Acoustic Wave Patents (Class 257/416)
  • Patent number: 9837983
    Abstract: An acoustic filter device for telecommunication devices includes a first acoustic band pass filter having a corresponding first passband and a second acoustic band pass filter having a corresponding second passband. The second acoustic band pass filter is connected in parallel with the first acoustic band pass filter to provide a combined passband including the first and second passbands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hongya Xu, Paul Bradley, Andriy Yatsenko, Lueder Elbrecht
  • Patent number: 9826316
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a plurality of MEMS microphone modules by providing a first substrate wafer 62 on which are mounted a plurality of sets comprising an LED 102, an IC chip 22 and a MEM microphone device 24, where the LED 102 and IC chip 22 are surrounded and separated by first spacers 104, 64A, 64, the spacer 104 being much taller, attaching a second substrate on top of the first spacer elements above the IC chip 22, mounting a MEMS microphone device 24 to the second substrate 60, the second substrate not extending over the LED 102, surrounding the MEMS microphone device by second spacers 32A, 32, attaching a cover wafer 28 across the whole first substrate wafer 62 covering all the plurality of sets, forming openings 30 to the MEMS cavities, dividing the substrate wafer 62 into individual MEMS microphone modules through the width of the separating spacers 104, 32, 64. Conductive traces may extend through the spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Heptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jens Geiger, Markus Rossi, Hartmut Rudmann
  • Patent number: 9812403
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device that can reduce warpage during wafer processing. The method includes forming a first guard ring around a first chip region on a semiconductor wafer. The method includes forming a second guard ring around a second chip region on the semiconductor wafer. The method includes mechanically connecting the first guard ring with the second guard ring through a joist structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Konomi
  • Patent number: 9806592
    Abstract: There are included: an oscillating member that includes a tough layer and a magnetostrictive layer stacked above the tough layer and formed of a magnetostrictive material, the tough layer formed of a tough material having a tensile strength higher than that of the magnetostrictive material; a supporting member to which the oscillating member is attached to be able to oscillate in the thickness direction; a magnetic field applying member that applies a magnetic field to the magnetostrictive layer; and a coil that is disposed around the magnetostrictive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Osamu Toyoda
  • Patent number: 9790089
    Abstract: A MEMS sensor package comprises a MEMS die that includes a substrate having a sensor formed thereon and a cap layer coupled to the substrate. The cap layer has a cavity overlying a substrate region at which the sensor resides. A port extends between the cavity and a side wall of the MEMS die and enables admittance of fluid into the cavity. Fabrication methodology entails providing a substrate structure having sensors formed thereon, providing a cap layer structure having inwardly extending cavities, and forming a channel between pairs of the cavities. The cap layer structure is coupled with the substrate structure and each channel is interposed between a pair of cavities. A singulation process produces a pair of sensor packages, each having a port formed by splitting the channel, where the port is exposed during singulation and extends between its respective cavity and side wall of the sensor package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad S. Dawson, Stephen R. Hooper, Fengyuan Li, Arvind S. Salian
  • Patent number: 9794661
    Abstract: A surface-mountable MEMS microphone comprising a MEMS microphone die and an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) mounted inside a surface-mountable package housing, and fully enclosed therein. The surface-mountable package is a single, self-contained housing that provides an electrical interface to external circuitry for the enclosed MEMS microphone die and the ASIC, and provides electrical, physical, and environmental protection for the MEMS microphone die and the ASIC. The surface-mountable package allows external acoustic energy to enter the package interior via one or more acoustic ports and impinge on the diaphragm of the MEMS microphone die. The cover of the surface-mountable package comprises an acoustic port with ingress protection to limit dust and particle intrusion. The ingress protection can be a formed member that is part of the cover of the surface-mountable package having various shapes, an internal shield, or a combination of both a formed member and internal shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Watson, Daniel Todd Grosse, Michael Robert Jacobs, William F. Schimpf, Ivelisse Del Valle Figueroa
  • Patent number: 9736590
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a microfabricated structure includes a cavity disposed in a substrate, a first clamping layer overlying the substrate, a deflectable membrane overlying the first clamping layer, and a second clamping layer overlying the deflectable membrane. A portion of the second clamping layer overlaps the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Klein, Reinhard Gabl
  • Patent number: 9736594
    Abstract: Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) electret acoustic sensors or microphones, devices, systems, and methods are described. Exemplary embodiments employ electret comprising an inorganic dielectric material such as silicon nitride in MEMS electret acoustic sensors or microphones. Provided implementations include variations in electret acoustic sensor or microphone configuration and recharging of the electret.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.
