Controllable By Variation Of Applied Mechanical Force (e.g., Of Pressure) (epo) Patents (Class 257/E29.324)
-
Patent number: 12023576Abstract: A video game controller includes a body having a shape that resembles a guitar body, a neck and a headstock, the neck extending between the body and the headstock. The neck has fret buttons or action buttons on one side of the neck and has a thumbstick on an opposite side of the neck proximate at least one of the fret buttons or action buttons to allow a user to operate the fret buttons or action buttons and thumbstick simultaneously with the same hand.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2023Date of Patent: July 2, 2024Assignee: Performance Designed Products LLCInventors: Nicholas John Tondee, Storm Orion, Thomas John Roberts, Trevor Thomas Lehr
-
Patent number: 11993510Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) structure including a composite spring. A first substrate underlies a second substrate. A third substrate overlies the second substrate. The first, second, and third substrates at least partially define a cavity. The second substrate comprises a moveable mass in the cavity and between the first and third substrates. The composite spring extends from a peripheral region of the second substrate to the moveable mass. The composite spring is configured to suspend the moveable mass in the cavity. The composite spring includes a first spring layer comprising a first crystal orientation, and a second spring layer comprising a second crystal orientation different than the first crystal orientation.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2022Date of Patent: May 28, 2024Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kuei-Sung Chang, Shang-Ying Tsai, Wei-Jhih Mao
-
Patent number: 11863934Abstract: The present invention provides a MEMS microphone, including a substrate and a capacitive structure. The capacitive structure includes a back plate and a vibration diaphragm. The vibration diaphragm includes a main body and a plurality of supporting structures for supporting the main body. Each supporting structure includes a supporting beam and two spring structures. Each spring structure includes at least two beam arms extending along the extension direction of the peripheral edge of the main body, and the beam arm closest to the main body is spaced apart from the main body. The sensitivity of the MEMS microphone in the present invention is higher.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2022Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: AAC KAITAI TECHNOLOGIES (WUHAN) CO., LTDInventors: Bei Tong, Rui Zhang
-
Patent number: 11652499Abstract: A radio frequency module includes: a first terminal to which a signal of a first frequency band is inputted, the first frequency band being at least a portion of an unlicensed band higher than or equal to 5 GHz; a second terminal to which a signal of a second frequency band is inputted, the second frequency band being at least a portion of a licensed band lower than 5 GHz; a first amplifier configured to amplify a signal of the first frequency band inputted to the first terminal; and a second amplifier configured to amplify a signal of the second frequency band inputted to the second terminal. In the radio frequency module, the first amplifier and the second amplifier are disposed in one package.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2021Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Hidenori Obiya, Hirotsugu Mori
-
Patent number: 11555998Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a mirror assembly for controlling optical directions in an optical sensing system. The mirror assembly may include a substrate and a micro mirror suspended over the substrate by at least one beam. The at least one beam may be mechanically coupled to the substrate. The mirror assembly may also include an actuator configured to tilt the micro mirror with respect to the substrate. The mirror assembly may further include a position sensor configured to detect a position of the micro mirror. Moreover, the mirror assembly may include a bias voltage source electrically coupled to the substrate to bias the substrate with a bias voltage.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2020Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: BEIJING VOYAGER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Sergio Almeida, Zuow-Zun Chen, Youmin Wang
-
Patent number: 10759657Abstract: A method is provided for protecting a MEMS unit against infrared investigations, at least one layer being built into the structure of the MEMS unit or at least one layer being applied on a surface of the MEMS unit. The at least one layer absorbs, reflects or diffusely scatters more than 50%, in particular more than 90% of an infrared light incident upon it.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2018Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Michael Curcic, Oliver Willers, Sven Zinober, Ulrich Kunz
-
Patent number: 10067010Abstract: A strain detector includes a strain-causing portion, an insulation film formed on the strain-causing portion, a strain gauge formed on the insulation film and configured to detect the strain generated by the strain-causing portion as electric signals, an electrode connected to the strain gauge, a bonding pad extending from the electrode, a bonding wire connected to the bonding pad, and an insulative resin layer covering the strain gauge without covering the bonding pad and the bonding wire.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2017Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: NAGANO KEIKI CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi Kodama, Eiji Takeda, Takamitsu Yoshizawa
-
Patent number: 9983716Abstract: An electronic device may have a housing in which components such as a display are mounted. A strain gauge may be mounted on a layer of the display such as a cover layer or may be mounted on a portion of the housing or other support structure. The layer of material on which the strain gauge is mounted may be configured to flex in response to pressure applied by a finger of a user. The strain gauge may serve as a button for the electronic device or may form part of other input circuitry. A differential amplifier and analog-to-digital converter circuit may be used to gather and process strain gauge signals. The strain gauge may be formed form variable resistor structures that make up part of a bridge circuit that is coupled to the differential amplifier. The bridge circuit may be configured to reduce the impact of capacitively coupled noise.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2017Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Bingrui Yang, Martin P. Grunthaner, Steven P. Hotelling
-
Patent number: 9643836Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a pressure sensor, comprising the following steps: assembling a support substrate with a deformable membrane on which strain gauges have been deposited, wherein the deformable membrane comprises a thinned area at the center thereof, the support substrate is disposed on top of the deformable membrane, the support substrate comprises an upper surface and a lower surface in contact with the deformable membrane, and the support substrate also comprises lateral recesses arranged on top of the strain gauges and a central recess arranged on top of the thinned area of the membrane, so as to obtain a micromechanical structure; and, once the assembly has been obtained, depositing, in a single step, at least one conductive material on the upper surface of the support and in the lateral recesses of the support, said conductive material extending into the recesses in order to be in contact with the strain gauges so as to form electrical contacts in contact with the strain gaType: GrantFiled: March 6, 2013Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignees: AUXITROL S.A., CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE (CNRS)Inventors: Sebastiano Brida, Jean-Francois Le Neal
-
Patent number: 9246050Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a substrate for a light emitting diode including a convex section forming step and a crystallization/crystallizing step. According to the method and the substrate for the light emitting diode, light extraction is significantly improved and nano to micron sized pattern, economically formed.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2013Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: HUNETPLUS CO., LTD.Inventors: Hyuk-Jin Cha, Heon Lee, Eun-Seo Choi
-
Patent number: 9041082Abstract: An integrated circuit and method for forming an integrated circuit. There are at least three field-effect transistors with at least two of the field-effect transistors having the same electrically insulating material which is ferroelectric when unstrained or is capable of being ferroelectric when strain is induced. It is optional for the third field-effect transistor to have an electrically insulating material which is ferroelectric when unstrained or is capable of being ferroelectric when strain is induced. The at least three field-effect transistors are strained to varying amounts so that each of the three field-effect transistors has a threshold voltage, Vt, which is different from the Vt of the two other field-effect transistors.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2010Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, Centre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueInventors: Catherine Anne Dubourdieu, Martin Michael Frank, Vijay Narayanan
-
Patent number: 9040352Abstract: A semiconductor device package having a cavity formed using film-assisted molding techniques is provided. Through the use of such techniques the cavity can be formed in specific locations in the molded package, such as on top of a device die mounted on the package substrate or a lead frame. In order to overcome cavity wall angular limitations introduced by conformability issues associated with film-assisted molding, a gel reservoir feature is formed so that gel used to protect components in the cavity does not come in contact with a lid covering the cavity or the junction between the lid and the package attachment region. The gel reservoir is used in conjunction with a formed level setting feature that controls the height of gel in the cavity. Benefits include decreased volume of the cavity, thereby decreasing an amount of gel-fill needed and thus reducing production cost of the package.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2012Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.Inventors: Shun Meen Kuo, Li Li
-
Patent number: 9035451Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a plurality of MEMs device having a plurality of cavities with different pressures on a wafer package system, and an associated apparatus. In some embodiments, the method is performed by providing a work-piece having a plurality of microelectromechanical system (MEMs) devices. A cap wafer is bonded onto the work-piece in a first ambient environment having a first pressure. The bonding forms a plurality of cavities abutting the plurality of MEMs devices, which are held at the first pressure. One or more openings are formed in one or more of the plurality of cavities leading to a gas flow path that could be held at a pressure level different from the first pressure. The one or more openings in the one or more of the plurality of cavities are then sealed in a different ambient environment having a different pressure, thereby causing the one or more of the plurality of cavities to be held at the different pressure.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2013Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yu-Chia Liu, Chia-Hua Chu, Kuei-Sung Chang, Chun-Wen Cheng
-
Patent number: 9029179Abstract: A method for producing a MEMS device having improved charge elimination characteristics includes providing a substrate having one or more layers, and applying a first charge elimination layer onto at least one portion of one given layer of the substrate. The method may then (1) apply a sacrificial layer onto the first charge elimination layer, (2) apply a second charge elimination layer onto at least a portion of the sacrificial layer, and (3) deposit a movable layer onto at least a portion of the second charge elimination layer. To form a structure within the movable layer the method may etch the movable layer. The method may then etch the sacrificial layer to release the structure.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2012Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.Inventors: Fang Liu, Kuang L. Yang
-
Patent number: 9018030Abstract: A transparent force sensor for use in touch panel displays (touch screens) and method for fabricating the same are disclosed. The transparent force sensor is capable of detecting touch by measuring local pressure applied by a touch input to a display area of the touch screen.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2010Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Hao Li, Papu Maniar, Yi Wei
-
Patent number: 9013011Abstract: A staggered die MEMS package includes a substrate having a converter cavity formed therein. A converter electronic component is mounted within the converter cavity. Further, a MEMS electronic component is mounted to both the substrate and the converter electronic component in a staggered die arrangement. By staggering the MEMS electronic component directly on the converter electronic component instead of locating the MEMS electronic component in a side by side arrangement with the converter electronic component, the total package width of the staggered die MEMS package is minimized. Further, by locating the converter electronic component within the converter cavity and staggering the MEMS electronic component directly on the converter electronic component, the total package height, sometimes called Z-height, of the staggered die MEMS package is minimized.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2011Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Amkor Technology, Inc.Inventors: Bob Shih-Wei Kuo, Brett Arnold Dunlap, Louis B. Troche, Jr., Ahmer Syed, Russell Shumway
-
Patent number: 9006844Abstract: A method to prevent movable structures within a MEMS device, and more specifically, in recesses having one or more dimension in the micrometer range or smaller (i.e., smaller than about 10 microns) from being inadvertently bonded to non-moving structures during a bonding process. The method includes surface preparation of silicon both structurally and chemically to aid in preventing moving structures from bonding to adjacent surfaces during bonding, including during high force, high temperature fusion bonding.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2011Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: DunAn Microstaq, Inc.Inventor: Parthiban Arunasalam
-
Patent number: 9006016Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for fabricating piezoresistive polysilicon on a substrate by low-temperature metal induced crystallization by: (1) providing the substrate having a passivation layer; (2) performing, at or near room temperature in a chamber without breaking a vacuum or near-vacuum within the chamber, the steps of: (a) creating a metal layer on the passivation layer, and (b) creating an amorphous silicon layer on the metal layer, wherein the metal layer and the amorphous silicon layer have approximately the same thickness; (3) annealing the substrate, the passivation layer, the metal layer and the amorphous silicon layer at a temperature equal to or less than 600° C. and a period of time equal to or less than three hours to form a doped polysilicon layer below a residual metal layer; and (4) removing the residual metal layer to expose the doped polysilicon layer.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2013Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas SystemInventors: Zeynep Celik-Butler, Suraj K. Patil, Donald Philip Butler
-
Patent number: 8981498Abstract: An electronic MEMS device is formed by a chip having with a main face and bonded to a support via an adhesive layer. A cavity extends inside the chip from its main face and is closed by a flexible film covering the main face of the chip at least in the area of the cavity. The support has a depressed portion facing the cavity and delimited by a protruding portion facing the main face of the chip. Inside the depressed portion, the adhesive layer has a greater thickness than the projecting portion so as to be able to absorb any swelling of the flexible film as a result of the expansion of the gas contained inside the cavity during thermal processes.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2012Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventor: Federico Giovanni Ziglioli
-
Patent number: 8982440Abstract: MEMS and fabrication techniques for positioning the center of mass of released structures in MEMS are provided. A MEMS device includes a substrate and a released structure connected to the substrate via a flexure. The released structure includes a frame rotatable with respect to the substrate, and an elongate first member having a longitudinal axis extending perpendicularly from an undersurface of the frame and a free end remote from the frame. A recess is formed in an end face of the free end. The recess has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first member and a transverse area smaller than an area of the end face.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2011Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: CALIENT Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Chris Seung Bok Lee
-
Patent number: 8981501Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device is disclosed. Provided is a substrate having at least one MOS device, at least one metal interconnection and at least one MOS device formed on a first surface thereof. A first anisotropic etching process is performed to remove a portion of the substrate from a second surface of the substrate and thereby form a plurality of vias in the substrate, wherein the second surface is opposite to the first surface. A second anisotropic etching process is performed to remove another portion of the substrate from the second surface of the substrate and thereby form a cavity in the substrate, wherein the remaining vias are located below the cavity. An isotropic etching process is performed to the cavity and the remaining vias.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2013Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.Inventors: Meng-Jia Lin, Chang-Sheng Hsu, Kuo-Hsiung Huang, Wei-Hua Fang, Shou-Wei Hsieh, Te-Yuan Wu, Chia-Huei Lin
-
Patent number: 8975107Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes oxidizing a substrate to form local oxide regions that extend above a top surface of the substrate. A membrane layer is formed over the local oxide regions and the top surface of the substrate. A portion of the substrate under the membrane layer is removed. The local oxide regions under the membrane layer is removed.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2011Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Infineon Techologies AGInventors: Alfons Dehe, Stefan Barzen, Wolfgang Friza, Wolfgang Klein
-
Patent number: 8975671Abstract: A semiconductor component is provided with a semiconductor substrate, in the upper face of which an active region made of a material of a first conductivity type is introduced by ion implantation. A semiconducting channel region having a defined length and width is designed within the active region. Each of the ends of the channel region located in the longitudinal extension is followed by a contacting region made of a semiconductor material of a second conductivity type. The channel region is covered by an ion implantation masking material, which comprises transverse edges defining the length of the channel region and longitudinal edges defining the width of the channel region and which comprises an edge recess at each of the opposing transverse edges aligned with the longitudinal extension ends of the channel region, the contacting regions that adjoin the channel region extending all the way into said edge recess.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2011Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: ELMOS Semiconductor AGInventor: Arnd Ten Have
-
Patent number: 8975669Abstract: A micromechanical sensor apparatus has a movable gate and a field effect transistor. The field effect transistor has a drain region, a source region, an intermediate channel region with a first doping type, and a movable gate which is separated from the channel region by an intermediate space. The drain region, the source region, and the channel region are arranged in a substrate. A guard region is provided in the substrate at least on the longitudinal sides of the channel region and has a second doping type which is the same as the first doping type and has a higher doping concentration.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2013Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Oleg Jakovlev, Alexander Buhmann, Ando Feyh
-
Patent number: 8975714Abstract: A capacitive pressure sensor includes: a semiconductor substrate having a reference pressure chamber formed therein; a diaphragm which is formed in a front surface of the semiconductor substrate and has a ring-like peripheral through hole penetrating between the front surface of the semiconductor substrate and the reference pressure chamber and defining an upper electrode and a plurality of central through holes; a peripheral insulating layer which fills the peripheral through hole and electrically isolates the upper electrode from other portions of the semiconductor substrate; and a central insulating layer which fills the central through holes.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2013Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.Inventor: Goro Nakatani
-
Patent number: 8969978Abstract: A pressure sensor system comprising a pressure sensor chip is disclosed. The pressure sensor chip comprises a sensing side where pressure sensing is performed and one or more interconnections where electrical connections are made at the other side of the chip. The pressure sensor comprising an integrated circuit (1) forming a substrate, the substrate comprising a membrane shaped portion adapted for being exposed to the pressure, the integrated circuit (1) comprising both pressure signal sensing components and pressure signal processing components.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Melexis Technologies NVInventors: Laurent Otte, Appolonius Jacobus Van Der Wiel
-
Patent number: 8969977Abstract: The invention provides a flow sensor structure for sealing the surface of an electric control circuit and a part of a semiconductor device via a manufacturing method capable of preventing occurrence of flash or chip crack when clamping the semiconductor device via a mold. The invention provides a flow sensor structure comprising a semiconductor device having an air flow sensing unit and a diaphragm formed thereto, and a board or a lead frame having an electric control circuit for controlling the semiconductor device disposed thereto, wherein a surface of the electric control circuit and a part of a surface of the semiconductor device is covered with resin while having the air flow sensing unit portion exposed.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2010Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Tsutomu Kono, Yuuki Okamoto, Takeshi Morino, Keiji Hanzawa
-
Patent number: 8963262Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to fabrication steps, and operation principles for microelectromechanical (MEMS) transducers. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a texture morphing device. The texture morphing device includes: a plurality of supports arranged on a substrate to support a deformable mirror; an ITO layer; and a Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) layer. A pair of adjacent supports form a cavity with the ITO layer and the deformable mirror. When the height of the cavity changes responsive to an external pressure, the internal reflection within the cavity is changed. The change in the height of the cavity causes the exterior texture to morph. Similar principles are disclosed for constructing sensor and actuators.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2010Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Massachusettes Institute of TechnologyInventors: Vladimir Bulovic, Corinne E. Packard, Vanessa C. Wood, Apoorva Murarka, Gleb Akselrod
-
Patent number: 8963120Abstract: An optoelectronic semiconductor component includes a semiconductor layer sequence having at least one active layer, and a photonic crystal that couples radiation having a peak wavelength out of or into the semiconductor layer sequence, wherein the photonic crystal is at a distance from the active layer and formed by superimposition of at least two lattices having mutually different reciprocal lattice constants normalized to the peak wavelength.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2010Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignees: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH, The University Court of the University of St. AndrewsInventors: Krister Bergenek, Christopher Wiesmann, Thomas F. Krauss
-
Patent number: 8955212Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical microphone and manufacturing method thereof are provided. The micro-electro-mechanical microphone includes a diaphragm, which is formed on a surface of one side of a semiconductor substrate, exposed to the outside surroundings, and can vibrate freely under the pressure generated by sound waves; an electrode plate with air holes, which is under the diaphragm; an isolation structure for fixing the diaphragm and the electrode plate; an air gap cavity between the diaphragm and the electrode plate, and a back cavity under the electrode plate and in the semiconductor substrate; and a second cavity formed on the surface of the same side of the semiconductor substrate and in an open manner The air gap cavity is connected with the back cavity through the air holes of the electrode plate The back cavity is connected with the second cavity through an air groove formed in the semiconductor substrate.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2011Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Lexvu Opto Microelectronics Technology (Shanghai) LtdInventors: Jianhong Mao, Deming Tang
-
Patent number: 8957485Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein generally disclose novel alternative methods that can be employed to overcome the gradient stress formed in refractory materials to be used for thin film MEMS cantilever switches. The use of a ‘split layer’ cantilever fabrication method, as described herein enables thin film MEMS cantilever switches to be fabricated resulting in low operating voltage devices while maintaining the mechanical rigidity of the landing portion of the final fabricated cantilever switch.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2009Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Cavendish Kinetics, Ltd.Inventor: Joseph Damian Gordon Lacey
-
Patent number: 8952468Abstract: In an acoustic sensor, a conductive vibrating membrane and a fixed electrode plate are disposed above a silicon substrate with an air gap provided therebetween, and the substrate has an impurity added to a surface thereof. A microphone includes an acoustic transducer; and an acquiring section that acquires a change in pressure as detected by the acoustic transducer. A method for manufacturing an acoustic transducer including a semiconductor substrate, a vibrating membrane, which is conductive, and a fixed electrode plate and detecting a pressure according to a change in capacitance between the vibrating membrane and the fixed electrode plate, the method includes an impurity adding step of adding an impurity to a surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a forming step of forming the vibrating membrane and the fixed electrode plate above the semiconductor substrate to which the impurity has been added.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2011Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignees: OMRON Corporation, STMicroelectronics SrlInventors: Koichi Ishimoto, Yoshitaka Tatara, Shin Inuzuka, Sebastiano Conti
-
Patent number: 8952463Abstract: A MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical-System) structure preventing stiction, comprising: a substrate; and at least two structural layers above the substrate, wherein at least one of the at least two structural layers is a movable part, and anyone or more of the at least two structural layers is provided with at least one bump to prevent the movable part from sticking to another portion of the MEMS structure.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2010Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Pixart Imaging IncorporationInventors: Chuan-Wei Wang, Sheng-Ta Lee, Hsin-Hui Hsu
-
Patent number: 8941194Abstract: A pressure sensor device is assembled by forming cavities on a surface of a metal sheet and then forming an electrically conductive pattern having traces and bumps over the cavities. An insulating layer is formed on top of the pattern and then processed to form exposed areas and die attach areas on the surface of the metal sheet. The exposed areas are plated with a conductive metal and then electrically connected to respective ones of the bumps. A gel is dispensed on the die attach areas and sensor dies are attached to respective die attach areas. One or more additional semiconductor dies are attached to the insulating layer and bond pads of these dies are electrically connected to the exposed plated areas. A molding compound is dispensed such that it covers the sensor die and the additional dies. The metal sheet is removed to expose outer surfaces of the bumps.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2013Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Wai Yew Lo, Fui Yee Lim
-
Patent number: 8941229Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a base substrate made of silicon, a cap substrate and a leading electrode having a metal part. The base substrate has base semiconductor regions being insulated and separated from each other at a predetermined portion of a surface layer thereof. The cap substrate is bonded to the predetermined portion of the surface layer of the base substrate. The leading electrode has a first end connected to one of the plurality of base semiconductor regions of the base substrate and extends through the cap substrate such that a second end of the leading electrode is located adjacent to a surface of the cap substrate for allowing an electrical connection with an external part, the surface being opposite to a bonding surface at which the base substrate and the cap substrate are bonded. The leading electrode defines a groove between an outer surface thereof and the cap substrate.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2013Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Masaya Tanaka, Tetsuo Fujii
-
Patent number: 8941191Abstract: A radio frequency microelectromechanical (RF MEMS) device can comprise an actuation p-n junction and a sensing p-n junction formed within a semiconductor substrate. The RF MEMS device can be configured to operate in a mode in which an excitation voltage is applied across the actuation p-n junction varying a non-mobile charge within the actuation p-n junction to modulate an electric field acting upon dopant ions and creating electrostatic forces. The electrostatic forces can create a mechanical motion within the actuation p-n junction. The mechanical motion can modulate a depletion capacitance of the sensing p-n junction, thereby creating a motional current. At least one of the p-n junctions can be located at an optimal location to maximize the efficiency of the RF MEMS device at high resonant frequencies.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2011Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Cornell UniversityInventors: Eugene Hwang, Sunil Ashok Bhave
-
Patent number: 8940570Abstract: Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) structures, methods of manufacture and design structures are disclosed. The method includes forming at least one fixed electrode on a substrate. The method further includes forming a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) beam with a varying width dimension, as viewed from a top of the MEMS beam, over the at least one fixed electrode.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2012Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Christopher V. Jahnes, Anthony K. Stamper
-
Patent number: 8941193Abstract: A simple and cost-effective manufacturing method for hybrid integrated components including at least one MEMS element, a cap for the micromechanical structure of the MEMS element, and at least one ASIC substrate, using which a high degree of miniaturization may be achieved. The micromechanical structure of the MEMS element and the cap are manufactured in a layered structure, proceeding from a shared semiconductor substrate, by applying at least one cap layer to a first surface of the semiconductor substrate, and by processing and structuring the semiconductor substrate proceeding from its other second surface, to produce and expose the micromechanical MEMS structure. The semiconductor substrate is then mounted with the MEMS-structured second surface on the ASIC substrate.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2013Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Jens Frey, Frank Fischer
-
Patent number: 8921145Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) device and method for forming a MEMS device is provided. A proof mass is suspended a distance above a surface of a substrate by a fulcrum. A pair of sensing plates are positioned on the substrate on opposing sides of the fulcrum. Metal bumps are associated with each sensing plate and positioned near a respective distal end of the proof mass. Each metal bump extends from the surface of the substrate and generally inhibits charge-induced stiction associated with the proof mass. Oxide bumps are associated with each of the pair of sensing plates and positioned between the respective sensing plate and the fulcrum. Each oxide bump extends from the first surface of the substrate a greater distance than the metal bumps and acts as a shock absorber by preventing the distal ends of the proof mass from contacting the metal bumps during shock loading.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2014Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chia-Pao Shu, Kelvin Tai, Calvin Hung, Benior Chen
-
Patent number: 8921957Abstract: A MEMS microphone. The MEMS microphone includes a back plate, a membrane, a support structure, a substrate, and an overtravel stop. The membrane is coupled to the back plate. The support structure includes a support structure opening and a first side of the support structure is coupled to a second side of the back plate. The substrate includes a substrate opening and a first side of the substrate is coupled to a second side of the support structure. The overtravel stop limits a movement of the membrane away from the back plate and includes at least one of an overtravel stop structure coupled to the substrate, an overtravel stop structure formed as part of a carrier chip, and an overtravel stop structure formed as part of the support structure in the support structure opening.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2013Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Yujie Zhang, Andrew J. Doller, Thomas Buck
-
Patent number: 8921953Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods for producing MEMS or NEMS devices and the devices themselves. A thin layer of a material having a lower recombination coefficient as compared to the cantilever structure may be deposited over the cantilever structure, the RF electrode and the pull-off electrode. The thin layer permits the etching gas introduced to the cavity to decrease the overall etchant recombination rate within the cavity and thus, increase the etching rate of the sacrificial material within the cavity. The etchant itself may be introduced through an opening in the encapsulating layer that is linearly aligned with the anchor portion of the cantilever structure so that the topmost layer of sacrificial material is etched first. Thereafter, sealing material may seal the cavity and extend into the cavity all the way to the anchor portion to provide additional strength to the anchor portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2013Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Cavendish Kinetics, Inc.Inventors: Mickael Renault, Joseph Damian Gordon Lacey, Vikram Joshi, Thomas L. Maguire
-
Patent number: 8916942Abstract: The invention relates to temperature compensated micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) resonators (300) preferably made of silicon. Prior art MEMS resonators have a significant temperature coefficient of resonance frequency, whereby it is difficult to achieve a sufficiently good frequency stability. The inventive MEMS resonator has a resonance plate (310) which resonates in Lamé mode. The resonance plate is p+ doped material, such as silicon doped with boron, and the concentration of the p+ doping is such that the plate has a temperature coefficient of resonance frequency near to zero. The tensile stress and the second order temperature coefficient can further be reduced by doping the plate with germanium.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2010Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen TutkimuskeskusInventors: Tuomas Pensala, Antti Jaakkola
-
Patent number: 8916943Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a first layer comprising at least two partial cavities, an intermediate layer bonded to the first layer, the intermediate layer formed to support at least two Micro-electromechanical System (MEMS) devices, and a second layer bonded to the intermediate layer, the second layer comprising at least two partial cavities to complete the at least two partial cavities of the first layer through the intermediate layer to form at least two sealed full cavities. The at least two full cavities have different pressures within.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2013Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Shyh-Wei Cheng, Jui-Chun Weng, Hsi-Cheng Hsu, Chih-Yu Wang, Jung-Kuo Tu, Che-Jung Chu, Yu-Ting Hsu
-
Patent number: 8912652Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including at least one of: (1) Forming a lower electrode pattern on a substrate. (2) Forming an etch stop film on/over the lower electrode pattern. (3) Forming a first interlayer insulating layer on/over the etch stop film. (4) Forming an upper electrode pattern on/over the first interlayer insulating layer. (5) Forming a second interlayer insulating layer on/over the upper electrode pattern. (6) Forming an etch blocking layer positioned between the lower electrode pattern and the upper electrode pattern which passes through the second interlayer insulating layer and the first interlayer insulating layer. (7) Forming a cavity which exposes a side of the etch blocking layer by etching the second interlayer insulating layer and the first interlayer insulating layer. (8) Forming a contact ball in the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2013Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd.Inventor: Ki Wan Bang
-
Patent number: 8907434Abstract: A MEMS inertial sensor and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The method includes: depositing a first carbon layer on a semiconductor substrate; patterning the first carbon layer to form a fixed anchor bolt, an inertial anchor bolt and a bottom sealing ring; forming a contact plug in the fixed anchor bolt and a contact plug in the inertial anchor bolt; forming a first fixed electrode, an inertial electrode and a connection electrode on the first carbon layer, where the first fixed electrode and the inertial electrode constitute a capacitor; forming a second carbon layer on the first fixed electrode and the inertial electrode; and forming a sealing cap layer on the second carbon layer and the top sealing ring. Under an inertial force, only the inertial electrode may move, the fixed electrode will almost not move or vibrate, which improves the accuracy of the MEMS inertial sensor.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2013Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Lexvu Opto Microelectronics Technology (Shanghai) Ltd.Inventors: Zhiwei Wang, Deming Tang, Lei Zhang, Jianhong Mao, Fengqin Han
-
Patent number: 8901681Abstract: A pedestal projection having reduced cross-sectional area secures a MEMs device to a housing surface in a manner which reduces strain on the MEMS die due to differences in coefficients of thermal expansion while more evenly distributing to the MEMS sensor any external forces mechanically coupled through the housing structure. The pedestal projection may be integrally formed with a surface on either MEMS die or housing member and is axially aligned with the structure which anchors the MEMS sensor to the MEMS die.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Qualtre, Inc.Inventor: Michael John Foster
-
Patent number: 8878314Abstract: A MEMS device structure including a lateral electrical via encased in a cap layer and a method for manufacturing the same. The MEMS device structure includes a cap layer positioned on a MEMS device layer. The cap layer covers a MEMS device and one or more MEMS device layer electrodes in the MEMS device layer. The cap layer includes at least one cap layer electrode accessible from the surface of the cap layer. An electrical via is encased in the cap layer extending across a lateral distance from the cap layer electrode to the one or more MEMS device layer electrodes. An isolating layer is positioned around the electrical via to electrically isolate the electrical via from the cap layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2012Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Andrew B. Graham, Gary Yama, Gary O'Brien
-
Patent number: 8878312Abstract: An apparatus including a bypass structure for complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) and/or microelectromechanical system (MEMS) devices, and method for fabricating such apparatus, is disclosed. An exemplary apparatus includes a first substrate; a second substrate that includes a MEMS device; an insulator disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; and an electrical bypass structure disposed in the insulator layer that contacts a portion of the first substrate, wherein the electrical bypass structure is electrically isolated from the MEMS device in the second substrate and any device included in the first substrate.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2011Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Chia-Ming Hung, Hung-Sen Wang, Hsiang-Fu Chen, Te-Hsi Lee, Alex Kalnitsky, Wen-Chuan Tai, Kuei-Sung Chang, Yi Heng Tsai
-
Patent number: 8878790Abstract: A microelectronic pressure sensor comprises a MOSFET transistor adapted with a mobile gate and a cavity between the mobile gate and a substrate. The sensor includes a gate actuator configured to move mobile gate in response to a pressure being exercised. A fingerprint recognition system includes a matrix of such sensors.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2008Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.Inventor: Nicolas Abele
-
Patent number: 8878313Abstract: A pressure sensor has a sensor body at least partly formed with an electrically insulating material, particularly a ceramic material, defining a cavity facing on which is a diaphragm provided with an electric detector element, configured for detecting a bending of the diaphragm. The sensor body supports a circuit arrangement, including, a plurality of circuit components, among which is an integrated circuit, for treating a signal generated by the detection element. The circuit arrangement includes tracks made of electrically conductive material directly deposited on a surface of the sensor body made of electrically insulating material. The integrated circuit is made up of a die made of semiconductor material directly bonded onto the surface of the sensor body and the die is connected to respective tracks by means of wire bonding, i.e. by means of thin connecting wires made of electrically conductive material.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2010Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Metallux SAInventor: Luca Salmaso