This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-240641, filed on Oct. 19, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) are devices having mechanical actuation portions, unlike normal semiconductor elements, ICs, LSIs, and the like. For mounting a MEMS device, a cavity region to hold the mechanical actuation portion needs to be provided in a mounting portion or in a package. As a method for forming a cavity region, there is a method in which a second sacrificial layer having a small area is provided on a first sacrificial layer, and then the first and the second sacrificial layers are removed to form a cavity region (U.S. Pat. No. 7,008,812)
A MEMS device described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,008,812 has a problem that a desired cavity structure is not formed because the first sacrificial layer at the bottom is etched during the pattern formation of the second sacrificial layer. Moreover, another problem occurs that the surface of the first sacrificial layer is roughened due to the process damage in the step of forming an insulating film on the cavity region, thereby causing a MEMS element and the second sacrificial layer to be peeled from the substrate in the subsequent step.
A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Various connections between elements are hereinafter described. It is noted that these connections are illustrated in general and, unless specified otherwise, may be direct or indirect and that this specification is not intended to be limiting in this respect.
Embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings as next described, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views.
First, a MEMS device and a method for manufacturing a MEMS device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in
As shown in
An insulating film 6 serving as a protection film is provided on the interlayer insulating film 2, the wiring layer 4, and the first electrode 5a. The insulating film 6 is also provided on an upper end portion of the terminal 3a. Openings are provided in the insulating film 6 on the wiring layer 4. A wiring layer is provided in each of the openings. Specifically, a second electrode 5b having anchor portions 51 that are in contact with the wiring layer 4 is provided in the openings, the second electrode 5b being above and apart from the first electrode 5a. The first electrode 5a and the second electrode 5b serve as the actuation portion of the MEMS element.
The first cavity region 100 having a distance L1 between the substrate and an insulating film is provided in the MEMS element region 200. The second cavity region 101 having a distance L2 between the substrate and the insulating film is provided on the insulating film 6 on the surrounding portion outside the first cavity region 100. The third cavity region 102 having a distance L3 between the substrate and the insulating film is provided on the insulating film 6 on the surrounding portion outside the second cavity region 101. The first cavity region 100, the second cavity region 101, and the third cavity region 102 are filled with air, for example. Incidentally, an inert gas (for example, a nitrogen gas) may be filled in place of air.
Here, the relationship among the distance L1 between the substrate and the insulating film, the distance L2 between the substrate and the insulating film, and the distance L3 between the substrate and the insulating film is set as:
L1>L2>L3 Formula (1).
An insulating film 7 is provided on the first cavity region 100, the second cavity region 101, and the third cavity region 102. An insulating film 8 is provided on the insulating film 7 and a side surface of the third cavity region 102. In other words, the insulating films 7 and 8 define the first cavity region 100, the second cavity region 101, and the third cavity region 102. The insulating films 7 and 8 are provided to cover the MEMS element region 200. Openings 9 are provided in the laminated insulating films 7 and 8 on the first cavity region 100, the second cavity region 101, and the third cavity region 102. An organic film 10 is provided on the insulating film 8 to seal the openings 9. An insulating film 11 is provided on the organic film 10 and the insulating film 8.
Here, the organic film 10 and the insulating film 11 function as a sealant for sealing the MEMS element. Aluminum (Al) is used as the terminal 3a, the wiring layer 4, the first electrode 5a, and the second electrode 5b; instead, a metal such as copper (Cu) may be used. A silicon nitride film (SiN film) is used as the insulating film 6, the insulating film 7, the insulating film 8, and the insulating film 11; instead, a silicon oxide film (SiO2), a SiON film, a SiOCH film, or the like may be used. A polyimide resin is used as the organic film 11; instead, an organic film such as a BCB (Benzo-Cycro-Buten) resin, a fluorinated resin (parylen-N or the like), or a polyamide resin may be used.
As shown in
Note that, as shown in
Next, a method for manufacturing a MEMS device will be described with reference to
As shown in
Then, as shown in
Here, a polyimide resin is used as the first sacrificial layer 31; instead, an organic film such as a BCB (Benzo-Cycro-Buten) resin, a fluorinated resin (parylen-N or the like), or a polyamide resin may be used.
Subsequently, as shown in
Thereafter, as shown in
Here, a polyimide resin is used as the second sacrificial layer 32; instead, an organic film such as a BCE (Benzo-Cycro-Buten) resin, a fluorinated resin (parylen-N or the like), or a polyamide resin may be used.
Note that, in this embodiment, the second sacrificial layer 32 is provided to completely cover the periphery (an upper portion and a side surface) of the first sacrificial layer 31. If, as in Comparative Example shown in
Meanwhile, in this embodiment, to form the first to the third cavity regions as shown in
Then, as shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Here, the openings 9 are formed on the first cavity region 100, the second cavity region 101, and the third cavity region 102. However, the way to form the openings 9 is not necessarily limited to this. The positions and the number of the openings 9 may be altered as necessary.
Thereafter, as shown in
Here, in the ashing process, an oxygen (O2) gas is used; instead, an ozone (O3) gas may be used. When an ozone (O3) gas is used, the plasma damage occurs less frequently than the case of an oxygen (O2) gas. The plasma damage causes damage to the insulating films by charged particles.
Then, as shown in
After the organic film 10 is formed by coating, the organic film 10 outside the MEMS device region is etched. The insulating film 11 is formed on the organic film 10 and the insulating film 8 by using a CVD process, for example. The insulating film 11 outside the MEMS device region is etched. Thus, the MEMS device 80 is completed. Note that the insulating film 11 is used as a measure against moisture for the MEMS device 80, for example.
As has been described, in the MEMS device and the method for manufacturing a MEMS device of this embodiment, the first cavity region 100 is provided in the MEMS element region 200. The second cavity region 101 having a lower height than the first cavity region 100 is provided on the surrounding portion outside the first cavity region 100. The third cavity region 102 having a lower height than the second cavity region 101 is provided on the surrounding portion outside the second cavity region 101. The insulating film 7 is provided on the first cavity region 100, the second cavity region 101, and the third cavity region 102. The insulating film 8 is provided on the insulating film 7 and the side surface of the third cavity region 102 to cover the first cavity region 100, the second cavity region 101, and the third cavity region 102. The openings 9 are provided in the laminated insulating films 7 and 8. The sealant including the organic film 10 and the insulating film 11 is provided to seal the openings 9. In the step of forming the cavity regions, the first sacrificial layer 31 is formed to cover the insulating film 6 on the wiring layer 4, and the second sacrificial layer 32 having a larger area than the first sacrificial layer 31 is provided to completely cover both of the first sacrificial layer 31 and the second electrode 5b. The first sacrificial layer 31 and the second sacrificial layer 32 are removed by the ashing process. The second sacrificial layer 32 protects the surface of the first sacrificial layer 31 until the cavity regions are formed.
Consequently, a cavity region having a stable form can be formed in the MEMS element region 200. Moreover, it becomes possible to prevent the surface roughness of the first sacrificial layer 31 due to the plasma damage in the process step, and prevent peeling of the MEMS element and the second sacrificial layer 32 from the substrate 1. Thus, improvements in the reliability and the yield of the MEMS device 80 are achieved.
Note that, in this embodiment, the organic film 10 and the insulating film 11 are used as the sealant; nevertheless, only an organic film may be used as the sealant for cases where a MEMS device has a relatively low moisture resistance requirement and where a measure against moisture is implementable when a MEMS device is mounted on a module.
Next, a MEMS device and a method for manufacturing a MEMS device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Hereinbelow, like reference numerals designate identical constituent parts to those in Embodiment 1, the description thereof will be omitted, and only different parts will be described.
As shown in
An insulating film 21 is provided on the first cavity region 100, the second cavity region 101, and the third cavity region 102 as well as on the side surface of the third cavity region 102 to cover the first cavity region 100, the second cavity region 101, and the third cavity region 102. Openings 22 are provided in the insulating film 21 on the first cavity region 100, the second cavity region 101, and the third cavity region 102. The organic film 10 is provided on the insulating film 21 to seal the opening 22. The insulating film 11 is provided on the organic film 10 and the insulating film 22.
Here, a silicon nitride film (SiN film) is used as the insulating film 21; instead, a silicon oxide film (SiO2), a SiON film, a SiOCH film, or the like may be used.
Next, a method for manufacturing a MEMS device will be described with reference to
As shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
As has been described, in the MEMS device and the method for manufacturing a MEMS device of this embodiment, the first cavity region 100 is provided on the MEMS element region 200. The second cavity region 101 having a lower height than the first cavity region 100 is provided on the surrounding portion outside the first cavity region 100. The third cavity region 102 having a lower height than the second cavity region 101 is provided on the surrounding portion outside the second cavity region 101. The insulating film 21 is provided on the periphery of the first cavity region 100, the second cavity region 101, and the third cavity region 102. The openings 22 are provided in the insulating film 21. The sealant including the organic film 10 and the insulating film 11 is provided to seal the openings 22. In the step of forming the cavity regions, the first sacrificial layer 31 is formed to cover the insulating film 6 on the wiring layer 4, and the second sacrificial layer 32 having a larger area than the first sacrificial layer 31 is provided to completely cover both of the first sacrificial layer 31 and the second electrode 5b. The first sacrificial layer 31 and the second sacrificial layer 32 are removed by the ashing process. The second sacrificial layer 32 protects the surface of the first sacrificial layer 31 until the cavity regions are formed.
Consequently, in addition to the effects of Embodiment 1, shortening of the process is achieved. Thus, reduction in the manufacturing cost for the MEMS device 80 can be achieved.
Next, a method for manufacturing a MEMS device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawing.
Hereinbelow, like reference numerals designate identical constituent parts to those in Embodiment 1, the description thereof will be omitted, and only different parts will be described.
As shown in
Then, the wiring layer is patterned in the openings and on the first sacrificial layer 33. As a result, formed is the second electrode 5b having the anchor portions 51 connected to the wiring layer 4. The first electrode 5a and the second electrode 5b serve as the actuation portion of the MEMS element.
Subsequently, a second sacrificial layer 34 is formed on the insulating film 6, the first sacrificial layer 33, and the second electrode 5b by a coating method, for example. The second sacrificial layer 34 is photosensitive polyimide resin, for example. By using a well-known lithography process, the second sacrificial layer 34 is irradiated with light to modify and etch away the irradiated portion of the second sacrificial layer 34. The subsequent steps are the same as those in Embodiment 1, and accordingly the description will be omitted. As has been described, in the method for manufacturing a MEMS device of this embodiment, the first sacrificial layer 33 is formed to cover the insulating film 6 on the wiring layer 4, and the photosensitive second sacrificial layer 34 having a larger area than the first sacrificial layer 33 is provided to completely cover both of the first sacrificial layer 33 and the second electrode 5b. The first sacrificial layer 33 and the second sacrificial layer 34 are removed by the ashing process. The second sacrificial layer 34 protects the surface of the first sacrificial layer 33 until the cavity regions are formed.
Consequently, in addition to the effects of Embodiment 1, shortening of the process is achieved. Thus, reduction in the manufacturing cost for the MEMS device 80 can be achieved.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention.
In the embodiments, the invention is employed to an RF-MEMS, but can also be employed to an optical MEMS, a sensor MEMS, a bio-MEMS, and the like. Examples of the optical MEMS include an optical communication switch, and the like. Examples of the sensor MEMS include an accelerometric sensor, an infrared sensor, five-senses sensors, and the like. Examples of the bio-MEMS include a medical biosensor, and the like.
Embodiments of the invention have been described with reference to the examples. However, the invention is not limited thereto.
Other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and example embodiments be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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P2009-240641 | Oct 2009 | JP | national |