Microelectromechanical device including an encapsulation layer of which a portion is removed to expose a substantially planar surface having a portion that is disposed outside and above a chamber and including a field region on which integrated circuits are formed, and methods for fabricating same
First Claim
1. A microelectromechanical device comprising:
- a substrate;
a chamber;
a micromachined mechanical structure at least partially disposed in the chamber;
a first encapsulation layer comprising a permeable material having a plurality of pores, wherein;
the first encapsulation layer is disposed over both the micromachined mechanical structure and the substrate, andthe first encapsulation layer forms at least a portion of a wall of the chamber; and
a second encapsulation layer comprising a semiconductor material disposed over the first encapsulation layer and sealing the chamber by filling the plurality of pores, wherein;
a portion of the second encapsulation layer having been removed to expose a substantially planar surface, andthe substantially planar surface is adapted to provide a base upon which integrated circuits are formed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a MEMS device, and technique of fabricating or manufacturing a MEMS device, having mechanical structures encapsulated in a chamber prior to final packaging. The material that encapsulates the mechanical structures, when deposited, includes one or more of the following attributes: low tensile stress, good step coverage, maintains its integrity when subjected to subsequent processing, does not significantly and/or adversely impact the performance characteristics of the mechanical structures in the chamber (if coated with the material during deposition), and/or facilitates integration with high-performance integrated circuits. In one embodiment, the material that encapsulates the mechanical structures is, for example, silicon (polycrystalline, amorphous or porous, whether doped or undoped), silicon carbide, silicon-germanium, germanium, or gallium-arsenide.
203 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A microelectromechanical device comprising:
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a substrate; a chamber; a micromachined mechanical structure at least partially disposed in the chamber; a first encapsulation layer comprising a permeable material having a plurality of pores, wherein; the first encapsulation layer is disposed over both the micromachined mechanical structure and the substrate, and the first encapsulation layer forms at least a portion of a wall of the chamber; and a second encapsulation layer comprising a semiconductor material disposed over the first encapsulation layer and sealing the chamber by filling the plurality of pores, wherein; a portion of the second encapsulation layer having been removed to expose a substantially planar surface, and the substantially planar surface is adapted to provide a base upon which integrated circuits are formed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A microelectromechanical device comprising:
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a substrate; a chamber; a micromachined mechanical structure at least partially disposed in the chamber; a first encapsulation layer comprising a material having a plurality of vents, wherein; the first encapsulation layer is disposed over both the micromachined mechanical structure and the substrate, and the first encapsulation layer forms at least a portion of a wall of the chamber; and a second encapsulation layer comprising a semiconductor material disposed over the first encapsulation layer and sealing the chamber by filling the plurality of vents, wherein; a portion of the second encapsulation layer having been removed to expose a substantially planar, and the substantially planar surface is adapted to provide a base upon which integrated circuits are formed. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A microelectromechanical device comprising:
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a substrate; a chamber; a micromachined mechanical structure at least partially disposed in the chamber; a first encapsulation layer disposed over both the micromachined mechanical structure and the substrate, wherein; no intervening layers reside between the micromachined mechanical structure and the first encapsulation layer, the first encapsulation layer forms at least a portion of a wall of the chamber, and the first encapsulation layer has one or more vents formed therein to provide access to at least a portion of the micromachined mechanical structure; and a second encapsulation layer disposed over the first encapsulation layer and sealing the chamber by filling the one or more vents, wherein; no intervening layers reside between the first encapsulation layer and the second encapsulation layer, and the first encapsulation layer and the second encapsulation layer comprise the same material. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification