Method for etching deep, high-aspect ratio features into glass, fused silica, and quartz materials
US9576773B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 30, 2013 |
| Grant date | Feb 21, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 8, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J2237/3347
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method or process is disclosed for etching deep, high-aspect ratio features into silicon dioxide material layers and substrates, including glass, fused silica, quartz, or similar materials, using a plasma etch technology. The method has application in the fabrication and manufacturing of MEMS, microelectronic, micro-mechanical, photonic and nanotechnology devices in which silicon dioxide material layers or substrates are used and must be patterned and etched. Devices that benefit from the method described in this invention include the fabrication of MEMS gyroscopes, resonators, oscillators, microbalances, accelerometers, for example. The etch method or process allows etch depths ranging from below 10 microns to over 1 millimeter and aspect ratios from less than 1 to 1 to over 10 to 1 with etched feature sidewalls having vertical or near vertical angles. Additionally, the disclosed method provides requirements of the etched substrates to reduce or eliminate undesired effects of an etch.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.