Abstract:
A precision, micro-mechanical semiconductor accelerometer of the differential-capacitor type comprises a pair of etched opposing cover layers fusion bonded to opposite sides of an etched proofmass layer to form a hermetically sealed assembly. The cover layers are formed from commercially available, Silicon-On-Insulator (“SOI”) wafers to significantly reduce cost and complexity of fabrication and assembly. The functional semiconductor parts of the accelerometer are dry-etched using the BOSCH method of reactive ion etching (“RIE”), thereby significantly reducing contamination inherent in prior art wet-etching processes, and resulting in features advantageously bounded by substantially vertical sidewalls.

Description:
CLAIM TO PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. 120 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/127,643 of Robert E. Stewart and Arnold E. Goldman titled “Micro-Mechanical Semiconductor Accelerometer” filed Jul. 31, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,427. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to accelerometers. More particularly, the invention pertains to a high-precision, micro-mechanical semiconductor accelerometer of the differential-capacitor type. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Precision micro-mechanical accelerometers have wide application in the fields of inertial navigation and guidance, both with respect to long-range, re-usable vehicles, such as aircraft, and to relatively short-range, one-use vehicles, such as munitions. Such inertial sensors are employed both to measure linear accelerations and to measure vehicular angular rates within an inertial navigation system when employed in Coriolis-based systems. A representative type of system for measuring both linear accelerations and rotation rates with reference to a set of three orthogonal axes is the multi-sensor as taught, for example in United States patents (property of the assignee herein) U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,877, entitled “Three Axis Inertial Measurement Unit With Counterbalanced Mechanical Oscillator”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,289, entitled “Three Axis Inertial Measurement Unit With Counterbalanced, Low Inertia Mechanical Oscillator”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,627 entitled “Three Axis Inertial Measurement Unit With Counterbalanced, Low Inertia Mechanical Oscillator”. 
     Precision micro-mechanical accelerometers can take several functional forms including the so-called differential-capacitor type. In general, this type employs a central plate or proofmass disposed between two fixed outer plates and moveable at a flexure in response to an acceleration force along its sensitive axis. In an open-loop system, the two values of capacitance defined between the central plate and respective ones of the outer plates are differenced, with the change in capacitance resulting from a displacement of the central plate being picked off by electrodes and employed as the measure of the acceleration force. 
     In a closed loop system, measured changes in the differential capacitance are fed back in the form of electrostatic field forces applied to the respective plates of the two capacitors to restore and maintain the central plate precisely between the two outer plates. The electrostatic force required to restore and maintain the central plate at the null condition is the measure of the inertial force acting on the plate. Such accelerometers, when used in conjunction with an appropriately-sensitive capacitive measurement system, are capable of detecting and measuring extremely minute accelerations, (approximately 1 μG). An example of such a system employing charge control forcing and rate multiplier outputs is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,921 entitled “Force Balance Instrument with Electrostatic Charge Control”, property of the assignee herein. 
     Accelerometer arrangements in which a silicon proofmass is sandwiched between a pair of opposed glass plates with plated-on metallic electrodes have experienced inefficiency due to the differing coefficients of thermal expansion of the glass plates and the silicon disk sandwiched therebetween. Such thermal incompatibility can produce warping with temperature changes, resulting in excessive bias and scale factor temperature sensitivities. An additional problem encountered with accelerometers employing glass plates is that mobile ion redistribution with thermal cycling causes non-repeatability of bias and scale factor. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,742 (&#39;742 Patent) entitled “Micromechanical Accelerometer With Plate-Like Semiconductor Wafers” (also property of the assignee herein, the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference) teaches an all-silicon, precision micro-mechanical accelerometer that substantially overcomes the aforesaid problems. The accelerometer of the patent comprises an assembly of five anisotropiocally-etched silicon wafers (each formed by a conventional wet process) bonded to one another to form a hermetically-sealed assembly. By employing a structure entirely of silicon layers coated with thin oxide layers, the thermal coefficient mismatches of the prior art are substantially overcome. As a result, the device of the &#39;742 Patent is able to withstand a wider range of temperature variation with reduced temperature sensitivity and improved repeatability and stability. 
     While the above-described device provides quite satisfactory results in terms of both tactical performance and cost, the patented assembly entails the etching of five separate wafers followed by their subsequent registration and bonding. The etching process for defining the electrodes and their screening frames employs conventional etching solutions such as potassium hydroxide (KOH). Such solutions can, under certain circumstances, produce alkaline ions that penetrate into and contaminate the silicon oxide layers, degrading accelerometer performance. The anisotropic nature of the etching process, which proceeds along the crystallographic planes of the silicon layers defines sloped, rather than straight, sidewalls. In the assembled accelerometer, such sloped edges result in regions of “non-forcing mass” where edge portions are spaced too far from the electrodes to be interactively responsive to the voltages nominally applied. Thus, higher voltages must be applied to overcome the extra mass. This situation occurs whether the electrodes act as forcers (as in the case of a closed-loop system), or signal pick-offs (as in the case of both open- and closed-loop systems). 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The preceding and other shortcomings of the prior art are addressed by the present invention which provides, a method for producing a semiconductor accelerometer of the differential capacitor type. Such method includes the step of selecting a semiconductor proofmass wafer and a pair of SOI wafers of the type that have an oxide layer between semiconductor handle and device layers. Such method includes the step of fixing a first thickness of dielectric material on the opposite sides of each SOI wafer and fixing a second thickness of dielectric material on opposite sides of the proofmass layer. 
     The device layer and the first thickness of dielectric material overlying the device layer of each SOI wafer is etched through to the underlying oxide layer to define on the device layer an associated central electrode in a continuous, marginal frame around the electrode. A proofmass wafer and the second thickness of dielectric material on the opposite sides thereof are etched to define within that wafer a central proofmass having opposite faces, a continuous, marginal frame around the proofmass and a flexible hinge connecting the proofmass to the frame. 
     The proofmass wafer is assembled between opposed ones of the SOI wafers so that the frames of the wafers are in alignment, the proofmass is centered between and spaced apart from respective, opposed ones of the electrodes by distance equal to the sum of the first and second thicknesses of dielectric material and the proofmass is articulated to rotate between the electrodes and the hinge. Each SOI wafer is bonded to a respective one of the opposed sides of the proofmass wafer so that a respective one of the first thickness of dielectric material on the frames around the electrodes is fused to a respective one of the second thicknesses of dielectric material on the opposed sides of the frame around the proofmass to form a hermetically sealed assembly. 
    
    
     The foregoing and other features and advantages of this invention will become further apparent from the detailed description that follows. This description is accompanied by a set of drawing figures. Numerals of the drawing figures, corresponding to those of the written description, point to the various features of the invention. Like numerals refer to like features through-out both the written description and the drawing figures. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a micro-mechanical batch fabricated semiconductor accelerometer in accordance with the present invention disclosing its three-wafer structure; and 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side elevation view of the accelerometer with numerals to the right and left sides thereof identifying material layers and numerals associated with internal lead lines identifying accelerometer structures. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view for illustrating structures of a high-precision, micro-mechanical semiconductor accelerometer  10  in accordance with the invention. The view shows that the accelerometer  10  generally comprises three wafer elements including a top cover wafer element  12 , a bottom cover wafer element  14 , and a proofmass wafer element  16  located therebetween. 
     As may be seen more clearly in FIG. 2, a cross-sectional side elevation view of the assembled accelerometer  10  with numerals to the right and left of the accelerometer  10  identifying material layers and numerals associated with internal lead lines identifying accelerometer structures, each of the top and bottom cover wafer elements  12  and  14  comprises an integral composite of a central oxide layers  18 ,  20 , an exterior semiconductor layer  22 ,  24  and an interior semiconductor layer  26 ,  28  respectively. Each of the semiconductor layers  22  through  28  preferably comprises silicon although the invention is not limited to this semiconductor. 
     Each of the top and bottom cover wafers  12  and  14  is of the Silicon-On-Insulator (“SOI”) type to simplify the fabrication and assembly of the accelerometer  10  in contrast to the device of the &#39;742 Patent, referenced above that requires the assembly and bonding of five wafer elements. 
     SOI wafer elements are commercially available from a number of sources, including Shinitzu of Japan. Such wafer elements generally comprise a central buried oxide layer, having a thickness of from about 0.5 to 2.0 microns sandwiched between so-called “handle” (exterior) and “device” (interior) layers of semiconductor material. Referring principally to FIG. 2 in regard to the material composition of the accelerometer  10  and to FIG. 1 with respect to particular structural features thereof, dielectric layers  30 ,  32  of a first predetermined thickness are grown on the interior semiconductor layers  26 ,  28  for fusion bonding to corresponding dielectric layers  34 ,  36  grown upon the opposed surfaces of the proofmass wafer  16 . The material of the dielectric layers may be either an oxide or a nitride that is thermally grown on the associated, underlying layer of semiconductor material. 
     Prior to fusion bonding of the accelerometer assembly  10 , each of the interior semiconductor layers  26 ,  28  and associated dielectric layers  30  and  32  respectively, is dry etched to define an electrode  38 ,  40  and surrounding peripheral guard rings, only one of which, the guard ring  42  and electrode  40  of the bottom cover wafer  14 , is visible (FIG.  1 ), it being understood that like facing structures are formed upon the upper cover wafer  12 . 
     Unlike the cover wafers, the proofmass wafer  14  is fabricated from a semiconductor wafer that is not a composite. Prior to assembly into the accelerometer  10 , the dielectric layers  34 ,  36  (preferably of oxide or nitride of a second predetermined thickness) are dry etched, along with the silicon wafer, in accordance with a predetermined pattern to define therein a proofmass element  46  free of dielectric material, at least one flexible hinge  48  and a surrounding guard ring  50 . It is noted that the gaps between the opposed surfaces of the proofmass element  46  and the facing surfaces of the electrodes  38 ,  40  are readily set by selection of dielectric layer thicknesses. 
     Prior to the fusion bonding of the wafers  12 ,  14  and  16  to complete the accelerometer assembly  10  (and, as is well known in the art, concomitant with device etch fabrication steps described earlier), means for accomplishing the required accesses to the accelerometer  10  to achieve a fully-functional device are formed. Such means includes access apertures  52 ,  54  dry etched through the handle and buried oxide layers of the wafers  12  and  14  to provide contact to the electrodes  34  and  36  respectively. Metallized connection pads  56 ,  57  are plated at the bottom of the apertures  52 ,  54  respectively, providing a conductive medium for receiving a wire in bonded or soldered relationship. 
     The top, bottom and central wafer elements  12 ,  14  and  16  are each dry etched along an overlying edge thereof to define a series of adjacent plateaus that successively expose regions of the silicon wafers for receiving plated metallic connection pads  58  as shown in FIG. 1 (not visible in FIG.  2 ). Furthermore it may be seen most clearly in FIG. 2 that, when etching the upper layers  18 ,  26  and  30  and the corresponding lower layers  20 ,  28  and  32 , the masking thereof is such that the dielectric layer  30  and interior semiconductor layer are etched to expose underlying regions of the buried oxide layer  18 . A like geometry pertains to the etching of the dielectric layer  32  and adjacent interior semiconductor layer  28  relative to the underlying buried oxide layer  20 . As a result, protective regions  59  of dielectric material (only some of which are indicated by numeral in FIG. 2) are created within the assembled structure. Such protective regions  59  significantly add to the electrical isolation between layers of semiconductor material whereby the opportunity for leakage currents to bridge the dielectric layers of the accelerometer  10  is minimized. That is, while the thickness of a layer of dielectric material may be on the order of 1 or 2 microns, the dielectric protective regions  59  extend about 20 to 100 microns from the etched (or sawed) edges of the silicon layers. Such added electrical isolation at the edges of the accelerometer  10  is particularly helpful for protection against shorting that can result from the predictable contamination associated with the dicing or sawing of the batch processed wafers. 
     It may be additionally desirable to form a plurality of small apertures  60  that extend through the proofmass  46  to reduce the damping effect of any residual gaseous medium on pendulous response. 
     After completion of the various structures, the proofmass wafer element  16  is sandwiched between opposing device layers  26 ,  28  of the top and bottom cover wafers  12  and  14  respectively. The proofmass  46  is centered between the two opposing electrodes  38  and  40  and spaced apart from each by a gap  61  whose thickness is equal to sum of the thicknesses of the facing dielectric layers  30 ,  34  and  32 ,  36  that remain after etching to form the guard ring and electrode of the (top and bottom) covers. The remaining regions of the etched dielectric layers of the proofmass wafer element  16  and the top and bottom cover wafer elements  12  and  14  are then fusion-bonded to one another to form a hermetically sealed assembly. The proofmass  46  is moveable about the hinges  48  to displace between the electrodes  38  and  40  in response to an acceleration force acting in a direction normal to the plane of the proofmass  46 . 
     It should be noted that each of the features of the accelerometer  10  that is defined by etching, and particularly those of the proofmass  46  includes peripheral sidewalls that are substantially vertical, or orthogonal to the plane of the associated wafer. This is to be contrasted with the slanted, or tapered, sidewalls that result from wet, anisotropic etching processes in which material removal occurs preferentially along crystallographic planes. As described above, this is a very desirable characteristic as dead-weight regions are thereby removed from the proofmass  46  to permit more efficient energy usage. 
     The straight sidewalls of the accelerometer  10  as described above are formed by employing a dry etching process of the reactive ion etching (“RIE”) type. At present, there are two different commercially-known RIE deep trench dry silicon etching processes, “BOSCH” and “ALCATEL”. The accelerometer  10  is preferably formed as described through etching steps in accordance with the BOSCH process. 
     By employing RIE etching, substantially vertical sidewalls of the etched features are obtained without concern for the crystallographic orientation of the etched substrate. Such processes avoid the possibility of alkaline ion contamination of the silicon dioxide dielectric layers required for electrical isolation between the proofmass, electrodes, guard rings and covers. The inventors have found that, by using a dry, RIE etching process to avoid the creation of non-forcing masses at the edges of the etched apertures, a more compact device results, which, in turn, enables more devices to be fabricated per wafer to produce a significant cost advantage. Additionally, it has been found that, by eliminating the non-forcing masses, a ten to twenty percent increase in efficiency (in terms of volts/G) is achieved in an accelerometer employed in a relatively high-G environment. 
     Thus it is seen that the present invention provides an accelerometer assembly  10  that offers the advantages of the device of U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,742 in terms of improved dielectric isolation, shielded electrodes, thermal performance and minimized electrostatic spring while providing substantial performance and economic enhancements. The use of R.I.E., as opposed to anisotropic, etching leads to straight sidewalls that offer enhanced performance and production gains. Such gains result both from enhanced compactness and lesser material contamination. The use of SOI wafers, as opposed to discrete corresponding elements, simplifies manufacture to thereby further reduce cost. By reducing the number of wafers from five to three, two bonding layers or steps are eliminated. The use of SOI eliminates any need to perform separate registrations of the silicon layers of the SOI wafers. Finally, as RIE etching is employed, no attention need be made to the crystallographic orientations of any of the three wafers (SOI and otherwise) employed, further reducing the cost of manufacture of a device in accordance with the invention. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to its presently preferred embodiment, it is not limited thereto. Rather, this invention is limited only insofar as it is defined by the following set of patent claims and includes within its scope all equivalents thereof.