Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing light in an interferometric modulator device are provided. In one embodiment, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) is provided that includes a transparent substrate and a plurality of interferometric modulators. The interferometric modulators include an optical stack coupled to the transparent substrate, a reflective layer over the optical stack, and one or more posts to support the reflective and to provide a path for light from a backlight for lighting the interferometric modulators.

Abstract: MEMS devices (such as interferometric modulators) may be fabricated using a sacrificial layer that contains a heat vaporizable polymer to form a gap between a moveable layer and a substrate. One embodiment provides a method of making a MEMS device that includes depositing a polymer layer over a substrate, forming an electrically conductive layer over the polymer layer, and vaporizing at least a portion of the polymer layer to form a cavity between the substrate and the electrically conductive layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a magnetic head with a trapezoidal shaped pole piece tip is described. The body of the main pole piece is deposited; then one or more layers for the pole piece tip are deposited. A bed material is deposited over the pole piece tip material. A void is formed in the bed material over the area for the pole piece tip. The void is filled with an ion-milling resistant material such as alumina preferably using atomic layer deposition or atomic layer chemical vapor deposition. The excess ion-milling resistant material and the bed material are removed. The result is an ion-milling mask formed over the area for the pole piece tip. Ion milling is then used to remove the unmasked material in the pole piece tip layer and to form a beveled pole piece tip and preferably a beveled face on the main pole piece.

Abstract: A method for providing a liftoff process using a single layer resist and chemical mechanical polishing and sensor formed therewith are disclosed. Chemical mechanical polishing is combined with liftoff using only a single resist layer to allow the removal of leftover fencing on the side of a lifted resist pattern.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for fabricating a read sensor for a magnetic head for a hard disk drive having a read sensor stack and two lateral stacks. The method of fabrication includes forming lateral stacks on a gap layer, surrounding a groove to form a template. The read sensor stack is then formed in the groove, which defines the lateral dimensions of the read sensor stack, and lead layers are then formed on the lateral stacks. Also disclosed is a read head for a disk drive having a sensor stack defined by pre-established lateral stacks, and a disk drive having the read head.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a magnetic head with a trapezoidal shaped pole piece tip is described. The body of the main pole piece is deposited, then one or more layers for the pole piece tip are deposited. A bed material is deposited over the pole piece tip material. A void is formed in the bed material over the area for the pole piece tip. The void is filled with an ion-milling resistant material such as alumina preferably using atomic layer deposition or atomic layer chemical vapor deposition. The excess ion-milling resistant material and the bed material are removed. The result is an ion-milling mask formed over the area for the pole piece tip. Ion milling is then used to remove the unmasked material in the pole piece tip layer and to form a beveled pole piece tip and preferably a beveled face on the main pole piece.

Abstract: A method is invented for processing a thin-film head/semiconductor wafer. A layer of polymer is applied onto a wafer. A layer of dielectric material is added above the polymer layer. A layer of photoresist is added above the dielectric layer. The photoresist layer is patterned using a photolithography process. Exposed portions of the dielectric layer are removed. Exposed portions of the polymer layer are removed. Exposed portions of the wafer are removed. The polymer layer and any material thereabove is removed after hard bias/leads deposition.

Abstract: Certain MEMS devices include layers patterned to have tapered edges. One method for forming layers having tapered edges includes the use of an etch leading layer. Another method for forming layers having tapered edges includes the deposition of a layer in which the upper portion is etchable at a faster rate than the lower portion. Another method for forming layers having tapered edges includes the use of multiple iterative etches. Another method for forming layers having tapered edges includes the use of a liftoff mask layer having an aperture including a negative angle, such that a layer can be deposited over the liftoff mask layer and the mask layer removed, leaving a structure having tapered edges.

Abstract: Embodiments of MEMS devices include support structures having substantially vertical sidewalls. Certain support structures are formed through deposition of self-planarizing materials or via a plating process. Other support structures are formed via a spacer etch. Other MEMS devices include support structures at least partially underlying a movable layer, where the portions of the support structures underlying the movable layer include a convex sidewall. In further embodiments, a portion of the support structure extends through an aperture in the movable layer and over at least a portion of the movable layer.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical systems device having support structures formed of sacrificial material surrounded by a protective material. The microelectromechanical systems device includes a substrate having an electrode formed thereon. Another electrode is separated from the first electrode by a cavity and forms a movable layer, which is supported by support structures formed of a sacrificial material.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a passivation layer is provided. A substrate with a plurality of device structures and at least an interconnect thereon is provided. A patterned metallic layer is formed over the interconnection layer. A plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process is performed to form a first passivation over the metallic layer such that the processing pressure is higher (and/or the processing power is lower) than the pressure (the power) used in prior art. A moisture impermeable second passivation is formed over the first passivation layer. With the first passivation formed in a higher processing pressure (and/or lower processing power), damages to metallic layers or devices due to plasma bombardment is minimized.

