JP2013128138A - Mems device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To propose an MEMS device in which device characteristics are improved.SOLUTION: An MEMS device related to one embodiment includes: first and second lower electrodes 11 and 12 provided on a substrate 9; first and second drive electrodes 31 and 32 that are provided between the first and second lower electrodes 11 and 12 on the substrate 9 and are adjacent to each other in a parallel direction with respect to a surface of the substrate 9; and an upper electrode 2 that is commonly provided with respect to the first and second lower electrodes 11 and 12 and the first and second drive electrodes 31 and 32, is supported in midair above the first and second drive electrodes 31 and 32 by anchor portions on the substrate 9 and is moved toward the first and second drive electrodes 31 and 32. Two pieces of fixed electrostatic capacitance Cand Care formed among the first and second lower electrodes 11 and 12 and the first and second drive electrodes 31 and 32, and two pieces of variable electrostatic capacitance Cand Care formed among the first and second drive electrodes 31 and 32 and the upper electrode 2.

Description

  The present invention relates to a MEMS device.

  Devices that apply MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) to variable capacitance elements (hereinafter referred to as MEMS variable capacitance devices) can realize low loss, high isolation, and high linearity. It is expected as a key device to realize band / multimode.

  When the MEMS variable capacitance device is applied to, for example, a GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) standard wireless system, the MEMS variable capacitance device can be switched in a state where RF power of about 35 dBm is applied. Required. That is, when the 35 dBm RF power is applied, the upper capacitive electrode is moved to the lower capacitive electrode from the state in which the movable upper capacitive electrode constituting the MEMS variable capacitive device is lowered to the lower capacitive electrode side (down-state). You must return to the up-state from the side. The switching operation in a state where such RF power is applied is called hot switching.

  One technique for realizing hot switching is to increase the spring constant of the spring structure (or support member) connected to the upper capacitor electrode. However, when the spring constant of the spring structure increases, the operation of pulling the upper capacitor electrode from the lower capacitor electrode side becomes easier, whereas the operation of lowering the upper capacitor electrode to the lower capacitor electrode side requires a large driving force (for example, Electrostatic attraction) is required.

  In order to obtain a large driving force, the driving voltage for driving the MEMS variable capacitance device must be increased, or the area of the driving electrode must be increased.

When the driving voltage is increased to obtain a large driving force, the area of the booster circuit that boosts the externally supplied potential to the driving voltage is increased, the power consumption is increased, or the switching time is increased. Occurs.
Further, when a large driving force is obtained by increasing the area of the driving electrode, the chip area increases and the manufacturing cost increases.

US Pat. No. 6,391,675

  The present invention proposes a MEMS device with improved hot switching characteristics.

  A MEMS device according to one embodiment of the present invention is provided on the substrate between the first and second lower electrodes provided on the substrate and the first and second lower electrodes, and the MEMS device Common to the first and second drive electrodes adjacent to each other in the parallel direction, the first lower electrode and the first drive electrode, and the second lower electrode and the second drive electrode. The first and second anchor portions provided on the substrate are hollowly supported above the first and second drive electrodes and move toward the first and second drive electrodes. A fixed first capacitance is formed between the first lower electrode and the first drive electrode adjacent to each other, and the second lower electrode is adjacent to each other. A fixed second capacitance between the electrode and the second drive electrode; Is formed, and a variable third capacitance is formed between the first drive electrode and the upper electrode, and is variable between the second drive electrode and the upper electrode. A fourth capacitance is formed.

  According to the present invention, a MEMS device with improved hot switching characteristics can be provided.

The top view which shows the structure of the MEMS device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the MEMS device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the MEMS device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the structural example for driving a MEMS device. The figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the MEMS device of 1st Embodiment. The figure for demonstrating operation | movement of a MEMS device. The figure for demonstrating a verification result. The figure for demonstrating a verification result. The figure which shows the manufacturing method of a MEMS device. The top view which shows the structure of the MEMS device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the MEMS device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. The figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the MEMS device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. The top view which shows the structure of the MEMS device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the MEMS device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the MEMS device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. The figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the MEMS device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. The top view which shows the structure of the MEMS device which concerns on 4th Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the MEMS device which concerns on 4th Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the MEMS device which concerns on 4th Embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the application example of embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, elements having the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be given as necessary.

[Embodiment]
(1) First embodiment
A MEMS device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

(A) Structure
The structure of the MEMS device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B. FIG. 1 shows a planar structure of a MEMS device according to this embodiment. 2A and 2B show a cross-sectional structure of the MEMS device according to this embodiment. 2A shows a cross-sectional structure taken along the line AA ′ in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B shows a cross-sectional structure taken along the line BB ′ in FIG.

  The MEMS device according to the present embodiment is, for example, a MEMS variable capacitance device.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A according to the present embodiment is provided on a substrate 1. The substrate 1 is, for example, an insulating substrate such as glass or an interlayer insulating film provided on a silicon substrate.

When the interlayer insulating film on the silicon substrate is used for the substrate 1, an element such as a field effect transistor may be provided in the surface region (semiconductor region) of the silicon substrate. These elements constitute a logic circuit and a memory circuit. The interlayer insulating film is provided on the silicon substrate so as to cover those circuits. Therefore, the MEMS variable capacitance device is provided above the circuit on the silicon substrate. For example, it is preferable that a circuit that is a source of noise such as an oscillator is not disposed below the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A. Note that a shield metal may be provided in the interlayer insulating film to suppress propagation of noise from the lower layer circuit to the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A.
The interlayer insulating film on the silicon substrate is preferably made of a material having a low dielectric constant in order to reduce the parasitic capacitance. For example, TEOS (Tetra Ethyl Ortho Silicate) is used for the interlayer insulating film. In order to reduce the parasitic capacitance, it is desirable that the thickness of the interlayer insulating film is thicker, and the thickness of the interlayer insulating film as the substrate 1 is preferably 10 μm or more, for example.

  The MEMS variable capacitance device 100 </ b> A includes, for example, a lower capacitance electrode (lower electrode) 1 and an upper capacitance electrode (upper electrode) 2. The lower capacitor electrode 1 and the upper capacitor electrode 2 form one variable capacitor.

  In the present embodiment, the lower capacitor electrode 1 includes a signal electrode (first lower electrode) 11 and a ground electrode (second lower electrode) 12. The signal electrode 11 and the ground electrode 12 form a pair, and the potential difference between the two electrodes 11 and 12 is handled as the output (RF power / RF voltage) of the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A. The potential of the signal electrode 11 is variable, and the potential of the ground electrode 12 is set to a constant potential (for example, ground potential).

For example, the signal electrode 11 and the ground electrode 12 are embedded in a groove Z in the substrate 9 and are fixed in the substrate 9. For example, the signal electrode 11 and the ground electrode 12 extend in the y direction.
For the signal electrode 11 and the ground electrode 12, for example, a metal such as aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), gold (Au), or an alloy containing any one of these is used.

  An insulating film 15 is provided on the upper surfaces of the signal electrode 11 and the ground electrode 12.

  The upper capacitor electrode 2 is provided above the signal electrode 11 and the ground electrode 12. The upper capacitive electrode 2 is supported in a hollow shape by anchors 51 and 52 via a plurality of spring structures 41 and 45, for example. The upper capacitor electrode 2 is movable and moves in the vertical direction (vertical direction) with respect to the surface of the substrate 1. The upper capacitor electrode 2 has, for example, a rectangular planar shape and extends in the x direction. The upper capacitor electrode 2 may have an opening (through hole) penetrating from the upper surface toward the bottom surface.

  For the upper capacitor electrode 2, for example, a metal such as aluminum (Al), an aluminum alloy, copper (Cu), gold (Au), or platinum (Pt) is used.

  One end of a first spring structure 41 is connected to the upper capacitor electrode 2. For example, the first spring structure 41 is formed integrally with the upper capacitive electrode 2, and the upper capacitive electrode 2 and the first spring structure 41 have a single-layer structure connected to one. The first spring structure 41 has, for example, a meander-like planar shape.

  An anchor portion 51 is connected to the other end of the first spring structure 41. The anchor part 51 is provided on the wiring 91, for example. The wiring 91 is provided on the insulating film 15 that covers the surface of the substrate 9. The surface of the wiring 91 is covered with an insulating film 92. An opening is provided in the insulating film 92. The anchor portion 51 is in direct contact with the wiring 91 via the opening.

  The first spring structure 41 is made of, for example, a conductor, and the same material as that of the upper capacitive electrode 2 is used. In this case, the first spring structure 41 is made of metal such as Al, Al alloy, Cu, Au, or Pt. The anchor portion 51 is made of, for example, a conductor and made of the same material as the spring structure 41. However, the anchor portion 51 may be made of a material different from that of the upper capacitive electrode 2 and the spring structure 41.

  The upper capacitor electrode 2 is supplied with a potential (voltage) via the first spring structure 41, the anchor portion 52, and the wiring 91.

  Further, one second spring structure 45 is connected to each of the four corners of the rectangular upper capacitive electrode 2. One end of the second spring structure 45 is provided on the upper capacitive electrode 2. The junction between the second spring structure 45 and the upper capacitive electrode 2 has a laminated structure. The other end of the second spring structure 41 is connected to the anchor portion 52. The anchor portion 52 is provided on the dummy layers 93 and 94. The dummy layers 93 and 94 are provided on the insulating film 15 covering the surface of the substrate 9.

The second spring structure 45 is made of a material different from that of the first spring structure 41, for example. As a material used for the second spring structure 45, for example, a brittle material is used. A brittle material is a material that is broken with little plastic change (change in shape) when the member made of the material is broken by applying stress.
The material used for the second spring structure 45 may be an insulating material such as silicon oxide or silicon nitride, or may be polysilicon (poly-Si), silicon (Si), or silicon germanium (SiGe). ), A conductive material such as tungsten (W), molybdenum (Mo), and aluminum-titanium (AlTi) alloy may be used. However, in the present embodiment, the second spring structure 45 may be made of a material other than a brittle material, or may be made of the same material (conductor) as that of the first spring structure.

  The material used for the first spring structure 41 is, for example, a ductile material. The ductile material is a material that is broken after a large plastic change (elongation) occurs when the member made of the material is broken by applying stress. In general, the energy (stress) required to break a member using a brittle material is smaller than the energy required to break a member using a ductile material. That is, a member using a brittle material is more easily broken than a member using a ductile material.

  The spring constant k2 of the spring structure 45 using a brittle material is appropriately set by, for example, appropriately setting the line width of the spring structure 45, the film thickness of the spring structure 45, and the curved portion (Flexure) of the spring structure 45, It is made larger than the spring constant k1 of the spring structure 41 using a ductile material.

  When the spring structures 41 and 45 of the ductile and brittle material are connected to the upper electrode 2 as in this embodiment, the space between the capacitive electrodes when the upper capacitive electrode 2 is pulled upward (referred to as up-state). Is substantially determined by the spring constant k2 of the spring structure 45 using a brittle material.

As described above, the spring structure 45 using a brittle material is unlikely to cause a creep phenomenon. For this reason, even if the driving of the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A is repeated a plurality of times, the variation in the interval between the capacitance electrodes during up-state is small. The material creep phenomenon is a phenomenon in which distortion (change in shape) of a member increases when a stress is applied to a certain member.
In the spring structure 41 using the ductile material, a creep phenomenon occurs by a plurality of times of driving. However, the spring constant k1 of the spring structure 41 is set smaller than the spring coefficient k2 of the spring structure 45 using a brittle material. Therefore, the change (deflection) of the shape of the spring structure 41 using the ductile material does not have a great influence on the interval between the capacitive electrodes in the up-state.
In this way, by applying a spring structure using a ductile material and a spring structure using a brittle material to a MEMS device, a MEMS device (MEMS variable capacitance device) having a small characteristic deterioration due to a creep phenomenon while maintaining the advantage of low loss. ) Can be provided.

  The material used for the anchor portion 52 may be, for example, the same material (for example, a brittle material) as the second spring structure 45 or the same material (for example, a ductile material) as the anchor portion 51.

  Between the lower capacitor electrodes 11 and 12 and the upper capacitor electrode 2, first and second lower drive electrodes (drive electrodes) 31 and 32 are provided. A gap (cavity) is provided between the upper capacitor electrode 2 and the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32.

  The lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 are stacked on the lower capacitor electrodes 11 and 12 via the insulating film 15. More specifically, the first lower drive electrode 31 is provided on the signal electrode 11 via the insulating film 15. The second lower drive electrode 32 is provided on the ground electrode 12 via the insulating film 15. The lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 may be stacked on the signal electrode 11 and the ground electrode 12 provided on the upper surface of the substrate 9 via an insulating film.

  The lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 have a square planar shape, and extend in the y direction, for example. The surfaces of the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 are covered with insulating films 35 and 36, for example. The lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 are fixed on the insulating film 15.

  In the present embodiment, the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 have the same dimensions in the x and y directions as the lower signal electrodes 11 and 12, but are not limited thereto. For example, the size of the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 in the x direction may be larger than the size of the lower signal electrodes 11 and 12 in the x direction, and the size of the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 in the y direction may be lower. , 12 may be smaller than the dimension in the y direction.

For the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32, for example, a metal such as aluminum (Al), an aluminum alloy, or copper (Cu) is used. For the insulating films 35 and 36, for example, an insulator such as a silicon oxide film, a silicon nitride film, or a high dielectric (High-k) film is used.
For example, the wiring 91 and the dummy layer 93 are made of the same material as the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32, and the film thickness of the wiring 91 and the dummy layer 93 is the same as the film thickness of the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32. Yes. The insulating films 92 and 94 that cover the wiring 91 and the dummy layer 93 are made of the same material as the insulating films 35 and 36 that cover the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32, respectively. The film thicknesses of 35 and 36 are the same.

  As described above, the upper electrode 2 forms the variable capacitance element with the lower capacitance electrodes 11 and 12. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the upper electrode 2 also functions as a drive electrode that forms a pair with the two lower drive electrodes 31 and 32. That is, in the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A of the present embodiment, the upper electrode 2 and the two lower drive electrodes 31, 32 constitute an actuator. Hereinafter, the movable upper electrode 2 constituting the MEMS variable capacitance device is referred to as an upper capacitance / drive electrode 2. In addition, a structure in which the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 are stacked on the lower capacitor electrodes 11 and 12 via the insulating film 15 as in the present embodiment is referred to as a stacked electrode structure.

In the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A of the present embodiment, the lower capacitance electrodes 11 and 12 and the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 form a fixed capacitance element. The fixed capacitance element has a predetermined capacitance according to the facing area between the stacked electrodes, the interval between the stacked electrodes (film thickness of the insulating film 15), and the dielectric constant of the insulating film. Specifically, an electrostatic capacity (first electrostatic capacity) C ₁ is provided between the signal electrode 11 and the lower drive electrode 31. An electrostatic capacity (second electrostatic capacity) C ₂ is provided between the ground electrode 12 and the lower drive electrode 32. The values of the capacitance C ₁ and the capacitance C ₂ may have the same size or may have different sizes.

In addition, capacitive coupling exists between the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 and the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2. For example, a variable capacitance (third capacitance) C ₃ is provided between the lower drive electrode 31 and the upper capacitance / drive electrode 2, and the lower drive electrode 32 and the upper capacitance / drive electrode 2 There is a variable capacitance (fourth capacitance) C ₄ between them. As described above, since the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 moves in the vertical direction with respect to the upper surfaces of the lower drive electrodes 31, 32, the value of capacitive coupling varies. Each of the upper limit value / lower limit value of the capacitance C ₃ and the capacitance C ₄ may have the same size or may have a different size.

The electrostatic capacitance between the signal electrode 11 and the ground electrode 12 is composed of electrostatic capacitances C ₁ , C ₂ , C ₃ , C ₄ connected in series between the signal electrode 11 and the ground electrode 12. . In addition to the capacitances C ₁ , C ₂ , C ₃ , C ₄ connected in series between the signal electrode 11 and the ground electrode 12, the capacitance between the signal electrode 11 and the ground electrode 12 is Of course, a parasitic capacitance may be further included between the signal electrode 11 and the ground electrode 12.

In the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A of the present embodiment, an electrostatic attraction is generated by applying a potential difference between the upper capacitance / drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrodes 31, 32. Due to the electrostatic attractive force generated between the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrodes 31, 32, the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 moves in the vertical direction (vertical direction) with respect to the substrate surface (lower drive electrode), The distance between the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the lower capacitor electrode 1 varies. The variable capacitance value (capacitance) C _{MEMS of} the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A changes as the distance between the electrodes forming the capacitive element varies. Accordingly, the potential of the capacitive electrode (here, the signal electrode 11) is displaced, and a radio frequency (RF) signal is output from the capacitive electrode (signal / ground electrode).

In the MEMS device according to the present embodiment, constant capacitances C ₁ and C ₂ and variable capacitances (capacitive coupling) C ₃ and C ₄ are connected in series between the signal electrode 11 and the ground electrode 12. ing. The capacitances (combined capacitances) C ₁ , C ₂ , C ₃ , and C ₄ connected in series become the variable capacitances of the MEMS device 100A and are used as variable capacitances for generating an output (RF voltage V _RF ). .

  As in this embodiment, the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A in which the movable upper electrode functions as a capacitance electrode and a drive electrode is compared with a MEMS variable capacitance device having a structure in which the upper capacitance electrode and the upper drive electrode are independent from each other. The manufacturing method is simple and structurally robust.

(B) Operation
The operation of the MEMS device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A to 5.
First, an outline of a configuration for driving the MEMS variable capacitance device 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3A schematically shows an overall configuration for driving the MEMS variable capacitance device 100.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, in the MEMS variable capacitance device 100, the capacitance electrodes 1 and 2 and the drive electrodes 31 and 32 are connected to a potential supply circuit 8 via a low pass filter (LPF) 7. Connected to.

  The potential supply circuit 8 includes, for example, a booster circuit. The potential supply circuit 8 boosts a voltage input from the outside by a booster circuit and outputs a supply potential Vin. The supply potential Vin is input to the low-pass filter 7. The supply potential Vin is the bias potential Vb or the ground potential Vgnd.

  FIG. 3B is an equivalent circuit diagram illustrating an example of the low-pass filter 7. In the example shown in FIG. 3B, the low-pass filter 7 includes two resistance elements 71 and 72 and one fixed capacitance element 73. The two resistance elements 71 and 72 are connected in series. One end of the fixed capacitance element 73 is connected to a connection point nd between the two resistance elements 71 and 72 connected in series. The other end of the fixed capacitor 73 is connected to, for example, the ground terminal gd.

  Based on the cut-off frequency fco, the low-pass filter 7 cuts off a frequency component higher than the cut-off frequency fco included in the input signal (supply potential Vin) and allows a frequency component equal to or lower than the cut-off frequency fco included in the input signal to pass. . A signal (output potential) Vout that has passed through the low-pass filter 7 is supplied to the capacitance electrodes 1 and 2 and the drive electrodes 31 and 32 as the bias potential Vb or the ground potential Vgnd of the MEMS variable capacitance device 100.

  The cut-off frequency fco of the low-pass filter 7 is set by the resistance value of the resistance element that constitutes the low-pass filter 7 and the capacitance value of the fixed capacitance element. In the low-pass filter 7 shown in FIG. 3B, the cutoff frequency fco is obtained by the reciprocal of the time constant obtained from the resistance value R of the resistance elements 71 and 72 and the capacitance value C of the capacitance element 73. . For example, when the cut-off frequency fco of the low-pass filter is set to 0.7 MHz, the time constant obtained from the resistance value R and the capacitance value C in the two resistance elements 71 and 72 and the fixed capacitance element 73 is 0. The resistance value R and the capacitance value C are set so as to be a reciprocal of 7 MHz.

  Compared with the frequency component (frequency band) of the supply potential Vin by the low-pass filter 7, the output potential Vout of the low-pass filter 7 is a low-frequency component potential, that is, a DC component relative to the supply potential Vin. To potential. As described above, the low-pass filter 7 is inserted between the potential supply circuit 8 and each of the electrodes 1, 2, 31, and 32, so that noise (high frequency component) generated from the potential supply circuit 8 is reduced to the MEMS variable capacitance. Propagation to the device 100, particularly the RF output section (capacitance electrodes 1 and 2) is prevented.

  For example, when the cut-off frequency of the low-pass filter 7 is set to 0.7 MHz, the noise is reduced by the low-pass filter 7 at a rate of −20 dB / decade. Therefore, for example, in the MEMS variable capacitance device 100 used in a frequency band of 700 MHz or more, noise propagation to the MEMS variable capacitance device can be suppressed to −60 dB.

  Further, when the oscillation frequency (oscillator frequency) of the MEMS variable capacitance device in the state where the electrode is held (the hold state (up-state)) is set to 0.7 MHz, the noise is at a rate of −20 dB / decade. Decrease. For this reason, for example, in a MEMS variable capacitance device used in a frequency band of 700 MHz or more, noise propagation to the MEMS variable capacitance device 100 can be suppressed to −60 dB.

  As described above, when the cut-off frequency fco of the low-pass filter is set to 0.7 MHz and the oscillation frequency of the MEMS variable capacitance device 100 in the hold state is set to 0.7 MHz, the MEMS variable capacitance from the potential supply circuit 8 is set. Noise propagation to the device 100 can be suppressed to −120 dB by inserting the low-pass filter 7. This value (−120 dB) is sufficient to suppress noise propagation in many wireless systems.

  In order to suppress the propagation of noise, in addition to the insertion of the low-pass filter 7, a shield metal may be provided below the region (wiring level) where the MEMS variable capacitance device is provided. Moreover, even if the potential supply circuit (power supply line) 8 is separately used for the MEMS variable capacitance device (RF output unit) and the driving / logic circuit provided on the surface of the silicon substrate, the propagation of noise can be suppressed. Good.

  As described above, the noise of the potential supply circuit 8 with respect to the RF output unit is reduced by the low-pass filter 7. The potential Vout with reduced noise is supplied to the MEMS variable capacitance device 100 as the bias potential Vb (or the ground potential Vgnd). The MEMS variable capacitance device 100 is driven by a potential supplied to the upper drive electrode and the lower drive electrode.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the MEMS variable capacitance device according to the embodiment of the present invention includes capacitances C ₁ , C ₂ , and the like between the capacitance electrodes 1, 2 and the drive electrodes 31, 32. C ₃ and C ₄ respectively. With the capacitances C ₁ , C ₂ , C ₃ , and C ₄ , the MEMS variable capacitance device 100 has improved hot switching characteristics.

  The operation of the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A according to the first embodiment will be described more specifically with reference to FIGS. 2A, 4 and 5. FIG. The MEMS variable capacitance device 100A according to the present embodiment is, for example, an electrostatic drive type MEMS device. FIG. 4 shows the connection relationship between the electrodes 2, 31, 32, the low-pass filters 7a, 7b, 7c, and the potential supply circuits 8a, 8b, 8c in the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A of the present embodiment. 2A and 4 show different states when the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A is driven.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 is connected to the potential supply circuit 8a via the low-pass filter 7a. The first lower drive electrode 31 is connected to the potential supply circuit 8b via the low pass filter 7b. The second lower drive electrode 32 is connected to the potential supply circuit 8c via the low pass filter 7c. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the two lower drive electrodes 31, 32 are connected to different potential supply circuits 8b, 8c, respectively. However, in this embodiment, the two lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 may share one potential supply circuit as long as they are connected to different low-pass filters 7b and 7c, respectively.

  When the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A of this embodiment is driven, a potential difference is applied between the upper capacitance / drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32.

For example, when the ground potential Vgnd (for example, 0 V) is supplied to the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the bias potential Vb is supplied to the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32, the MEMS variable capacitor device 100A is driven. When the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 is driven downward, the bias potential Vb is, for example, about 30V.
On the contrary, the MEMS variable capacitance device 1 may be driven by supplying a bias potential Vb to the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and supplying a ground potential Vgnd to the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32. Alternatively, the potential supplied to the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 may be alternately switched between the bias potential Vb and the ground potential Vgnd for driving. It should be noted that the two lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 are not limited to being supplied with potentials having the same magnitude and polarity.

Due to the applied potential difference, an electrostatic attractive force is generated between the electrodes 2, 31 and 32.
When the potential difference between the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrodes 31, 32 is small or there is no potential difference, as shown in FIG. 2A, the MEMS variable capacitor device 100A has the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 It is in a state of going up.

  When the potential difference between the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 exceeds a certain value, it is movable by the electrostatic attraction generated between the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32. The upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 starts to move and is drawn toward the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32. As a result, the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 is lowered to the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 side. The potential difference at which the movable upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 starts to move is called a pull-in voltage.

  In the present embodiment, the potential difference between the upper drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 becomes a certain value (pull-in voltage) or more. For example, as shown in FIG. A state in which the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 are lowered is referred to as a down-state. On the other hand, the potential difference between the upper drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 is smaller than the pull-in voltage, and the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 is raised upward as shown in FIG. 2A, for example. Is called up-state.

The MEMS variable capacitance device 100A of the present embodiment has a structure in which lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 are stacked on lower capacitance electrodes (signal / ground electrodes) 11 and 12. Therefore, the operation of lowering the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 toward the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 is the same as the operation of lowering the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 toward the lower capacitor electrodes 11 and 12.
Therefore, the inter-electrode distance between the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the lower capacitor electrode 1 forming the variable capacitor element when the MEMS variable capacitor device 100A is up-state and when the MEMS variable capacitor device 100B is down-state. Will change.

In the MEMS variable capacitance device of the present embodiment, the potential of one electrode (signal electrode) 11 out of the two electrodes 11 and 12 constituting the lower capacitance electrode 1 is made variable, and the other electrode (ground electrode) 12 The potential is fixed.
When the inter-electrode distance between the upper capacitive electrode 2 and the lower capacitive electrodes 11 and 12 varies, the potential of the signal electrode 11 of the two lower capacitive electrodes that form a pair becomes down-state and up-state. And change. On the other hand, during operation of the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A, the ground electrode 12 of the two lower capacitance electrodes 1 is fixed at a constant potential (for example, ground potential). Therefore, the potential of the ground electrode 12 does not change even when the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 moves up and down.
The potential difference between the signal electrode 11 and the ground electrode 12 is output as an output signal (RF power or RF voltage) V _RF depending on the operation cycle of the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A in which up-state and down-state are repeated. Is output. The frequency of this output becomes a value corresponding to the operation cycle of the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A.

  Further, when the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 is returned from the down-state to the up-state, a potential difference (hereinafter referred to as pull-out) of a certain value or more between the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32. (Referred to as voltage).

  As described above, as shown in FIG. 4, the low-pass filter 7a is inserted between the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the potential supply circuit 8a. As a result, the upper signal / capacitance electrode 2 is floated in a high frequency (RF) manner. Therefore, in the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A of the present embodiment, the upper electrode 2 functions as an upper capacitive electrode that forms a pair with the lower capacitive electrode 1 and also functions as an upper drive electrode that forms a pair with the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32. Function.

  With the above configuration, the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A according to the present embodiment exhibits high hot switching characteristics. Hot switching refers to switching (driving) the movable upper electrode 2 in a state in which an RF voltage is output, in other words, in a state in which RF power is applied.

  The reason why the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A of this embodiment exhibits high hot switching characteristics will be described with reference to FIG.

In a general MEMS variable capacitance device, the element is turned off in a state where RF power is applied, that is, the upper capacitance electrode is returned to the up-state by the upper capacitance electrode caused by RF power (RF voltage). This is difficult due to electrostatic attraction between the electrode and the lower capacitive electrode.
In contrast, the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A of the present embodiment has capacitances C ₁ and C ₂ between the electrodes 2, 11, 12, 31, and 32, as shown in FIG. , C ₃ , C ₄ .

Lower capacitor electrode (signal electrode) 11 and the lower drive electrode 31, sandwiching the insulating film 15 to form a fixed capacitor having a capacitance C _1. Similarly, the lower capacitor electrode (ground electrode) 12 and the lower drive electrode 32 forms a fixed capacitance element having a capacitance C _2. These fixed capacitance elements have a MIM (Metal-Insulator-Metal) structure. Hereinafter, the fixed capacitor element having the MIM structure is referred to as an MIM capacitor element. The values of the capacitance C ₁ and the capacitance C ₂ may have the same size or may have different sizes.

The upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrode 31 have capacitive coupling of the capacitance C _{3 with} the insulating film 35 interposed therebetween. Further, the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrode 32 have capacitive coupling of the capacitance C _{4 with} the insulating film 36 interposed therebetween. The size of the capacitance C ₃ changes as the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 is driven up and down within a range corresponding to the facing area between the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrode 32. To do. Each of the upper limit value / lower limit value of the capacitance C ₃ and the capacitance C ₄ may have the same size or may have a different size.

In the capacitance / drive electrodes 2, 11, 12, 31, 32 of the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A, as shown in FIG. 5B, two fixed capacitances C ₁ and C ₂ and two variable capacitances. C ₃ and C ₄ are equivalent to a configuration in which the signal line sig and the ground line gnd are connected in series. The capacitance between the signal electrode 11 and the ground electrode 12 is determined by the capacitances C ₁ , C ₂ , C ₃ , and C ₄ connected in series between the signal electrode 11 and the ground electrode 12.

Capacitances (combined capacitors) C ₁ , C ₂ , C ₃ , and C ₄ connected in series between the signal electrode 11 and the ground electrode 12 are variable capacitors C _MEMS of the MEMS device 100, that is, output (RF voltage). V _RF ) is used as a variable capacitance C _MEMS .

In addition to the capacitances C ₁ , C ₂ , C ₃ , and C ₄ connected in series, parasitic capacitance generated between the signal electrode 11 and the ground electrode 12 is generated between the signal electrode 11 and the ground electrode 12. Of course, it may be further included in the capacitance.

In this embodiment, the electrostatic capacitance (combined capacitance) of the fixed capacitors C ₁ and C ₂ and the variable capacitive couplings C ₃ and C ₄ contributes to the operation and output of the MEMS variable capacitor device 100A. It has been stated that the fluctuation of the potential of the signal electrode 11 is due to the fluctuation of the interelectrode distance between the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the signal electrode. However, the variation of the upper capacitive / operation of the driving electrodes 2 of the (up / down-state) to the associated capacitive coupling C ₂ values, fixed capacitance C ₁ of the potential varies, the variation of the potential the capacitance C ₁ is the signal In other words, it is reflected in the potential of the electrode 11.

Here, the potential difference ΔV ₁ applied between the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrode 31 is obtained by using the electrostatic capacitances C ₁ and C ₃ and the RF voltage V _RF by the applied RF power. It is shown by the following (Formula 1A). Here, for simplification of description, the capacitances C ₁ and C ₂ have a relationship of C ₁ = C ₂ , and the capacitances C ₃ and C ₄ have a relationship of C ₃ = C _4. The case will be described.

ΔV ₁ = V _RF × C ₁ / (2 (C ₁ + C ₃ )) (Formula 1A)
As shown in (Expression 1A), the potential difference ΔV ₁ is smaller than the RF voltage V _RF in correlation with C ₁ / (2 (C ₁ + C ₃ )).

Similarly, when the capacitances C ₁ , C ₂ , C ₃ , and C ₄ have a relationship of C ₁ = C ₂ and C ₃ = C ₄ , the upper capacitance / drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrode The potential difference ΔV ₂ applied to 32 has a relationship of ΔV ₂ = ΔV ₁ . In this case, the potential difference ΔV ₂ can also be expressed by (Equation 1B).

ΔV ₂ = V _RF × C ₂ / (2 (C ₂ + C ₄ )) (Formula 1B)
As shown in (Formula 1B), the potential difference ΔV ₂ is smaller than the RF voltage V _RF in correlation with C ₂ / (2 (C ₂ + C ₄ )).

Further, the combined capacitance C ₁₃ of the series-connected one of the capacitance C ₁ and one capacitance C ₃ is represented by the following equation (2A).
C ₁₃ = C ₁ × C ₃ / (C ₁ + C ₃ ) = C ₁ / (1 + C ₁ / C ₃ ) (Formula 2A)
Similarly, the combined capacitance C ₂₄ of the capacitance C ₂ and the electrostatic capacitance C ₄ connected in series is shown by the following equation (2B).

_{C 24 = C 2 / (1} + C 2 / C 4) ··· ( Formula 2B)
The capacitances C ₃ and C ₄ in (Expression 1A), (Expression 1B), (Expression 2A), and (Expression 2B) are the capacitive coupling between the movable upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrode 31. Since the value is a value, for example, the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A is different between a down-state and an up-state. Since the capacitances C ₃ and C ₄ are inversely proportional to the distance between the movable upper capacitance / drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrode 31, the capacitance values of the capacitances C ₃ and C ₄ are down-state. It will be larger than if it is up-state.

When the RF power applied between the signal electrode and the ground electrode is 35 dBm (about 3.2 W), the RF voltage V _RF is, for example, about 13V.

As described above, since the RF voltage V _RF is a potential difference between the signal electrode 11 and the ground electrode 12, the RF voltage V _RF is caused between the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the lower capacitor electrodes 11, 12. Electrostatic attraction will occur.

In an ordinary MEMS variable capacitance device, when the RF voltage V _RF is output, the movable upper capacitance electrode is attracted to the lower capacitance electrode by electrostatic attraction caused by the RF voltage V _RF . Therefore, in order to pull up (pull out) the upper capacitive electrode, a driving force larger than the electrostatic attractive force caused by the RF voltage _VRF is required. Therefore, the normal MEMS variable capacitance device cannot easily realize hot switching.

On the other hand, in the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A of the present embodiment, a plurality (four in this example) of capacitance C between the signal line (signal electrode) sig and the ground line (ground electrode) gnd. _{1, C 2, C 3,} C 4 is inserted. The capacitances C ₁ , C ₂ , C ₃ , and C ₄ are connected in series between the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the lower capacitor electrodes 11 and 12 via the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32. Has been. The capacitances C ₁ , C ₂ , C ₃ , and C ₄ are connected in series between the signal line sig and the ground line gnd via the upper capacitance / drive electrode 2.
Therefore, as shown in (Equation 1), the potential differences ΔV ₁ and ΔV ₂ between the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 are C ₁ / (2 × (C ₁ + C ₃ ). ) Or C ₂ / (2 (C ₂ + C ₄ )), which is smaller than the RF voltage V _RF . The electrostatic attractive force between the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 is indicated by the product of the capacitances C ₃ and C ₄ and the potential differences ΔV ₁ and ΔV ₂ , respectively. Therefore, the electrostatic attractive force applied to the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 is smaller than when the RF voltage V _RF is directly applied between the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the lower capacitor electrodes 11, 12. Become.

For example, when the capacitances C ₃ and C ₄ are the same size as the capacitances C ₁ and C _{2 in} the down-state of the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A, the potential difference ΔV is calculated based on the equation (1). RF voltage V becomes 1/4 of _RF . In this case, if the applied RF voltage V _RF is about 13V, the potential difference ΔV is about 3V. The pull-out voltage for returning the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 to the up-state is, for example, about 5V. Therefore, as described above, if the potential difference ΔV can be set to about 3 V, it is easy to return the movable upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 from the down-state to the up-state even when RF power is applied. is there. Therefore, according to the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A of the present embodiment, hot switching becomes easy and the hot switching characteristics are improved.

  Further, as in the present embodiment, the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A having a structure in which the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 are stacked on the lower capacitance electrodes 11 and 12 (hereinafter referred to as a stacked electrode structure) has a capacitance value thereof. Variations can also be suppressed.

  In a general electrostatic actuator used for a MEMS variable capacitance device, one of an upper drive electrode and a lower drive electrode is movable and the other is fixed on a substrate. During the down-state of a general electrostatic actuator, the value of the capacitance between the upper drive electrode and the lower drive electrode is affected by the roughness (surface roughness) of the drive electrode surface. Therefore, the variation is larger than the capacitance value of the MIM capacitor element.

As in the present embodiment, in the MEMS variable capacitance device 1 having a laminated electrode structure, a part of the capacitance C _MEMS contributing to the operation and output is caused by the MIM capacitance element having the capacitances C ₁ and C ₂ . It is carried. Since the influence of the roughness of the interface between the electrode and the insulating film is small in the MIM capacitor element, the variation in the capacitance value is small. Therefore, as compared with a MEMS variable capacitance device using a general electrostatic actuator, the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A in which the MIM capacitance element directly contributes to the operation and output as in this embodiment has a driving force. Variations in the generated capacitance can be reduced.

More specifically, in the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A of the present embodiment, by reducing the capacitance ratio C ₃ / C ₁ (= C ₄ / C ₂ ), the capacitance that contributes to the operation and output of the device is reduced. Variations can be reduced. For example, it is assumed that the variations in the capacitances C ₁ and C ₂ of the MIM capacitive element are so small that they can be ignored. When the capacitances C ₃ and C ₄ in the down-state are the same as the capacitances C ₁ and C ₂ , the variation in capacitance is halved. Therefore, the operation of the MEMS variable capacitance device can be stabilized.

  As described above, according to the MEMS device (MEMS variable capacitance device) according to the first embodiment, the hot switching characteristics can be improved.

(C) Verification A verification result of the MEMS device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.
First, the temperature characteristics of the pull-in voltage Vpi and the pull-out voltage Vpo of the MEMS device will be described. Here, the pull-in / pull-out voltages Vpi and Vpo of the electrostatic drive actuator 200 having a structure similar to the MEMS variable capacitance device of the first embodiment are measured. FIG. 6 shows the structure of the electrostatic drive actuator 200. 6A shows a planar structure of the electrostatic actuator 200, and FIG. 6B shows a cross-sectional structure taken along line AA ′ of FIG. 6A.

  As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, two lower drive electrodes 31 and 35 are provided on the substrate 9. A movable upper electrode 2X is supported above the lower drive electrodes 31, 35 in a hollow manner. The actuator 200 used for verification does not have a lower capacitive electrode. Therefore, the upper electrode 2X functions only as a drive electrode. Here, the upper electrode 2X is referred to as an upper drive electrode 2X. The upper drive electrode 2X is provided with an opening 21 penetrating from the upper surface toward the bottom surface.

  One end of a spring structure 46 is connected to the upper drive electrode 2X. The spring structure 46 is made of an insulating material (SiN). The other end of the spring structure 46 is connected to the anchor portion 51 on the dummy layers 93 and 94.

  A potential is supplied to the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 via the wiring 99. No potential is supplied to the upper drive electrode 2, and the upper drive electrode 2 is in a floating state.

  FIG. 7 shows the temperature dependence of the pull-in / pull-out voltages Vpi and Vpo of the actuator 200 shown in FIG. The temperature range used for the measurement is a range from -40 ° C to 85 ° C.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the above temperature range, the pull-out voltage Vpo changes within a range of about 7V to 8V. The pull-in voltage Vpi changes within a range of about 21V to 27V.

  Note that the pull-in voltage Vpi and the pull-out voltage Vpo vary depending on the spring constant k of the spring structure and the facing area A between the upper drive electrode and the lower drive electrode. However, the magnitudes of the pull-in voltage Vpi and the pull-out voltage Vpo are proportional to √ (k / A). Therefore, as a matter of course, if the ratio k / A is constant, similar results can be obtained even with actuators having different electrode sizes.

Based on the measurement result of the pull-out voltage Vpo of the actuator shown in FIG. 7, the conditions of the capacitances C ₁ , C ₂ , C ₃ , C ₄ for hot switching are obtained. Here, the capacitance ratio C ₃ / C ₁ between one fixed capacitance C ₁ connected in series and one variable capacitance C ₃ will be verified. In addition, the RF power of the MEMS variable capacitance device is 35 dBm (about 3.2 W), and the impedance between the signal line sig and the ground line gnd is 50Ω.

When an RF power of 35 dBm is applied, a potential difference (RF voltage V _RF ) of about 13 V is applied between the signal line sig and the ground line gnd corresponding to the impedance (50Ω). In this state, in order for the movable upper electrode 2 to go from the down-state to the up-state, the pull-out voltage Vpo is larger than ΔV in (Equation 1), that is, the relationship of Vpo> ΔV may be established.

Here, from the measurement result shown in FIG. 7, the pull-out voltage Vpo is set to 5 V as a reference value. The RF voltage V _RF is 13V. When (Equation 1A) is calculated using these values Vpo and _{VRF so} that the relationship of Vpo> ΔV is established, the following (Equation 3) is obtained. Here, for simplification of explanation, the capacitances C ₁ and C ₂ have a relationship of C ₁ = C ₂ , and the capacitances C ₃ and C ₄ have a relationship of C ₃ = C ₄ . The case where it has is described.

(C ₃ / C ₁ )> 0.5 (Expression 3)
From this result, in order for the MEMS variable capacitance device 100A having a laminated electrode structure to perform hot switching in a state where an RF power of 35 dBm is applied, the condition of (Equation 3) is preferably satisfied. In addition, it is preferable that the fixed capacitance C ₂ connected in series, the variable capacitance C _4, and the capacitance ratio C ₄ / C ₂ also satisfy (C ₃ / C ₁ )> 0.5. Note that at least one of the capacitance ratio (C ₃ / C ₁ ) and the capacitance ratio C ₄ / C ₂ may be larger than 0.5.

As described above, the MEMS device (MEMS variable capacitance device) has the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and the capacitances C ₁ and C ₂ between the lower electrode 1 and the drive electrode ₂ , the upper electrode and the drive electrode, The capacitances C ₃ and C ₄ have the relationship of (Equation 1), and further, the relationship of (Equation 3) improves the hot switching characteristics.

  Therefore, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a MEMS device having improved hot switching characteristics can be realized.

(D) Manufacturing Method Hereinafter, a manufacturing method of the MEMS device (MEMS variable capacitance device) according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Here, a manufacturing process of the MEMS variable capacitance device will be described by extracting a region where the lower capacitance electrode and the lower drive electrode of the MEMS variable capacitance device are formed. FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional structure along the y direction of FIG. 1 in each step of the manufacturing process of the MEMS variable capacitance device.

  First, as shown in FIG. 8A, a groove Z is formed in a substrate (for example, an interlayer insulating film) 1 by using, for example, a photolithography technique and an RIE (Reactive Ion Etching) method.

  Thereafter, a conductor is deposited on the substrate 1 and in the groove Z by using, for example, a CVD (Chemical Vapor deposition) method or a sputtering method. For the conductor, for example, a metal such as aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), and gold (Au) or an alloy containing any of these is used.

Then, using the upper surface of the substrate 1 as a stopper, a planarization process is performed on the conductor by a CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polishing) method.
As a result, the lower capacitance electrodes 11 and 12 of the MEMS variable capacitance device are embedded in the groove Z of the substrate 1 in a self-aligned manner. In the MEMS variable capacitance device of the present embodiment, the lower capacitance electrodes 11 and 12 are formed by pairing two electrodes (wirings). Specifically, the signal electrode 11 and the ground electrode 12 constitute a pair of lower capacitor electrodes. The potential difference between the signal line 11 and the ground line 12 becomes the output (RF power, RF voltage) of the MEMS variable capacitance device.

  Thus, the lower capacitor electrodes 11 and 12 are formed by a damascene process. The planar shape of the groove Z is formed to be a predetermined shape according to the layout of the lower capacitor electrodes 11 and 12.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8B, the insulating film 15 is deposited on the surface of the substrate 1 and on the lower RF electrodes 11 and 12 by using, for example, a CVD method or a thermal oxidation method. . For example, silicon oxide is used for the insulating film 15. However, a material having a relative dielectric constant higher than that of silicon oxide, such as silicon nitride, aluminum oxide, or aluminum nitride, may be used.

  Subsequently, a conductor is deposited on the insulating film 15 by using, for example, a CVD method or a sputtering method. The deposited conductor is processed into a predetermined shape by using a photolithography technique and an RIE method. As a result, the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 of the MEMS variable capacitance device are formed at positions overlapping the signal electrode 11 and the ground electrode 12 in the vertical direction.

Thus, the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 are stacked on the signal electrode 11 and the ground electrode 12. As a result, one MIM capacitive element is formed by the signal electrode 11, the lower drive electrode 31, and the insulating film 15 sandwiched between the two electrodes 11 and 31. Similarly, the MIM capacitor element is formed by the ground electrode 12, the lower drive electrode 32, and the insulating film 15 sandwiched between the two electrodes 12 and 32. These MIM capacitor elements have capacitances C ₁ and C ₂ according to the facing area between the stacked electrodes, the thickness of the insulating film, and the dielectric constant of the insulating film.

Here, as shown in FIG. 8A, the signal / ground electrodes 11 and 12 are formed using a damascene process. As a result, the upper surfaces of the signal / ground electrodes 11 and 12 and the upper surface of the insulating film 15 deposited on these electrodes 11 and 12 become flat. Therefore, the upper and bottom surfaces of the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 formed on the flat insulating film 15 are also flat. Therefore, the variation of the capacitances C ₁ and C ₂ of the MIM capacitor element is reduced.

  At the same time when the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 are formed, the wiring and dummy layers of the MEMS device are formed on the insulating film 15 (substrate 1) using the same material as the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32. May be.

  Insulating films 35 and 36 are formed on the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 by using, for example, a CVD method or a thermal oxidation method. For example, silicon oxide is used for the insulating films 35 and 36. However, an insulator having a relative dielectric constant higher than that of silicon oxide may be used for the insulating films 35 and 36. When the insulating films 35 and 36 are deposited using the CVD method, they are deposited not only on the surfaces of the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 but also on the insulating film 15, but illustration thereof is omitted here.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 8C, a sacrificial layer 98 is formed on the insulating films 15 and 35 by using, for example, a CVD method or a coating method. If the sacrificial layer 98 can ensure a predetermined etching selectivity with respect to the material formed below the sacrificial layer 98 and the material described later above the sacrificial layer 98, an insulator, a conductor (metal), Any of a semiconductor and an organic substance (for example, a resist) may be used.

  In a region where the anchor portion is formed (hereinafter referred to as an anchor formation region), an opening (not shown) for embedding the anchor portion is formed in the sacrificial layer 98 by using a photolithography technique and an RIE method. The

Then, the conductor 2 is deposited on the sacrificial layer 98 by using, for example, a CVD method or a sputtering method.
The conductor 2 on the sacrificial layer 98 is processed into a predetermined shape using, for example, a photolithography technique and an RIE method. As a result, the upper capacitor electrode 2 of the MEMS variable capacitor device is formed. In the MEMS variable capacitance device according to the first embodiment, the upper electrode 2 functions as a capacitance electrode of the variable capacitance element and also functions as a drive electrode of the actuator.

  A first spring structure (not shown) is formed using the same material (conductor) as the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2. This spring structure is integrally connected to the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2. In this case, the spring structure is made of, for example, a ductile material.

  At the same time as the conductor 2 is deposited on the sacrificial layer 98, the conductor 2 is embedded in the opening of the anchor formation region. As a result, an anchor portion (not shown) is formed at a predetermined position on the substrate. However, the anchor portion may be formed by a process different from the upper electrode and the spring structure.

