Sensing environmental parameter through stress induced in IC
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device comprising a sensor for sensing a value of a physical parameter indicative of an environment of the sensor, wherein:
- the sensor comprises an integrated electronic circuit that includes a functional component of the integrated electronic circuit;
the sensor comprises means for affecting a magnitude of a global strain in a substrate of the integrated electronic circuit in dependence on the value of the physical parameter;
the means comprises a layer structurally coupled with the integrated electronic circuit and having a first coefficient of expansion with a first dependence on the physical parameter;
a second coefficient of expansion of the substrate has a second dependence on the physical parameter;
the first dependence is different from the second dependence;
the global strain determines an electrical property of the functional component of the integrated electronic circuit;
the integrated electronic circuit is operative to generate an output signal representative of the electrical property; and
the layer is operative to induce the global strain in the substrate the device further comprising;
a pre-metal dielectric layer formed over the substrate, over the functional component of the integrated electronic circuit, and over the layer;
metal contacts, formed on top of the pre-metal dielectric layer, which provide electrical connections to the functional component of the integrated electronic circuit; and
one or more features through the pre-metal dielectric layer to the layer so as to give the environment access to the layer.
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Abstract
A sensor is provided for sensing a value of a physical parameter characteristic of the sensor'"'"'s environment. The sensor is implemented in semiconductor technology. A behavior of the sensor'"'"'s electronic circuitry is affected by stress. The stress is induced by a film covering the circuitry or only part thereof. The stress is caused by the film'"'"'s material, whose dimensions depend on a value of the parameter. This dependence is different from the 5 dependence of the circuitry'"'"'s substrate on the same parameter.
22 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A device comprising a sensor for sensing a value of a physical parameter indicative of an environment of the sensor, wherein:
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the sensor comprises an integrated electronic circuit that includes a functional component of the integrated electronic circuit; the sensor comprises means for affecting a magnitude of a global strain in a substrate of the integrated electronic circuit in dependence on the value of the physical parameter; the means comprises a layer structurally coupled with the integrated electronic circuit and having a first coefficient of expansion with a first dependence on the physical parameter; a second coefficient of expansion of the substrate has a second dependence on the physical parameter; the first dependence is different from the second dependence; the global strain determines an electrical property of the functional component of the integrated electronic circuit; the integrated electronic circuit is operative to generate an output signal representative of the electrical property; and the layer is operative to induce the global strain in the substrate the device further comprising; a pre-metal dielectric layer formed over the substrate, over the functional component of the integrated electronic circuit, and over the layer; metal contacts, formed on top of the pre-metal dielectric layer, which provide electrical connections to the functional component of the integrated electronic circuit; and one or more features through the pre-metal dielectric layer to the layer so as to give the environment access to the layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A device comprising a sensor for sensing a value of a physical parameter indicative of an environment of the sensor, wherein:
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the sensor comprises an integrated electronic circuit that includes a functional component of the integrated electronic circuit; the sensor comprises means for affecting a magnitude of a global strain in a substrate of the integrated electronic circuit in dependence on the value of the physical parameter; the means comprises a layer structurally coupled with the integrated electronic circuit and having a first coefficient of expansion with a first dependence on the physical parameter; a second coefficient of expansion of the substrate has a second dependence on the physical parameter; the first dependence is different from the second dependence; the global strain determines an electrical property of the functional component of the integrated electronic circuit; the integrated electronic circuit is operative to generate an output signal representative of the electrical property; and the layer is operative to induce the global strain in the substrate; wherein the layer is structurally coupled with the integrated electronic device to pre-stress the global strain such that a change in the magnitude of the global strain in the substrate during operational use of the sensor is largest around a value of the physical parameter that lies roughly in the middle of the range of values that are going to be monitored with the sensor.
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16. A device comprising a sensor for sensing a value of a physical parameter indicative of an environment of the sensor, wherein:
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the sensor comprises an integrated electronic circuit that includes a functional component of the integrated electronic circuit; the sensor comprises means for affecting a magnitude of a global strain in a substrate of the integrated electronic circuit in dependence on the value of the physical parameter; the means comprises a layer structurally coupled with the integrated electronic circuit and having a first coefficient of expansion with a first dependence on the physical parameter; a second coefficient of expansion of the substrate has a second dependence on the physical parameter; the first dependence is different from the second dependence; the global strain determines an electrical property of the functional component of the integrated electronic circuit; the integrated electronic circuit is operative to generate an output signal representative of the electrical property; and the layer is operative to induce the global strain in the substrate; wherein the device is an integrated circuit device and wherein the layer encapsulates the integrated circuit device and wherein the layer induces global strain in the integrated circuit device.
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Specification