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US5610431A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Covers for micromechanical sensors and other semiconductor devices

Assignee: Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc
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Filing: 1995-05-12
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Granted: 1997-03-11
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Expires: 2015-05-12
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Abstract

Abstract A cover for a micromechanical device through which input/output connections to the device are made. The cover includes at least two doped semiconductor standoffs supporting an insulative layer. One or more metalized vias extend from a top surface of the insulative layer, or from a bottom surface of the base, to a respective standoff. Electrical connection is made to the covered device through the metalized vias and doped semiconductor standoffs. The covered chip may be vacuum sealed by providing a ring-like standoff which borders the covered device when the cover is bonded to the base. The resulting covered chip is adaptable for various chip mounting techniques, including flip chip mounting, side mounting combined with either tape automated bonding (TAB) or conductive epoxy connections, or epoxy chip attachment with wire bonding connections. In one embodiment, conductive bumps are formed on the top surface of the insulative cover layer to accommodate flip chip mounting. In another embodiment, conductive traces are run across the top surface of the insulative layer to interconnect the vias to respective edge positioned pads which are electrically interconnected by one of various techniques to pads on a wiring board.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jacob H. Martin

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 10:08
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P1/00; G01P1/02; G01P1/023; G01P15/00; G01P15/02; G01P15/08; G01P15/0802; H; H10; H10W; H10W72/00; H10W72/50; H10W72/551; H10W72/552; H10W72/5524

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 59 words
A cover for a micromechanical device comprising: at least two conductive supports; and an insulative layer having a top surface and a bottom surface disposed over said at least two conductive supports, said insulative layer having at least one metalized via disposed therethrough to extend from said top insulative layer surface to a respective one of said conductive supports.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 59 words
A cover for a micromechanical device comprising: at least two conductive supports; and an insulative layer having a top surface and a bottom surface disposed over said at least two conductive supports, said insulative layer having at least one metalized via disposed therethrough to extend from said top insulative layer surface to a respective one of said conductive supports.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
The cover recited in claim 1 wherein said at least two conductive supports are comprised of silicon doped with boron.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
The cover recited in claim 1 wherein said insulative layer is comprised of PYREX™.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 32 words
The cover recited in claim 1 further comprising at least one conductive bump disposed on said top surface of said insulative layer in electrical contact with said at least one metalized via.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 34 words
The cover recited in claim 1 wherein said top surface of said insulative layer has at least one conductive trace thereon for electrically interconnecting said at least one metalized via to a conductive pad.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
The cover recited in claim 5 wherein said conductive pad is positioned adjacent to an edge of said insulative layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 76 words
A micromechanical structure comprising: a base supporting a micromechanical device; and a cover bonded to a top surface of said base, said cover comprising: at least two conductive supports; and an insulative layer having a top surface and a bottom surface disposed over said at least two conductive supports, said insulative layer having a metalized via disposed therethrough to extend from said top surface of said insulative layer to a respective one of said conductive supports.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 76 words
A micromechanical structure comprising: a base supporting a micromechanical device; and a cover bonded to a top surface of said base, said cover comprising: at least two conductive supports; and an insulative layer having a top surface and a bottom surface disposed over said at least two conductive supports, said insulative layer having a metalized via disposed therethrough to extend from said top surface of said insulative layer to a respective one of said conductive supports.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 15 words
The micromechanical structure recited in claim 7 wherein said device is a micromechanical inertial sensor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 21 words
The micromechanical structure recited in claim 7 wherein said at least two conductive supports are comprised of silicon doped with boron.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 16 words
The micromechanical structure recited in claim 7 wherein said cover is anodically bonded to said base.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 16 words
The micromechanical structure recited in claim 7 wherein said cover is diffusion bonded to said base.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 15 words
The micromechanical structure recited in claim 7 wherein said insulative layer is comprised of PYREX™.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 14 words
The micromechanical structure recited in claim 7 wherein said base is comprised of PYREX™.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 33 words
The micromechanical structure recited in claim 7 further comprising at least one conductive bump disposed on said top surface of said insulative layer in electrical contact with said at least one metalized via.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 34 words
The micromechanical structure recited in claim 7 wherein said top surface of said insulative layer has at least one conductive trace thereon for electrically interconnecting said at least one via to a conductive pad.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 21 words
The micromechanical structure recited in claim 15 wherein said conductive pad is positioned adjacent to an edge of said micromechanical structure.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2000-03-10 2000-09-09 2001-03-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2004-03-10 2004-09-09 2005-03-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2008-03-10 2008-09-09 2009-03-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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