IP Library Granted Patent US 12,278,607
Granted Patent B2
US 12,278,607 · App. 18/342,623 · Granted Apr 15, 2025

Method for fabricating an acoustic resonator device with perimeter structures

Inventors: Ramakrishna Vetury (Charlotte, NC); Alexander Y. Feldman (Huntersville, NC); Michael D. Hodge (Belmont, NC); Art Geiss (Greensboro, NC); Shawn R. Gibb (Huntersville, NC); Mark D. Boomgarden (Huntersville, NC); Michael P. Lewis (Charlotte, NC); Pinal Patel (Charlotte, NC); Jeffrey B. Shealy (Cornelius, NC)
Assignee: Akoustis, Inc.
H03H3/02H03H3/04H03H9/02118H03H9/0514H03H9/1035H03H9/131H03H9/132H03H9/133H03H9/171H03H9/174H03H9/564H03H9/568H03H2003/0414H03H2003/0428
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,278,607
App. No.
18/342,623
Granted
Apr 15, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of manufacture for an acoustic resonator or filter device. In an example, the present method can include forming metal electrodes with different geometric areas and profile shapes coupled to a piezoelectric layer overlying a substrate. These metal electrodes can also be formed within cavities of the piezoelectric layer or the substrate with varying geometric areas. Combined with specific dimensional ratios and ion implantations, such techniques can increase device performance metrics. In an example, the present method can include forming various types of perimeter structures surrounding the metal electrodes, which can be on top or bottom of the piezoelectric layer. These perimeter structures can use various combinations of modifications to shape, material, and continuity. These perimeter structures can also be combined with sandbar structures, piezoelectric layer cavities, the geometric variations previously discussed to improve device performance metrics.

Claims (42)

1. A method for fabricating an acoustic resonator device, the method comprising:

providing a substrate having a substrate surface region and a backside cavity characterized by a cavity geometric area;

forming a piezoelectric layer overlying the substrate surface region, the piezoelectric layer having a top piezoelectric surface region and a bottom piezoelectric surface region;

forming a topside energy confinement structure overlying the top piezoelectric surface region, the topside energy confinement structure being characterized by a topside structure geometric area and a topside structure perimeter, the topside energy confinement structure having at least one portion removed forming a topside structure break region;

forming a topside metal electrode overlying the top piezoelectric surface region and within the topside energy confinement structure, the topside metal electrode being characterized by a topside electrode geometric area;

forming a backside energy confinement structure underlying the bottom piezoelectric surface region, the backside energy confinement structure being characterized by a backside structure geometric area, the backside energy confinement structure having at least one portion removed forming a backside structure break region; and

forming a backside metal electrode underlying the bottom piezoelectric surface region and within the backside energy confinement structure, the backside metal electrode being characterized by a backside electrode geometric area.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric layer comprises an essentially single crystal material with a combination of single crystal and polycrystalline materials or a polycrystalline material.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming a topside sandbar structure overlying the top piezoelectric surface region within a vicinity of the topside structure break region.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the topside sandbar structure comprises a straight sandbar structure, a curved sandbar structure, or an angled sandbar structure.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the topside sandbar structure is spatially configured with a gap having a distance of about 0.1 um to about 100 μm to the topside metal electrode.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming a backside sandbar structure underlying the bottom piezoelectric surface region within a vicinity of the backside structure break region.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the backside sandbar structure comprises a straight sandbar structure, a curved sandbar structure, or an angled sandbar structure.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the backside sandbar structure is spatially configured with a gap having a distance of about 0.1 um to about 100 μm to the backside metal electrode.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the topside energy confinement structure comprises a castellation pattern characterized by a repeated castellation shape, wherein the castellation shape includes a square, a triangle, a polygon shape, or a non-polygon shape.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the backside energy confinement structure comprises a castellation pattern characterized by a repeated castellation shape, wherein the castellation shape includes a square, a triangle, a polygon shape, or a non-polygon shape.

