Vacuum packaging technology using localized aluminum/silicon-to-glass bonding

A vacuum package based on localized aluminum/silicon-to-glass bonding has been successfully demonstrated. With 3.4 watts heating power, /spl sim/0.2 MPa applied contact pressure, and 90 minutes wait time before bonding, vacuum encapsulation at 25 mtorr can be achieved. Folded-beam comb drive /spl mu/-resonators are encapsulated and used as pressure monitors. Long-term testing of un-annealed vacuum-packaged /spl mu/-resonators with a Q of 2500 has demonstrated stable operation after 20 weeks. A /spl mu/-resonator with Q of /spl sim/9600 has been vacuum encapsulated and shown to be stable after 7 weeks.

[1]  K. Najafi,et al.  A hermetic glass-silicon package formed using localized aluminum/silicon-glass bonding , 2001 .

[2]  R. Howe,et al.  Microelectromechanical filters for signal processing , 1992, [1992] Proceedings IEEE Micro Electro Mechanical Systems.

[3]  K. Najafi,et al.  Formation of Silicon-Gold Eutectic Bond Using Localized Heating Method , 1998 .

[4]  T. Nakamura,et al.  Glass direct bonding technology for hermetic seal package , 1997, Proceedings IEEE The Tenth Annual International Workshop on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems. An Investigation of Micro Structures, Sensors, Actuators, Machines and Robots.

[5]  Cam Nguyen,et al.  Frequency trimming and Q-factor enhancement of micromechanical resonators via localized filament annealing , 1997, Proceedings of International Solid State Sensors and Actuators Conference (Transducers '97).

[6]  Roger T. Howe,et al.  Design and performance of CMOS micromechanical resonator oscillators , 1994, Proceedings of IEEE 48th Annual Symposium on Frequency Control.

[7]  J. Bertin Engineering fluid mechanics , 1984 .

[8]  Henry Guckel,et al.  Surface micromachined pressure transducers , 1991 .

[9]  Ron Darby,et al.  Chemical Engineering Fluid Mechanics , 1996 .

[10]  Van P. Carey,et al.  Thermal bubble formation on polysilicon micro resistors , 1998 .

[11]  Douglas Ray Sparks,et al.  Flexible vacuum-packaging method for resonating micromachines , 1996 .

[12]  W. Gust,et al.  Analysis of packaging and sealing techniques for microelectronic modules and recent advances , 1999 .

[13]  H. Tilmans,et al.  Electrostatically driven vacuum-encapsulated polysilicon resonators Part I. Design and fabrication , 1994 .

[14]  Yoshida Takashi,et al.  Three-dimensional micromachining of silicon pressure sensor integrating resonant strain gauge on diaphragm , 1990 .

[15]  Masayoshi Esashi,et al.  Cavity Pressure Control For Critical Damping Of Packaged Micro Mechanical Devices , 1995, Proceedings of the International Solid-State Sensors and Actuators Conference - TRANSDUCERS '95.

[16]  U. Gosele,et al.  Gas tightness of cavities sealed by silicon wafer bonding , 1997, Proceedings IEEE The Tenth Annual International Workshop on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems. An Investigation of Micro Structures, Sensors, Actuators, Machines and Robots.

[17]  Y. Jaluria,et al.  An Introduction to Heat Transfer , 1950 .

[18]  Liwei Lin MEMS post-packaging by localized heating and bonding , 2000 .

[19]  K. Najafi,et al.  Localized silicon fusion and eutectic bonding for MEMS fabrication and packaging , 1998, Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems.

[20]  Katsuo Kurabayashi,et al.  Precision measurement and mapping of die-attach thermal resistance , 1998 .

[21]  E. Beyne,et al.  The indent reflow sealing (IRS) technique-a method for the fabrication of sealed cavities for MEMS devices , 2000, Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems.

[22]  Liwei Lin,et al.  Fabrication and hermeticity testing of a glass-silicon package formed using localized aluminum/silicon-to-glass bonding , 2000, Proceedings IEEE Thirteenth Annual International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (Cat. No.00CH36308).

[23]  R. Wolffenbuttel,et al.  Vacuum sealing of microcavities using metal evaporation , 1997 .

[24]  F. R. Scott,et al.  Handbook of High Vacuum Engineering , 1964 .

[25]  J. Shackelford Gas solubility in glasses – principles and structural implications , 1999 .