Metal alloy elements in micromachined devices

• Main Authors: BERNSTEIN JONATHAN J, TAYLOR WILLIAM P
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 26.06.2003
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: ALLOYS; BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; CHEMISTRY; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATIONOR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY IONIMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; ELECTRIC SWITCHES; ELECTRICITY; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION INGENERAL; METALLURGY; MICROSTRUCTURAL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS, e.g. MICROMECHANICALDEVICES; MICROSTRUCTURAL TECHNOLOGY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; RELAYS; SELECTORS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THESURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TRANSPORTING; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS

A micromechanical device is provided, which includes at least one flexible member formed from an alloy, where the alloy is made up of one or more noble metals and one or more alloying elements, wherein each of the alloying elements has an equilibrium solid solubility in the noble metal, and wherein the one or more alloying elements are present in an amount that does not result in precipitates. A method for making a micromechanical device includes depositing an alloy on a substrate to form at least one flexible member, the alloy comprising one or more noble metals and one or more alloying elements, wherein the one or more alloying elements form a solid solution with the one or more noble metals; and removing a portion of the substrate or a sacrificial layer beneath the deposited alloy layer to obtain a flexible member.