IP Library Granted Patent US 8,146,437
Granted Patent B2
US 8,146,437 · App. 12/630,179 · Granted Apr 3, 2012

Diaphragm structure and MEMS device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,146,437
App. No.
12/630,179
Granted
Apr 3, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A diaphragm structure for a MEMS device includes a through-hole formed so as to penetrate from an upper surface to a bottom surface of a substrate; and a vibrating electrode film formed on the upper surface of the substrate so as to cover the through-hole. An opening shape of the through-hole in the upper surface of the substrate is substantially hexagonal.

Claims (45)

1. A diaphragm structure, comprising:

a substrate having a through-hole formed so as to penetrate from an upper surface to a bottom surface of the substrate; and

a vibrating electrode film formed on the upper surface of the substrate so as to cover the through-hole, wherein:

an opening shape of the through-hole in the upper surface of the substrate is substantially hexagonal,

the substrate is a silicon substrate, and

an opening shape of the through-hole in the bottom surface of the substrate is substantially rhombic.

2. The diaphragm structure of claim 1 , wherein

inner walls of the through-hole have substantially vertical surfaces and inclined surfaces with respect to the upper surface of the substrate.

3. The diaphragm structure of claim 1 , wherein a plane orientation of the substrate is substantially (110).

4. A MEMS device, comprising:

a substrate having a through-hole formed so as to penetrate from an upper surface to a bottom surface of the substrate;

a vibrating electrode film formed on the upper surface of the substrate so as to cover the through-hole;

a fixed electrode formed above the substrate so as to oppose to the vibrating electrode film with an air gap being interposed therebetween; and

a plurality of holes formed in the fixed electrode, wherein:

an opening shape of the through-hole in the upper surface of the substrate is substantially-hexagonal,

the substrate is a silicon substrate, and

an opening shape of the through-hole in the bottom surface of the substrate is substantially rhombic.

5. The MEMS device of claim 4 , wherein

an interior angle of all corners of a substantially-hexagonal shape which is the opening shape of the through-hole is larger than approximately 90 degrees.

6. The MEMS device of claim 4 , wherein

a plane orientation of the substrate is substantially (110), and

inner walls of the through-hole have substantially-vertical surfaces and inclined surfaces with respect to the upper surface of the substrate.

7. The MEMS device of claim 4 , wherein

a plane orientation of the substrate falls within a range of (110)±3 degrees,

an interior angle of two opposing corners of a substantially-hexagonal shape which is the opening shape of the through-hole falls within a range of 109.4±3 degrees, and

an interior angle of other four corners of the substantially-hexagonal shape falls within a range of 125.3±3 degrees.

8. The MEMS device of claim 4 , wherein

a planar shape of the substrate is substantially rhombic in a plan view.

9. The MEMS device of claim 8 , wherein

an interior angle of two opposing corners of a substantially-rhombic shape which is the planar shape of the substrate falls within a range of 70.6±3 degrees; and

an interior angle of other two corners of the substantially-rhombic shape falls within a range of 109.4±3 degrees.

10. The MEMS device of claim 4 , wherein

the MEMS device is an acoustic sensor.

11. The MEMS device of claim 4 , wherein:

a plane orientation of the substrate is substantially (110),

an interior angle of two opposing corners of a substantially-rhombic shape which is the opening shape of the through-hole in the bottom surface of the substrate falls within a range of 70.6±3 degrees, and

an interior angle of other two corners of the substantially-rhombic shape falls within a range of 109.4±3 degrees.

12. The MEMS device of claim 4 , wherein

inner walls of the through-hole have substantially vertical surfaces and inclined surfaces with respect to the upper surface of the substrate.

13. The MEMS device of claim 4 , wherein:

inner walls of the through-hole has substantially vertical surfaces and inclined surfaces with respect to the upper surface of the substrate,

the inclined surface are formed in portions of the substrate corresponding to two corners of the substantially-rhombic shape, and

an interior angle of the two corners falls within a range of 70.6±3 degrees.

14. The MEMS device of claim 4 , wherein

the size of the through-hole in the upper surface of the substrate is smaller than the size of the through-hole in the bottom surface of the substrate.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2025
From: TDK CORPORATION
To: INVENSENSE, INC.
Reel/Frame 073080/0824 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 15, 2017
From: EPCOS AG
To: TDK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 041265/0442 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 4, 2013
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: EPCOS AG
Reel/Frame 031138/0412 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2010
From: MIYOSHI, YUICHI; TAKEUCHI, YUSUKE; YAMAOKA, TOHRU; OGURA, HIROSHI
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023847/0713 →