Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

Invensense, Inc.

Tdk Electronics Ag

Asia Pacific Microsystems, Inc.

Chung-Hsien Lin

Chia-Hua Chu

Chun-Wen Cheng

Te-Hao Lee

Kai-Chih Liang

Jiou-Kang Lee

Tsung Lin Tang

Calin Miclaus

Rene Hummel

Pei-Wen Yen

Kuei-Sung Chang

Yi Heng Tsai

Wang Shen Su

Yuan-Chih Hsieh

Li-Cheng Chu

Jye Ren

Chia Min Lin

Ting-Yuan Liu

Joseph Seeger

Chia-Ming Hung

Stefan Thiele

Johannes Schumm

Marion Hermersdorf

Thomas Kraehenbuehl

Andreas Reinhard

Jui-Cheng Huang

Lan-Lin Chao

Tung-Tsun Chen

Wen-Chuan Tai

Yao-Te Huang

Mingo Liu

Meng-Wei Chen

Chia-Pao Shu

Martin Liu

Hsueh-An Yang

Chang-Yi Yang

Ulrich Bartsch

Richard Chu

Tien-Kan Chung

Chi-Chuang Lee

Manish Sharma-Kulamarva

Weng Shen Su

Jung-Huei Peng

Felix Mayer

Dennis Mortensen

Marc Von Waldkirch

Tsung-Chuan Lee

Stephan Braun

Hung-Chi Wu

Pirmin Rombach

Shu-Hui Tsai

Johannes Buhler

Chen-Hsun Du

Chi-Cheng Tsai

Yu-Tao Lee

Ruey-Shing Hunag

Chia-Yu Wu

Chia Ming Lin

Yaoching Wang

A device includes a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensor die comprising a deformable membrane, a MEMS heating element, and a substrate. The MEMS heating element is integrated within a same layer and a same plane as the deformable membrane. The MEMS heating element surrounds the deformable membrane and is separated from the deformable membrane through a trench. The MEMS heating element is configured to generate heat to heat up the deformable membrane. The substrate is coupled to the deformable membrane.

Sensor with integrated heater

A pressure sensor comprises a polysilicon sensing membrane. The pressure sensor further includes one or more polysilicon electrodes disposed over a silicon substrate. The sensor also includes one or more polysilicon routing layers that electrically connects electrodes of the one or more polysilicon electrodes to one another, wherein the polysilicon sensing membrane deforms responsive to a stimuli and changes a capacitance between the polysilicon sensing membrane and the one or more polysilicon electrodes. The sensor also includes one or more vacuum cavities positioned between the polysilicon sensing membrane and the one or more polysilicon electrodes.

Pressure sensor with high stability

A method includes depositing a passivation layer on a substrate; depositing and patterning a first polysilicon layer on the passivation layer; depositing and patterning a first oxide layer on the first polysilicon layer forming a patterned first oxide layer; depositing and patterning a second polysilicon layer on the patterned first oxide layer. A portion of the second polysilicon layer directly contacts a portion of the first polysilicon layer. A portion of the patterned second polysilicon layer corresponds to a bottom electrode. A second oxide layer is deposited on the patterned second polysilicon layer and on an exposed portion of the patterned first oxide layer. A portion of the second oxide layer corresponding to a sensing cavity is etched, exposing the bottom electrode. Another substrate is bonded to the second oxide layer enclosing the sensing cavity. A top electrode is disposed within the another substrate and positioned over the bottom electrode.

A device includes a housing unit with an internal volume. The device further includes a sensor coupled to a substrate via an electrical coupling, wherein the sensor is disposed within the internal volume of the housing unit, and wherein the sensor is in communication with an external environment of the housing unit from a side other than a side associated with the substrate. The device also includes a moisture detection unit electrically coupled to the sensor, wherein the moisture detection unit comprises at least two looped wires at different heights, and wherein the moisture detection unit is configured to detect presence of a moisture within an interior environment of the housing unit when the moisture detection unit becomes in direct contact with the moisture.

Liquid detection in a sensor environment and remedial action thereof

A device includes a sensor die, an electrical coupling, a substrate, a liquid detection unit, and a housing unit. The sensor die is coupled to the substrate via the electrical coupling. The liquid detection unit electrically is coupled to the sensor die. The housing unit and the substrate are configured to house the sensor die, the liquid detection unit, and the electrical coupling. The housing unit comprises an opening that exposes the sensor die to an environment external to the housing unit. The liquid detection unit detects presence of liquid within an interior environment of the housing unit. In some embodiments, the device further includes a gel filled within the interior environment of the housing unit covering the sensor die and the substrate. The gel, e.g., silicone, fluoro silicone, etc., is configured to protect the sensor die, the electrical coupling, and the substrate from exposure to the liquid.

Robust microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors and related manufacturing techniques are described. Disclosed MEMS membranes and backplate structures facilitate manufacturing robust MEMS microphones. Exemplary MEMS membranes and backplate structures can comprise edge pattern holes having a length to width ratio greater than one and/or configured in a radial arrangement. Disclosed implementations can facilitate providing robust MEMS membranes and backplate structures, having edge pattern holes with a profile resembling at least one of an oval, an egg, an ellipse, a droplet, a cone, or a capsule or similar suitable configurations according to disclosed embodiments.

Edge patterns of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) microphone backplate holes

A sensor includes a substrate, an oxide layer, a membrane, an electrode, and a trench. The oxide layer is disposed on the substrate. The membrane is positioned on the oxide layer. The membrane with the oxide layer and the substrate forms an enclosed cavity therein. The membrane comprises a rigid portion and a deformable portion wherein the deformable portion of the membrane deforms responsive to stimuli. The oxide layer forms side walls of the cavity. The electrode is positioned on the substrate and within the cavity. The trench is formed in the oxide layer, and wherein the trench is covered with barrier material.

Pressure sensor with improve hermeticity

A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device may include a MEMS structure over a first substrate. The MEMS structure comprises a movable element. Depositing a first conductive material over the first substrate and etching trenches in a second substrate. Filling the trenches with a second conductive material and depositing a third conductive material over the second conductive material and the second substrate. Bonding the first substrate and the second substrate and thinning a backside of the second substrate which exposes the second conductive material in the trenches.

MEMS devices and methods of forming same

A sensor includes a substrate, an electrode, a deformable membrane, and a compensating structure. The substrate includes a first side and a second side. The first side is opposite to the second side. The substrate comprises a cavity on the first side. The electrode is positioned at a bottom of the cavity on the first side of the substrate. The deformable membrane is positioned on the first side of the substrate. The deformable membrane encloses the cavity and deforms responsive to external stimuli. The compensation structure is connected to outer periphery of the deformable membrane. The compensation structure creates a bending force that is opposite to a bending force of the deformable membrane responsive to temperature changes and thermal coefficient mismatch.

Deformable membrane and a compensating structure thereof

A pressure sensor comprises a first substrate and a cap attached to the first substrate. The cap includes a processing circuit, a cavity and a deformable membrane separating the cavity and a port open to an outside of the pressure sensor. Sensing means are provided for converting a response of the deformable membrane to pressure at the port into a signal capable of being processed by the processing circuit. The cap is attached to the first substrate such that the deformable membrane faces the first substrate and such that a gap is provided between the deformable membrane and the first substrate which gap contributes to the port. The first substrate comprises a support portion the cap is attached to, a contact portion for electrically connecting the pressure sensor to an external device, and one or more suspension elements for suspending the support portion from the contact portion.

Pressure sensor

A sensor includes a deformable membrane that deflects in response to a stimuli. The sensor further includes a capacitive element coupled to the deformable membrane. The capacitive element is disposed within an enclosed cavity of the sensor. The capacitive element changes capacitance in response to the deformable membrane deflecting. The capacitive element comprises a getter material for collecting gas molecules within the enclosed cavity.

A device includes a carrier having a plurality of cavities, a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) substrate bonded on the carrier, wherein the MEMS substrate comprises a first side bonded on the carrier, a moving element over a bottom electrode, wherein the bottom electrode is formed of polysilicon and a second side having a plurality of bonding pads and a semiconductor substrate bonded on the MEMS substrate, wherein the semiconductor substrate comprises a top electrode and the first moving element is between the top electrode and the bottom electrode.

MEMS devices and fabrication methods thereof

Growing community of inventors

Hsinchu, Taiwan

Chung-Hsien Lin