Micro electromechanical switch having self-aligned spacers
First Claim
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1. A method of forming a micro-electromechanical switch (MEMS) comprising the steps of:
- a) depositing a first dielectric layer on a substrate, said first dielectric layer having a plurality of conductive interconnect lines formed therein;
b) wet etching metal to form trenches on the boundaries of said conductive interconnect lines;
c) depositing a second dielectric layer through which conductive vias are formed, said conductive vias contacting at least one of said plurality of conductive interconnect lines and replicating the trench topographies to the top surface of said second dielectric layer and filling with metal said replicated trench topographies;
d) forming a cavity that is etched-out from said second dielectric layer and having said metal trench topographies selectively inhibit etching the dielectric underneath the metal trench topographies to form self-aligned spacers;
e) filling said cavity with sacrificial material and planarizing said sacrificial material; and
f) depositing a third dielectric layer to form a conductive beam with said conductive vias contacting said conductive beam.
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Abstract
A method of fabricating and the structure of a micro-electromechanical switch (MEMS) device provided with self-aligned spacers or bumps is described. The spacers are designed to have an optimum size and to be positioned such that they act as a detent mechanism for the switch to minimize problems caused by stiction. The spacers are fabricated using standard semiconductor techniques typically used for the manufacture of CMOS devices. The present method of fabricating these spacers requires no added depositions, no extra lithography steps, and no additional etching.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of forming a micro-electromechanical switch (MEMS) comprising the steps of:
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a) depositing a first dielectric layer on a substrate, said first dielectric layer having a plurality of conductive interconnect lines formed therein;
b) wet etching metal to form trenches on the boundaries of said conductive interconnect lines;
c) depositing a second dielectric layer through which conductive vias are formed, said conductive vias contacting at least one of said plurality of conductive interconnect lines and replicating the trench topographies to the top surface of said second dielectric layer and filling with metal said replicated trench topographies;
d) forming a cavity that is etched-out from said second dielectric layer and having said metal trench topographies selectively inhibit etching the dielectric underneath the metal trench topographies to form self-aligned spacers;
e) filling said cavity with sacrificial material and planarizing said sacrificial material; and
f) depositing a third dielectric layer to form a conductive beam with said conductive vias contacting said conductive beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A micro-electromechanical switch (MEMS) comprising:
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a) a first dielectric layer on a substrate, said first dielectric layer having a plurality of conductive interconnect lines formed therein;
b) trenches formed on the boundaries of said conductive interconnect lines;
c) a second dielectric layer through which conductive vias are formed, said conductive vias contacting at least one of said plurality of conductive interconnect lines and trench topographies replicated on the top surface of said second dielectric layer, said trench topographies being filled with metal;
d) a cavity etched-out from said second dielectric layer wherein said metal filled trench topographies selectively inhibit etching the dielectric underneath the metal trench topographies to form self-aligned spacers, said cavity being filled with sacrificial material and planarized; and
e) a third dielectric layer with a conductive beam formed therein and contacting said conductive vias. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification