Multiple-level actuators and clamping devices
First Claim
1. A microelectromechanical structure comprising:
- a substrate having a cavity formed by etching through a single mask to produce a two-level suspended structure in said substrate, the structure including;
a first level incorporating a first clamp stage suspended in said substrate and movable by a first set of actuators;
a second level incorporating a second clamp stage suspended in said substrate and movable independently of said first stage by a second set of actuators, said first and second levels being substantially identical and vertically self-aligned, said first and second sets of actuators being operable in opposite directions to shift one of said first and second clamp stages with respect to the other.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Improved fabrication processes for microelectromechanical structures, and unique structures fabricated by the improved processes are disclosed. In its simplest form, the fabrication process is a modification of the know SCREAM process, extended and used in such a way as to produce a combined vertical etch and release RIE process, which may be referred to as a “combination etch”. Fabrication of a single-level micromechanical structure using the process of the present invention includes a novel dry etching process to shape and release suspended single crystal silicon elements, the process combining vertical silicon reactive ion etching (Si-RIE) and release etches to eliminate the need to deposit and pattern silicon dioxide mask layers on the sides of suspended structures and to reduce the mechanical stresses in suspended structures caused by deposited silicon dioxide films.
38 Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A microelectromechanical structure comprising:
-
a substrate having a cavity formed by etching through a single mask to produce a two-level suspended structure in said substrate, the structure including;
a first level incorporating a first clamp stage suspended in said substrate and movable by a first set of actuators;
a second level incorporating a second clamp stage suspended in said substrate and movable independently of said first stage by a second set of actuators, said first and second levels being substantially identical and vertically self-aligned, said first and second sets of actuators being operable in opposite directions to shift one of said first and second clamp stages with respect to the other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
6. A multilevel microelectromechanical structure, comprising:
-
a first vertical electrode having a first vertical height extending through a first structure level;
a second vertical electrode spaced horizontally from said first electrode and having a second vertical height extending through said first structure level and through a second structure level to provide vertical assymetry, said electrodes being energizable to produce relative vertical motion of one electrode with respect to the other. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A multilevel microelectromechanical structure, comprising:
-
a first set of electrodes spaced horizontally and having a first vertical height extending through a first structure level;
a second set of electrodes self-aligned horizontally and spaced vertically from said first set of electrodes and having a second vertical height extending through said second structure level;
said second set of electrodes being mechanically attached to but electrically insulated from said first set of electrodes;
both sets of electrodes being energizable to produce relative horizontal or vertical motion of one electrode with respect to the other. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
a first voltage is applied in an inner electrode on an upper level and an outer electrode on a lower level; and
a second voltage is applied to an outer electrode on the upper level and an inner electrode on the lower level.
-
-
27. A microelectromechanical structure, comprising:
-
a substrate having a cavity formed by etching through a single mask to produce a multi-level structure;
a first level released stage suspended in the cavity in said substrate;
a first set of actuators connected to said first level clamp stage for moving said clamp stage;
a second level clamp stage on said substrate substantially identical to and vertically self-aligned with said first level clamp stage, said first and second level clamp stages being relatively movable. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
-
Specification