Patent Abstract:
A method of forming a micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) pixel, such as a DMD-type pixel, by depositing a photoresist spacer layer upon a substrate. The photoresist spacer layer is exposed to a grey-scale lithographic mask to shape an upper surface of the photoresist spacer layer. A control member is formed upon the shaped spacer layer, and has a sloped portion configured to maximize energy density. An image member is configured to be positioned as a function of the control member to form a spatial light modulator (SLM).

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to semiconductor micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology, and more particularly to spatial light modulators (SLMs). 
     BACKGROUND 
     Semiconductor spatial light modulators (SLMs) are suitable for digital imaging applications, including projectors, televisions, printers, and other technology. A DIGITAL MICROMIRROR DEVICE (DMD) is a type of SLM invented in 1987 at TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED of Dallas, Tex. The DMD is a monolithic semiconductor device based on micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. The DMD generally comprises an area array of bi-stable movable micromirrors forming picture elements (pixels) fabricated over an area array of corresponding addressing memory cells and associated addressing electrodes disposed under the micromirrors. The addressing electrodes are selectively energized by a control circuit with a voltage potential to create an electrostatic attraction force causing the respective micromirrors to tilt towards the respective address electrode. In some applications, the micromirror may be provided with a voltage potential as well. One embodiment of a DMD is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,011,015 assigned to the same assignee of the present disclosure, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     The fabrication of the above-described DMD superstructure typically uses a CMOS-like process with a completed SRAM memory circuit. Through the use of multiple photomask layers, the superstructure is formed with alternating layers of aluminum for the address electrodes, hinges, spring tips, mirror layers, and hardened photoresist for sacrificial layers that form air gaps. 
     The monolithic nature of the design and build of the DMD pixel technology is associated with quasi-planar structures interacting electrostatically with the tilting micromirrors. This presents a problem with the ability to shrink structures while attempting to maintain electrostatic entitlement. In the end, the design becomes more and more sensitive to electrostatic torque delivery originating from the edges of planar members and all the variations that this can create. 
     The electrostatic efficiency of a torsional spatial light modulator is limited by an elevated address electrode that is parallel to the micromirror when the micromirror is horizontal and not tilted, but which address electrode is angled with respect to the micromirror when tilted toward the address electrode. Providing a higher bias operation to increase torque generation on each address side of the micromirror can provide complications, such as field gradient induced migration of species in the headspace which ultimately can cause failure of the SLM. It can also create shorting where rounded features of raised binge together with a high field (and field gradient) can result in either catastrophic or transient current which can sputter metal from the binge or completely open up the base of the vias. The CMOS node capabilities to deliver additional bias are also problematic as the paths are shrunk. 
     SUMMARY 
     This disclosure provides a sloped electrode for a torsional spatial light modulator. 
     In a first example embodiment, a method comprises depositing a photoresist spacer layer upon an upper surface of a substrate, and exposing the spacer layer to a grey-scale lithographic mask to shape an upper surface of the spacer layer. A control member is formed upon the shaped upper surface such that the control member is non-parallel to the substrate. A positionable image member is formed over the control member, where the image member is configured to be positioned as a function of the control member to form a spatial light modulator (SLM). 
     In some embodiments, the upper surface of the spacer layer is sloped with respect to the substrate by the grey-scale lithographic mask by masking a selected portion of the spacer layer. The control member comprises an address electrode having a sloped portion. The image member is substantially parallel to the control electrode when tilted over and towards the control electrode to establish a substantially uniform energy density. The substrate includes memory configured to control a position of the image member, and the image member has a light reflective upper surface configured to modulate incident light and form an image. The image member is formed on a torsion hinge, and the control member is elevated above the substrate and positioned below the image member. 
     In another example embodiment, a method comprises depositing a spacer layer upon an upper surface of a substrate, and forming an address electrode using a grey-scale lithographic mask to shape an upper surface of the spacer layer. A positionable image member over the substrate is configured to be positioned as a function of the address electrode to form a spatial light modulator (SLM). 
     In some embodiments, the address electrode is formed to be elevated above the substrate and positioned below the image member, wherein the address electrode is sloped with respect to the substrate. The image member is substantially parallel to the address electrode when tilted. The substrate includes memory configured to control a position of the image member, wherein the image member has a light reflective upper surface configured to modulate incident light and form an image, and the image member is formed on a torsion hinge. 
     In another example embodiment, a method comprises depositing a photoresist spacer layer upon an upper surface of a substrate including memory, and exposing the spacer layer to a grey-scale lithographic mask to shape an upper surface of the spacer layer. A control member is formed upon the shaped upper surface, and a positionable image member is formed over the control member. The image member is substantially parallel to the control member when tilted as a function of the memory to form a spatial light modulator (SLM). 
     In some embodiments, the image member has a light reflective upper surface configured to modulate incident light and form an image, and the image member is formed on a torsion hinge. Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of this disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded view of a MEMS pixel element in accordance with this disclosure; 
         FIG. 2A ,  FIG. 2B  and  FIG. 2C  illustrate three primary considerations with a tilted MEMS pixel; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example embodiment of the M1 layer including the address electrode and the bias bus formed on the memory cell; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an image of the top of the first sacrificial photoresist spacer layer when processed over the M1 layer; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the M2 layer including the elevated address electrodes, hinge and spring tips superimposed on top of the photoresist topography shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows a high-resolution, optical interferometer capture of a 7.6 μm DMD pixel specifically looking at the M2 level, showing a significant amount of curling in the elevated address electrodes and the spring tips; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates curling in the elevated address electrode reducing the combined angle between the mirror and the elevated address electrodes; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a pair of sloped and elevated address electrodes according to this disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a top perspective view of the address electrodes for the pixel shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a top perspective view of the sloped elevated address electrodes according to this disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a graph of the mirror angle as a function of the voltage applied to the address electrodes; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates the speed of the mirror crossover for the address electrode configurations shown in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIGS. 13-22  illustrate an example process according to this disclosure; 
         FIG. 23  illustrates the maximized energy density between the mirror and the elevated address electrodes; 
         FIGS. 24-34  illustrate another example embodiment whereby a shaped address electrode is formed that is completely angled and without a horizontal portion; and 
         FIG. 35  illustrates another example embodiment of an elevated sloped address electrode that has an extended length providing electrostatic torque gains while maintaining a relatively uniform electric field and field gradient. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 through 35 , discussed below, and the various examples used to describe the principles of the present invention in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present invention may be implemented in any suitable manner and in any type of suitably arranged device or system. 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a pixel element  10 , shown in this example embodiment as a DMD pixel. Pixel element  10  is one of an array of such pixel elements fabricated on a wafer (substrate), using semiconductor fabrication techniques. Pixel element  10  is a monolithically integrated MEMS superstructure cell fabricated over a SRAM memory cell  11  formed on the wafer. Two sacrificial photoresist layers have been removed by plasma etching to produce air gaps between three metal layers of the superstructure. For purposes of this description, the three metal layers are “spaced” apart by being separated by these air gaps. 
     The uppermost first metal (M3) layer  14  has a reflective mirror  14   a . The air gap under the mirror  14   a  frees the mirror  14   a  to rotate about a compliant torsion hinge  13   b , which is part of the second metal (M2) layer  13 . The mirror  14   a  is supported on the torsion hinge  13   b  by a via  14   b . Elevated address electrodes  13   a  also form part of the M2 layer  13  and are positioned under mirror  14   a . A third metal (M1) layer  12  has address electrodes  12   a  for the mirror  14   a  formed on the wafer, the address electrodes  12   a  and  13   a  each being connected to and driven with a voltage potential by memory cell  11 . The M1 layer  12  further has a bias bus  12   b  which electrically interconnects the mirrors  14   a  of all pixels  10  to bond pads  12   c  at the chip perimeter. An off-chip driver (not shown) supplies the bias waveform necessary to bond pads  12   c  for proper digital operation. 
     The mirrors  14   a  may each be 7.4 μm square and made of aluminum for maximum reflectivity. They are arrayed on 8 μm centers to form a matrix having a high fill factor (˜90%). Other dimensions of the mirrors  14   a  may be provided depending on the application. The high fill factor produces high efficiency for light use at the pixel level and a seamless (pixelation-free) projected image. The hinge layer  13  under the mirrors  14   a  permits a close spacing of the mirrors  14   a . Because of the underlying placement of the hinges  13   b , an array of pixel elements  10  is referred to as a “hidden hinge” type DMD architecture. 
     In operation, electrostatic fields are developed between the mirror  14   a  and its address electrodes  12   a  and  13   a , creating an electrostatic torque. This torque works against the restoring torque of the hinge  13   b  to produce mirror rotation in a positive or negative direction. The mirror  14   a  rotates until it comes to rest (or lands) against spring tips  13   c , which are part of the hinge layer  13 . These spring tips  13   c  are attached to the underlying address layer  12 , and thus provide a stationary but flexible landing surface for the mirror  14   a.    
       FIG. 2A ,  FIG. 2B  and  FIG. 2C  illustrate three primary considerations with a tilted MEMS pixel  10  and the electrostatic considerations present.  FIG. 2A  shows a theoretical electrostatic distribution between the elevated address electrode  13   a  and the mirror  14   a . As shown in  FIG. 2B , upward curl is a commonplace condition with the quasi-planar elevated address electrodes  13   a  which gives additional edge sensitivities. Ideally, it is desired to have a uniform total distribution of the electrostatic field (and force/torque) across the elevated address electrode  13   a  as shown in  FIG. 2C . 
     Adding to the differential stress of M2 layer, additional curl results in address electrodes  13   a  and spring tips  13   c  due to topography coupling in layer  12  through the first sacrificial photoresist spacer layer  15  ( FIG. 4 ), referred to as “binge”. Chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) cannot be acted on the binge in the photoresist. Furthermore, because of the gaps between electrodes  12   a , the photoresist will fill partially. This non-uniformity is what creates the topography variations. 
       FIG. 3  shows an example embodiment of the M1 layer  12  including the address electrode  12   a  and the bias bus  12   b  formed on the memory cell  11 .  FIG. 4  is an image of the top of the first sacrificial photoresist spacer layer  15  when processed over M1 layer  12 . The high features, shown in black in this grey-scale image, show a mounding feature in spacer layer  15  forming the binge over the address electrode  12   a.    
       FIG. 5  shows the M2 layer  13  including the elevated address electrodes  13   a , hinge  13   b  and spring tips  13   c  superimposed on top of the photoresist topography shown in  FIG. 4 , with the notable binge at the outer edge of the elevated address electrodes  13   a  (with respect to the hinge  13   b ). The binge over the address electrodes  12   a  consequently causes a variation in the associated elevated address electrodes  13   a  and spring tips  13   c  which are processed over the binge, also referred to as curling. 
       FIG. 6  shows a high-resolution, optical interferometer capture of a 7.6 μm DMD pixel specifically looking at the M2 level  13 . There is a significant amount of curling in the elevated address electrodes  13   a  and the spring tips  13   c , each which may curl about 2.5 degrees. Scale in this image is exaggerated to show the degree to which the elevated address electrodes  13   a  and as well as the spring tips  13   c  are canted in the opposite direction and act to degrade the electrostatic efficiency of the elevated address electrodes  13   a . The curling diminishes the gap between the mirror  14   a  and the adjacent elevated address electrodes  13   a  during dynamic operation. This is a common location for marginality of the pixel  10  design and is directly correlated to bias destruct and operational space margin. This curling reduces the combined angle between the mirror  14   a  and the elevated address electrodes  13   a  to about 14.5 degrees, as shown in  FIG. 7 . This undesirably gives significant sensitivity to the specific shapes of these address electrode edges to the electrostatic torque delivery and thereby operation and margin of the pixel. 
     According to this disclosure, the address electrodes  12   a  and  13   a  are combined to form a single address electrode that is both sloped and elevated such that the mirror  14   a  is positioned substantially parallel to the combined address electrode when tilted. A sub-wavelength grey-scale lithography masking process is used to form the shaped address electrode. Advantageously, the surface area of the sloped and elevated address electrode provides electrostatic gains and maximizes energy density in the tilted (latched) state. By sloping the outer portion of the address electrode, the sloped surface can be laterally extended partially or entirely the geometrical length of the mirror  14   a  without causing collisions because of the additional gap margin obtained by a degree of parallelism between the mirror  14   a  and the raised and sloped address electrode. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates one example embodiment of a pair of sloped and elevated address electrodes  20  having an upper surface comprising an outer sloped portion  22  and an inner horizontal portion  24  each facing the mirror  14   a  above. In an alternative example embodiment, the entire address electrode  20  can be sloped and the horizontal portion  24  is omitted. The horizontal portion  24  is positioned close to the torsion hinge  13   b , and the sloped portion  22  angles downwardly away from the horizontal portion  24 . In one example embodiment, the sloped portion  22  is angled at 16 degrees with respect to horizontal, and the tilted mirror  14   a  is angled 12 degrees with respect to horizontal when it lands on the spring tips  13   c . Of course, other angles may be suitable in other embodiments. 
     The sloped portion  22  of address electrode  20  is substantially parallel with the mirror  14   a  in the tilted state, which maximizes electrostatic energy density while maintaining margin, and which helps to ensure that electrostatic energy is uniformly distributed. In other embodiments, different angles of the sloped portion  22  and the mirror  14   a  tilt can be selected to establish the angle between the tilted mirror  14   a  and the sloped electrode portion  22 . In one embodiment, the angle of each can be the same such that the mirror  14   a  and the sloped portion  22  are parallel to each other. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a top perspective view of the address electrodes  12   a  and  13   a  for the pixel  10  shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 10  illustrates a top perspective view of the address electrodes  20  according to this disclosure. The opposing inner edges of the address electrodes  20  have a notch or recess  26  to provide clearance for the torsion hinge  13   b  (not shown). 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a graph of the angle of the mirror  14   a  as a function of the voltage applied to the address electrodes for the address electrode configurations shown in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 . The address voltage is ramped up from zero, and it can be seen that elevated sloped electrode  20  has a pull-in threshold of about 7.5 volts, about 2 volts lower than the 9.5 volt pull-in voltage for the combination of address electrodes  12   a  and  13   a.    
       FIG. 12  illustrates the speed of the crossover of the mirror  14   a  for the address electrode configurations shown in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 . Crossover is defined as the mirror  14   a  crossing from one tilted state to the other tilted state. The sloped electrode  20  provides a faster crossover, where the landed electrostatic moment is increased by a factor of about 2×. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 13-23  there is shown the fabrication process using a sub-wavelength grey-scale lithography masking process according to this disclosure to create the sloped and elevated address electrodes  20 . The mirror  14   a  is formed using a second sacrificial spacer level according to conventional resist patterning processes and will not be described here in detail. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates the sacrificial photoresist deposition of spacer layer  15  upon the substrate  11  including the memory cells (also referred to as a carrier), illustrating the non-planar surface of spacer layer  15  conforming to the non-planar surface of substrate  11 . 
       FIG. 14  illustrates exposing the photoresist of spacer layer  15  to a grey-scale mask  28 . 
       FIG. 15  illustrates developing and etching the exposed photoresist of spacer layer  15  to realize a selectively shaped photoresist upper surface  30  of the spacer layer  15  having a pair of angled upper surfaces  31  each extending downwardly from a flat central portion  32 . 
       FIG. 16  illustrates a blanket deposition of M2 layer  13  over the spacer layer  15 . The M2 layer  13  comprises a metal layer of aluminum or other material as desired. Advantageously, the M2 layer  13  conforms to the shape of the upper surface  30  of spacer layer  15  and thus has a pair of angled surfaces  34  and a flat central portion  35 . 
       FIG. 17  illustrates the deposition of a pattern photoresist layer  36  upon the M2 layer  13 , which is also referred to as a pattern resist level. 
       FIG. 18  illustrates exposing the photoresist of layer  36  to define a pattern  38  in the M2 layer  13 , the pattern  38  corresponding to shaped electrodes  20  to be created in M2 layer  13 . 
       FIG. 19  illustrates developing and stripping the exposed layer  36  to produce the pattern  38 . 
       FIG. 20  illustrates etching the M2 layer  13  to define address electrodes  20  in the M2 layer  13  over the spacer layer  15 . 
       FIG. 21  illustrates removing the pattern resist  38  such that electrodes  20  remain over the spacer layer  15 . 
       FIG. 22  illustrates removing the sacrificial spacer layer  15 , resulting in the electrodes  20  formed from M2 layer  13 , each having a sloped portion  22  and a flat portion  24  as shown in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 23  illustrates the combined angle between the mirror  14   a  and the sloped portion  22  of address electrode  20  is about 4 degrees. This advantageously improves the electrostatic torque delivery while maintaining a substantially uniform electric field and field gradient. 
       FIGS. 24-34  illustrate another example embodiment of the disclosure whereby a shaped address electrode  40  is formed that is completely angled and without a horizontal portion, wherein like numerals refer to like elements. 
       FIGS. 25-26  illustrate shaping the spacer layer  15  using a sub-wavelength grey-scale lithography masking process such that an upper surface  30  of photoresist layer  15  has a pair of angled surfaces  42  extending downwardly from an apex  44 . 
       FIG. 27  illustrates a blanket deposition of M2 layer  13  over the spacer layer  15 . The M2 layer  13  comprises a metal layer of aluminum or other material as desired. Advantageously, the M2 layer  13  conforms to the shape of the upper surface  30  of spacer layer  15  and thus has a pair of angled surfaces  46  extending from an apex  48 . 
       FIG. 28  illustrates the deposition of a pattern photoresist layer  36  upon the M2 layer  13 , which is also referred to as a pattern resist level. 
       FIG. 29  illustrates exposing the photoresist of layer  36  to define a resist pattern  50  in the M2 layer  13 , the resist pattern  50  corresponding to shaped electrodes  40  to be created in M2 layer  13 . 
       FIG. 30  illustrates developing and stripping the exposed layer  36  to produce the resist pattern  50 . 
       FIG. 31  illustrates etching the M2 layer  13  to define address electrodes  40  in the M2 layer  13  over the spacer layer  15 . 
       FIG. 32  illustrates removing the resist pattern  50  such that electrodes  40  remain over the spacer layer  15 . 
       FIG. 33  illustrates removing the sacrificial spacer layer  15 , resulting in the electrodes  40  formed from M2 layer  13 , each having a sloped portion. 
       FIG. 34  illustrates the combined angle between the mirror  14   a  and the sloped portion of address electrode  40  is about 4 degrees. This advantageously improves the electrostatic torque delivery while maintaining a substantially uniform electric field and field gradient. 
       FIG. 35  illustrates another example embodiment of an elevated sloped address electrode  60  formed according to the process described and shown in  FIGS. 23-34 , but wherein the resist pattern  50  in  FIG. 32  is extended to form address electrode  60  that is longer than address electrode  40 . This extended address electrode  60  provides electrostatic torque gains while maintaining a relatively uniform electric field and field gradient. 
     Although the figures have illustrated different circuits and operational examples, various changes may be made to the figures. For example, the spacer layer  15  can be exposed by the grey-scale masking to create other shapes in the address electrodes, and also shape other features of the pixel  10 . 
     It may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document. The terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or. The phrase “associated with,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, have a relationship to or with, or the like. The phrase “at least one of,” when used with a list of items, means that different combinations of one or more of the listed items may be used, and only one item in the list may be needed. For example, “at least one of: A, B, and C” includes any of the following combinations: A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, and A and B and C. 
     While this disclosure has described certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does not define or constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, as defined by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1