A FABRICATION METHOD FOR MAKING A PLANAR CANTILEVER, LOW SURFACE LEAKAGE, REPRODUCIBLE AND RELIABLE METAL DIMPLE CONTACT MICRO-RELAY MEMS SWITCH, AND A MICROELECTROMECHANICAL DEVICE HAVING A COMMON GROUND PLANE LAYER AND A SET OF CONTACT TEETH AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME

摘要

A method for pseudo-planarization of an electromechanical device and for forming a durable metal contact on the electromechanical device and devices formed by the method are presented. The method comprises acts of depositing various layers forming a semiconductor device. Two principal aspects of the method include the formation of a planarized dielectric/conductor layer on a substrate and the formation of an electrode in an armature of a microelectromechanical switch, with the electrode formed such that it interlocks a structural layer of the armature to ensure it remains fixed to the armature over a large number of cycles. The present invention also relates to a system and method for making MEM switches having a common ground plane. One method for making MEM switches includes: patterning a common ground plane layer on a substrate; forming a dielectric layer on the common ground plane layer; depositing a DC electrode region through the dielectric layer to contact the common ground plane layer; and depositing a conducting layer on the DC electrode region so that regions of the conducting layer contact the DC electrode region, so that the common ground plane layer provides a common ground for the regions of the conducting layer.