Abstract: An apparatus includes a cavity within a substrate. A MEMS structure is within the cavity, wherein the cavity includes the MEMS structure. A trench is connected to the cavity, wherein the trench is not directly opposite the MEMS structure. An oxide layer lines the trench and the cavity. A seal layer seals the trench and traps a predetermined pressure within the cavity and the trench.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method including forming a cavity in a first side of a first silicon wafer. An oxide layer is formed on the first side and in the cavity. The first side of the first silicon wafer is bonded to a first side of a second silicon wafer, and a gap control structure is deposited on a second side of the second silicon wafer. A MEMS structure is formed in the second silicon wafer. The second side of the second silicon wafer is eutecticly bonded to the third silicon wafer, and the eutectic bonding includes pressing the second silicon wafer to the third silicon wafer.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods and apparatus to produce such semiconductor devices are disclosed. An integrated circuit package includes a lead frame including a die attach pad and a plurality of leads; a die including a MEMs region defined by a plurality of trenches, the die electrically connected to the plurality of leads; and a mold compound covering portions of the die, the mold compound defining a cavity between a surface of the die and a surface of the mold compound, wherein the mold compound defines a vent.

Abstract: An integrated MEMS device comprises two substrates where the first and second substrates are coupled together and have two enclosures there between. One of the first and second substrates includes an outgassing source layer and an outgassing barrier layer to adjust pressure within the two enclosures. The method includes depositing and patterning an outgassing source layer and a first outgassing barrier layer on the substrate, resulting in two cross-sections. In one of the two cross-sections a top surface of the outgassing source layer is not covered by the outgassing barrier layer and in the other of the two cross-sections the outgassing source layer is encapsulated in the outgassing barrier layer. The method also includes depositing conformally a second outgassing barrier layer and etching the second outgassing barrier layer such that a spacer of the second outgassing barrier layer is left on sidewalls of the outgassing source layer.

Abstract: A hybrid micromachined ultrasound transducer includes a piezoelectric micromachined transducer and a capacitive micromachined transducer. The capacitive micromachined transducer is vertically stacked with the piezoelectric micromachined transducer. The piezoelectric micromachined transducer and the capacitive micromachined transducer include a common shared electrode.

Abstract: A sensor chip includes a first substrate with a first surface and a second surface including at least one CMOS circuit, a first MEMS substrate with a first surface and a second surface on opposing sides of the first MEMS substrate, a second substrate, a second MEMS substrate, and a third substrate including at least one CMOS circuit. The first surface of the first substrate is attached to a packaging substrate and the second surface of the first substrate is attached to the first surface of the first MEMS substrate. The second surface of the first MEMS substrate is attached to the second substrate. The first substrate, the first MEMS substrate, the second substrate and the packaging substrate are provided with electrical inter-connects.

Abstract: Methods and systems for MEMS devices with dual damascene formed electrodes is disclosed and may include forming first and second dielectric layers on a semiconductor substrate that includes a conductive layer at least partially covered by the first dielectric layer; removing a portion of the second dielectric layer; forming vias through the second dielectric layer and at least a portion of the second dielectric layer, where the via extends to the conductive layer; forming electrodes by filling the vias and a volume that is the removed portion of the second dielectric layer with a first metal; and coupling a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) substrate to the semiconductor substrate. A third dielectric layer may be formed between the first and second dielectric layers. A metal pad may be formed on at least one electrode by depositing a second metal on the electrode and removing portions of the second metal, which may be aluminum.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method including bonding a first oxide layer on a handle substrate to a second oxide layer on a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (“CMOS”), wherein the fusion bonding forms a unified oxide layer including a diaphragm overlying a cavity on the CMOS. The handle substrate is removed leaving the unified oxide layer. A piezoelectric film stack is deposited over the unified oxide layer. Vias are formed in the piezoelectric film stack and the unified oxide layer. An electrical contact layer is deposited, wherein the electrical contact layer electrically connects the piezoelectric film stack to an electrode on the CMOS.

Abstract: Methods and systems for MEMS devices with dual damascene formed electrodes is disclosed and may include forming first and second dielectric layers on a semiconductor substrate that includes a conductive layer at least partially covered by the first dielectric layer; removing a portion of the second dielectric layer; forming vias through the second dielectric layer and at least a portion of the second dielectric layer, where the via extends to the conductive layer; forming electrodes by filling the vias and a volume that is the removed portion of the second dielectric layer with a first metal; and coupling a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) substrate to the semiconductor substrate. A third dielectric layer may be formed between the first and second dielectric layers. A metal pad may be formed on at least one electrode by depositing a second metal on the electrode and removing portions of the second metal, which may be aluminum.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated circuit includes forming a plurality of polysilicon gate electrode structures over a plurality of fin-shaped channel structures. A portion of the plurality of polysilicon gate electrode structures may then be removed to expose a surface region of a fin-shaped channel structure in the plurality of fin-shaped channel structures. The remaining portion of the polysilicon gate electrode structures may form a plurality of polysilicon transistors. A layer of high-k dielectric material is deposited on the exposed surface region of the fin-shaped channel structure. A metal layer may be deposited over the high-k dielectric material to form at least one high-k metal gate transistor over the fin-shaped channel structure.

