Abstract:
A micro scale includes one substrate forming a first zone constituting a first terminal, one conducting vibrating beam which has two opposite ends affixed on two supporting areas on the substrate, the conductive beam forming a second terminal; wherein the conductive beam is made of polymer gel having metallic microparticles in low quantity so as to avoid any contamination of a biological material to measure, the density of the metallic microparticles being high enough to achieve electrical conduction of the second terminal. A manufacturing process of such a micro scale circuit is also provided.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to the field of microelectronic circuits, and more particularly but not exclusively to an electronic circuit for measuring the mass of biological material and a process for manufacturing the same. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     Electronic circuits which are suitable for the measurement of mass are known in the art. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a first arrangement of a micro scales known in the art which is described in the document “High-Q Longitudinal Block Resonators with Annexed Platform for Mass Sensing Application”, by Zhili Hao and Farrokh Ayazi, GTRC No. 3244, 2006 (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20070089519). There is disclosed a piezo-electric structure being hanged on two supporting elements or anchors  11  and  12  which also includes two terminals, respectively a drive terminal and a sense terminal. The drive terminal receives an alternating voltage which causes the structure to oscillate. The arrangement further includes two plates, respectively  13  and  14 , which can serve as supports for a mass to be measured. The whole arrangement is the equivalent of one resonance circuit, of the type Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) operating in a width mode and not in a thickness mode. The effect of the presence of microparticles on plates  13  and  14  causes the resonance frequency to move and such move can be measured by the electronic circuit forming part of one integrated circuit, thanks to the sensing of the current on the sense terminal. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a second device which is known in the art and which is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004140296 filed on Aug. 5, 2004, entitled: “Material Sensing Sensor and module using thin film bulk accoustic resonator” by Park Jae Yeong, Lee Heon Min, LG ELECTRONICS INC, also based on a BAW type resonator arrangement (Bulk Acoustic Wave) comprising a reference unit associated to a sensing unit receiving the microparticles to measure. Again, the measurement is based on the detection of a change in the resonance frequency and such change allows the calculation of the mass of the microparticles being measured. 
     All those devices substantially use metal based materials and, consequently, are not suitable for the measurement of masses of biological material which might interfere with metallic material. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Generally speaking, with the development of the scientific techniques falling in the field of biology, it is desirable to have an electronic circuit which is easy to manufacture and which allows the measurement of the weight of biological material. 
     Such is the goal of one embodiment. 
     One embodiment provides an arrangement of an electronic circuit which is suitable for the measurement of the weight of biological material. 
     One embodiment provides an electronic circuit embodying a micro scales which is easy to manufacture and also well fitted to the realization of measurement devices used in the biological field. 
     One embodiment provides a micro scale for the measurement of a mass which includes:
         one substrate forming a first zone constituting a first terminal;   one conducting vibrating beam which has two opposite ends affixed on two supporting areas on said substrate, the conductive beam forming a second terminal;       

     characterized in that said conductive beam is made of polymer gel comprising metallic microparticles in low quantity so as to avoid any contamination of a biological material to measure, the density of said metallic microparticles being high enough to achieve electrical conduction of said second terminal. 
     In one particular embodiment, the substrate is silicon and the first terminal is a doped area on the silicon. 
     Alternatively, the substrate may also be quartz or glass, comprising a first terminal consisting in a conductive layer made in conductive gel. 
     By incorporating the electric dipole formed by the two terminals or electrodes within one oscillating electronic circuit, one can thus determine the resonance frequency and, therefore, the weight of the material, whatever its form liquid or solid, which weigh on the vibrating beam. 
     One embodiment also provides a process for manufacturing a micro circuit for the measurement of weights or mass which includes:
         preparation of one substrate having one sacrificial oxide layer;   creation of one bottom terminal located on said substrate;   deposit of one gel of active polymer material comprising metallic microparticles in low quantity so as to avoid contamination of biological material to process but dense enough for achieving electrical conduction of said second terminal;   etching of said gel layer in order to form a beam fixed on two anchors located on said substrate;   removing said sacrificial oxide layer so as to release said hanging beam and form a resonating circuit; and   depositing at least one packaging layer.       

     One embodiment is suitable for the manufacturing of micro scales for the measurement of the weight or the density of biological material flowing in one liquid being in contact with the vibrating beam. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features of one or more non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings: 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate two microscales known in the art for the measurement of micro particles of material. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of a micro scales. 
         FIG. 4  is an elevation view of the micro-scales according to one embodiment. 
         FIGS. 5   a  to  5   d  illustrate a first embodiment of a MOSFET transistor made from a conventional substrate. 
         FIGS. 6   a  to  6   i  illustrate the detail of the first embodiment of one circuit, manufactured from a Silicon On Insulator (SOI) substrate. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, numerous specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments. The embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the embodiments. 
     Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. 
     The headings provided herein are for convenience only and do not interpret the scope or meaning of the embodiments. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a micro scale according to one embodiment, comprising one substrate  100  including a first terminal  110  on which is affixed one hanging beam  140  supported at its two opposite ends by two anchors  150  located on substrate  100  and extending along axis O-y. 
     The micro scale according to one embodiment comprises a hanging beam which is formed by a polymer gel comprising a sufficient concentration of conductive micro-particles so as to constitute a second terminal located above the first terminal which is itself above the substrate. 
     There is thus carried out a combination of two terminals, respectively bottom and top, the top terminal being likely for form part of one resonator which presents a high value quality factor and which is, moreover, perfectly biocompliant. 
     The high value of the quality factor allows accurate measurements to be achieved and, further, allows the realization of an efficient micro-scale that is adapted to the measurement of the mass of biological material. 
     In one particular embodiment, one achieves the suspended beam by means of an electro active polymer such as, for instance, one thin layer polyimide. 
     Alternatively, one may realize the hanging beam by means of a resonator wherein one introduces conductive particles in order to achieve electrical conduction of the latter. 
     Generally speaking, the micro-scales circuit which was described above can be carried out by use of different conventional CMOS techniques. 
     There will now be described a first particular embodiment of a micro scale circuit in reference to  FIGS. 5   a  to  5   d , which is based on a semiconductor substrate, for instance of the silicon type  100 . In this disclosure, the preliminary techniques which are involved in the preparation of the substrate and which are known will not be discussed further. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5   a , the process starts with the preparation of a silicon substrate  100 , which is doped so as to create a conductive zone used as a bottom terminal  110  which will serve as the drive terminal. 
     Then, as shown in  FIG. 5   b , one performs the deposition of a sacrificial oxide layer  120 , such as silicon oxide (SiO 2 ), which is then etched with the appropriate profile, e.g., a parallelepiped. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5   c , one then performs the deposition of an electro active polymer gel  140 , such as polyimide for instance. 
     This gel deposit can be performed by means of known techniques. 
     One can for instance perform the deposit of polymer layer  140  by means of a spinning technique. Alternatively, sputtering can also be used for the deposit of deposit polymer  140 . 
     This gel is then etched in order to create the final profile of the resonator, that is to say a beam being affixed at its two ends on two anchors located on substrate  100 . 
     One then eliminates the sacrificial oxide layer  120  by means of known techniques (wet or dry etching) and thus release resonator  140 , which forms the functional element of the micro-scales. 
     One then completes the manufacture of the micro-scale by means of a packaging of the substrate which includes the insertion of the micro-scale described above in a containment volume which can be carried out in different ways in accordance of known techniques which can be used for that purpose. 
     More development on such techniques may be found in the publication from the inventor, N. Abelé, D. Grogg, C. Hibert, F. Casset, P. Ancey et A. M. Ionescu intitulée “0-level vacuum packaging RT process for MEMS resonators”, DTIP 2007, pp. 33-36. 
     In one particular embodiment, one carries out a package which is adapted for the flow of biological liquid provided by a micro inlet on the micro scale for the purpose of achieving measurement of the density of the liquid. 
     When the manufacturing process is completed, the micro scale is introduced in one electronic circuit which determines the resonance frequency of the resonator and which closely depends on the mass of the liquid which bears on beam  140 . Practically, one inserts the two poles formed by terminals  110  and  140  in one oscillating loop using one amplifier and the oscillation frequency of that loop is measured in order to determine the resonance frequency. Such electronic circuits fitted for that frequency measurement are well known and, therefore, will not be described in detail. 
     The measurement of the resonance frequency f 0  leads to the determination of mass m of the material which pushes down on the flexible beam, in accordance with the formula: 
               f   0     =       1     2   ⁢   π       ⁢       k   m               
with k being the rigidity of the structure.
 
     There is now described a second embodiment of a micro scale circuit which uses, instead of a silicon substrate, a non-conductive substrate such as quartz or glass. 
     In this second embodiment, one deposits on the quartz or glass substrate a first conductive layer of polymer gel. This first layer is deposited as a thin layer by means of known spinning techniques, which are then patterned. 
     One then deposits a sacrificial oxide layer, such as silicon oxide (SiO 2 ). 
     There is then deposited a second layer of conductive polymer which is then etched, as mentioned above, in order to take the profile of a beam forming the resonator. The second layer of polymer can use the same or a different material than the one which was used for the first layer. 
     One then performs the release of the resonator by eliminating the sacrificial oxide layer, thus completing the functional part of the micro scale. 
     The packaging operation can then be performed as described above for the first embodiment. 
       FIGS. 6   a - 6   i  show in detail one particular embodiment of a micro scale located on a doped substrate. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6   a , the process starts with the preparation of one conventional substrate or bulk  100 , fitted with Shallow Trench Insulator (STI) trenches  101  which allow the electric insulation of the different structures located on the same bulk. 
     The so-called STI technique is well known and, therefore, will not be discussed further. Substrate  100  is, for instance, monocrystal silicon (Si), which is covered by a sacrificial oxide layer  102 , such as silica (SiO2). 
     One then performs the deposition of one active polymer layer  140 . 
     In a subsequent operation, as illustrated in  FIG. 6   b , that polymer layer  140  is etched in order to create the structure of the hanging beam. The anchors or supporting elements of the hanging beam are not shown in the drawing since those are located on both sides of the plane of  FIG. 6   b , ahead and backwards, and are located on the STI zones or even directly on the silicon substrate  100  after a selective etching of the oxide area. 
     The implant zone is then created so as to embody the first terminal  110 , located under layer  140 . Clearly, any type of implantation, of the type N or P, can be used. Moreover, the doping energy will be adjusted in accordance to the thickness of the oxide layer  102  to go through. If the oxide layer  102  is particularly thick, one may consider a dry etching for instance, prior to the doping operation. Such techniques are well known and will not be elaborated further. 
     In a subsequent operation, shown in  FIG. 6   c , the sacrificial oxide layer  102  is eliminated by means of any known technique, such as for instance a wet etching based on a BHF acid. 
     The structure of the gate beam is thus completed and this is then followed by an appropriate packaging operation, such as, for instance, the packaging process s illustrated in  FIGS. 6   d  to  6   i.    
     This packaging process includes a sputtering step of amorphous silicon in order to deposit a sacrificial layer  141 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6   d . Alternatively, one may deposit a polysilicon conformal layer—i.e., which does not shown any particular orientation—by means of known techniques. 
     This layer  141  is then etched in order to form two sides on the bias, respectively on the left and on the right, of layer  141 , as this is illustrated in  FIG. 6   e.    
     One then proceed with, as illustrated in  FIG. 6   f , with the deposit of a structural layer  142  which permits the cover of the semiconductor product to be fastened, which is carried out by means of the deposit of an appropriate oxide or nitride layer. 
     One then proceeds with the opening of a contact via in the doped zone  110 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6   g , so as to create the bottom terminal. One also creates one via on one of the anchors of the hanging beam in order to carry out the top terminal (not visible in  FIG. 6   g ). One then fills in the via with a conductive polymer  144  in order to create the contact with the bottom terminal of  FIG. 6   h.    
     One then creates release vias, i.e., small openings  145  allowing to reach the sacrificial layer of amorphous silicon  141 , which is then removed by means of known etching techniques. 
     One then deposits one non conformal oxide layer in order to cover the metallization which were made in the contact vias and also in the openings of the release vias. 
     The circuit of the micro scale which was described above may be inserted within one electronic oscillating circuit, so as to measure the variation of the resonance frequency which depends on the weight of the material weighing on the top terminal of the resonator. 
     The micro scale which was described is fully suitable for the measurement of the weight of microparticles. Alternative, this micro scale may serve for the measurement of the density of a liquid made of microparticles of biological material to weigh. In that embodiment, the micro circuit will include one inlet and one outlet for the purpose of the flow of the liquid and have the latter reach the resonator. It should be noticed that, in this particular application of liquid density measurement, the quality factor of the resonator is decreased with respect to the high value which is normally obtained when the beam can resonate in the air. 
     The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet, are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further embodiments. 
     These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.