MEMS devices and fabrication thereof
First Claim
1. A MEMS device, comprising:
- a silicon substrate;
a beam; and
a cavity;
the cavity being located between the silicon substrate and the beam;
whereinthe beam includes a first beam layer and a second beam layer, the first beam layer being directly adjacent to the cavity, the second beam layer being directly adjacent to the first beam layer;
the first beam layer includes silicon dissolved in a metal layer and is configured and arranged to use the silicon to mitigate spiking of silicon from an adjacent layer upon contact between the first beam layer and the adjacent layer, wherein the first beam layer is formed by co-depositing silicon and metal simultaneously onto the silicon substrate; and
the second beam layer includes a metal alloy.
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Abstract
A MEMS device and method, comprising: a substrate; a beam; and a cavity located therebetween; the beam comprising a first beam layer and a second beam layer, the first beam layer being directly adjacent to the cavity, the second beam layer being directly adjacent to the first beam layer; the first beam layer comprising a metal or a metal alloy containing silicon; and the second beam layer comprising a metal or a metal alloy substantially not containing silicon. Preferably the second beam layer is thicker than the first beam layer e.g. at least five times thicker, and the first beam layer comprises a metal or alloy containing between 1% and 2% of silicon. The second beam layer provides desired mechanical and/or optical properties while the first beam layer prevents spiking.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A MEMS device, comprising:
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a silicon substrate; a beam; and a cavity; the cavity being located between the silicon substrate and the beam;
whereinthe beam includes a first beam layer and a second beam layer, the first beam layer being directly adjacent to the cavity, the second beam layer being directly adjacent to the first beam layer; the first beam layer includes silicon dissolved in a metal layer and is configured and arranged to use the silicon to mitigate spiking of silicon from an adjacent layer upon contact between the first beam layer and the adjacent layer, wherein the first beam layer is formed by co-depositing silicon and metal simultaneously onto the silicon substrate; and the second beam layer includes a metal alloy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of fabricating a MEMS beam, comprising:
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providing a silicon substrate; depositing a silicon-based sacrificial layer onto the silicon substrate; after the silicon-based sacrificial layer is deposited, forming a first beam layer onto the silicon-based sacrificial layer and the silicon substrate by co-depositing silicon and metal simultaneously onto the silicon-based sacrificial layer and the silicon substrate; depositing a second beam layer onto the first beam layer; and removing the silicon-based sacrificial layer thereby providing a cavity between the silicon substrate and the first beam layer. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A MEMS device, comprising:
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a silicon substrate; a beam including a first beam layer being composed of a metal alloy including dissolved silicon and being formed by co-depositing silicon and metal simultaneously onto the silicon substrate; and a second beam layer, being at least five times thicker than the first beam layer and directly adjacent thereto, and configured and arranged to provide optical and mechanical properties of the beam, the first beam layer being configured and arranged to use the silicon to prevent spiking of silicon into the second beam layer from an adjacent material layer, upon contact with the adjacent material layer; and a cavity arranged between the silicon substrate and the first beam layer. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification