• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.287-290
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• 2015

Liquid crystal polymer (LCP) is a thermoplastic polymer with superior mechanical and thermal properties. In addition, its characteristics include very low water absorption rate and possibility to apply bonding process under low temperature. In this study, LCP is utilized as a packaging material for a microelectronic system (MEMS) based safety device with suggestion of a low temperature packaging process. Highly sensitive and stable capacitive type humidity sensor is fabricated to investigate hermeticity of the packaged MEMS device.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.184-188
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• 2006

This work describes efforts in the fabrication and testing of robust microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Robustness is typically achieved by investigating non-silicon substrates and materials for MEMS fabrication. Some of the traditional MEMS fabrication techniques are applicable to robust MEMS, while other techniques are drawn from other technology areas, such as electronic packaging. The fabrication technologies appropriate for robust MEMS are illustrated through laminated polymer membrane based pressure sensor arrays. Each array uses a stainless steel substrate, a laminated polymer film as a suspended movable plate, and a fixed, surface micromachined back electrode of electroplated nickel. Over an applied pressure range from 0 to 34 kPa, the net capacitance change was approximately 0.14 pF. An important attribute of this design is that only the steel substrate and the pressure sensor inlet is exposed to the flow; i.e., the sensor is self-packaged.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2000.05a
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• pp.1051-1054
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• 2000

We developed the micro CSF (celebrospinal fluid) shunt valve with surface and bulk micromachining technology in polymer MEMS. This micro CSF shunt valve was formed with four micro check valves to have a membrane connected to the anchor with the four bridges. The up-down movement of the membrane made the CSF on & off and the valve characteristic such as open pressure was controlled by the thickness and shape of the bridge and the membrane. The membrane, anchor and bridge layer were made of the $O_2$ RIE (reactive ion etching) patterned Parylene thin film to be about 5~10 microns in thickness on the silicon wafer. The dimension of the rectangular nozzle is 0.2＊0.2 $\textrm{mm}^2$ and the membrane 0.45 mm in diameter. The bridge width is designed variously from 0.04 mm to 0.12 mm to control the valve characteristics. To protect the membrane and bridge in the CSF flow, we developed the packaging system for the CSF micro shunt valve with the deep RIE of the silicon wafer. Using this package, we can control the gap size between the membrane and the nozzle, and protect the bridge not to be broken in the flow. The total dimension of the assembled system is 2.5＊2.5 $\textrm{mm}^2$ in square, 0.8 mm in height. We could precisely control the burst pressure and low rate of the valve varing the design parameters, and develop the whole CSF shunt system using this polymer MEMS fabricated CSF shunt valve.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2011.07a
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• pp.1702-1703
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• 2011

MEMS 소자의 Wafer level Package 관련하여 Deep cavity를 가진 Cap Wafer와 Polymer bonding 중 cavity 단차로 인한 Polymer Patterning 및 접합 불량의 어려움을 극복할 수 있는 새로운 공정 flow를 제안하였다. Cavity를 형성할 때 사용하는 Si deep etching Mask인 기존의 Photoresist를 접합용 감광성 Polymer로 대체하고, cavity 형성 후, 별도의 추가 공정 없이 이 Polymer를 이용해 Wafer bonding을 진행하였다. 이를 통해 cavity 단차에 따른 문제를 해결함과 동시에 공정이 단순하고 제작 비용이 저렴하며, 신뢰성 있는 Wafer level Package를 구현하였다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2004.04b
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• pp.125-128
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• 2004

In this paper, a novel processing technique for fabrication of high-temperature MEMS based on polymer-derived SiCN microstructures is described. PDMS molds are fabricated on SU-8 photoresist using standard UV-photolithographic processes. Liquid precursors are injected into the PDMS mold. And then, the resulting solid polymer structures are crosslinked under isostatic pressure, and pyrolyzed to form a ceramic capable of withstanding over $1500^{\circ}C$. These fabricated SiCN structures would be applied for high-temperature applications, such as heat exchanger and combustion chamber.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.259-270
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• 2010

MEMS(micro electro mechanical systems) is a technology for the manufacture hyperfine structure, as a micro-sensor and a driving device, by a variety of materials such as silicon and polymer. Many study for utilizing the MEMS applications have been performed in variety of fields, such as light devices, high frequency equipments, bio-technology, energy applications and other applications. Especially, the field of Bio-MEMS related with bio-technology is very attractive, because it have the potential technology for the miniaturization of the medical diagnosis system. Bio-MEMS, the compound word formed from the words 'Bio-technology' and 'MEMS', is hyperfine devices to analyze biological signals in vitro or in vivo. It is extending the range of its application area, by combination with nano-technology(NT), Information Technology(IT). The LOC(lab-on-a-chip) in Bio-MEMS, the comprehensive measurement system combined with Micro fluidic systems, bio-sensors and bio-materials, is the representative technology for the miniaturization of the medical diagnosis system. Therefore, many researchers around the world are performing research on this area. In this paper, the application, development and market trends of Bio-MEMS are investigated.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2005

This paper presents fabrication process and experimental results of two different types of flexible MEMS biosensors based on polymer/metal multilayer processing techniques. One type of a biosensor is a microelectrode array (MEA) for nerve signal monitoring through implanting the MEA into a living body, and another is a tactile sensor capable of being mounted on an arbitrary-shaped surface. The microelectrode array was fabricated and its electrical characteristics have been examined through in vivo and in vitro experiment. For sensitive skin, flexible tactile sensor array was fabricated and its sensitivity has been analyzed. Mechanical flexibility of these biosensors has been achieved by using a polymer, and it is verified by implanting a MEA to an animal and mounting the tactile sensor on an arbitrary-shaped surface.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.1286-1289
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• 2004

A new thermal bimorph actuator for large out-of-plane displacement is designed, fabricated and tested. The deflecting beam is composed of polyimide, heater, and polyvinyl difluorides with tetrafluoroethylene(PVDF-TrFE). The large difference of coefficient of thermal expansion(CTE) of two polymer layers (polyimide and PVDF-TrFE) can generate a large deflection with relatively small temperature rising. Compared to the most conventional micro actuators based on MEMS(micro-electro mechanical system) technology, a large displacement, over 1 mm at 20 mW, could be achieved. The proposed actuator can find applications where a large vertical displacement is needed while keeping compact overall device size, such as a micro zooming lens.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.148-152
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• 2006

This paper describes the fabrication of SiCN microstructures for super-high temperature MEMS using photopolymerization of pre-ceramic polymer. In this work, polysilazane liquide as a precursor was deposited on Si wafers by spin coating, microstructured and solidificated by UV lithography, and removed from the substrate. The resulting solid polymer microstructures were cross-linked under HIP process and pyrolyzed to form a ceramic of withstanding over $1400^{\circ}C$. Finally, the fabricated SiCN microstructures were annealed at $1400^{\circ}C$ in a nitrogen atmosphere. Mechanical characteristics of the SiCN microstructure with different fabrication process conditions were evaluated. The elastic modules, hardness and tensile strength of the SiC microstructure implemented under optimum process condtions are 94.5 GPa, 10.5 GPa and 11.7 N/min, respectively. Consequently, the SiCN microstructure proposed in this work is very suitable for super-high temperature MEMS application due to very simple fabrication process and the potential possiblity of sophisticated mulitlayer or 3D microstructures as well as its good mechanical properties.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.53-57
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• 2006

This paper describes a novel processing technique for fabrication of polymer-derived SiCN (silicone carbonitride) microstructures for super-temperature MEMS applications. PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) mold is fabricated on SU-8 photoresist using standard UV photolithographic process. Liquid precursor is injected into the PDMS mold. Finally, solid polymer structure is cross-linked using HIP (hot isostatic pressure) at $400^{\circ}C$, 205 bar. Optimum pyrolysis and annealing conditions are determined to form a ceramic microstructure capable of withstanding over $1400^{\circ}C$. The fabricated SiCN ceramic microstructure has excellent characteristics, such as shear strength (15.2 N), insulation resistance ($2.163{\times}10^{14}{\Omega}$) and BDV (min. 1.2 kV) under optimum process condition. These fabricated SiCN ceramic microstructures have greater electric and physical characteristics than bulk Si wafer. The fabricated SiCN microstructures would be applied for supertemperature MEMS applications such as heat exchanger and combustion chamber.