A TECHNICAL PAPER ON

MICROELECTROMECHANICAL
SYSTEMS (MEMS)
SVITS QUEST-2007

AUTHOR
K.V. N.D.LAKSHMI KUMAR
K.L.M.KIRANMAI
III/IV MECHANICAL
K.L.C.E

E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]

ABSTRACT
Micromechatronic is the synergistic integration of microelectromechanical systems,
electronic technologies and precision mechatronics with high added value.
This field is the study of small mechanical devices and systems .they range in size
from a few microns to a few millimeters. This field is called by a wide variety of names
in different parts of the world: micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS),
micromechanics, Microsystems technology (MST), micro machines .this field which
encompasses all aspects of science and technology, is involved with things one smaller
scale. Creative people from all technical disciplines have important contributions to
make.
MEMS are the next logical step in the silicon revolution. The silicon revolution
began over three decades ago; with the introduction of the first integrated circuit .the
integrated circuit has changed virtually every aspect of our lives. The rapid advance in
number of transistors per chip leads to integrated circuit with continuously increasing
capability and performance
MEMS

is

a relatively

new

technology

which

exploits

the

existing

microelectronics infrastructure to create complex machines with micron feature sizes

INTURDUCTION
What are MEMS?
Microelectromechanical systems or MEMS are integrated micro devices or
systems combining electrical and mechanical components .they are fabricated using
integrated circuit(IC) batch processing techniques and can range in size from
micrometers to millimeters. These systems can sense control and actuate on the micro
scale and function individually or in arrays to generate effects on the micro scale.
The field of micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) is based on the use of
integrated circuit (IC) fabrication techniques to create devices capable of acting as

mechanical, electrical, and chemical transducers for applications in areas such as

automotive and medical industries.
It can be difficult for one to imagine the size of MEMS device. The general size
of MEMS is on the order of microns (10 power -6 meter). The main characteristic of
MEMS is their small size. Due to their size, MEMS cannot be seen with the unaided eye.
An optical microscope is usually required for one to be able to see them.

MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF MEMS

Today, we have the capability to produce almost any type of MEMS devices. To
fully understand what MEMS are, we must first understand the basic of the MEMS
manufacturing process, fabrication process, and their material compositions.
MATERIALS

MEMS are generally made from a material called polycrystalline silicon which is
a common material also used to make integrated circuits. Frequently, polycrystalline
silicon is doped with other materials like germanium or phosphate to enhance the
materials properties. Sometimes, copper or aluminium is plated onto the polycrystalline
silicon to allow electrical conduction between different parts of the MEMS devices. Now,
that we understand the material composition of MEMS devices.

PHOTOLITHOGRAPHY

Photolithography is the basic technique used to define the shape of micro

machine structures in the three techniques outlined below. The technique is essentially the
same as that used in the microelectronics industry, which will be described here. The
differences in the photolithographic techniques for Excimer laser micromachining and
LIGA will be outlined in the relevant sections.

Figure shows a thin film of some material (eg. silicon dioxide) on a substrate of
some other material (eg. silicon wafer). It is desired that some of the silicon dioxide
(oxide) is selectively removed so that it only remains in particular areas on the silicon
wafer. Firstly, a mask is produced. This will typically be a chromium pattern on a glass
plate. The wafer is then coated with a polymer which is sensitive to ultraviolet light
called a photo resist. Ultraviolet light is then shone through the mask onto the photo
resist. The photo resist is then developed which transfers the pattern on the mask to the
photo resist layer.
There are two types of photo resist, termed positive and negative photo resist. Where
the ultraviolet light strikes the positive resist it weakens the polymer, so that when the
image is developed the resist is washed away where the light struck it transferring a
positive image of the mask to the resist layer. The opposite occurs with the negative
resist. Where the ultraviolet light strikes negative resist it strengthens the polymer, so
when developed the resist that was not exposed to ultraviolet light is washed away a
negative image of the mask is transferred to the resist.
A chemical (or some other method) is used to remove the oxide where it is exposed
through the openings in the resist. Finally, the resist is removed leaving the patterned
oxide.

SILICON MICROMACHINING
There are number of basic techniques that can be used to pattern thin films that have
been deposited on a silicon wafer, and to shape the wafer itself, to form a set of basic
microstructures (bulk micromachining). The techniques for depositing and patterning thin
films can be used to produce quite complex microstructures on the surface of silicon
wafer (surface silicon micromachining). Electrochemical etching techniques are being
investigated to extend the set of basic silicon micromachining techniques. Silicon
bonding techniques can also be utilized to extend the structures produced by silicon
micromachining techniques into multilayer structures.
BASIC TECHNIQUES:
There are 3 basic techniques associated with silicon micromachining. They are:
1. Deposition of thin films of materials.
2. Removal of material by wet chemical etching.
3. Removal of material by dry chemical etching.
THIN FILMS:
There are number of different techniques that facilitate the deposition or
formation of very thin films of different materials on a silicon wafer. These films can then
be patterned using photolithographic techniques and suitable etching techniques.
Common

materials

include

silicon

dioxide

(oxide),

silicon

nitride

(nitride),

polycrystalline silicon, and aluminium. The number of other materials can be deposited
as thin films, including noble metals such as gold. Noble metals will contaminate
microelectronic circuitry causing it to fail, so any silicon wafers with noble metals on
them have to be processed using equipments specially set aside for the purpose. Noble
metal films are often patterned by a method known as lift off, rather than wet or dry
etching.

WET ETCHING
Wet etching is a blanket name that covers the removal of material by immersing
the wafer in a liquid bath of the chemical etch ant. Wet etch ants fall into two broad
categories; isotropic etch ants and anisotropic etch ants.
Isotropic etch ants attack the material being etched at the same rate in all
directions. Anisotropic etch ants attack the silicon wafer at different rates in different
directions, and so there is more control of shapes produced. Some etch ants attack silicon
at different rates being on the concentration of impurities in the silicon.
DRY ETCHING
The most common form of dry etching for micromachining applications is
reactive ion etching. Ions are accelerated towards the material to be etched, and the
etching reaction is enhanced in the direction of travel of ion. Reactive ion etching is an
anisotropic etching technique. Deep trenches and pits of arbitrary shape and with vertical
walls can be etched in a variety of materials including silicon, oxide, and nitride. Unlike
anisotropic wet etching, RIE is not limited by the crystal planes in the silicon.
LIFT OFF
Lift off is a stenciling technique often used to pattern noble metal films. There are
a number of different techniques; the one outlined here is an assisted lift of method. A
thin film of assisting material (eg. oxide) is deposited. A layer of resist is put over this
and patterned as for photolithography, to expose the oxide in the pattern desired for the
metal. The oxide is then wet etched so as to undercut the resist. The metal is then
deposited on the wafer, typically by a process known as evaporation. The metal pattern is
effectively stenciled through the gaps in the resist, which is then removed lifting off the
unwanted metal with it. The assisting layer is then stripped off through leaving the metal
pattern alone.
EXCIMER LASER MICROMACHINING:
Excimer lasers produce relatively wide beams of ultraviolet laser light. One
interesting application of these lasers is their use in micromachining organic materials

(plastics, polymers, etc). This is because the excimer laser doesn't remove material by
burning or vaporizing it, unlike other types of laser, so the material adjacent to the area
machined is not melted or distorted by heating effects.
When machining organic materials the laser is pulsed on and off, removing
material with each pulse. The amount of material removed is dependent on the material
itself, the length of the pulse, and the intensity (fluency) of the laser light. Below certain
threshold fluency, dependent on the material, the laser light has no effect. As the fluency
is increased above the threshold, the depth of material removed per pulse is also
increased. It is possible to accurately control the depth of the cut by counting the number
of pulses. Quite deep cuts (hundreds of microns) can be made using the excimer laser.
The shape of the structures produced is controlled by using chrome on quartz
mask, like the masks produced for photolithography. In the simplest system the mask is
placed in contact with the material being machined, and the laser light is shone through it.
A more sophisticated and versatile method involves projecting the image of the mask
onto the material. Material is selectively removed where the laser light strikes it.

Structures with vertical sides can be created. By adjusting the optics it is possible
to produce structures with tapered sidewalls.

FABRICATION PROCESS IN MEMS

Advanced Micro Systems Fabrication Technologies

Plastics Technologies

Glass Technologies

Silicon Technologies

Metals Technologies

Precision Machining Technologies

Jet Deposition Technologies

Laser Sintering Technologies

Jet Molding Technologies

Electrical Discharge Machining

Micro milling / drilling

3-D Micro Fabrication Technologies

Emerging Silicon Micro Fabrication Technologies

Deep Reactive Ion Etching

Electroplated Photo resist

Integration of Piezoelectric Devices

ADVANTAGES OF MEMS
There are four main advantages of using MEMS rather than ordinary large scale
machinery.

Ease of production.

MEMS can be mass-produced and are inexpensive to make.

Ease of parts alteration.

Higher reliability than their macro scale counterparts.

DISADVANTAGES OF MEMS

Due to their size, it is physically impossible for MEMS to transfer any significant
power.

MEMS are made up of Poly-Si (a brittle material), so they cannot be loaded with
large forces.
To overcome the disadvantages, many MEMS researchers are working hard to

improve MEMS material strength and ability to transfer mechanical power.

Nevertheless, MEMS still have countless number of applications as stated below.

APPLICATION OF MEMS
Inertial navigation units on a chip for munitions guidance and personal
navigation.
Electromechanical signal processing for ultra-small and ultra low-power wireless
communications.
Distributed unattended sensors for asset tracking, environmental monitoring, and
security surveillance.
Integrated fluidic systems for miniature analytical instruments, propellant, and
combustion control.
Weapons safing, arming, and fuzing.
Embedded sensors and actuators for condition-based maintenance.
Mass data storage devices for high density and low power.
Integrated micro-optomechanical components for identify-friend-or-foe systems,
displays, and fiber-optic switches.

MEMS Sensors Are Driving the Automotive Industry

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Rollover Detection
Electronic Parking Brake Systems
Vehicle Navigation Systems
The Sensor Cluster

CONCLUSION
Thus hereby we concluded our presentation in the topic of MEMS which is going
to be the future of the modern technical field in the growth of micro sensor based
applications such as automotive industries, wireless communication, security systems,
bio medical instrumentation and in armed forces.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

1. IEEE Robotics & Automation magazine, March 2003.

2. www.memsnet.org