Abstract: A miniature oxygen sensor makes use of paramagnetic properties of oxygen gas to provide a fast response time, low power consumption, improved accuracy and sensitivity, and superior durability. The miniature oxygen sensor disclosed maintains a sample of ambient air within a micro-channel formed in a semiconductor substrate. O2 molecules segregate in response to an applied magnetic field, thereby establishing a measureable Hall voltage. Oxygen present in the sample of ambient air can be deduced from a change in Hall voltage with variation in the applied magnetic field. The magnetic field can be applied either by an external magnet or by a thin film magnet integrated into a gas sensing cavity within the micro-channel. A differential sensor further includes a reference element containing an unmagnetized control sample. The miniature oxygen sensor is suitable for use as a real-time air quality monitor in consumer products such as smart phones.

Abstract: An electronic device may include a surface mount integrated circuit (IC) package to be attached to a printed circuit board (PCB). The surface mount IC package may include at least one IC and an encapsulating material surrounding the at least one IC and having a component receiving cavity defined therein on a bottom surface thereof to be positioned adjacent the PCB. The surface mount IC package may also include electrical leads coupled to the at least one IC and extending outwardly from the encapsulating material to be coupled to the PCB. The electronic device may also include at least one electronic component carried within the component receiving cavity and that includes electrical contacts to be coupled to the PCB.

Abstract: A semiconductor-based multi-sensor module integrates miniature temperature, pressure, and humidity sensors onto a single substrate. Pressure and humidity sensors can be implemented as capacitive thin film sensors, while the temperature sensor is implemented as a precision miniature Wheatstone bridge. Such multi-sensor modules can be used as building blocks in application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Furthermore, the multi-sensor module can be built on top of existing circuitry that can be used to process signals from the sensors. An integrated multi-sensor module that uses differential sensors can measure a variety of localized ambient environmental conditions substantially simultaneously, and with a high level of precision. The multi-sensor module also features an integrated heater that can be used to calibrate or to adjust the sensors, either automatically or as needed.

Abstract: An embodiment of a circuit module includes module nodes, a first submodule, a second submodule, and a conductive structure. The first submodule has a first submodule node, and the second submodule is disposed over the first submodule and has a second submodule node. The conductive structure couples the first submodule node to one of the module nodes and couples the second submodule node to one of the module nodes. Another embodiment of a circuit module includes module nodes, a first submodule, a second submodule, and a conductive structure. The first submodule has first submodule nodes, and the second submodule is disposed over the first submodule and has second submodule nodes. The conductive structure couples one of the first and second submodule nodes to one of the module nodes and couples one of the first submodule nodes to one of the second submodule nodes.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is formed having an array of memory cells located in the dielectric stack above a semiconductor substrate. Each memory cell has an adjustable resistor and a heating element. A dielectric material separates the heating element from the adjustable resistor. The heating element alters the resistance of the resistor by applying heat thereto. The magnitude of the resistance of the adjustable resistor represents the value of data stored in the memory cell.

Abstract: A semiconductor die includes a chemical sensor, a digital to analog converter, and microcontroller formed therein. The chemical sensor detects the presence of a chemical and outputs an analog signal to the digital to analog converter. The analog to digital converter converts the analog signal to a digital signal. The analog to digital converter outputs the digital signal to the microcontroller. Microcontroller calculates a value of the concentration of the selected chemical.

Abstract: A universal electrochemical micro-sensor can be used either as a biosensor or an environmental sensor. Because of its small size and flexibility, the micro-sensor is suitable for continuous use to monitor fluids within a live subject, or as an environmental monitor. The micro-sensor can be formed on a reusable glass carrier substrate. A flexible polymer backing, together with a set of electrodes, forms a reservoir that contains an electrolytic fluid chemical reagent. During fabrication, the glass carrier substrate protects the fluid chemical reagent from degradation. A conductive micromesh further contains the reagent while allowing partial exposure to the ambient biological or atmospheric environment. The micromesh density can be altered to accommodate fluid reagents having different viscosities. Flexibility is achieved by attaching a thick polymer tape and peeling away the micro-sensor from the glass carrier substrate.

Abstract: An electronic device includes an integrated circuit chip mounted to a heat slug. The heat slug has a peripheral region having first thickness along a first direction, the peripheral region surrounding a recess region (having a second, smaller, thickness along the first direction) that defines a chip mounting surface along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The recess region defines side borders and a nook extends into the heat slug along the side borders. An insulating body embeds the integrated circuit one chip and heat slug. Material of the insulating body fills the nook.

Abstract: A low-cost resin lens is disclosed for use in miniature cameras. The resin lens features a low profile that is particularly well-suited to consumer products such as smart phones. The resin lens is mounted to an integrated circuit die that is attached to a standard four-layer substrate. The integrated circuit die includes electronic and/or optoelectronic circuits to support digital image capture, transfer, and processing. Image correction software adjusts the image to correct for distortion introduced by the resin lens.

