IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,069,061
Granted Patent B2
US 10,069,061 · App. 15/171,521 · Granted Sep 4, 2018

Fabrication and harvest of piezoelectric plates

Inventors: Mark Albert Crowder (Portland, OR); Changqing Zhan (Vancouver, WA); Karen Nishimura (Washougal, WA); Paul Schuele (Washougal, WA)
Assignee: eLux Inc.
H01L41/332H01L41/297H01L41/314H01L41/1871H01L41/1873H01L41/1876H01L41/193
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,069,061
App. No.
15/171,521
Granted
Sep 4, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method is provided for fabricating piezoelectric plates. A sacrificial layer is formed overlying a growth substrate. A template layer, with openings exposing sacrificial layer surfaces, is formed over the sacrificial layer. An adhesion layer/first electrode stack is selectively deposited in the openings overlying the sacrificial layer surfaces, and a piezoelectric material formed in the openings overlying the stack. Then, a second electrode is formed overlying the piezoelectric material. Using the second electrode as a hardmask, the piezoelectric material is etched to form polygon-shaped structures, such as disks, attached to the sacrificial layer surfaces. After removing the template layer and annealing, the polygon-shaped structures are separated from the sacrificial layer. With the proper choice of growth substrate material, the annealing can be performed at a relatively high temperature.

Claims (15)

1. A fluidic assembly solution of piezoelectric plates comprising:

a solution;

a plurality of piezoelectric plates suspended in the solution, each plate comprising:

a planar first electrode comprising an adhesion layer/first electrode material stack;

a piezoelectric material overlying the first electrode material; and,

a planar second electrode overlying the piezoelectric material.

2. The fluidic assembly solution of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric material is selected from a group consisting of lead zirconium titanate (PZT), barium titanate (BaTiO 3 ), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyvinylidene fluoride co-polymers (P(VDF-TrFE), quartz, zinc oxide (ZnO), aluminum nitride (AlN), or lanthanum-doped lead zirconium titanate (PZLT).

3. The fluidic assembly solution of claim 1 wherein the first electrode material is selected from a group consisting of platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), ruthenium oxide (RuO 2 ), or gold (Au); and,

wherein the second electrode material is selected from a group consisting of Pt, Pd, RuO 2 , or Au.

4. The fluidic assembly solution of claim 1 wherein the adhesion layer is a material selected from a group consisting of titanium (Ti), nickel (Ni), or chromium (Cr).

5. The fluidic assembly solution of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric plates have a polygon shape.

6. The fluidic assembly solution of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric plates have a disk shape.

7. The fluidic assembly solution of claim 1 wherein particles in the piezoelectric material are polarized in the same direction.

8. The fluidic assembly solution of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric plates are annealed piezoelectric plates, annealed at a temperature of greater than 650° C.

9. The fluidic assembly solution of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric plates are twice-annealed piezoelectric plates, initially annealed at a temperature of greater than 450° C., and subsequently annealed at a temperature of greater than 650° C.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 18, 2018
From: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: ELUX INC.
Reel/Frame 045579/0277 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2017
From: SHARP LABORATORIES OF AMERICA, INC.
To: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 043607/0364 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 2, 2016
From: CROWDER, MARK ALBERT; ZHAN, CHANGQING; NISHIMURA, KAREN; SCHUELE, PAUL
To: SHARP LABORATORIES OF AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 038787/0135 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170352799A1 · Dec 7, 2017