Patent ID: 6410361
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: B81B,F03G,F15C,F16K,H01H,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for fabricating a self-contained MEMS thermal actuator having in-plane actuation capability, the method comprising the steps of:attaching a generally planar surface of a first semiconductor substrate to a generally planar surface of a second semiconductor substrate; defining a portion of a MEMS thermal actuator in the second substrate, the portion of the MEMS thermal actuator comprising a portion of at least one anchor affixed to the first semiconductor substrate and a first layer of a composite beam; doping a region of the first layer of the composite beam so as to define a conductive path in the first layer of the composite beam; and disposing a second layer on the undoped region of the first layer of the composite beam, the second layer comprising a material that responds differently to thermal actuation, such that the first and second layers of the composite beam will effectuate actuation of said composite beam along a predetermined path that extends substantially parallel to the generally planar surface of said microelectronic substrate.