Bolometer and method of producing a bolometer
First Claim
1. A bolometer comprising:
- a membrane;
a first spacer;
a second spacer,the membrane comprising a resistive layer, a first protective layer, a second protective layer, and a contact layer, the resistive layer and the contact layer extending between the first protective layer and the second protective layer with the first protective layer being located at a side of the membrane facing a foundation, the first protective layer including a first through hole and a second through hole, the contact layer comprising, at a side facing the foundation, a first contact region at which the first spacer extends through the first through hole in the first protective layer and electrically contacts the contact layer, and a second contact region at which the second spacer extends through the second through hole in the first protective layer and electrically contacts the contact layer, and the first and second spacers keeping the membrane at a predetermined distance from the foundation,the contact layer being laterally interrupted by a gap, so that the contact layer is subdivided at least into two parts, the first part of which comprises the first contact region, and the second part of which comprises the second contact region, and no direct connection existing within the contact layer from the first contact region to the second contact region, andthe resistive layer being in contact with the first part of the contact layer and with the second part of the contact layer, whereinthe membrane is patterned so that a first ridge and a second ridge for thermal insulation are provided in the membrane, the first ridge includes the first contact region in contact with the first spacer, and the second ridge includes the second contact region in contact with the second spacer.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A bolometer includes a membrane, a first spacer and a second spacer, the membrane including resistive and contact layers. At a side facing a foundation, the contact layer has a first contact region at which the first spacer electrically contacts the contact layer, and a second contact region at which the second spacer electrically contacts the contact layer. In this manner, the membrane is kept at a predetermined distance to the foundation. The contact layer is laterally interrupted by a gap, so that the contact layer is subdivided at least into two parts, the first part including the first contact region, and the second part including the second contact region, and no direct connection existing within the contact layer from the first contact region to the second contact region, and the resistive layer being in contact with the first and second parts of the contact layer.
22 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A bolometer comprising:
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a membrane; a first spacer; a second spacer, the membrane comprising a resistive layer, a first protective layer, a second protective layer, and a contact layer, the resistive layer and the contact layer extending between the first protective layer and the second protective layer with the first protective layer being located at a side of the membrane facing a foundation, the first protective layer including a first through hole and a second through hole, the contact layer comprising, at a side facing the foundation, a first contact region at which the first spacer extends through the first through hole in the first protective layer and electrically contacts the contact layer, and a second contact region at which the second spacer extends through the second through hole in the first protective layer and electrically contacts the contact layer, and the first and second spacers keeping the membrane at a predetermined distance from the foundation, the contact layer being laterally interrupted by a gap, so that the contact layer is subdivided at least into two parts, the first part of which comprises the first contact region, and the second part of which comprises the second contact region, and no direct connection existing within the contact layer from the first contact region to the second contact region, and the resistive layer being in contact with the first part of the contact layer and with the second part of the contact layer, wherein the membrane is patterned so that a first ridge and a second ridge for thermal insulation are provided in the membrane, the first ridge includes the first contact region in contact with the first spacer, and the second ridge includes the second contact region in contact with the second spacer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of producing a bolometer, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a substrate; b) depositing a sacrificial layer onto the substrate; c) depositing a first protective layer on the sacrificial layer; d) forming a first through opening and a second through opening through the sacrificial layer and the first protective layer so as to extend to the substrate; e) forming first and second spacers in the first and second through openings; f) applying a contact layer such that the contact layer comprises, at a side facing the substrate, a first contact region at which same is contacted by the first spacer, and a second contact region at which same is contacted by the second spacer; g) patterning the contact layer so as to form a gap within same, so that the contact layer is subdivided into two parts, the first part of which comprises the first contact region, and the second part of which comprises the second contact region, and no direct connection existing within the contact layer from the first contact region to the second contact region; h) applying a resistive layer such that the resistive layer is in contact with the first part of the contact layer and with the second part of the contact layer, the resistive layer and the contact layer forming a membrane of the bolometer; i) depositing a second protective layer; j) patterning an outline of the membrane; and k) patterning the membrane in order to form within same a first ridge and a second ridge for thermal insulation, the first ridge being in contact with the first spacer, and the second ridge being in contact with the second spacer; l) removing the sacrificial layer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of producing a bolometer, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a substrate; b) depositing a sacrificial layer onto the substrate; c) depositing a first protective layer on the sacrificial layer; d) forming a first through opening and a second through opening through the sacrificial layer and the first protective layer so as to extend to the substrate; e) forming a first spacer within the first through opening and a second spacer within the second through opening; f) laterally applying a resistive layer such that the resistive layer is not in contact with conductive material within the first and second through openings; g) applying an insulating layer on a side of the resistive layer which faces away from the substrate, so that the insulating layer leaves the resistive layer open at a first contact point and at a second contact point; h) applying a contact layer such that the contact layer comprises, at a side facing the substrate, a first contact region at which same is contacted by the first spacer, and a second contact region at which same is contacted by the second spacer, and such that the contact layer is in contact with the first contact point and with the second contact point of the resistive layer; i) patterning an outline of the membrane; j) patterning the membrane in order to form within same a first ridge and a second ridge for thermal insulation, the first ridge being in contact with the first spacer, and the second ridge being in contact with the second spacer; k) patterning the contact layer in order to form at least one gap within same, so that the contact layer is subdivided into at least two parts, the first part of which comprises the first contact region and the first contact point of the resistive layer, and the second part of which comprises the second contact region and the second contact point of the resistive layer, and no direct connection existing within the contact layer from the first contact region to the second contact region; l) depositing a second protective layer; and m) removing the sacrificial layer. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification