IP Library Granted Patent US 11,671,067
Granted Patent B2
US 11,671,067 · App. 16/822,689 · Granted Jun 6, 2023

Piezoelectric acoustic resonator manufactured with piezoelectric thin film transfer process

Inventors: Dae Ho Kim (Cornelius, NC); Mary Winters (Webster, NY); Ramakrishna Vetury (Charlotte, NC); Jeffrey B. Shealy (Cornelius, NC)
Assignee: Akoustis, Inc.
H03H3/02H01L41/0475H01L41/0477H01L41/053H01L41/081H01L41/18H01L41/23H01L41/29H01L41/317H01L41/337H03H9/02015H03H9/02118H03H9/0523H03H9/105H03H9/13H03H9/173H03H9/175H03H9/177H03H9/547H01L41/0805H01L41/312H03H2003/021H03H2003/025Y10T29/42
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,671,067
App. No.
16/822,689
Granted
Jun 6, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and structure for a transfer process for an acoustic resonator device. In an example, a bulk acoustic wave resonator (BAWR) with an air reflection cavity is formed. A piezoelectric thin film is grown on a crystalline substrate. A first patterned electrode is deposited on the surface of the piezoelectric film. An etched sacrificial layer is deposited over the first electrode and a planarized support layer is deposited over the sacrificial layer, which is then bonded to a substrate wafer. The crystalline substrate is removed and a second patterned electrode is deposited over a second surface of the film. The sacrificial layer is etched to release the air reflection cavity. Also, a cavity can instead be etched into the support layer prior to bonding with the substrate wafer. Alternatively, a reflector structure can be deposited on the first electrode, replacing the cavity.

Claims (22)

1. An acoustic resonator device comprising:

a bond substrate;

a bonding support layer overlying the bond substrate;

a support layer overlying the bonding support layer, the support layer having an air cavity;

a first electrode overlying the air cavity and a portion of the support layer, the first electrode being recessed in the support layer;

a first passivation layer overlying the support layer and being physically coupled to the first electrode;

a piezoelectric film overlying the support layer, the first electrode, and the air cavity, the piezoelectric film having an electrode contact via;

a second electrode formed overlying the piezoelectric film;

a top metal formed overlying the piezoelectric film, the top metal being physically coupled to the first electrode through the electrode contact via;

a first contact metal formed overlying a portion of the second electrode and the piezoelectric film;

a second contact metal formed overlying a portion of the top metal and the piezoelectric film; and

a second passivation layer formed overlying the piezoelectric film, the second electrode, and the top metal.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the growth substrate and bond substrate include silicon (S), silicon carbide (SiC), sapphire (Al 2 O 3 ), silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), or other silicon materials.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric film is a single crystal or polycrystalline piezoelectric film that includes aluminum nitride (AlN), gallium nitride (GaN), Al x Ga 1-x N alloys, or other epitaxial materials.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric film is an upper portion of a polycrystalline piezoelectric film that includes aluminum nitride (AlN), gallium nitride (GaN), Al x Ga 1-x N alloys, or other polycrystalline epitaxial materials.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the first electrode, second electrode, and top metal include molybdenum (Mo), ruthenium (Ru), tungsten (W), or other conductive materials; and wherein the first and second passivation layers can include silicon nitride (SiN), silicon oxide (SiO), silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), or other silicon materials.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the first and second contact metals include gold (Au), aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), aluminum bronze (AlCu), or other metal materials.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the support layer and the bonding support layer include silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) or other silicon materials.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode includes an energy confinement structure.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the energy confinement structure is configured as a mass loaded area surrounding a resonator area of the piezoelectric film.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the resonator area includes a region where the first electrode, the piezoelectric film, and the second electrode overlap.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein all of the first electrode is recessed in the support layer.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 1, 2025
From: AKOUSTIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AKOUSTIS, INC.; RFM INTEGRATED DEVICE INC.
To: TUNE HOLDINGS CORP.
Reel/Frame 071577/0095 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 1, 2025
From: TUNE HOLDINGS CORP.
To: AKOUSTIS TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
Reel/Frame 071782/0462 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2020
From: KIM, DAE HO; WINTERS, MARY; VETURY, RAMAKRISHNA; SHEALY, JEFFREY
To: AKOUSTIS, INC.
Reel/Frame 052172/0311 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 16433849 · Jun 6, 2019
Continuation 15784919 · Oct 16, 2017
Continuation In Part 15068510 · Mar 11, 2016
Related Publication 20200220514A1 · Jul 9, 2020