11. A method for fabricating an acoustic resonator device, the method comprising:

providing a substrate having a substrate surface region and a backside cavity characterized by a cavity geometric area;

forming a piezoelectric layer overlying the substrate surface region, the piezoelectric layer having a top piezoelectric surface region and a bottom piezoelectric surface region;

forming a topside energy confinement structure overlying the top piezoelectric surface region, the topside energy confinement structure being characterized by a topside structure geometric area and a topside structure perimeter;

forming a topside metal electrode overlying the top piezoelectric surface region and within the topside energy confinement structure, the topside metal electrode being characterized by a topside electrode geometric area;

forming a backside energy confinement structure underlying the bottom piezoelectric surface region, the backside energy confinement structure being characterized by a backside structure geometric area; and

forming a backside metal electrode underlying the bottom piezoelectric surface region and within the backside energy confinement structure, the backside metal electrode being characterized by a backside electrode geometric area.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the piezoelectric layer comprises an essentially single crystal material with a combination of single crystal and polycrystalline materials or a polycrystalline material.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the topside energy confinement structure comprises a castellation pattern characterized by a repeated castellation shape, wherein the castellation shape includes a square, a triangle, a polygon shape, or a non-polygon shape.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the backside energy confinement structure comprises a castellation pattern characterized by a repeated castellation shape, wherein the castellation shape includes a square, a triangle, a polygon shape, or a non-polygon shape.

15. A method for fabricating an acoustic resonator device, the method comprising:

providing a substrate having a substrate surface region and a backside cavity characterized by a cavity geometric area;

forming a piezoelectric layer overlying the substrate surface region, the piezoelectric layer having a top piezoelectric surface region and a bottom piezoelectric surface region;

forming a topside energy confinement structure overlying the top piezoelectric surface region, the topside energy confinement structure being characterized by a topside structure geometric area and a topside structure perimeter, the topside energy confinement structure having at least one portion removed forming a topside structure break region;

forming a topside sandbar structure overlying the top piezoelectric surface region within a vicinity of the topside structure break region;

forming a topside metal electrode overlying the top piezoelectric surface region and within the topside energy confinement structure, the topside metal electrode being characterized by a topside electrode geometric area;

forming a backside energy confinement structure underlying the bottom piezoelectric surface region, the backside energy confinement structure being characterized by a backside structure geometric area, the backside energy confinement structure having at least one portion removed forming a backside structure break region;

forming a backside sandbar structure underlying the bottom piezoelectric surface region within a vicinity of the backside structure break region; and

forming a backside metal electrode underlying the bottom piezoelectric surface region and within the backside energy confinement structure, the backside metal electrode being characterized by a backside electrode geometric area.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the piezoelectric layer comprises an essentially single crystal material with a combination of single crystal and polycrystalline materials or a polycrystalline material.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the topside sandbar structure comprises a straight sandbar structure, a curved sandbar structure, or an angled sandbar structure; or

wherein the backside sandbar structure comprises a straight sandbar structure, a curved sandbar structure, or an angled sandbar structure.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the topside sandbar structure is spatially configured with a gap having a distance of about 0.1 um to about 100 μm to the topside metal electrode.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the backside sandbar structure is spatially configured with a gap having a distance of about 0.1 um to about 100 μm to the backside metal electrode.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the topside energy confinement structure comprises a castellation pattern characterized by a repeated castellation shape, wherein the castellation shape includes a square, a triangle, a polygon shape, or a non-polygon shape; or

wherein the backside energy confinement structure comprises a castellation pattern characterized by a repeated castellation shape, wherein the castellation shape includes a square, a triangle, a polygon shape, or a non-polygon shape.

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 Jun 28, 2023
From: VETURY, RAMAKRISHNA; FELDMAN, ALEXANDER Y.; HODGE, MICHAEL D.; GEISS, ART; GIBB, SHAWN R.; BOOMGARDEN, MARK D.; LEWIS, MICHAEL P.; PATEL, PINAL; SHEALY, JEFFREY B.
To: AKOUSTIS, INC.
Reel/Frame 064095/0557 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17490733 · Sep 30, 2021
Continuation 16136158 · Sep 19, 2018
Continuation 15342061 · Nov 2, 2016
Continuation 15341218 · Nov 2, 2016
Related Publication 20230344399A1 · Oct 26, 2023
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