    Inventors: Aleksey S. Khenkin, Mike Daneman
  • Patent number: 9718669
    Abstract: A micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) pressure sensor includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a sensing structure. The second substrate is substantially parallel to the first substrate. The sensing structure is between the first substrate and the second substrate, and bonded to a portion of the first substrate and a portion of the second substrate, in which a first space between the first substrate and the sensing structure is communicated with outside, and a second space between the second substrate and the sensing structure is communicated with or isolated from the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tung-Tsun Chen, Chia-Hua Chu
  • Patent number: 9716199
    Abstract: A solar cell apparatus includes a substrate having a transmission area and a non-transmission area adjacent to the transmission area, a solar cell disposed at the non-transmission area on the substrate, and a lattice pattern disposed at the transmission area on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dong Keun Lee
  • Patent number: 9699538
    Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) microphone device is provided in the present disclosure. The MEMS microphone device includes a circuit board, an electromagnetic shielding cover mounted on the circuit board to define an accommodating space, electronic components received in the accommodating space and electrically connected to the circuit board, and a metal shielding member disposed between the electronic components and the electromagnetic shielding cover. The electromagnetic shielding cover has an inner surface and an outer surface; and at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface is provided with a first metal shielding layer. At least one of the electromagnetic shielding cover and the metal shielding member is electrically connected to the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: AAC ACOUSTIC TECHNOLOGIES (SHENZHEN) CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Guojun Liu, Peng Zeng, Zhijiang Wu
  • Patent number: 9671372
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for ascertaining an edge layer characteristic of a component (12), in particular a component (12) for an aircraft engine. In the method, a reference body (22) with a known edge layer characteristic is arranged on the surface of the component (12). An ultrasonic wave (18) is introduced into the surfaces of the component (12) and the reference object (22) by an ultrasonic transmitter (16). An ultrasonic wave (18) resulting from the exchange between the component (12) and the reference body (22) is detected by an ultrasonic detector (20), and an edge layer characteristic of the component (12) is ascertained by an ascertaining device (28) using a difference between the generated ultrasonic wave (18) and the resulting ultrasonic wave (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: MTU AERO ENGINES AG
    Inventors: Joachim Bamberg, Roland Hessert
  • Patent number: 9662679
    Abstract: In some examples, a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) apparatus includes one or more CMUTs formed on a CMUT substrate to have an operational direction facing away from the CMUT substrate. As one example, the one or more CMUTs may include a plurality of CMUT cells arranged in groups to form CMUT elements, and a plurality of the CMUT elements may be configured as an array on the CMUT substrate. An acoustic window is disposed over the one or more CMUTs and may contact an external medium. For instance, the acoustic window may be positioned to pass acoustic energy to or from the one or more CMUTs in the operational direction. A coupling medium may be disposed between the CMUTs and the acoustic window to couple acoustic energy between the one or more CMUTs and the acoustic window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: KOLO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Li Chen, Yongli Huang
  • Patent number: 9656853
    Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) chip package including a circuit substrate, a driving chip and a MEMS sensor is provided. The circuit substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite thereto. The driving chip is embedded within the circuit substrate and includes a first signal transmission electrode, a second signal transmission electrode and a third signal transmission electrode. The MEMS sensor is disposed on the first surface of the circuit substrate. The circuit substrate includes at least one first conductive wiring electrically connected with the first signal transmission electrode and at least one second conductive wiring electrically connected with the second signal transmission electrode. The first conductive wiring is merely exposed at the first surface and the second conductive wiring is merely exposed at the second surface. The MEMS sensor is electrically connected with the first signal transmission electrode through the first conductive wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Merry Electronics(Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jen-Yi Chen, Chao-Sen Chang, Chun-Chieh Wang, Yung-Shiang Chang
  • Patent number: 9646857
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a packaging process using a low pressure encapsulant. According to an exemplary process, an assembly including a substrate, a surface mounted device (SMD) mounted on the substrate, and a space between the SMD and the substrate is provided. The SMD has a sealed cavity biased towards the substrate. A sheet mold compound is laid over the SMD and the assembly is heated such that the sheet mold compound transitions to a liquid phase to form a molten mold compound. Next, the assembly is subjected to a vacuum that creates a negative atmosphere allowing the molten mold compound to flow towards the top surface of the substrate and about the SMD. The molten mold compound is then pressed towards the substrate at a low pressure (<=2 Mpa) such that the space between the SMD and the substrate is substantially filled and the SMD is substantially encapsulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Terry Glascock, Frank Juskey, Thomas Scott Morris, Charles E. Carpenter, Robert Hartmann
