Patent ID: 6136208
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: B82Y,G01Q

Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a planar microprobe including an electrostatic actuator, said planar microprobe comprising: an upper cantilever beam including a first electrode, a supporting pad coupled to said upper cantilever beam, and a lower cantilever beam coupled to said supporting pad: said lower cantilever beam situated below said upper cantilever beam and spaced by a distance from said upper cantilever beam, said lower cantilever beam comprising a second electrode and a tip coupled to said second electrode; said method comprising the following steps of:(a) patterning the lower cantilever beam and supporting pad on a SOI substrate;(b) patterning the tip on the lower cantilever beam;(c) depositing a layer of metal as the second electrode on the lower cantilever beam;(d) on the lower cantilever beam, forming a layer of photoresist as a sacrificial layer and sputtering a layer of metal as an electrode for an electroplating process;(e) forming the upper cantilever beam by electroplating a layer of metal over the lower cantilever beam;(f) etching residual silicon materials and a silicon oxide beneath said lower cantilever beam;(g) removing residual photoresist and sacrificial layer by a developer solution to release the upper cantilever beam and dipping the microprobe into an acidic liquid to remove the layer of metal that served as an electrode for the electroplating process.