MEMS device and fabrication method of the same

• US 7,800,280 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2007
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Cho, Jin-woo, Jeong, Hee-moon, Chang, Seok-mo, Park, Yong-hwa, Kim, Jun-o
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLINS, BURTON S
• Application Number:
  US11/873,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20080179988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 310/309, 359/196.1, 359/199.2, 359/199.3, 359/199.4, 359/200.6, 359/200.7, 359/200.8, 359/203.1, 359/213.1, 359/214.1, 359/223.1, 359/224.1
• US Class Current: 310/309
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/042 Micromirrors, not used as optical switches
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2203/058 Rotation out of a plane parallel to the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 3/0051 For defining the movement, i.e. structures that guide or limit the movement of an element mechanical arrangements for preventing or damping vibration or shock H01H3/60
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/085 the reflecting means being moved or deformed by electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/101 with both horizontal and vertical deflecting means, e.g. raster or XY scanners colour television using laser beams scanning a display screen H04N9/3129
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/105 with one or more pivoting mirrors or galvano-mirrors G02B26/101 takes precedence

Abstract

A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device includes a frame, an actuator formed on the same layer as the frame and connected to the frame to be capable of performing a relative motion with respect to the frame, and at least one stopper restricting a displacement of the actuator in a direction along the height of the actuator. The MEMS device is fabricated by bonding a second substrate to a first substrate, forming the frame and the actuator by partially removing the first substrate, and forming the at least one stopper by partially removing the second substrate.

Claims

1. A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device comprising:

a frame;

an actuator formed on a same layer as the frame and connected to the frame to be capable of performing a relative motion with respect to the frame; and

at least one stopper which restricts a displacement of the actuator in a direction along a height of the actuator,

wherein the at least one stopper comprises an ascending restriction stopper which restricts an upward displacement of the actuator and a descending restriction stopper which restricts a downward displacement of the actuator,

wherein the ascending restriction stopper is fixed to the frame, and includes an end portion that overlaps the actuator by being separated by a predetermined distance from the actuator when there is no displacement of the actuator, and the actuator has a peripheral portion, the peripheral portion of the actuator being caught by the end portion of the ascending restriction stopper in a case of an external shock, and

wherein the descending restriction stopper is fixed to the actuator, and includes an end portion that overlaps the frame by being separated by a predetermined distance from the frame when there is no displacement of the actuator, and the end portion of the descending restriction stopper descending with the actuator is caught by the frame in a case of an external shock.

2. The MEMS device of claim 1, further comprising a stage fixed to the actuator.

3. The MEMS device of claim 2, wherein the at least one stopper is formed on a same layer as the stage.

4. The MEMS device of claim 2, further comprising a separation column provided between the actuator and the stage to restrict deformation of the stage due to thermal deformation of the actuator.

5. The MEMS device of claim 4, wherein a circular opening portion to restrict thermal transfer between the stage and the actuator is formed in a peripheral area of an area where the actuator is coupled to the separation column.

6. The MEMS device of claim 1, wherein the actuator is connected to the frame to be capable of pivoting with respect to the frame.

7. The MEMS device of claim 6, further comprising an electrostatic capacity sensor which detects an amount of pivot of the actuator.

8. The MEMS device of claim 7, wherein the electrostatic capacity sensor comprises:

a drive comb which pivots with the actuator according to the pivoting of the actuator; and

a fixed comb which is fixedly supported at a complementary position where the fixed comb is engaged with the drive comb, and forms an overlapping surface whose area changes according to the pivoting of the drive comb.

9. The MEMS device of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises:

an external variable portion connected to the frame to be capable of pivoting about a first pivot axis with respect to the frame; and

an internal variable portion located inside the external variable portion to be capable of pivoting about a second pivot axis with respect to the external variable portion, the second pivot axis being perpendicular to the first pivot axis,

wherein the stopper restricts a displacement of the external variable portion in the direction along the height of the actuator.

10. The MEMS device of claim 1, further comprising:

a drive coil wound around a peripheral portion of the actuator; and

at least one magnet which forms a magnetic field that crosses current flowing in the drive coil.