  • Patent number: 9633932
    Abstract: An electronic package structure includes a substrate having a plurality of conductive leads. A discharge hole is disposed to extend through the substrate. An electronic chip is electrically connected to the plurality of conductive leads. A case is connected to the substrate and defines a cavity between the substrate and an upper of the case. The discharge hole and the electronic chip are disposed within the cavity, and the discharge hole is open to the outside in the electronic package structure. The discharge hole is configured to discharge air pressure that forms during the assembly process thereby improving the reliability of the electronic package structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Amkor Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyoung Yeon Lee, Byong Jin Kim, Kyung Su Kim, Hyung Il Jeon, Jae Doo Kwon
  • Patent number: 9627349
    Abstract: A method for applying a bonding layer that is comprised of a basic layer and a protective layer on a substrate with the following method steps: application of an oxidizable basic material as a basic layer on a bonding side of the substrate, at least partial covering of the basic layer with a protective material that is at least partially dissolvable in the basic material as a protective layer. In addition, the invention relates to a corresponding substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: EV GROUP E. THALLNER GMBH
    Inventor: Markus Wimplinger
  • Patent number: 9617144
    Abstract: An integrated package of at least one environmental sensor and at least one MEMS acoustic sensor is disclosed. The package contains a shared port that exposes both sensors to the environment, wherein the environmental sensor measures characteristics of the environment and the acoustic sensor measures sound waves. The port exposes the environmental sensor to an air flow and the acoustic sensor to sound waves. An example of the acoustic sensor is a microphone and an example of the environmental sensor is a humidity sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.
    Inventors: Julius Ming-Lin Tsai, Baris Cagdaser, Martin Lim, Aleksey S. Khenkin
  • Patent number: 9607915
    Abstract: Method of making through-substrate-vias in glass substrates includes providing a first substrate on which a plurality of needles protruding vertically from the substrate are made; providing a second substrate made of glass; locating the substrates adjacent each other such that the needles on the first substrate face the second substrate; applying heat to a temperature where the glass softens, by heating the glass or the needle substrate or both; applying a force such that the needles on the first substrate penetrate into the glass to provide impressions in the glass; and finally, removing the first substrate and providing material filling the impressions in the second substrate made of glass. A device includes a silicon substrate having a cavity in which a MEMS component is accommodated, and a cap wafer made of a material having a low dielectric constant, and through substrate vias of metal, is bonded to the silicon substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SILEX MICROSYSTEMS AB
    Inventors: Ulf Erlesand, Edvard Kälvesten
  • Patent number: 9602073
    Abstract: A bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator structure includes a first electrode disposed over a substrate, a piezoelectric layer disposed over the first electrode, and a second electrode disposed over the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer includes undoped piezoelectric material and doped piezoelectric material, where the doped piezoelectric material is doped with at least one rare earth element, for improving piezoelectric properties of the piezoelectric layer and reducing compressive stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Grannen, John Choy
  • Patent number: 9573805
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a pressure sensor is provided. The method includes: providing a substrate, wherein a bottom electrode and a pressure sensing film are disposed on the substrate; forming an etch stop assembly on the pressure sensing film at a location corresponding to a pressure trench; forming a cover layer on the substrate covering the etch stop assembly and the pressure sensing film; forming a mask layer on the cover layer, wherein an opening of the mask layer is formed above the etch stop assembly and exposes a portion of the cover layer at the location corresponding to the pressure trench; etching the cover layer using the mask layer so as to form the pressure trench in the cover layer; removing the etch stop assembly at a bottom of the pressure trench; and removing the mask layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation
    Inventors: Guangcai Fu, Haiyong Ni
  • Patent number: 9554213
    Abstract: A micromechanical structure, comprising a substrate having a through hole; a residual portion of a sacrificial oxide layer peripheral to the hole; and a polysilicon layer overlying the hole, patterned to have a planar portion; a supporting portion connecting the planar portion to polysilicon on the residual portion; polysilicon stiffeners formed extending beneath the planar portion overlying the hole; and polysilicon ribs surrounding the supporting portion, attached near a periphery of the planar portion. The polysilicon ribs extend to a depth beyond the stiffeners, and extend laterally beyond an edge of the planar portion. The polysilicon ribs are released from the substrate during manufacturing after the planar region, and reduce stress on the supporting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York
    Inventors: Ronald N. Miles, Weili Cui
  • Patent number: 9520856
