Methods for depositing, releasing and packaging micro-electromechanical devices on wafer substrates
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A spatial light modulator comprising:
- a lower semiconductor substrate comprising circuitry and electrodes;
an upper light transmissive substrate bonded in spaced apart relationship to the lower substrate;
one or more intermediate substrates bonded between the upper and lower substrates and having an open area for defining a gap between the semiconductor substrate and the light transmissive substrate;
an array of reflective micromirrors disposed within the gap;
a light blocking material on the upper light transmissive substrate and provided as a rectangular mask;
wherein the micromirrors comprise substantially square micromirror plates and torsion hinges that allow the micromirror plates to move relative to the upper and lower substrates; and
wherein the torsion hinges are disposed in a different plane than the micromirror plates.
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Abstract
A method for forming a MEMS device is disclosed, where a final release step is performed just prior to a wafer bonding step to protect the MEMS device from contamination, physical contact, or other deleterious external events. Without additional changes to the MEMS structure between release and wafer bonding and singulation, except for an optional stiction treatment, the MEMS device is best protected and overall process flow is improved. The method is applicable to the production of any MEMS device and is particularly beneficial in the making of fragile micromirrors.
42 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A spatial light modulator comprising:
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a lower semiconductor substrate comprising circuitry and electrodes; an upper light transmissive substrate bonded in spaced apart relationship to the lower substrate; one or more intermediate substrates bonded between the upper and lower substrates and having an open area for defining a gap between the semiconductor substrate and the light transmissive substrate; an array of reflective micromirrors disposed within the gap; a light blocking material on the upper light transmissive substrate and provided as a rectangular mask; wherein the micromirrors comprise substantially square micromirror plates and torsion hinges that allow the micromirror plates to move relative to the upper and lower substrates; and wherein the torsion hinges are disposed in a different plane than the micromirror plates. - 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, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A spatial light modulator comprising:
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a lower semiconductor substrate comprising circuitry and electrodes; an upper light transmissive substrate bonded in spaced apart relationship to the lower substrate; one or more intermediate substrates bonded between the upper and lower substrates and having an open area for defining a gap between the semiconductor substrate and the light transmissive substrate; an array of reflective micromirrors disposed within the gap; a light blocking material on the upper light transmissive substrate and provided as a rectangular mask; wherein the micromirrors comprise substantially square micromirror plates and torsion hinges that allow the micromirror plates to move relative to the upper and lower substrates; and wherein the light transmissive substrate is bonded in an offset relation to the silicon substrate.
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Specification