Stress release mechanism in MEMS device and method of making same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A MEMS device comprising:
- a substrate having a surface;
a fixed electrode at least partially anchored to the substrate surface, said fixed electrode having a first side, a second side, and a midline intermediate the first side and the second side;
a movable electrode movably suspended above the substrate surface; and
a stress-release mechanism disposed on the fixed electrode including a first slot extending through the first side, past the midline, and partially toward the second side.
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Abstract
MEMS devices (100) and methods for forming the devices have now been provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the MEMS device (100) comprises a substrate (106) having a surface, an electrode (128) having a first portion coupled to the substrate surface, and a second portion movably suspended above the substrate surface, and a stress-release mechanism (204) disposed on the electrode second portion, the stress-release mechanism (204) including a first slot (208) integrally formed in the electrode. In another exemplary embodiment, the substrate (106) includes an anchor (134, 136) and the stress-release mechanism 222 is formed adjacent the anchor (134, 136).
31 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A MEMS device comprising:
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a substrate having a surface; a fixed electrode at least partially anchored to the substrate surface, said fixed electrode having a first side, a second side, and a midline intermediate the first side and the second side; a movable electrode movably suspended above the substrate surface; and a stress-release mechanism disposed on the fixed electrode including a first slot extending through the first side, past the midline, and partially toward the second side. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of forming a micro-electromechanical (“
- MEMS”
) device from a substrate comprising an insulating layer and an active layer overlying the insulating layer, the method comprising the steps of;forming a protective layer over the active layer in a pattern, the pattern having at least a first electrode section having a corner, a second electrode section adjacent the first electrode section and having an corner disposed diagonally from the first electrode section corner, and a strip connecting the first and second electrode section corners, the strip defined by first and second slots extending into the pattern; and
removing material from portions of the active layer and the insulating layer over which the protective layer is not formed to thereby form an electrode having a slot formed therein. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
- MEMS”
Specification