    Abstract: An acoustic resonator comprises a first electrode and second electrode comprising a plurality of sides. At least one of the sides of the second electrode comprises a cantilevered portion. A piezoelectric layer is disposed between the first and second electrodes. A bridge disposed adjacent to one of the sides of the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: John Choy, Chris Feng, Phil Nikkel
  • Patent number: 9520811
    Abstract: A Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer (CMUT) device includes at least one CMUT cell including a first substrate having a top side including a patterned dielectric layer thereon including a thick and a thin dielectric region. A membrane layer is bonded on the thick dielectric region and over the thin dielectric region to provide a movable membrane over a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) cavity. A through-substrate via (TSV) includes a dielectric liner which extends from a bottom side of the first substrate to a top surface of the membrane layer. A top side metal layer includes a first portion over the TSV, over the movable membrane, and coupling the TSV to the movable membrane. A patterned metal layer is on the bottom side surface of the first substrate including a first patterned layer portion contacting the bottom side of the first substrate lateral to the TSV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Peter B. Johnson, Ira Oaktree Wygant
  • Patent number: 9516424
    Abstract: A micromechanical sensor system combination, and a corresponding manufacturing method, includes an interposer chip including a first front side and a first back side which includes first electrical contacts on the first front side and second electrical contacts on the first back side, the interposer chip having first electrical vias which electrically connect the first electrical contacts to the second electrical contacts; as well as a micromechanical sensor chip system including a second front side a second back side including at least one first sensor device and a second sensor device which are laterally adjacent, the first front side being attached on the second front side so that the first sensor device and the second sensor device are electrically and mechanically connected to the first electrical contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Schelling, Rolf Scheben, Ricardo Ehrenpfordt
  • Patent number: 9510109
    Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) microphone device is provided in the present disclosure. The MEMS microphone device includes a first electromagnetic shielding cover defining a first accommodating space; a second electromagnetic shielding cover received in the first accommodating space and defining a second accommodating space; a MEMS chip and an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip received in the second accommodating space. The first electromagnetic shielding cover and the second electromagnetic shielding cover cooperatively provide dual electromagnetic shielding protection for the MEMS chip and the ASIC chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: AAC Acoustic Technologies (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Guojun Liu, Peng Zeng, Zhijiang Wu
  • Patent number: 9481569
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for manufacturing a CMOS-MEMS device (100). A partial protective layer (401) is deposited on a top surface of a layered structure to cover a circuit region. A first partial etch is performed from the bottom side of the layered structure to form a first gap (501) below a MEMS membrane (207) within a MEMS region of the layered structure. A second partial etch is performed from the top side of the layered structure to remove a portion of a sacrificial layer between the MEMS membrane and a MEMS backplate (215) within the MEMS region. The second partial etch releases the MEMS membrane so that it can move in response to pressures. The deposited partial protective layer prevents the second partial etch from etching a portion of the sacrificial layer positioned within the circuit region of the layered structure and also prevents the second partial etch from damaging the CMOS circuit component (211).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: John Zinn, Brett Diamond, Jochen Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 9468994
    Abstract: A sensor unit is provided with a sensor device. The sensor device has a first electrode disposed on an outer surface. A board is provided with a first surface and a second surface in an obverse-reverse relationship with each other, and a side surface. A first conductive terminal is disposed along a contour of the first surface. The sensor device has the outer surface disposed along the side surface of the board, and has the first electrode connected to the first conductive terminal with a first conductive body, and a first projection length of the outer surface projecting on the first surface side is smaller than a second projection length of the outer surface projecting on the second surface side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Kinoshita, Yoshihiro Kobayashi, Yoshikuni Saito, Masayasu Sakuma
  • Patent number: 9462389
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an anti-impact silicon based MEMS microphone, a system and a package with the same, the microphone comprises: a silicon substrate provided with a back hole therein; a compliant diaphragm supported on the silicon substrate and disposed above the back hole thereof; a perforated backplate disposed above the diaphragm with an air gap sandwiched in between, and further provided with one or more first thorough holes therein; and a stopper mechanism, including one or more T-shaped stoppers corresponding to the one or more first thorough holes, each of which has a lower part passing through its corresponding first thorough hole and connecting to the diaphragm and an upper part being apart from the perforated backplate and free to vertically move, wherein the diaphragm and the perforated backplate are used to form electrode plates of a variable condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GOERTEK INC.
