IP Library Granted Patent US 9,440,846
Granted Patent B2
US 9,440,846 · App. 14/445,012 · Granted Sep 13, 2016

System on a chip using integrated MEMS and CMOS devices

Inventor: Xiao “Charles” Yang (Cupertino, CA)
Assignee: mCube, Inc.
B81C1/00246B81B2207/015B81C1/00396B81C1/00626B81C2201/0198B81C2203/0136
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,440,846
App. No.
14/445,012
Granted
Sep 13, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

An integrated MEMS system in which CMOS and MEMS devices are provided to form an integrated CMOS-MEMS system. The system can include a silicon substrate layer, a CMOS layer, MEMS and CMOS devices, and a wafer level packaging (WLP) layer. The CMOS layer can form an interface region, one which any number of CMOS MEMS devices can be configured.

Claims (44)

1. A method for forming a multiple MEMS and CMOS system, comprising:

providing a semiconductor substrate having a surface region;

forming a CMOS IC layer overlying the surface region of the semiconductor substrate, the CMOS IC layer having at least one CMOS device being configured to provide a logic and a memory array, the CMOS IC layer having an interface region overlying the at least one CMOS device;

forming at least a first micro electrical mechanical system (MEMS) configured in a first region overlying a first portion of the interface region, wherein the first MEMS is configured to sense first physical perturbations, wherein the first MEMS includes a MEMS transducer comprising:

forming a movable base having four intermediate cavities disposed in an intermediate portion of the movable base structure, the four intermediate cavities each having a cavity surface region;

forming four intermediate anchor structures spatially disposed within the four intermediate cavities, each of the intermediate anchor structures being coupled to at least one portion of the surface region;

forming four intermediate spring structure coupled to at least one portion of each of the cavity surface region, the intermediate spring structures being coupled to the intermediate anchor structures, the spring structures being spatially oriented to be substantially 45degrees or substantially (pi/4) radians to the edges of a die; and

forming a second MEMS configured in a second region overlying a second portion of the interface region, wherein the second MEMS is configured to sense second physical perturbations, the first physical perturbations being different from the second physical perturbations.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first MEMS is fabricated from a deposited material that is used to fabricate the second MEMS.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first MEMS is fabricated using a mask layer that is used to fabricated the second MEMS.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first MEMS is fabricated using a semiconductor process that is used in fabricating the second MEMS.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming a third MEMS configured in one or more third regions and a fourth MEMS configured in one or more fourth regions;

whereupon the third MEMS is different from the fourth MEMS.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first MEMS comprises an accelerometer, the second MEMS comprises a gyroscope, the third MEMS comprises a magnetic sensor, and the fourth MEMS comprises a pressure sensor;

wherein the gyroscope comprises:

eight gyro anchor structures, the gyro anchor structures being coupled to at least one portion of the surface region;

two gyro frame structure, the gyro frame structure(s) spatially disposed overlying at least one portion of the surface region;

four gyro peripheral structures, the peripheral movable structures spatially disposed overlying at least one portion of the surface region;

two gyro central movable structures, the central movable structures spatially disposed overlying at least one portion of the surface region;

eight first gyro flexible members, the first gyro flexible members being structures; and

eight second gyro flexible members, the second gyro flexible members being coupled to at least one portion of the gyro frame structures and the gyro peripheral movable structures; and

eight gyro flexible structure members, the gyro flexible structure members being coupled to at least one portion of the gyro peripheral movable structures and the gyro central movable structures;

wherein the gyroscope is configured to have each central movable structures coupled to two of the peripheral movable structures by four gyro flexible structure members; wherein two peripheral movable structures are coupled to each gyro frame structure by four second gyro flexible members; and wherein four of the gyro anchor structures are coupled to each of the gyro frame structures by four first gyro flexible members.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first MEMS and the second MEMS comprise one or more bonded materials.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the MEMS transducer further comprises at least one capacitor element spatially configured within a vicinity of the cavity surface region(s) of the movable base structure, wherein the at least one capacitor element includes a fixed capacitor element and a movable capacitor element.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the first MEMS is at least a three axis accelerometer and the second MEMS is at least a six axis inertial sensing device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the semiconductor substrate is encapsulated within a package, and wherein the system further comprises:

a memory configured to store executable instructions;

a display configured to output data to a user; and

a processor electrically coupled to the memory and to the package, wherein the processor is configured to execute executable instructions from memory, wherein the processor is configured to receive signals from the first MEMS device in response to the first physical perturbations, wherein the processor is configured to perform one or more tasks in response to the signals from the first MEMS device, wherein the processor is configured to receive signals from the second MEMS device in response to the second physical perturbations, and wherein the processor is configured to perform one or more tasks in response to the signals from the second MEMS device.

11. A method for forming a multiple MEMS and CMOS system, comprising:

forming a semiconductor substrate having a surface region;

forming a CMOS IC layer overlying the surface region of the semiconductor substrate, the CMOS IC layer having at least one CMOS device being configured to provide a logic and a memory array, the CMOS IC layer having an interface region overlying the at least one CMOS device;

forming at least a first micro electrical mechanical system (MEMS) configured in a first region overlying a first portion of the interface region, wherein the first MEMS is configured to sense first physical perturbations, wherein the first MEMS includes a MEMS differential gyroscope;

wherein the gyroscope comprises:

eight gyro anchor structures, the gyro anchor structures being coupled to at least one portion of the surface region;

two gyro frame structure, the gyro frame structure(s) spatially disposed overlying at least one portion of the surface region;

four gyro peripheral structures, the peripheral movable structures spatially disposed overlying at least one portion of the surface region;

two gyro central movable structures, the central movable structures spatially disposed overlying at least one portion of the surface region;

eight first gyro flexible members, the first gyro flexible members being coupled to at least one portion of the gyro anchor structures and the gyro frame structures; and

eight second gyro flexible members, the second gyro flexible members being coupled to at least one portion of the gyro frame structures and the gyro peripheral movable structure(s); and

eight gyro flexible structure members, the gyro flexible structure members being coupled to at least one portion of the gyro peripheral movable structures and the gyro central movable structures;

wherein the gyroscope is configured to have each central movable structures coupled to two of the peripheral movable structures by four gyro flexible structure members; wherein two peripheral movable structures are coupled to each gyro frame structure by four second gyro flexible members; and wherein four of the gyro anchor structures are coupled to each of the gyro frame structures by four first gyro flexible members; and

forming a second MEMS configured in a second region overlying a second portion of the interface region, wherein the second MEMS is configured to sense second physical perturbations, the first physical perturbations being different from the second physical perturbations.

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 Oct 31, 2022
From: MCUBE, INC.
To: MOVELLA INC.
Reel/Frame 061601/0136 →
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 Aug 2, 2016
From: YANG, XIAO "CHARLES"
To: MCUBE, INC.
Reel/Frame 039317/0710 →
Continuity (3)
Division 12913440 · Oct 27, 2010
Provisional Application 61255490 · Oct 28, 2009
Related Publication 20150307347A1 · Oct 29, 2015