IP Library Granted Patent US 6,880,406
Granted Patent B2
US 6,880,406 · App. 10/604,723 · Granted Apr 19, 2005

Semiconductor pressure sensor

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,880,406
App. No.
10/604,723
Granted
Apr 19, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor pressure sensor comprises a non-single-crystal-silicon-based substrate, a movable insulating diaphragm, at least one piezoresistor positioned on the insulating diaphragm, an insulating supporter positioned on the non-single-crystal-silicon-based substrate for fixing two ends of the insulating diaphragm and forming a cavity between the insulating diaphragm and the non-single-crystal-silicon-based substrate, and a thin film transistor (TFT) control circuit positioned on the non-single-crystal-silicon-based substrate and electrically connected to the insulating diaphragm and the piezoresistor.

Claims (34)

1. A semiconductor pressure sensor comprising:

a non-single-crystal-silicon-based substrate;

a movable insulating diaphragm;

at least one piezoresistor positioned on the insulating diaphragm;

an insulating supporter positioned on the non-single-crystal-silicon-based substrate for fixing two ends of the insulating diaphragm and forming a cavity between the insulating diaphragm and the non-single-crystal-silicon-based substrate; and

a thin film transistor (TFT) control circuit positioned on the non-single-crystal-silicon-based substrate and electrically connected to the insulating diaphragm and the piezoresistor.

2. The semiconductor pressure sensor of claim 1 wherein the non-single-crystal-silicon-based substrate is a glass substrate.

3. The semiconductor pressure sensor of claim 2 wherein the TFT control circuit is a low temperature polysilicon TFT control circuit.

4. The semiconductor pressure sensor of claim 1 wherein the non-single-crystal-silicon-based substrate is a quartz substrate.

5. The semiconductor pressure sensor of claim 4 wherein the TFT control circuit is a high temperature polysilicon TFT control circuit.

6. The semiconductor pressure sensor of claim 1 wherein the insulating diaphragm and the insulating supporter are formed simultaneously.

7. The semiconductor pressure sensor of claim 6 wherein the insulating diaphragm and the insulating supporter both comprise silicon dioxide.

8. The semiconductor pressure sensor of claim 1 wherein the piezoresistor comprises doped polysilicon.

9. The semiconductor pressure sensor of claim 1 wherein the piezoresistor comprises a piezoelectric thin film.

10. The semiconductor pressure sensor of claim 9 wherein the piezoelectric thin film comprises ZnO, BaTiO 3 , or PbZrTiO 3 (PZT).

11. The semiconductor pressure sensor of claim 1 wherein the non-single-crystal-silicon-based substrate further comprises a thin film transistor display region for displaying a variation of pressure detected by the semiconductor pressure sensor.

12. A semiconductor pressure sensor comprising:

an insulating substrate;

a movable insulating diaphragm;

a piezoresistor positioned on the insulating diaphragm;

an insulating supporter positioned on the insulating substrate for fixing two ends of the insulating diaphragm and forming a cavity between the insulating diaphragm and the insulating substrate; and

a control circuit electrically connected to the insulating diaphragm and the piezoresistor.

13. The semiconductor pressure sensor of claim 12 wherein the insulating diaphragm and the insulating supporter are formed simultaneously.

14. The semiconductor pressure sensor of claim 12 wherein the insulating diaphragm and the insulating supporter both comprise silicon dioxide.

15. The semiconductor pressure sensor of claim 12 wherein the piezoresistor comprises doped polysilicon.

16. The semiconductor pressure sensor of claim 12 wherein the piezoresistor is a piezoelectric thin film.

17. The semiconductor pressure sensor of claim 16 wherein the piezoelectric thin film comprises ZnO, BaTiO 3 , or PbZrTiO 3 (PZT).

18. The semiconductor pressure sensor of claim 12 wherein the insulating substrate is a glass substrate.

19. The semiconductor pressure sensor of claim 18 wherein the control circuit is positioned on the glass substrate and the control circuit comprises a low temperature polysilicon thin film transistor control circuit.

20. The semiconductor pressure sensor of claim 12 wherein the insulating substrate is a quartz substrate.

21. The semiconductor pressure sensor of claim 20 wherein the control circuit is positioned on the quartz substrate and the control circuit comprises a high temperature polysilicon thin film transistor control circuit.

22. The semiconductor pressure sensor of claim 12 wherein the control circuit is positioned on a printed circuit board (PCB) electrically connected to the insulating diaphragm and the piezoresistor via a flexible printed circuit (FPC) board.

23. The semiconductor pressure sensor of claim 12 wherein the control circuit is positioned on a flexible printed circuit (FPC) board, the control circuit being electrically connected to the insulating diaphragm and the piezoresistor via the flexible printed circuit board.

24. The semiconductor pressure sensor of claim 12 wherein the insulating substrate further comprises a thin film transistor display region for displaying a variation of pressure detected by the semiconductor pressure sensor.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 23, 2018
From: AU OPTRONICS CORPORATION
To: CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS INTERNATIONAL (HK) LIMITED
Reel/Frame 045021/0755 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 13, 2003
From: YANG, CHIEN-SHENG
To: AU OPTRONICS CORP.
Reel/Frame 013867/0254 →