    Inventor: Zhe Wang
  • Patent number: 9438202
    Abstract: An acoustic structure, comprising at least one acoustic resonator exhibiting at least one resonant frequency in a band of operating frequencies and an integrated capacitor, further comprises: a stack of layers, comprising at least one active layer of piezoelectric material or of ferroelectric material; the resonator being frequency tunable and being produced by a first subset of layers of the stack comprising the at least one active layer and at least two electrodes; the integrated capacitor being produced by a second subset of layers comprising the active layer and at least two electrodes; the first and second subsets of layers being distinguished by a modification of layers so as to exhibit different resonant frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Commissariat A L'energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Alexandre Reinhardt, Julie Abergel, Jean-Baptiste David
  • Patent number: 9426581
    Abstract: A top port microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) microphone is presented herein. A device can include a substrate and a MEMS acoustic sensor mechanically attached to the substrate utilizing anchors. Spaces between the anchors can connect a first back volume corresponding to a bottom portion of the MEMS acoustic sensor with a second back volume to form a combined back volume. An acoustic seal can be placed on the MEMS acoustic sensor, and an enclosure placed on the acoustic seal and secured to the substrate. The acoustic seal can isolate a first portion of the enclosure corresponding to a front volume from a second portion of the enclosure corresponding to the combined back volume. The first portion of the enclosure can include an opening adapted to receive acoustic waves into the front volume, and the front volume can be acoustically coupled to a top portion of the MEMS acoustic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.
    Inventors: Aleksey S. Khenkin, Anthony D. Minervini
  • Patent number: 9420380
    Abstract: An acoustic transducer has a substrate having an opening in an upper surface thereof, a vibration electrode plate disposed above the substrate, and having an outer edge thereof facing the upper surface of the substrate with a gap therebetween, a fixed electrode plate facing the vibration electrode plate, and a plurality of projections protruding on a lower surface of the outer edge of the vibration electrode plate. The vibration electrode plate covers an upper side of the opening. The plurality of projections are disposed so as to not be positioned along a straight line or a curved line parallel to an edge of the opening in at least a part of one or at least two arrays formed on the lower surface of the outer edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Inoue, Takashi Kasai
  • Patent number: 9401337
    Abstract: Apparatus, and methods of manufacture thereof, in which a molding compound is formed between spaced apart microelectronic devices. The molding compound comprises micro-filler elements. No boundary of any of the micro-filler elements is substantially parallel to a substantially planar surface of the molding compound, or to a substantially planar surface of any of the microelectronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chen-Hua Yu, Chung-Shi Liu, Chih-Fan Huang, Chih-Wei Lin, Wei-Hung Lin, Ming-Da Cheng
  • Patent number: 9380377
    Abstract: The present invention provides a directional MEMS microphone and a receiver device wherein MEMS microphone comprises a microphone cover, a printed circuit board (PCB), a application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip, a MEMS die, a diaphragm, a damping, a metal wire(s), at least two internal acoustic ports and at least two external acoustic ports corresponding to the internal acoustic ports. The microphone further comprises a tuning cavity which includes a first tuning cavity by which a first internal acoustic port is communicated with a first external acoustic port, or by which a second internal acoustic port is communicated with a second external acoustic port. Compared with the prior art, the directional MEMS microphone including the tuning cavity to form a sound transmission channel by connecting the internal acoustic port and the external acoustic port expands the sound transmission distance, thereby increasing the sensitivity the directivity of the MEMS microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: SHANDONG GETTOP ACOUSTIC CO., LTD
    Inventor: Wan Jingming
  • Patent number: 9359192
    Abstract: The various embodiments described herein provide microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensor devices and methods of forming the same. In general, the embodiments provide MEMS sensor devices formed with two semiconductor die that are bonded together. Specifically, a sensor die includes at least one MEMS sensor fabricated thereon, such as MEMS gyroscope or MEMS accelerometer. A control-circuit die includes at least one integrated MEMS control circuit formed on an active area of the die. The control-circuit die is bonded to the sensor die with the active area and the integrated MEMS control circuits on the exterior side. The bonding defines and seals a cavity between the two die that encompasses the MEMS sensor and can be used to seal the MEMS sensor in a vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Philip H. Bowles, Mamur Chowdhury, Vijay Sarihan
  • Patent number: 9351082
    Abstract: A capacitance-type transducer has a back plate having a fixed electrode, a diaphragm that opposes the back plate via an air gap and serves as a movable electrode, and at least first stoppers having a first projection length and second stoppers having a second projection length that project from at least one of a surface of the back plate on the air gap side and a surface of the diaphragm on the air gap side. At least one of the diaphragm and the fixed electrode is divided into at least a first region having a first surface area and a second region having a second surface area, a first sensing portion made up of the diaphragm and the fixed electrode is constituted in the first region, and a second sensing portion made up of the diaphragm and the fixed electrode is constituted in the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Okugawa
  • Patent number: 9346668
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a molded cavity substrate Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) package may comprise a MEMS electronic component, a base substrate comprising a first conductive through via, a molded ring coupled to the base substrate, and a lid substrate comprising dielectric material and a metal layer. The molded ring comprises a second conductive through via and a molded cavity, and the MEMS electronic component is located within the molded cavity. The base substrate may comprise a laminate substrate. The lid substrate may comprise a cavity port. A base assembly mounting adhesive may couple an inner surface of the lid to a principal surface of the molded ring. The dielectric material may comprise mold material. The molded ring may comprise mold compound adherent to an outer region of an inner surface of the base substrate with a central region of the base substrate exposed by the molded ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Amkor Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahmoud Dreiza, Andrew Ballantine, Russell Scott Shumway
  • Patent number: 9309105
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a sensor structure is provided. The sensor structure may include a first conductive layer; an electrode element; and a second conductive layer arranged on an opposite side of the electrode element from the first conductive layer. The first conductive layer and the second conductive layer may form a chamber. The pressure in the chamber may be lower than the pressure outside of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Alfons Dehe, Roland Helm
  • Patent number: 9272901
    Abstract: Disclosed is a MEMS device having lower, upper and release chambers with a similar pressure and/or a similar gaseous chemistry. The MEMS device includes a top MEMS plate and a bottom MEMS plate. The MEMS device also includes a lower chamber between the bottom MEMS plate and the top MEMS plate, and an upper chamber between the top MEMS plate and a first sealing layer. The MEMS device further includes a release chamber between the top MEMS plate and a second sealing layer, the release chamber allowing gaseous content of the upper and/or the lower chambers to be released. Also disclosed is a double release method for releasing gaseous content of the upper and/or the lower chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Newport Fab, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. DeBar, David J. Howard
  • Patent number: 9255000
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first dielectric layer located above the substrate, a moving-gate transducer, and a proof mass. The moving-gate transducer is at least partially formed within the substrate and is at least partially formed within the first dielectric layer. The proof mass includes a portion of the first dielectric layer and a portion of a silicon layer. The silicon layer is located above the first dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ando Lars Feyh, Po-Jui Chen, Markus Ulm
  • Patent number: 9237402
    Abstract: The claim invention is directed at a MEMS microphone die fabricated using CMOS-based technologies. In particular, the claims are directed at various aspects of a MEMS microphone die having anisotropic springs, a backplate, a diaphragm, mechanical stops, and a support structure, all of which are fabricated as stacked metallic layers separated by vias using CMOS fabrication technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics LLC
    Inventor: Peter V. Loeppert
  • Patent number: 9227842
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a MEMS device includes depositing and patterning a first sacrificial layer onto a silicon substrate, the first sacrificial layer being partially removed leaving a first remaining oxide. Further, the method includes depositing a conductive structure layer onto the silicon substrate, the conductive structure layer making physical contact with at least a portion of the silicon substrate. Further, a second sacrificial layer is formed on top of the conductive structure layer. Patterning and etching of the silicon substrate is performed stopping at the second sacrificial layer. Additionally, the MEMS substrate is bonded to a CMOS wafer, the CMOS wafer having formed thereupon a metal layer. An electrical connection is formed between the MEMS substrate and the metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Julian Daneman, Mei-Lin Chan, Martin Lim, Fariboz Assaderaghi, Erhan Polatkan Ata
  • Patent number: 9221077
    Abstract: In some implementations, a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) apparatus includes one or more CMUTs or CMUT arrays, an acoustic window, a coupling medium, and a packaging substrate. The acoustic window may have various configurations, such as for reducing acoustic reflectance or increasing mechanical properties. In some examples, at least one of the CMUTs, the acoustic window or the coupling medium may include a focusing capability for focusing acoustic energy to or from the CMUT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Kolo Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Li Chen, Yongli Huang
  • Patent number: 9216897
    Abstract: A MEMS device includes a dual membrane, an electrode, and an interconnecting structure. The dual membrane has a top membrane and a bottom membrane. The bottom membrane is positioned between the top membrane and the electrode and the interconnecting structure defines a spacing between the top membrane and the bottom membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.
