounded by the peripheral glass bond. This aperture functions to prevent air gap formation in the peripheral glass frit bond. A sealing member hermetically seals the aperture, whereby a vacuum is maintained between the transducer element and the cover member, the transducer element thereby being hermetically sealed from the external environment, while at least a portion of the electrical contact remains exposed to enable subsequent wire bonding thereto.
47 Citations
13 Claims
-
1. A hermetically sealed semiconductor transducer, comprising:
-
a transducer wafer having at least one semiconductor element disposed on a top surface thereof;
at least one electrical contact, coupled to said semiconductor element, disposed on said top surface of said transducer wafer and extending from said semiconductor element to an outer portion of said top surface;
a cover member dimensioned to surround said semiconductor element;
a peripheral glass frit bond between said transducer wafer and said cover member and between at least a portion of said electrical contact and said cover member;
said cover member having an aperture in a top portion thereof, said aperture positioned above a region bounded by said peripheral glass frit bond, said aperture employed to prevent air gap formation in said peripheral glass frit bond;
a sealing member for hermetically sealing said aperture;
whereby a vacuum is maintained between said semiconductor element and said cover member, said semiconductor element thereby being hermetically sealed from the external environment, while at least a portion of said electrical contact remains exposed to enable external wire attachment thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
said transducer wafer comprises a silicon diaphragm; and
said at least one semiconductor element and said at least one electrical contact are disposed on said silicon diaphragm.
-
-
9. The transducer according to claim 8, wherein said cover member comprises glass and wherein said sealing member comprises silicon.
-
10. A hermetically sealed semiconductor transducer, comprising:
-
a diaphragm having a dielectric layer disposed thereon, with at least one semiconductor element disposed on a top surface of said dielectric layer;
at least one electrical contact, coupled to said semiconductor element, disposed on said top surface of said dielectric layer and extending from said semiconductor element to an outer portion of said top surface;
a cover member dimensioned to surround said semiconductor element;
a peripheral glass frit bond between said dielectric layer and said cover member, and between at least a portion of said electrical contact and said cover member;
said cover member having an aperture in a top portion thereof, said aperture positioned above a region bounded by said peripheral glass frit bond, said aperture employed to prevent air gap formation in said peripheral glass frit bond;
a sealing member for hermetically sealing said aperture;
whereby a vacuum is maintained between said semiconductor element and said cover member, said semiconductor element thereby being hermetically sealed from the external environment, while at least a portion of said electrical contact remains exposed to enable external wire attachment thereto. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
-
Specification