MEMS element and method of manufacturing the same

• US 8,686,816 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2010
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Saito, Tomohiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Rojas, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US12/704,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20100213039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 335/78, 200/181
• US Class Current: 335/78
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/016 having a bridge fixed on two ends and connected to one or more dimples
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2203/0109 Bridges
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 3/007 For controlling stiffness, e.g. ribs
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2001/0084 with perpendicular movement of the movable contact relative to the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2059/0036 Movable armature with higher resonant frequency for faster switching
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 59/0009 making use of micromechanics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 Switch making

Abstract

A MEMS element of an aspect of the present invention including a first electrode provided on a substrate, a second electrode which is provided above the first electrode and which is driven toward the first electrode, an anchor provided on the substrate, a beam which supports the second electrode in midair, one end of the beam being connected to the anchor and the beam including a sidewall part provided at its end in the width direction, the sidewall part having a downward-facing protrusion.

Claims

1. A MEMS element comprising:

a first electrode provided on a substrate;

an insulating film provided on the first electrode;

a second electrode which is provided above the first electrode and which is driven toward the first electrode;

an anchor provided on the substrate; and

at least one beam which supports the second electrode in midair, one end of the at least one beam being connected to the anchor and the at least one beam including a sidewall part provided at its end in the width direction, the sidewall part having a downward-facing protrusion,

wherein a first variable capacitance is included between the first electrode and the second electrode, and

wherein the other end of the at least one beam is connected to the second electrode with a joining part, the width of the joining part is less than the width of the at least one beam.

2. The element of claim 1, wherein the second electrode has at its end a first protrusion protruding in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate.

3. The element of claim 1, wherein the second electrode has a first concave part which sinks toward the first electrode between one and the other ends of the second electrode.

4. The element of claim 3, wherein the first electrode has a first slit or a first groove in a position facing the first concave part.

5. The element of claim 4, wherein the width of the first slit or groove is greater than twice the film thickness of the first electrode in a direction perpendicular to the substrate.

6. The element of claim 1, wherein the side of the sidewall part is provided with a second protrusion protruding in a direction parallel to the surface of the substrate.

7. The element of claim 1, wherein the substrate below the at least one beam is provided with a dummy layer, the width of the dummy layer being less than the width of the at least one beam.

8. The element of claim 7, wherein the underside of the at least one beam is provided with a third protrusion protruding in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate.

9. The element of claim 8, wherein the dummy layer has a second slit in a position facing the third protrusion.

10. The element of claim 1, wherein the second electrode has on its underside a fourth protrusion protruding toward the substrate.

11. The element of claim 10, wherein the first electrode has a third slit or a third groove in a position facing the fourth protrusion.

12. The element of claim 11, wherein the width of the third slit or groove is less than twice the thickness of the first electrode in a direction perpendicular to the substrate.

13. The element of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the sidewall part in a direction parallel to the surface of the substrate is not greater than the thickness of the at least one beam in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate.

14. The element of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one driving electrode provided on the substrate and driving the second electrode.

15. The element of claim 14, wherein two driving electrodes are provided on the substrate, and the first electrode is provided between the two driving electrodes in a direction parallel to a surface of the substrate.

16. The element of claim 1, wherein the at least one beam comprises a plurality of beams, and

the plurality of beams are connected to the second electrode.

17. The element of claim 1, wherein the at least one beam comprises at least four beams, and

the at least four beams are connected to the second electrode.

18. A MEMS element comprising:

a first electrode provided on a substrate;

an insulating film provided on the first electrode;

a second electrode which is provided above the first electrode and which is driven toward the first electrode;

an anchor provided on the substrate; and

at least one beam which supports the second electrode in midair, one end of the at least one beam being connected to the anchor and the at least one beam including a sidewall part provided at its end in the width direction, the sidewall part having a downward-facing protrusion,

wherein a first variable capacitance is included between the first electrode and the second electrode, and

wherein the substrate below the at least one beam is provided with a dummy layer, the width of the dummy layer is less than the width of the at least one beam.

19. A MEMS element comprising:

a first electrode provided on a substrate;

an insulating film provided on the first electrode;

a second electrode which is provided above the first electrode and which is driven toward the first electrode;

an anchor provided on the substrate;

at least one beam which supports the second electrode in midair, one end of the at least one beam being connected to the anchor and the at least one beam including a sidewall part provided at its end in the width direction, the sidewall part having a downward-facing protrusion; and

at least one driving electrode provided on the substrate and driving the second electrode,

wherein a first variable capacitance is included between the first electrode and the second electrode.