    Inventors: Mei-Lin Chan, Xiang Li, Martin Lim
  • Patent number: 9212046
    Abstract: A MEMS microphone. The microphone includes a backplate, a membrane, and a plurality of antennas. The backplate has a plurality of acoustic apertures. The membrane is parallel to the backplate and is positioned a distance from the backplate. The plurality of antennas are connected to the membrane and extend toward the backplate. In addition, the plurality of antennas are positioned entirely within spaces defined by the plurality of acoustic apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: John W. Zinn
  • Patent number: 9193581
    Abstract: An MEMS microphone package structure includes a substrate, a carrier and an acoustic transducer. The carrier covers the substrate from above and connects to the substrate. The carrier has an n-shaped cross section and includes a flat plate portion, a sidewall connected to the flat plate portion, and two oblique blocks protruded from the inner surface of the sidewall. The oblique blocks each have an inclined surface for connecting the flat plate portion and the bottom surface of the sidewall. The acoustic transducer is posited on the bottom surface of the flat plate portion and electrically connected to the substrate through a plurality of electrical conduction paths passing through the inclined surfaces. The electrical conduction paths are conducive to simplification of wirings of the substrate and the thinning of the substrate. Therefore, simplify the manufacturing process to reduce the manufacturing time and cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Merry Electronics (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-Sen Chang, Yong-Shiang Chang, Jen-Yi Chen, Chun-Chieh Wang
  • Patent number: 9181086
    Abstract: A micromechanical structure, comprising a substrate having a through hole; a residual portion of a sacrificial oxide layer peripheral to the hole; and a polysilicon layer overlying the hole, patterned to have a planar portion; a supporting portion connecting the planar portion to polysilicon on the residual portion; polysilicon stiffeners formed extending beneath the planar portion overlying the hole; and polysilicon ribs surrounding the supporting portion, attached near a periphery of the planar portion. The polysilicon ribs extend to a depth beyond the stiffeners, and extend laterally beyond an edge of the planar portion. The polysilicon ribs are released from the substrate during manufacturing after the planar region, and reduce stress on the supporting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York
    Inventors: Ronald N. Miles, Weili Cui
  • Patent number: 9180489
    Abstract: When the initial displacement greatly varies among cells in an element, there is a need to reduce a bias voltage to be applied between electrodes. This decreases the sensitivity. An electromechanical transducer of the present invention includes an element having a plurality of cells. Each of the cells includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are provided with a cavity being disposed therebetween. A groove is provided at a position at a predetermined distance from the cavity of the cell on the outermost periphery of the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Zaitsu, Takehiko Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 9156675
    Abstract: A micromechanical component includes a substrate having a cavern structured into the same, an at least partially conductive diaphragm, which at least partially spans the cavern, and a counter electrode, which is situated on an outer side of the diaphragm oriented away from the substrate so that a clearance is present between the counter electrode and the at least partially conductive diaphragm, the at least partially conductive diaphragm being spanned onto or over at least one electrically insulating material which at least partially covers the functional top side of the substrate, and at least one pressure access being formed on the cavern so that the at least partially conductive diaphragm is bendable into the clearance when a gaseous medium flows from an outer surroundings of the micromechanical component into the cavern. Also described is a manufacturing method for a micromechanical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Arnd Kaelberer, Jochen Reinmuth, Johannes Classen
  • Patent number: 9136139
    Abstract: A jig includes a wafer including an accommodation groove configured to accommodate a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (cMUT) when flip chip bonding is performed, and a separation groove formed in a bottom surface of the accommodation groove, the separation groove having a bottom surface that is spaced apart from thin films of the cMUT that face the bottom surface of the separation groove when the cMUT is seated on portions of the bottom surface of the accommodation groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Kyungpook National University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Young Il Kim, Bae Hyung Kim, Jong Keun Song, Seung Heun Lee, Kyung Il Cho, Yong Rae Roh, Won Seok Lee