1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device. More particularly, the present invention relates to MEMS microphone device with multi-sensitivity outputs.
2. Description of Related Art
MEMS device, such as MEMS microphone or the like device, is formed based on semiconductor fabrication process. As a result, the MEMS microphone or MEMS device can be in rather small size and can be implemented into various larger systems to sense the environmental signals, such as acoustic signal or acceleration signal.
The sensing mechanism of the MEMS device is based on a diaphragm, which can vibrate in responding to acoustic pressure or in responding to any factor, such as accelerating force, capable of causing deformation of the diaphragm. Due to the vibration or displacement of the diaphragm, the capacitance is changed, so as to be converted into electric signals used in subsequent application circuits.
Conventionally, one MEMS device has its own designed sensitivity. However, when the application system needs multiple sensitivities of the MEMS to meet the changing environmental condition, the conventional way may need to implement multiple MEMS devices with different sensitivities, so as to choose one of the multiple MEMS devices in use. This manner would at least cause a larger circuit cost.
A MEMS device can use a common diaphragm to form at least two sensing capacitors in a single MEMS device.
A MEMS device, according to exemplary embodiments, includes a substrate having a first side and a second side, wherein a cavity is formed at the second side. A dielectric layer is disposed on the second side of the substrate at a periphery of the cavity. A backplate structure is formed with the dielectric layer on the first side of the substrate and exposed by the cavity. The backplate structure includes at least a first backplate and a second backplate. The first backplate and the second backplate are electric disconnected and have venting holes to connect the cavity and the chamber. A diaphragm is disposed above the backplate structure by a distance, so as to form a chamber between the backplate structure and the diaphragm. A periphery of the diaphragm is embedded in the dielectric layer. The diaphragm serves as a common electrode. The first backplate and the second backplate respectively serve as a first electrode unit and a second electrode unit in conjugation with the diaphragm to form separate two capacitors.
The invention also provides a micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) circuit, including a MEMS device as described above. A first voltage source is coupled to the first electrode unit of the first backplate in the MEMS device. A second voltage source is coupled to the second electrode unit of the second backplate in the MEMS device. An amplifying circuit is to amplify a first sensing signal at the first electrode unit and a second sensing signal at the second electrode unit.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A MEMS device with multiple sensitivities is disclosed, in which a single diaphragm is commonly used for different sensitivities. The MEMS device can use a common diaphragm to form at least two sensing capacitors in a single MEMS device.
Multiple embodiments are provided for describing the invention. However, the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Further, at least two of the embodiments may allow a proper combination to have other embodiments.
A first voltage source, VPP1, is coupled to an electrode of the first backplate 100a in the MEMS device 100 through a resistor 106, in an example. Likewise, a second voltage source, VPP2, is coupled to the electrode of the second backplate 100b in the MEMS device 100 through a resistor 108, in an example.
Generally, an amplifying circuit is to amplify a first sensing signal at the electrode of the first backplate 100a and a second sensing signal at the electrode of the second backplate 100b.
In the example of
The mechanism of sensitivity is following. The first operation amplifier 102 with an amplification gain, Gain—1, outputs a first output signal, Vout1. Likewise, the second operation amplifier 104 with an amplification gain, Gain—2, outputs a second output signal, Vout2. The sensitivity of the output signals Vout1 and Vout2 are expressed in Eq. (1) and Eq. (2) as follows:
The capacitance of the capacitor is inverse proportional to the distance between the diaphragm 100c and the backplate 100a or the backplate 100b, denoted by D1 and D2 for air gap, respectively. ΔX1 and ΔX2 are diaphragm deformations at the two capacitors caused by environment factors, such as the acoustic pressure 110, resulting in different capacitance.
In general properties, ΔX1 and ΔX2 are dependent on the K, elastic constant of diaphragm. Vpp1 and Vpp2 are the applied voltages on MEMS capacitors. So, the any of the four parameters of ΔX, D, Vpp and Gain, omitting the index of 1 and 2, can be taken in consideration for change to have different sensitivities. Multiple embodiments are to be described later.
The first backplate 206a and the second backplate 206b are electric disconnected, such as separation by a gap 212. Each of the first backplate 206a and the second backplate 206b respectively has venting holes 210a, 210b to connect the cavity 202 and the chamber 220. The venting holes 210a are included in the first backplate 206a and the venting holes 210b are included in the second backplate 206b. In this example, the first backplate 206a and the second backplate 206b are conductive, such as the polysilicon layer, so the electric disconnection is necessary to form separate capacitors. A diaphragm 222 is disposed above the backplate structure 206 by a distance, so as to form a chamber 220 between the backplate structure 206 and the diaphragm 222. A periphery of the diaphragm 222 is embedded in the dielectric layer 204. The diaphragm 222 is conductive and serves as a common electrode in an embodiment. The first backplate 206a of the first electrode unit 206′ and the second backplate 206b of the second electrode unit 206″ respectively sever as two electrodes in conjugation with the diaphragm 222, as a common electrode, to form separate two capacitors.
It can be noted that the fabrication of MEMS device is based on the semiconductor fabrication process. In order to form the backplate structure 206 and the diaphragm 222, the dielectric layer 204 includes several sub layers and then re removed at the central region to form the chamber 220. The fabrication of the backplate structure 206 and the diaphragm 222 can be understood by the one with ordinary skill in the art. The backplate structure 206 indicated by dashed is just to express the portion of the backplate structure 206 of the whole structure of the MEMS device. Even further, the backplate structure 206 may also include a portion of the substrate 200 at the second side, not shown in drawings but known in the art. The structure in detail of the backplate structure 206 and the diaphragm 222 are not limited to the examples of drawings. However, multiple sub backplates are actually involved in fabrication processes to conjugate with the single diaphragm to form multiple capacitors with different sensitivities. Further, each of the backplates and the diaphragm 222 may also include the dielectric layer therein during fabrication. However, with respect to MEMS device, the function of the diaphragm 222 also serves as common electrode and the function of the first backplate 206a and the second backplate 206b also serve as two separate electrodes, which can be applied with different operation voltages.
Based on the structure described above, the operation can implement two operation voltages Vpp1 and Vpp2. In the example, the diaphragm 222 can be a cathode or the common ground voltage. The voltages Vpp1 and Vpp2 are respectively applied to the first backplate 206a of the first electrode unit and the second backplate 206b of the second electrode unit, which are conductive material, such polysilicon, in this example. The first backplate 206a and the second backplate 206b respectively form with the diaphragm 222 as two capacitors. According to the relation of Eq. (1) and Eq. (2), the two capacitors cause two different sensitivities.
It can be noted that the two first backplate 206a and the second backplate 206b are physically separated because the two first backplate 206a and the second backplate 206b are conductive and applied with different voltages. In alternative embodiments, the two first backplate 206a and the second backplate 206b can me modified under the same aspect.
The other elements with same reference number are the same as those in
Further, under the same aspect to form multiple capacitors based on the single diaphragm, other alternative embodiments are to be disclosed.
The backplate structure 206 may also include backplates 230 and 234, which are at the outer periphery of a backplate 232 at the central region. However, depending on the different geometrical configurations, the diaphragm can be disk-like or a rectangular-like.
The backplate structure 206 has three backplates 230, 232, 234 corresponding to the two regions of the first diaphragm regions 224a and the second diaphragm region 224b. The backplate 232 with the diaphragm 224 at the second diaphragm region 224b forms a capacitor in higher sensitivity. The backplate 230 and backplate 234 with the diaphragm 224 at the first diaphragm region 224a form another capacitor with lower sensitivity. In fabrication, the backplates 230 and the backplate 234 are conductive in this example and can be directly connected with the join structure or indirectly connected by the circuit to connect to the same voltage source of the operation voltage. In the example, the later situation is shown, so the backplate 230 and the backplate 234 are not directly joined. However, the backplate 232 should be electrically separated from the backplate 230 and the backplate 234 and is applied by another voltage source of the operation voltage. The venting holes 226 are like the venting holes 210a and 210b in
With the similar aspect in
In
Further in alternative embodiment,
For the backplate structure 206, the backplate structure 206 can be modified based on the structure shown in
It can be noted that the first electrode layer 242a surrounds the second electrode layer 242b but is electric separated. In order to leading out the connection terminal for applying the voltage for the second electrode layer 242b, the first electrode layer 242a may have a gap for letting an connection terminal of the second electrode layer 242b protrude out. However, the manner in the embodiment is not the only option.
Further,
The aspect in
Further, in the foregoing embodiments, the diaphragm is disposed over the substrate higher than the backplate structure. Taking
In an example,
The first backplate 306a and the second backplate 306b are electric disconnected, such as separation by a gap 312. Each of the first backplate 306a and the second backplate 306b respectively has venting holes 310a, 310b to connect the cavity 302 and the chamber 320. The venting holes 310a are included in the first backplate 306a and the venting holes 310b are included in the second backplate 306b. In this example, the first backplate 306a and the second backplate 306b are conductive, such as the polysilicon layer, so the electric disconnection is necessary to form separate capacitors. The diaphragm 322 is disposed under the backplate structure 306 by a distance D, so as to form a chamber 320 between the backplate structure 306 and the diaphragm 322. A periphery of the diaphragm 322 is embedded in the dielectric layer 304, as an example. The diaphragm 322 is conductive and serves as a common electrode in the embodiment. The first backplate 306a of the first electrode unit 306′ and the second backplate 306b of the second electrode unit 306″ respectively sever as two electrodes in conjugation with the diaphragm 322, as a common electrode, to form separate two capacitors.
As disclosed in
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing descriptions, it is intended that the present invention covers modifications and variations of this invention if they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.
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