Abstract: A test apparatus for testing a to-be-tested network connection device is disclosed. The to-be-tested network connection device has a number of to-be-tested ports. The test apparatus includes a packet generator and a switch fixture. The packet generator is for generating a test packet having a VLAN ID (VID). The switch fixture, having VLAN function, includes a number of fixture ports. The to-be-tested ports are respectively one-to-one electrically coupled to the fixture ports. The switch fixture receives the test packet and transmits the test packet from one of the fixture ports to the corresponding to-be-tested port according to its VID in order to verify the to-be-tested network connection device.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a magnetic head with a trapezoidal shaped pole piece tip is described. The body of the main pole piece is deposited, then one or more layers for the pole piece tip are deposited. A bed material is deposited over the pole piece tip material. A void is formed in the bed material over the area for the pole piece tip. The void is filled with an ion-milling resistant material such as alumina preferably using atomic layer deposition or atomic layer chemical vapor deposition. The excess ion-milling resistant material and the bed material are removed. The result is an ion-milling mask formed over the area for the pole piece tip. Ion milling is then used to remove the unmasked material in the pole piece tip layer and to form a beveled pole piece tip and preferably a beveled face on the main pole piece.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive sensor having a well defined track width and method of manufacture thereof.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a passivation layer is provided. A substrate with a plurality of device structures and at least an interconnect thereon is provided. A patterned metallic layer is formed over the interconnection layer. A plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process is performed to form a first passivation over the metallic layer such that the processing pressure is higher (and/or the processing power is lower) than the pressure (the power) used in prior art. A moisture impermeable second passivation is formed over the first passivation layer. With the first passivation formed in a higher processing pressure (and/or lower processing power), damages to metallic layers or devices due to plasma bombardment is minimized.

Abstract: A method is invented for processing a thin-film head/semiconductor wafer. A layer of polymer is applied onto a wafer. A layer of dielectric material is added above the polymer layer. A layer of photoresist is added above the dielectric layer. The photoresist layer is patterned using a photolithography process. Exposed portions of the dielectric layer are removed. Exposed portions of the polymer layer are removed. Exposed portions of the wafer are removed. The polymer layer and any material thereabove is removed after hard bias/leads deposition.

Abstract: A method for providing a liftoff process using a single layer resist and chemical mechanical polishing and sensor formed therewith are disclosed. Chemical mechanical polishing is combined with liftoff using only a single resist layer to allow the removal of leftover fencing on the side of a lifted resist pattern.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive sensor having a well defined track width and method of manufacture thereof.

Abstract: A process to correct distortions due to optical proximity effects is described. A two reticle per pattern approach is used. The first, or primary, reticle contains the image that is to be transferred to the photoresist. It is used to expose the resist in the usual way to the correct dosage of light needed to optimally activate it. For a primary reticle bearing a line pattern, the second, or correction, reticle bears a pattern of rectangles which are located and dimensioned so that, when aligned relative to the primary reticle, they overlap all line ends in the pattern. The amount by which the rectangles overlap the lines is similar to the amount by which serifs (if they had been used) would overlap. The amount by which the rectangles extend outside the line ends is not critical (provided it is at least as large as the inside overlap amount). This property allows a single rectangle to be shared by many line ends.

Abstract: Conventional optical lithography has a lower limit of about 180 nm because the projection system is opaque to radiation of wavelength shorter than this. This limitation has been overcome by using, in a standard photoreduction system, light in the form of a train of short duration high intensity pulses. Because of two-photon interactions, light having half the wavelength of the illuminating radiation is then generated in the focal plane. There are thus two aerial images present while the photoresist is being exposed. One is the conventional long wavelength image and its associated CD while the other is the short wavelength image with its smaller CD. Since the resist is sensitive to only the shorter wavelength, only the lower CD image remains after development.