Abstract: A sensor chip includes a first substrate with a first surface and a second surface including at least one CMOS circuit, a first MEMS substrate with a first surface and a second surface on opposing sides of the first MEMS substrate, a second substrate, a second MEMS substrate, and a third substrate including at least one CMOS circuit. The first surface of the first substrate is attached to a packaging substrate and the second surface of the first substrate is attached to the first surface of the first MEMS substrate. The second surface of the first MEMS substrate is attached to the second substrate. The first substrate, the first MEMS substrate, the second substrate and the packaging substrate are provided with electrical inter-connects.

Abstract: A MEMS device is disclosed. The MEMS device includes a first substrate. At least one structure is formed within the first substrate. The first substrate includes at least one first conductive pad thereon. The MEMS device also includes a second substrate. The second substrate includes a passivation layer. The passivation layer includes a plurality of layers. A top layer of the plurality of layers comprises an outgassing barrier layer. At least one second conductive pad and at least one electrode are coupled to the top layer. At least one first conductive pad is coupled to the at least one second conductive pad.

Abstract: Methods and systems for MEMS devices with dual damascene formed electrodes is disclosed and may include forming first and second dielectric layers on a semiconductor substrate that includes a conductive layer at least partially covered by the first dielectric layer; removing a portion of the second dielectric layer; forming vias through the second dielectric layer and at least a portion of the second dielectric layer, where the via extends to the conductive layer; forming electrodes by filling the vias and a volume that is the removed portion of the second dielectric layer with a first metal; and coupling a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) substrate to the semiconductor substrate. A third dielectric layer may be formed between the first and second dielectric layers. A metal pad may be formed on at least one electrode by depositing a second metal on the electrode and removing portions of the second metal, which may be aluminum.

Abstract: A method includes aligning a germanium feature on a first CMOS wafer with an aluminum feature on a second CMOS wafer. The aluminum feature and the germanium feature are pressed together. A eutectic bond is formed connecting the aluminum feature to the germanium feature. The eutectic bond has a melting point which is lower than the melting point of aluminum and the melting point of germanium.

Abstract: A method and system for forming a MEMS device are disclosed. In a first aspect, the method comprises providing a conductive material over at least a portion of a top metal layer of a base substrate, patterning the conductive material and the at least a portion of the top metal layer, and bonding the conductive material with a device layer of a MEMS substrate via metal silicide formation. In a second aspect, the MEMS device comprises a MEMS substrate, wherein the MEMS substrate includes a handle layer, a device layer, and an insulating layer in between. The MEMS device further comprises a base substrate, wherein the base substrate includes a top metal layer and a conductive material over at least a portion of the top metal layer, wherein the conductive material is bonded with the device layer via metal silicide formation.

Abstract: A sensor chip combining a substrate comprising at least one CMOS circuit, a MEMS substrate and another substrate comprising at least one CMOS circuit in one package that is vertically stacked is disclosed. The package comprises a sensor chip further comprising a first substrate with a first surface and a second surface comprising at least one CMOS circuit; a MEMS substrate with a first surface and a second surface; and a second substrate comprising at least one CMOS circuit. Where the first surface of the first substrate is attached to a packaging substrate and the second surface of the first substrate is attached to the first surface of the MEMS substrate. The second surface of the MEMS substrate is attached to the second substrate. The first substrate, the MEMS substrate, the second substrate and the packaging substrate are mechanically attached and provided with electrical inter-connects.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method including forming a cavity in a first side of a first silicon wafer. An oxide layer is formed on the first side and in the cavity. The first side of the first silicon wafer is bonded to a first side of a second silicon wafer, and a gap control structure is deposited on a second side of the second silicon wafer. A MEMS structure is formed in the second silicon wafer. The second side of the second silicon wafer is eutecticly bonded to the third silicon wafer, and the eutectic bonding includes pressing the second silicon wafer to the third silicon wafer.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a cavity within a substrate. A MEMS structure is within the cavity, wherein the cavity includes the MEMS structure. A trench is connected to the cavity, wherein the trench is not directly opposite the MEMS structure. An oxide layer lines the trench and the cavity. A seal layer seals the trench and traps a predetermined pressure within the cavity and the trench.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method including bonding a first oxide layer on a handle substrate to a second oxide layer on a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (“CMOS”), wherein the fusion bonding forms a unified oxide layer including a diaphragm overlying a cavity on the CMOS. The handle substrate is removed leaving the unified oxide layer. A piezoelectric film stack is deposited over the unified oxide layer. Vias are formed in the piezoelectric film stack and the unified oxide layer. An electrical contact layer is deposited, wherein the electrical contact layer electrically connects the piezoelectric film stack to an electrode on the CMOS.

Abstract: Methods for bonding two wafers are disclosed. In one aspect, a first wafer includes an integrated circuit and the second wafer including a MEMS device. The method comprises depositing a bond pad on a metal on the first wafer and sequentially bonding the first wafer to the second wafer utilizing first and second temperatures. The second wafer is bonded to the bond pad at the first temperature and the bond pad and the metal are bonded at the second temperature. In another aspect, a first wafer including an integrated circuit, the second wafer includes a MEMS device. The method comprises depositing a bond pad on a metal on one of the first wafer and the second wafer and bonding the first wafer to the second wafer at a first temperature via a direct bond interface. The method includes bonding the bond pad to the metal at a second temperature.