Method of fabricating suspended microstructures
First Claim
1. A method of fabricating a suspended platform on a bonded-substrate that includes a platform substrate that is bonded to a base substrate, comprising:
- forming a dielectric layer on a support surface of the base substrate;
patterning an interface surface of the dielectric layer to define a well feature thereon;
etching the well feature until a well having a preselected depth that leaves a thin protective layer of the dielectric layer covering the support surface is formed;
bonding the base and platform substrates to each other by urging the interface surface into contact with a mounting surface of the platform substrate and annealing the base and platform substrates to fusion bond the interface surface with the mounting surface;
thinning the platform substrate to form a membrane over a sealed cavity defined by the well and the mounting surface;
patterning the membrane to define a flexture feature and a platform feature;
etching the flexture and platform features to form a plurality of trenches that extend through the membrane to the sealed cavity and define a suspended platform and a flexure; and
applying a selective etch material to remove the dielectric layer from beneath the suspended platform and the flexure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of fabricating a non-perforate suspended platform on a bonded-substrate is disclosed. The method includes forming a dielectric layer on a support surface of a base substrate followed by patterning an interface surface of the dielectric layer to define a well feature. The well feature is etched until a well having a depth that leaves a thin protective layer of the dielectric layer covering the support surface. Next a platform substrate is urged into contact with the base substrate followed by annealing the base and platform substrates to fusion bond the interface surface with a mounting surface of the platform substrate. The platform substrate is thinned, to form a membrane over a sealed cavity defined by the well and the mounting surface. The membrane is patterned and etch to form a plurality of trenches that extend through the membrane to the sealed cavity and define a suspended platform and a flexure. A selective etch material such as HF is used to remove the remaining dielectric layer from beneath the platform and the flexures thereby freeing the suspended platform and the flexures.
280 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of fabricating a suspended platform on a bonded-substrate that includes a platform substrate that is bonded to a base substrate, comprising:
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forming a dielectric layer on a support surface of the base substrate;
patterning an interface surface of the dielectric layer to define a well feature thereon;
etching the well feature until a well having a preselected depth that leaves a thin protective layer of the dielectric layer covering the support surface is formed;
bonding the base and platform substrates to each other by urging the interface surface into contact with a mounting surface of the platform substrate and annealing the base and platform substrates to fusion bond the interface surface with the mounting surface;
thinning the platform substrate to form a membrane over a sealed cavity defined by the well and the mounting surface;
patterning the membrane to define a flexture feature and a platform feature;
etching the flexture and platform features to form a plurality of trenches that extend through the membrane to the sealed cavity and define a suspended platform and a flexure; and
applying a selective etch material to remove the dielectric layer from beneath the suspended platform and the flexure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification