MEMS device and process
US9584903B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 19, 2013 |
| Grant date | Feb 28, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 19, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04R2207/021
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
This application relates to MEMS devices, especially MEMS capacitive transducers and to processes for forming such MEMS transducer that provide increased robustness and resilience to acoustic shock. The application describes a MEMS transducer having a flexible membrane (101) supported relative to a first surface of a substrate (105) which has one or more cavities therein, e.g. to provide an acoustic volume. A stop structure (401, 402) is positioned so as to be contactable by the membrane when deflected so as to limit the amount of deflection of the membrane. The stop structure defines one or more openings to the one or more substrate cavities and comprises at least one narrow support element (401, 402) within or between said one or more openings. The stop structure thus limits the amount of membrane deflection, thus reducing the stress experienced at the edges and prevents the membrane from contacting a sharp edge of a substrate cavity. As the stop structure comprises narrow support elements any performance impact on the transducer is limited.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.