Patent ID: 6454160
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: B81C,H01L

Abstract:
A method for hermetically encapsulating microsystems in situ, said microsystems being three-dimensional structures comprising microoptoelectromechanical or microelectromechanical devices,wherein, in a first phase, several microsystems are mounted on a common substrate, said microsystems being surrounded by a metal adhesion layer deposited on the substrate, wherein, in a second phase, in a common deposition step a sacrificial first metal layer is deposited on each microsystem and on an annular zone of the adhesion layer surrounding each microsystem, so as to completely cover each microsystem by overlap, wherein a second metal layer is deposited by electrolytic means on the first metal layer and on the adhesion layer so as to cover the first layer over most of its surface, leaving at least one passage per microsystem in the second layer to provide access to the first layer, the metal of the first layer being different from the metal of the adhesion layer, the second layer and the microsystem, wherein the first layer is removed by selective chemical etching through each passage of the second layer, and wherein said passages are then closed to obtain metal capsules hermetically enclosing each microsystem.