  Also, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 2B, when the MEMS variable capacitance device has spring structures 41 and 45 of different materials, after the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the first spring structure 41 are formed, A second spring structure (not shown) is formed on the sacrificial layer 98 so as to be connected to a predetermined position on the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2. For example, the second spring structure is formed by the following process.

  After the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the first spring structure are formed, an opening is formed in the sacrificial layer 98 in the formation region of the anchor portion to which the second spring structure is connected. Then, a material (for example, a brittle material) constituting the second spring structure is deposited on the upper capacitor / driving electrode 2, the sacrificial layer 98, and in the opening of the anchor formation region by using, for example, a CVD method. Is done. The deposited member is processed into a predetermined shape by, for example, the photolithography technique and the RIE method, and the second spring structure is formed. Further, the material deposited in the opening of the anchor formation region becomes an anchor portion (not shown). The anchor part connected to the second spring structure may be formed by the same process and material (for example, ductile material) as the anchor part connected to the first spring structure.

Thereafter, the sacrificial layer 98 is selectively removed using, for example, wet etching. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2A, a cavity (gap) is formed between the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32. Capacitive couplings C ₃ and C ₄ are formed between the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32.

  Through the above steps, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 2B, a MEMS variable capacitance device having a laminated electrode structure is completed.

  Note that the low pass filter connected to the upper capacitor / drive electrode and the lower drive electrode may be formed at the same wiring level as the MEMS variable capacitor device, or a lower wiring level than the MEMS variable capacitor device (for example, a silicon substrate). (Top).

  As described above, part of the capacitance that contributes to the operation and output of the MEMS variable capacitance device according to the first embodiment is carried by the MIM capacitance element (fixed capacitance element) on the substrate. For this reason, in order to reduce variations in capacitance values that contribute to operation and output, it is desirable to suppress variations in MIM capacitance elements.

As described above, the MIM capacitor element includes the lower capacitor electrodes 11 and 12 and the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32. Therefore, the lower capacitor electrodes 11 and 12 and the insulation on the electrodes 11 and 12 are formed by forming the lower capacitor electrodes 11 and 12 using the damascene process as in the manufacturing method described with reference to FIG. The flatness of the upper surface of the film 15 is improved. Needless to say, the flatness of the bottom surface of the lower drive electrode laminated on the insulating film 15 is improved. As a result, the variation in the capacitance of the MIM capacitive element included in the MEMS device is reduced.
As described above, since the variation in the capacitances C ₁ and C ₂ of the MIM capacitive element contributing to the operation and output is reduced, the operation of the MEMS variable capacitance device can be stabilized.

In the present embodiment, the fixed capacitances C ₃ and C ₄ between the lower capacitance electrodes 11 and 12 and the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 and the variable between the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 and the upper capacitance / drive electrode 2 are variable. The hot switching characteristics of the MEMS variable capacitance device can be improved by the capacitances C ₃ and C ₄ .

  Therefore, the MEMS device manufacturing method according to the first embodiment of the present invention can provide a MEMS device that realizes easy hot switching.

(2) Second embodiment
The structure of the MEMS device according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9, 10A and 10B. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a planar structure of a MEMS device (for example, a MEMS variable capacitance device) in the present embodiment. 10A is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional structure along the line AA ′ of FIG. The cross-sectional structure along the line BB ′ in FIG. 9 is substantially the same as the structure shown in FIG. 2B. FIG. 10B shows a state during driving of the MEMS variable capacitance device of the present embodiment.
Here, differences between the MEMS device according to the second embodiment and the MEMS device according to the first embodiment will be mainly described.

In the MEMS variable capacitance device 100B according to the second embodiment, the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 is not supplied with a potential.
For example, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 is supported in a hollow shape by a spring structure 45 and an anchor 52 part. The spring structure 45 is electrically isolated from the outside. Alternatively, the material used for the spring structure 45 is an insulator. Therefore, no potential is supplied to the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 from the outside via the spring structure 45. In the MEMS variable capacitance device 100B of the present embodiment, a spring structure that uses a conductor and is electrically connected to the outside is not provided. Therefore, no potential is supplied to the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 via the spring structure.

  As described above, in the MEMS variable capacitance device 100B according to the second embodiment, no electric potential is supplied to the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 from the outside, and the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 is in an electrically floating state.

  In the MEMS variable capacitance device 100 </ b> B shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, no potential is directly supplied to the upper capacitance / drive electrode 2. However, by providing a potential difference between the first lower drive electrode 31 and the second lower drive electrode 32, the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 can move in the vertical direction (vertical direction) with respect to the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32. ) For example, as shown in FIG. 10B, when the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 is pulled down toward the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32, the bias potential Vb is supplied to the first lower drive electrode 31 and the second lower drive electrode is supplied. A ground potential Vgnd is supplied to the electrode 32.

  The upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 to which no potential is supplied moves toward the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 for the following reason.

The internal potential of the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 in the floating state depends on the electrostatic capacitance (capacitive coupling) between the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32.
When a potential difference is provided between the two lower drive electrodes 31 and 32, on one of the amount of charge the capacitance C ₃ is held (potential) and the charge amount of the other electrostatic capacitance C _4, difference occurs. As a result, the internal potential of the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 varies. Due to the fluctuation of the internal potential, a potential difference is given between the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the two lower drive electrodes 31 and 32, and electrostatic attraction is generated.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 10B, the movable upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 moves up and down with respect to the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32. When the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 is pulled upward, for example, the potentials of the two lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 are set to the same potential.

As described above, even if a potential is not supplied to the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2, the capacitive coupling C ₃ , C ₄ between the lower drive electrodes 31, 32 and the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 in the floating state is used. The MEMS variable capacitance device 100B of this embodiment is driven.

Further, the MEMS variable capacitance device 100B of the present embodiment is similar to the first embodiment in that the constant capacitances C ₁ and C ₂ and the variable capacitances C ₃ and C ₄ are the upper capacitance / drive electrode. 2 and lower capacitor electrodes 11 and 12 are connected in series via lower drive electrodes 31 and 32. Furthermore, the capacitances C ₁ , C ₂ , C ₃ , and C ₄ are connected in series between the signal line sig and the ground line gnd. Capacitances C ₁ , C ₂ , C ₃ , and C ₄ connected in series are variable capacitors that generate the output of the MEMS device.

  Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the MEMS variable capacitance device 100B of this embodiment can improve hot switching characteristics.

  Therefore, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, a MEMS device having improved hot switching characteristics can be realized.

(3) Third embodiment
The structure of a MEMS device (for example, a MEMS variable capacitance device) 100C according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 11, 12A, 12B, and 12C. FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a planar structure of the MEMS variable capacitance device in the present embodiment. 12A is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional structure taken along the line CC ′ of FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional structure taken along the line DD ′ of FIG. FIG. 12C shows a state during driving of the MEMS variable capacitance device of the present embodiment.
Here, differences between the MEMS device according to the third embodiment and the MEMS devices according to the first and second embodiments will be mainly described.

  As shown in FIGS. 11, 12A, and 12B, in the MEMS variable capacitance device 100C of the present embodiment, unlike the first and second embodiments, the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 include lower capacitor electrodes 11A. , 12A are not stacked. However, the MEMS variable capacitance device 100C of this embodiment has a circuit equivalent structure to the MEMS variable capacitance device having a structure in which the lower drive electrode is stacked on the lower capacitance electrode (stacked electrode structure). .

  As shown in FIGS. 11 to 12B, the lower capacitor electrodes 11A and 12A are provided on the substrate 9. Also in the present embodiment, the lower capacitor electrodes 11A and 12A are composed of a pair of signal electrode 11A and ground electrode 12A. The signal electrode 11A and the ground electrode 12A extend in the y direction. The signal electrode 11A functions as a signal line sig, and the ground electrode 12A functions as a ground line gnd. The potential of the signal electrode 11A is variable and varies with the operation of the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2. For example, a ground potential is supplied to the ground electrode 12A. The potential difference (RF voltage) between the signal electrode 11A and the ground electrode 12A becomes the output (RF power) of the MEMS variable capacitance device 100C.

  The two lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 are adjacent to each other in the x direction. The first lower drive electrode 31 is adjacent to the signal electrode 11A in the direction parallel to the substrate surface (x direction). The second lower drive electrode 32 is adjacent to the ground electrode 12A in the direction parallel to the substrate surface (x direction). For example, the two lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 are provided on the substrate 9 between the signal electrode 11A and the ground electrode 12A.

The lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 are provided below the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate 9, and a part of the two lower drive electrodes 31, 32 is located above and below the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2. It is arranged at the position that overlaps.
Further, the signal electrode 11A and the ground electrode 12A are arranged at positions that do not overlap the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 in the vertical direction with respect to the surface of the substrate 9, for example.

  The signal / ground electrodes 11A and 12A are simultaneously formed using the same material as the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32, for example. In this case, the film thickness of the signal / ground electrodes 11A, 12A is substantially the same as the film thickness of the lower drive electrodes 31, 32.

  The surfaces of the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 are covered with insulating films 35 and 36, respectively. Openings Q1 and Q2 are provided in the insulating films 35 and 36, respectively. The openings Q1 and Q2 are provided, for example, at positions that do not overlap the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 in the vertical direction with respect to the surface of the substrate 9. The surfaces of the signal electrode 11A and the ground electrode 12A are covered with insulating films 37 and 38, respectively. The insulating films 37 and 38 are simultaneously formed using the same material as the insulating films 35 and 36, for example. In this case, the thickness of the insulating films 37 and 38 is the same as the thickness of the insulating films 35 and 36.

  Thus, in the MEMS variable capacitance device 100C of the present embodiment, the signal electrode 11A and the ground electrode 12A are provided at the same wiring level as the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32. The wiring level is a height (position) based on the surface of the substrate 9 or the silicon substrate surface below the substrate 9.

The first and second conductive layers 33 and 34 are provided on the insulating films 35, 36, 37 and 38.
The first conductive layer 33 is stacked on the signal electrode 11 </ b> A via the insulating film 37. The first conductive layer 33 is in direct contact with the lower drive electrode 31 via the opening Q1.
The second conductive layer 34 is stacked on the ground electrode 12 </ b> A via the insulating film 38. The second conductive layer 34 is in direct contact with the lower drive electrode 32 via the opening Q2. The conductive layers 33 and 34 are disposed, for example, at positions that do not overlap the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 in the vertical direction with respect to the substrate surface.

In the MEMS variable capacitance device 100C of the present embodiment, the MIM capacitance element includes the signal electrode 11A, the first conductive layer 33, and the insulating film 37 sandwiched between the signal electrode 11A and the conductive layer 33. It is configured. The MIM capacitor element has constant capacitances C ₁ and C ₂ according to the facing area between the electrode 11A and the conductive layer 33, the film thickness of the insulating film 37, and the dielectric constant of the insulating film 37. Similarly, the ground electrode 12A, the first conductive layer 34, and the insulating film 38 constitute an MIM capacitor element, and the element has constant capacitances C ₁ and C ₂ . Thus, the conductive layers 33 and 34 function as electrodes of the MIM capacitor element.

  Similar to the first embodiment, the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 is connected to the anchor portions 51 and 52 via the spring structures 41 and 45. The upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 is supported in a hollow space above the lower drive electrodes 31, 32 by anchor portions 51, 52. The upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 is supplied with a potential through a spring structure 41 and an anchor 51 using a conductor (ductile material). In the present embodiment, spring structures 41 and 45 and anchor portions 51 and 52 are provided at the end of the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 in the y direction. As in the MEMS device of the second embodiment, the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 may not be supplied with a potential, and the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 may be in a floating state.

The MEMS variable capacitance device 100 </ b> C has capacitive coupling between the upper capacitance / drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrode 31. The MEMS variable capacitance device 100 </ b> C has capacitive coupling between the upper capacitance / drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrode 32. The magnitudes of these capacitive couplings are electrostatic capacitances C ₃ and C ₄ . The magnitudes of the capacitances C ₃ and C _{4 change} as the upper capacitance / drive electrode 2 moves up and down.

As described above, the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 are electrically connected to the conductive layers 33 and 34 via the openings Q1 and Q2, respectively. Therefore, in the MEMS variable capacitance device 100C of this embodiment, the capacitances (capacitance coupling) C ₃ and C ₄ are in series with the capacitances C ₁ and C ₂ through the openings Q1 and Q2 and the conductive layers 33 and 34. It has the structure connected to.

  In the MEMS variable capacitance device 100C of this embodiment, when a potential difference equal to or higher than the pull-in voltage is applied between the upper capacitance / drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrodes 31, 32, as shown in FIG. The drive electrode 2 is lowered toward the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32. As described above, the MEMS variable capacitance device 100C is changed from the up-state to the down-state.

The upper capacitance / driving electrode 2 moves up and down with respect to the lower driving electrodes 31 and 32, so that the magnitudes of the variable capacitances C ₃ and C ₄ between the signal electrode 11A and the upper capacitance / driving electrode 2 are increased. Fluctuates. Accordingly, the potential of the signal electrode 11A varies, and the potential difference between the signal electrode 11A and the ground electrode 12A is output as the RF voltage _VRF .

In the MEMS variable capacitance device 100C of the present embodiment, not only simply changing the interelectrode distance between the movable upper capacitance electrode 2 and the lower capacitance electrode 11A to change the potential of the lower capacitance electrode (signal electrode) 11A, Between the upper capacitive electrode 2 and the lower capacitive electrodes 11A and 12A, one MIM capacitive element (capacitance C ₁ and C ₂ ) and one capacitive coupling (capacitance C ₃ and C ₄ ) are connected in series, respectively. It has been used.
When the movable upper electrode 2 changes from the up-state to the down-state, the magnitudes of the capacitive coupling capacitances C ₃ and C ₄ change. As the capacitances C ₃ and C ₄ change, the potential of the MIM capacitive element having the constant capacitances C ₁ and C ₂ varies. As a result, the potential of the signal electrode 11A, which is one electrode of the MIM capacitor, varies. Since the potential of the ground electrode 12A is fixed to the ground potential, it does not fluctuate even if the upper electrode 2 moves up and down.
Thus, even if the lower capacitor electrode 11A is arranged at a position that does not overlap with the upper capacitor electrode 2, the potential of the lower capacitor electrode 11A varies.

Also in the MEMS variable capacitance device 100C of the present embodiment, the constant capacitances C ₁ and C ₂ and the variable capacitances C ₃ and C ₄ between the electrodes are the upper capacitance / drive electrode 2 and the lower capacitance electrode 11A. , 12B are connected in series via lower drive electrodes 31, 32. In addition, the capacitances C ₁ , C ₂ , C ₃ , and C ₄ are connected in series between the signal electrode 11A and the ground electrode 12A. Capacitances C ₁ , C ₂ , C ₃ , and C ₄ connected in series are variable capacitances of the device, and capacitances (combined capacities) C ₁ , C ₂ , C ₃ , and C ₄ connected in series are Output is generated.
Therefore, even if the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 are not stacked on the signal electrode 11 and the ground electrode 12 as in the MEMS variable capacitance device 100C of the third embodiment, in the first and second embodiments. A configuration equivalent to the MEMS variable capacitance device described can be formed. Therefore, the MEMS variable capacitance device 100C of this embodiment can improve hot switching characteristics.

  In the MEMS variable capacitance device manufacturing method according to the present embodiment, the signal electrode 11A and the ground electrode 12A are simultaneously formed in the same process as the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32. That is, the MEMS variable capacitance device 100C of this embodiment can be formed by a simple process without using a damascene process.

  In the present embodiment, since the signal / ground electrodes 11A and 12A are formed at the same wiring level (wiring layer) as the lower driving electrodes 31 and 32, even if the conductive layers 37 and 38 are newly provided, The number of substantial wiring levels for forming the MEMS variable capacitance device 100C is two layers.

  Therefore, the MEMS variable capacitance device 100C of the present embodiment can reduce the number of wiring levels as compared with the MEMS variable capacitance device having a laminated electrode structure. Therefore, according to the MEMS variable capacitance device 100C of the present embodiment, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Therefore, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, a MEMS variable capacitance device with improved hot switching characteristics can be realized. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, it can contribute to the simplification of the manufacturing method of a MEMS variable capacitance device, and the reduction of the manufacturing cost.

(4) Fourth embodiment
The structure of the MEMS device (MEMS variable capacitance device) according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 13, 14A and 14B. FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a planar structure of the MEMS variable capacitance device 100D according to the present embodiment. 14A is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional structure taken along line EE ′ of FIG. FIG. 14B shows a state during driving of the MEMS variable capacitance device of the present embodiment.
Here, differences between the MEMS variable capacitance device according to the fourth embodiment and the MEMS variable capacitance devices according to the first to third embodiments will be mainly described.

  The MEMS variable capacitance device of the present embodiment is different from the MEMS variable capacitance devices of other embodiments in that the movable upper electrode 2A is connected to the ground line gnd (the ground electrode 12B).

  As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14A, the MEMS variable capacitance device 100D of this embodiment includes a signal electrode 11B and a ground electrode 12B. The signal electrode 11B and the ground electrode 12B form a pair as a lower capacitance electrode.

  The signal electrode 11B is embedded in the groove Z in the substrate 9 using, for example, a damascene process, and extends in the y direction. The signal electrode 11B functions as a signal line sig. The potential of the signal electrode 11B varies with the operation of the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2A.

  In the present embodiment, two ground electrodes 12B are provided on the substrate 9 adjacent to each other in the x direction. The two ground electrodes 12B extend in the y direction. The two ground electrodes 12B may be electrically connected. The two ground electrodes 12B function as a ground line gnd and are supplied with a ground potential.

  The potential difference between the signal electrode 11B and the ground electrode 12B becomes the output (RF power / RF voltage) of the MEMS variable capacitance device 100D.

  The surface of the ground electrode 12B is covered with an insulating film 92. An opening U is provided in the insulating film 92. Anchor portions 53 are respectively provided on the two ground electrodes 12B. The anchor portion 53 is in direct contact with the upper surface of the ground electrode 12B via the opening U. For the anchor portion 53, for example, a conductor is used.

The MEMS variable capacitance device 100 </ b> D of this embodiment has one lower drive electrode 31. The lower drive electrode 31 is disposed on the substrate 9 (insulating film 15) between the two ground electrodes 12B. The lower drive electrode 31 is stacked on the signal electrode 11B with the insulating film 15 interposed therebetween. The size (width / length) of the lower drive electrode 31 may be different from or the same as the size of the signal electrode 11B.
The surface of the lower drive electrode 31 is covered with an insulating film 35.

  The lower drive electrode 31 is simultaneously formed using the same material as the ground electrode 12B, for example. In this case, the film thickness of the lower drive electrode 31 is the same as the film thickness of the ground electrode 12B. The insulating film 35 is simultaneously formed using the same material as the insulating film 92, for example. In this case, the thickness of the insulating film 35 is the same as the thickness of the insulating film 92.

The upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 A is provided above the lower drive electrode 31. The upper capacitor / drive electrode 2A has, for example, a rectangular planar shape and extends in the y direction. Anchor portions 53 are connected to both ends of the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2A in the y direction. The upper capacitor / drive electrode 2A is supported hollow by the anchor portion 53, and a gap (cavity) is provided between the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2A and the lower drive electrode 31. In the present embodiment, a spring structure is not used, and the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 </ b> A is directly connected to the anchor portion 53.
The upper capacitor / drive electrode 2A forms a pair of capacitor electrodes with the lower capacitor electrode (signal electrode 2A), and forms a pair of drive electrodes with the lower drive electrode 31.

Also in the MEMS variable capacitance MEMS device 100D of the present embodiment, the signal electrode 11B and the lower drive electrode 31 form an MIM capacitive element. The MIM capacitor element has a capacitance _{C 1.} The upper capacitor / drive electrode 2A and the lower drive electrode 31 form capacitive coupling. The capacitive coupling has a capacitance C _3. Capacitances C ₁ and C ₃ are connected in series between the signal electrode 11B and the ground electrode 12B.

  In the present embodiment, the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2A is electrically connected to the ground electrode 12B by the anchor portion 53. Thereby, in the MEMS variable capacitance device 100D of the present embodiment, the ground potential is supplied to the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2A, and the potential of the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2A becomes the same as the potential of the ground electrode 12B. If the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2A is electrically connected to the ground electrode 12B, the anchor portion 53 may not be provided on the ground electrode 12B.

FIG. 14B shows the down-state of the MEMS variable capacitance device 100D of the present embodiment.
In the present embodiment, since the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2A is connected to the ground electrode 12B, the potential of the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2A is set to the ground potential.
As shown in FIG. 14B, when the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2A is moved downward (lower drive electrode 31 side), the bias potential is set so that the potential difference between the ground electrode 12B and the lower drive electrode 31 is equal to or higher than the pull-in voltage. Is supplied to the lower drive electrode 31.
Due to this potential difference, an electrostatic attractive force is generated between the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the lower drive electrode 31. Due to the generated electrostatic attraction, the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 bends downward. For this reason, the distance between the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2 and the signal electrode 11B is reduced. The value of the capacitance C ₃ is changed. As a result, the potential of the signal electrode 11B varies. The potential difference between the signal electrode 11B and the ground electrode 12B is output to the outside as an RF voltage (RF power).

  When the upper capacitor / drive electrode 2A is brought to the original state (up-state), a pull-out voltage is applied between the ground electrode 12B and the lower drive electrode 31.

  When there is no problem even if a creep phenomenon occurs with respect to the movable upper electrode 2A, or when the MEMS variable capacitance device is used for an application with a small number of times of driving, the MEMS variable capacitance device 100D shown in FIGS. The structure can be adopted.

  Since the MEMS variable capacitance device 100D of this embodiment does not have a spring structure with a complicated shape, processing with a high degree of difficulty is not necessary, and the manufacturing process can be reduced. Therefore, in this embodiment, the manufacturing cost of the MEMS variable capacitance device can be reduced.

Further, in the MEMS variable capacitance device 100D of the present embodiment, the capacitances C ₁ and C ₃ are serially connected between the upper capacitance / drive electrode 2 and the lower capacitance electrode 11B via the lower drive electrode 31. It is connected. Moreover, as for those electrostatic capacitances C ₁ and C ₃ , a constant electrostatic capacitance C ₁ and a variable electrostatic capacitance C ₃ are connected in series between the signal electrode 11B and the ground electrode 12B. . Therefore, the hot switching characteristics of the MEMS variable capacitance device 100D are improved.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, a MEMS device having improved hot switching characteristics can be realized. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, it can contribute to the simplification of the manufacturing method of a MEMS variable capacitance device, and the reduction of the manufacturing cost.

(5) Application examples
An application example of the MEMS device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 is a plan view showing a planar structure of the MEMS device in this application example.

As shown in FIG. 15, a plurality of MEMS variable capacitance devices 100 ₁ and 100 ₂ may be used to form a capacitance bank.

As shown in FIG. 15, the capacitor bank 500 includes a plurality of MEMS variable capacitor devices 100 ₁ and 100 ₂ . A capacitor bank 500 shown in FIG. 15 uses a plurality of MEMS variable capacitor devices described in the first embodiment. Here, for simplification of illustration, two MEMS variable capacitance devices 100 ₁ and 100 ₂ are illustrated, but the capacitance bank 500 may be configured by using three or more MEMS variable capacitance devices. Of course. Of course, the capacitor bank 500 may be configured by the MEMS variable capacitor device described in the second to fourth embodiments.

The plurality of MEMS variable capacitance devices 100 ₁ and 100 ₂ are provided on one substrate 9. The plurality of MEMS variable capacitance devices 100 ₁ and 100 ₂ are arranged along the y direction.

The signal / ground electrodes 11, 12 and the lower drive electrodes 31, 32 extend in the y direction, and the electrodes 11, 12, 31, 32 are a plurality of MEMS variable capacitance devices 100 ₁ , 100 arranged in the y direction. by 100 _2, it is used in common. In the first embodiment, as described with reference to FIG. 2A, the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 are stacked on the signal / ground electrodes 11 and 12 via an insulating film.

The upper capacitor / drive electrodes 2 ₁ and 2 ₂ are provided for the MEMS variable capacitor devices 100 ₁ and 100 ₂ , respectively. The upper capacitance / drive electrodes 2 ₁ and 2 ₂ of each MEMS variable capacitance device are connected to the anchor portions 51 ₁ and 51 ₂ via the _first spring structures 41 ₁ and 41 ₂ . This anchor portion ₅₁ 1, 51 _2, each upper capacitor / drive electrodes ₂ 1, _{2 2} is supported hollow.

  Although not shown in FIG. 15, a low-pass filter is connected to each of the two lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 as shown in FIG. 4. A potential is supplied from the potential supply circuit to each of the lower drive electrodes 31 and 32 via the low-pass filter.

A low pass filter is connected to each of the upper capacitance / drive electrodes 2 ₁ and 2 ₂ . Similarly, the potential supply circuit is connected to each of the upper capacitors / drive electrodes 2 ₁ and 2 ₂ one by one through a low-pass filter. In this way, potentials are individually supplied to the upper capacitors / drive electrodes 2 ₁ and 2 ₂ of the MEMS variable capacitance devices 100 ₁ and 100 ₂ .

Thereby, each MEMS variable capacitance device 100 ₁ , 100 ₂ is controlled to be independently in two states of up-state and down-state.

As described in the first to fourth embodiments, one MEMS variable capacitance device 100 ₁ is within a range of two states with Stay up--state and down-state, and outputs an RF voltage (RF power). Therefore, the frequency of the RF voltage output from _one MEMS variable capacitance device 1001 is limited to a value obtained from the up-state / down-state movable range and the operation cycle.

When the capacity bank 500 is configured by using a plurality of MEMS variable capacitance devices 100 ₁ and 100 ₂ as in this application example, the up-state / down-state of each MEMS variable capacitance device 100 ₁ and 100 ₂ is respectively determined. By controlling, the capacitor bank 500 can output an RF voltage having a frequency higher than the RF voltage output by one MEMS variable capacitor device. That is, a higher frequency RF voltage is obtained by the capacitor bank 500 by adjusting the timing at which the MEMS variable capacitance devices 100 ₁ and 100 ₂ enter the up-state or the down-state. Further, the RF voltage can be increased by simultaneously bringing the plurality of MEMS variable capacitance devices 100 ₁ and 100 ₂ into the down-state.

  Therefore, by configuring the capacitor bank 500 using a plurality of MEMS variable capacitance devices 100, an output (RF voltage / RF power) in a wider frequency band can be obtained.

As described above, the MEMS variable capacitance device described in the first to fourth embodiments has high switching characteristics.
Therefore, it is a matter of course that the capacitor bank 500 using the MEMS variable capacitance device also has improved hot switching characteristics.

[Others]
The example of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be embodied by modifying each component without departing from the gist thereof. Various inventions can be configured by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above-described embodiments. For example, some constituent elements may be deleted from all the constituent elements disclosed in the above-described embodiments, or constituent elements of different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

  1: lower capacitance electrode (lower electrode) 11, 11A, 11B: signal electrode, 12, 12A, 12B: ground electrode, 2: upper capacitance / drive electrode (upper electrode), 31, 32: lower drive electrode, 15, 35, 36, 37, 38: insulating film, 9: substrate, 41: first spring structure, 45: second spring structure, 51, 52, 53: anchor portion.

Claims (1)

First and second lower electrodes provided on a substrate;
First and second drive electrodes provided on the substrate between the first and second lower electrodes and adjacent in parallel to the substrate surface;
The first and second electrodes provided on the substrate are provided in common with the first lower electrode and the first drive electrode, and the second lower electrode and the second drive electrode. One upper electrode supported in a hollow manner above the first and second drive electrodes by the anchor portion and moving toward the first and second drive electrodes;
Comprising
A fixed first capacitance is formed between the first lower electrode and the first drive electrode adjacent to each other,
A fixed second capacitance is formed between the second lower electrode and the second drive electrode adjacent to each other,
A variable third capacitance is formed between the first drive electrode and the upper electrode,
A variable fourth capacitance is formed between the second drive electrode and the upper electrode.
The MEMS device characterized by the above-mentioned.

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