Electromechanical devices having overlying support structures
First Claim
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1. An electromechanical device, comprising:
- a substrate;
an electrode layer located over the substrate;
a conductive movable layer located over the electrode layer, wherein the movable layer is generally spaced apart from the electrode layer by an air gap, and wherein the movable layer comprises depressions in support regions; and
rigid support structures formed over the movable layer and at least partially within the depressions in the movable layer, wherein the rigid support structures extend over only a portion of the movable layer.
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Abstract
Embodiments of MEMS devices comprise a conductive movable layer spaced apart from a conductive fixed layer by a gap, and supported by rigid support structures, or rivets, overlying depressions in the conductive movable layer, or by posts underlying depressions in the conductive movable layer. In certain embodiments, portions of the rivet structures extend through the movable layer and contact underlying layers. In other embodiments, the material used to form the rigid support structures may also be used to passivate otherwise exposed electrical leads in electrical connection with the MEMS devices, protecting the electrical leads from damage or other interference.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An electromechanical device, comprising:
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a substrate; an electrode layer located over the substrate; a conductive movable layer located over the electrode layer, wherein the movable layer is generally spaced apart from the electrode layer by an air gap, and wherein the movable layer comprises depressions in support regions; and rigid support structures formed over the movable layer and at least partially within the depressions in the movable layer, wherein the rigid support structures extend over only a portion of the movable layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An electromechanical device, comprising:
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a substrate; an electrode layer located over the substrate; a movable layer located over the electrode layer, the movable layer comprising a reflective sublayer and a mechanical sublayer overlying and at least partially spaced apart from the reflective sublayer, wherein the reflective sublayer is spaced apart from the electrode layer by an air gap, and wherein the mechanical sublayer comprises depressions in support regions; and rigid support structures formed over the mechanical sublayer and at least partially within the depressions in the mechanical sublayer. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification