IP Library Granted Patent US 9,376,312
Granted Patent B2
US 9,376,312 · App. 14/031,041 · Granted Jun 28, 2016

Method for fabricating a transducer apparatus

Inventors: Daniel N. Koury, Jr. (Mesa, AZ); Anthony F. Flannery, Jr. (Los Gatos, CA)
Assignee: mCube Inc.
B81C1/00142H01G5/16B81C1/00261B81C1/00492H01G4/40H01G5/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,376,312
App. No.
14/031,041
Granted
Jun 28, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

An improved MEMS transducer apparatus and method. The method includes providing a movable base structure having a base surface region overlying a substrate and a center cavity with a cavity surface region. At least one center anchor structure and one spring structure can be spatially disposed within a substantially circular portion of the surface region. The spring structure(s) can be coupled the center anchor structure(s) to a portion of the cavity surface region. The substantially circular portion can be configured within a vicinity of the center of the surface region. At least one capacitor element, having a fixed and a movable capacitor element, can be spatially disposed within a vicinity of the cavity surface region. The fixed capacitor element(s) can be coupled to the center anchor structure(s) and the movable capacitor element(s) can be spatially disposed on a portion of the cavity surface region.

Claims (32)

1. A method of fabricating a transducer apparatus, the method comprising:

providing a substrate member having a surface region;

forming a movable base structure having a base surface region;

removing at least one portion of the movable base structure to form a center cavity with a cavity surface region;

forming at least one center anchor structure spatially disposed within a substantially circular portion of the surface region, the at least one center anchor structure(s) being configured within a vicinity of a center of the surface region that is within the center cavity;

forming at least one spring structure coupled to at least one portion of the cavity surface region, the at least one spring structure being coupled to the at least one center anchor structure; and

forming at least one capacitor element, the at least one capacitor element being spatially disposed within a vicinity of the cavity surface region.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the number of the at least one spring structure is proportional to the number of the at least one capacitor element.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the configuration of the at least one spring structure depends on the configuration of the at least one capacitor element.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the movable base structure comprises a silicon material or a metal material.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one center anchor structure comprises a silicon material or a metal material.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one spring structure comprises a silicon material or a metal material.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the movable base structure is a rectangular movable base structure.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the at least one spring structure are spatially oriented to be 45 degrees or (pi/4) radians relative to the edges of the rectangular movable base structure.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one spring structure are spatially oriented to be 45 degrees or (pi/4) radians relative to the edges of a die.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the movable base structure comprises a polymer or a dielectric.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one anchor structure comprises a polymer or a dielectric.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one spring structure comprises a polymer or a dielectric.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the at least one spring structure comprises at least one segment having a segment length.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is operably coupled to a Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) device or an electronic device.

15. The method of claim 1 configured to fabricate an apparatus tolerant of external deformations.

16. A method of fabricating a transducer apparatus, the method comprising:

providing a substrate member having a surface region;

forming a rectangular movable base structure having a base surface region;

removing at least one portion of the rectangular movable base structure to form a center cavity having a cavity surface region;

forming four anchor structures spatially disposed within a substantially circular portion of the surface region, the four anchor structures being configured within a vicinity of the center of the surface region within the center cavity;

forming four spring structures each of which are coupled to at least one portion of the cavity surface region, the spring structures being coupled to the center anchor structures; and

forming at least one capacitor element coupled to each of the center anchor structures, the capacitor elements being spatially disposed within a vicinity of the cavity surface region.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the number of the spring structures is proportional to the number of the capacitor elements.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the configuration of the spring structures depends on the configuration of the capacitor elements.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the spring structures are spatially oriented to be 45 degrees or (pi/4) radians relative to the edges of the rectangular movable base structure.

20. The method of claim 16 configured to fabricate an apparatus tolerant of external deformations.

Assignments (10)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2026
From: MOVELLA INC.
To: PACIFIC RESEARCH GROUP PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 075352/0224 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Nov 15, 2022
From: MOVELLA INC.
To: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 061948/0764 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2022
From: EASTWARD FUND MANAGEMENT, LLC
To: MOVELLA INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MCUBE, INC.)
Reel/Frame 061940/0635 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2022
From: EASTWARD FUND MANAGEMENT, LLC
To: MOVELLA INC.
Reel/Frame 061940/0602 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2022
From: SILICON VALLEY BANK
To: MOVELLA INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MCUBE, INC.)
Reel/Frame 061936/0024 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 1, 2022
From: MCUBE, INC.
To: MOVELLA INC.
Reel/Frame 061610/0352 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2021
From: MOVELLA INC.
To: EASTWARD FUND MANAGEMENT, LLC
Reel/Frame 058520/0690 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 2, 2020
From: MCUBE, INC.
To: EASTWARD FUND MANAGEMENT, LLC
Reel/Frame 053826/0626 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 11, 2020
From: MCUBE, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 052909/0119 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 25, 2016
From: KOURY, DANIEL N., JR.; FLANNERY, ANTHONY F., JR.
To: MCUBE, INC.
Reel/Frame 038721/0335 →
Continuity (2)
Division 12859647 · Aug 19, 2010
Related Publication 20140024162A1 · Jan 23, 2014