Abstract: An optical electronic package includes transmitting chip and a receiving chip fixed to a wafer. A transparent encapsulation structure is formed by a transparent plate and a transparent encapsulation block that are formed over the transmitter chip and at least a portion of the receiver chip, with the transparent encapsulation block embedding the transmitter chip. An opaque encapsulation block extends over the transparent plate and includes an opening that reveals a front area of the transparent plate. The front area is situated above an optical transmitter of the transmitting chip and is offset laterally relative to an optical sensor of the receiving chip.

Abstract: A photoresist delivery system includes a photoresist pump, a photoresist reservoir coupled to the photoresist pump, and a photoresist container. A control valve is between the photoresist reservoir and the photoresist container and is movable from a closed position to an open position upon engagement of the photoresist container with the photoresist reservoir to replenish photoresist therein.

Abstract: A micro-sensor device that includes a passivation-protected ASIC module and a micro-sensor module bonded to a patterned cap provides protection for signal conditioning circuitry while allowing one or more sensing elements in the micro-sensor module to be exposed to an ambient environment. According to a method of fabricating the micro-sensor device, the patterned cap can be bonded to the micro-sensor module using a planarizing adhesive that is chemically compatible with the sensing elements. In one embodiment, the adhesive material is the same material used for the dielectric active elements, for example, a photo-sensitive polyimide film.

Abstract: A method for making semiconductor devices may include forming a phosphosilicate glass (PSG) layer on a semiconductor wafer, with the PSG layer having a phosphine residual surface portion. The method may further include exposing the phosphine residual surface portion to a reactant plasma to integrate at least some of the phosphine residual surface portion into the PSG layer. The method may additionally include forming a mask layer on the PSG layer after the exposing.

Abstract: An image sensor device may include a bottom interconnect layer, an image sensing IC above the bottom interconnect layer and coupled thereto, and an adhesive material on the image sensing IC. The image sensor device may include an IR filter layer above the lens layer, and an encapsulation material on the bottom interconnect layer and surrounding the image sensing IC, the lens layer, and the IR filter layer. The image sensor device may include a top contact layer above the encapsulation material and including a dielectric layer, and a contact thereon, the dielectric layer being flush with adjacent portions of the IR filter layer.

Abstract: An electronic device is formed by depositing polyimide on a glass substrate. A conductive material is deposited on the polyimide and patterned to form electrodes and signal traces. Remaining portions of the electronic device are formed on the polyimide. A second polyimide layer is then formed on the first polyimide layer. The glass substrate is then removed, exposing the electrodes and the top surface of the electronic device.

Abstract: One or more embodiments are directed to system in package (SiP) for optical devices, including proximity sensor packaging. One embodiment is directed to an optical package that includes a stacked arrangement with a plurality of optical devices arranged over an image sensor processor die that is coupled to a first substrate. Between the two optical devices and the image sensor processor die there is provided at least a second substrate. In one embodiment, the optical package is a proximity sensor package and the optical devices include a light-emitting diode die and a light-receiving diode die. In one embodiment, the light-emitting diode die is secured to a surface of the second substrate and the light-receiving diode die is secured to a surface of a third substrate. The second and the third substrate may be secured to a surface of the image sensor processor die or to a surface of encapsulation material.

Abstract: Electronics modules and methods of making electronics modules are provided. An electronics module includes a substrate having an electronic circuit mounted thereon, a lens mount affixed to the substrate, the lens mount having a lens assembly mounted therein, and a liquid crystal cell affixed to the lens mount over the lens assembly, the liquid crystal cell having electrical terminals, wherein the lens mount includes adhesive containment pockets that are filled with a conductive adhesive so as to contact the electrical terminals of the liquid crystal cell, wherein the adhesive containment pockets include contacts that are electrically connected to the substrate. In some embodiments, the electronics module is a camera module.

Abstract: One or more embodiments are directed to optical module assemblies, such as a camera module assembly, and methods of forming same. One embodiment is directed to an optical module assembly that includes a substrate having a first surface. An optical device is secured to the first surface of the substrate and electrically coupled to the substrate. A molded body is located on the first surface of the substrate outward of the optical device. The molded body includes a first recess. A lens assembly is secured to the molded body over the first recess by an adhesive material located in the first recess. In some embodiments, the molded body of the optical module assembly further includes a second recess spaced apart from the first recess. A transparent material is secured to the molded body over the second recess by an adhesive material located in the second recess.

Abstract: A method of processing a semiconductor wafer may include providing a rotatably alignable photolithography mask that includes different mask images. Each mask image may be in a corresponding different mask sector. The method may also include performing a series of exposures with the rotatably alignable photolithography mask at different rotational alignments with respect to the semiconductor wafer so that the different mask images produce at least one working semiconductor wafer sector, and at least one non-working semiconductor wafer sector.

Abstract: A capacitive humidity sensor includes a first electrode, a humidity sensitive dielectric layer, and a second electrode. The humidity sensitive dielectric layer is between the first and the second electrodes. The humidity sensitive dielectric layer is etched at selected regions to form hollow regions between the first and second electrodes.