IP Library Patent Application 18287204
Patent Application
App. No. 18/287,204

METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING CURVED SURFACE SUPPORT STRUCTURE, AND HEMISPHERICAL RESONATOR GYROSCOPE

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Patent No.
US None
App. No.
18/287,204
Abstract

One embodiment comprise: forming an annular recess on an upper surface of the lower wafer by etching, and a stem having a tip higher than a radially-outer-surface a generally center of the recess by etching the radially-outer-surface, which is a plane located radially outer side of the recess; forming a plurality of first electrodes arranged on the radially-outer-surface; forming a sacrificial layer, which is an annular deposition pattern on the plurality of first electrodes; forming a plurality of second electrodes, which are arranged on a bottom surface of the upper wafer in correspondence with the plurality of first electrodes; bonding the upper wafer and the lower wafer with the sacrificial layer in between so that the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes are superimposed; separating a radially outer portion, which is located radially outer side of the upper wafer than the second electrodes by etching after the bonding; vacuum heating the upper wafer, the lower wafer, and the sacrificial layer are under a condition where a pressure in a cavity defined by the upper wafer, the lower wafer, and the sacrificial layer is different from an ambient pressure after the separating; and removing the sacrificial layer by etching, after the vacuum heating at the pressure different from the ambient pressure.

Claims (32)

1 . A method for manufacturing a curved surface supported structure comprising an upper wafer and a lower wafer, the method comprising:

forming an annular recess on an upper surface of the lower wafer by etching, and a stem having a tip higher than a radially-outer-surface at a generally center of the annular recess by etching the radially-outer-surface, wherein the radially-outer-surface is a plane located at a radially outer side of the annular recess;

forming a plurality of first electrodes arranged on the radially-outer-surface;

forming a sacrificial layer, which is an annular deposition pattern on the plurality of first electrodes;

forming a plurality of second electrodes, which are arranged on a bottom surface of the upper wafer in correspondence with the plurality of first electrodes;

bonding the upper wafer and the lower wafer with the sacrificial layer in between so that the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes are superimposed;

separating a radially outer portion, which is located at a radially outer side of the upper wafer relative to the plurality of second electrodes by etching after the bonding;

vacuum heating the upper wafer, the lower wafer, and the sacrificial layer under a condition where a pressure in a cavity defined by the upper wafer, the lower wafer, and the sacrificial layer is different from an ambient pressure after the separating; and

removing the sacrificial layer by etching after the vacuum heating at the pressure different from the ambient pressure.

2 . The method for manufacturing a curved surface supported structure as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising vacuum heating the upper wafer, the lower wafer, and the sacrificial layer under a condition where the pressure in the cavity is equal to the ambient pressure after the separating and before the vacuum heating at the pressure different from the ambient pressure.

3 . The method for manufacturing a curved surface supported structure according to claim 1 , wherein the upper wafer and the lower wafer are made of silicon compounds and the annular deposition pattern is formed with liquid glass.

4 . The method for manufacturing a curved surface supported structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the vacuum heating at the pressure different from the ambient pressure is performed under a condition where the ambient pressure is lower than the pressure in the cavity.

5 . The method for manufacturing a curved surface supported structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the vacuum heating at the pressure different from the ambient pressure is performed under a condition where the ambient pressure is higher than the pressure in the cavity.

6 . The method for manufacturing a curved surface supported structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first electrodes are arranged in an annular pattern on the radially-outer-surface and the plurality of second electrodes are arranged in an annular pattern on the bottom surface of the upper wafer corresponding to the plurality of first electrodes.

7 . A hemispherical resonator gyroscope manufactured from an upper wafer and a lower wafer by a method comprising:

forming an annular recess on an upper surface of the lower wafer by etching, and a stem having a tip higher than a radially-outer-surface at a generally center of the annular recess by etching the radially-outer-surface, wherein the radially-outer-surface is a plane located at a radially outer side of the annular recess;

forming a plurality of first electrodes arranged on the radially-outer-surface;

forming a sacrificial layer, which is an annular deposition pattern on the plurality of first electrodes;

forming a plurality of second electrodes, which are arranged on a bottom surface of the upper wafer in correspondence with the plurality of first electrodes;

bonding the upper wafer and the lower wafer with the sacrificial layer in between so that the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes are superimposed;

separating a radially outer portion, which is located at a radially outer side of the upper wafer relative to the plurality of second electrodes by etching after the bonding;

vacuum heating the upper wafer, the lower wafer, and the sacrificial layer under a condition where a pressure in a cavity defined by the upper wafer, the lower wafer, and the sacrificial layer is different from an ambient pressure after the separating; and

removing the sacrificial layer by etching after the vacuum heating at the pressure different from the ambient pressure.

8 . The method for manufacturing a curved surface supported structure according to claim 2 , wherein the upper wafer and the lower wafer are made of silicon compounds and the annular deposition pattern is formed with liquid glass.

9 . The method for manufacturing a curved surface supported structure as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the vacuum heating at the pressure different from the ambient pressure is performed under a condition where the ambient pressure is lower than the pressure in the cavity.

10 . The method for manufacturing a curved surface supported structure as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the vacuum heating at the pressure different from the ambient pressure is performed under a condition where the ambient pressure is higher than the pressure in the cavity.

11 . The method for manufacturing a curved surface supported structure as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the plurality of first electrodes are arranged in an annular pattern on the radially-outer-surface and the plurality of second electrodes are arranged in an annular pattern on the bottom surface of the upper wafer corresponding to the plurality of first electrodes.

12 . The method for manufacturing a curved surface supported structure as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the vacuum heating at the pressure different from the ambient pressure is performed under a condition where the ambient pressure is lower than the pressure in the cavity.

13 . The method for manufacturing a curved surface supported structure as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the vacuum heating at the pressure different from the ambient pressure is performed under a condition where the ambient pressure is higher than the pressure in the cavity.

14 . The method for manufacturing a curved surface supported structure as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the plurality of first electrodes are arranged in an annular pattern on the radially-outer-surface and the plurality of second electrodes are arranged in an annular pattern on the bottom surface of the upper wafer corresponding to the plurality of first electrodes.

15 . The method for manufacturing a curved surface supported structure as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the plurality of first electrodes are arranged in an annular pattern on the radially-outer-surface and the plurality of second electrodes are arranged in an annular pattern on the bottom surface of the upper wafer corresponding to the plurality of first electrodes.

16 . The method for manufacturing a curved surface supported structure as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the plurality of first electrodes are arranged in an annular pattern on the radially-outer-surface and the plurality of second electrodes are arranged in an annular pattern on the bottom surface of the upper wafer corresponding to the plurality of first electrodes.

Assignments (2)
ADDRESS CHANGE Recorded Apr 20, 2026
From: TOKYO KEIKI INC.
To: TOKYO KEIKI INC.
Reel/Frame 075414/0839 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 17, 2023
From: YAMAGUCHI, TAKAYOSHI; TANI, KAZUAKI
To: TOKYO KEIKI INC.
Reel/Frame 065246/0281 →