FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] This invention generally relates to an electro-explosive device. More particularly,
the invention relates to a device having a laminate bridge that initiates a reaction
of relatively high output energy for relatively low input energy. The invention also
relates to a method of fabricating a semiconductor bridge device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In general, an electro-explosive device (EED) receives electrical energy and initiates
a mechanical shock wave and/or an exothermic reaction, such as combustion, deflagration,
or detonation. EEDs have been used in both commercial and government applications
for a variety of purposes, such as to initiate the inflation of airbags in automobiles
or to activate an energy source in an ordnance system.
[0003] Prior art EEDs include those that use a bridgewire to ignite an ordnance material.
A bridgewire is a thin resistive wire attached between two contacts. The ordnance
material surrounds the bridgewire. When current is passed through the bridgewire ohmic
heating results. When the bridgewire reaches the ignition temperature of the ordnance
material, the ordnance material initiates. Typically, the ordnance material is a primary
or pyrotechnic charge which ignites a secondary charge, which in turn ignites a main
charge. EEDs that use a bridgewire have significant disadvantages in modem applications.
For example, EEDs are subjected to increasing levels of electromagnetic interference
(EMI) in many military and civilian applications. High levels of EMI present a serious
danger because the EMI may couple electromagnetic energy through a direct or indirect
path to an EED, causing it to fire unintentionally. EEDs may also be unintentionally
fired by electrostatic discharge (ESD). Conventional devices to protect against unintentional
discharge, such as passive filter circuits and EMI shielding, present their own space
and weight problems in typical applications.
[0004] In order to reduce the sensitivity of an EED to stray signals, the total energy of
the firing signal which is necessary to ignite the EED may be increased. As a result,
low level stray signals may be conducted through the bridgewire without causing any
ignition and only the higher level firing signal would have sufficient energy to ignite
the EED. A higher magnitude firing signal, however, is not always desirable. In many
applications, such as in automobile airbags, available power is severely limited,
making it necessary to provide an EED that has a low firing energy, which may be near
the energy level of potential spurious signals such as those from ESD or EMI sources.
[0005] One type of EED that alleviates some problems with accidental firing is called a
semiconductor bridge, or SCB. An SCB may use less energy than that used by a bridgewire
EED for the same no-fire level. For example, the energy required by an SCB may be
an order of magnitude less than that required by a bridgewire device with the same
no-fire performance. An SCB is a ordnance material initiating device built on a semiconductor
substrate. The SCB typically ignites the ordnance material with a hot plasma. When
the SCB fires, it creates a high temperature plasma (for example, greater than 4000
degrees K in some cases) with high power density that ignites the ordnance material.
The SCB may generate plasma in less than several microseconds as compared to the bridgewire,
which may heat to the point of initiation in hundreds of microseconds. The ordnance
material ignited by the SCB is typically an adjacent ordnance material or primary
explosive that is ignited in a matter of microseconds and in turn ignites an output
charge. The excellent heat transfer characteristics of the semiconductor provide a
high capacity heat sink for the SCB and thus a relatively high no-fire level. Generally
an SCB should be driven by a low impedance voltage source or a capacitive discharge
to properly support an avalanche condition that results in plasma creation.
[0006] The use of EEDs in automobile airbags and other safety critical applications presents
several problems in addition to the prevention of unintentional firing. For example,
the reliability of an airbag EED is critical. The airbag EED must fire reliably, and
must be manufactured in a way that allows some verification of reliability. Conventional
SCBs have some disadvantages that make it difficult to produce verifiably reliable
SCB EEDs. For example, SCBs provide a very hot but low energy ignition source that
lasts only for microseconds. In typical SCBs the amount of energy output is dependent
upon, and is less than, the level of energy input. In cases in which only a very small
amount of output energy can be produced, the output energy may not be sufficient to
provide reliable ignition.
[0007] Reliability of conventional SCB components is also difficult to verify. One reason
for this is that in conventional SCBs, the ordnance material and the SCB must be tightly
coupled in order to transmit the small energy output of the SCB to the primary ordnance
material. That is, at the ordnance material/SCB interface the ordnance material must
be in intimate contact with the SCB at all times for SCB firing to reliably ignite
the ordnance material. Test methods have been developed to attempt to verify the ordnance
material/SCB interface in bridgewire devices but these test methods generally do not
work well for semiconductor devices. For example, it may be possible to verify the
presence of the proper amount of ordnance material by weighing, but it is very difficult
to verify a proper interface, or intimate contact between the SCB and the ordnance
material. Even if a proper interface exists at manufacture, it is difficult to determine
whether an interface in a particular device is degraded over time, for example by
vibration or shock. Even given a proper interface, without positive retention of the
SCB against the ordnance material, the ordnance material may be thrown off by the
shock generated by the SCB firing, rather than ignited. Positive retention introduces
its own problems, however, including added cost and complexity without resolving verification
of continued reliability in the field. In addition, the forces applied to the SCB
in positive retention may break the SCB and/or connection bonds in the device.
[0008] WO 97/42462 discloses a semiconductor bridge device according to the preamble of
claim 1 and forms a basis for the method of fabricating a semiconductor bridge device
as claimed in claim 11.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0009] A semiconductor bridge (SCB) device on a substrate with a laminate bridge is disclosed.
In one embodiment, the SCB device comprises multiple, alternating layers of a thermally
and electrically insulating material and a conducting material that is exothermically
reactive with the insulating material. The multiple alternating layers form a laminate
layer on an insulator on the surface area of the substrate. In one embodiment, the
substrate is silicon. In one embodiment, boron is the insulating material and titanium
is the conductive material. The laminate layer is typically continuous. In a top view,
however, the laminate layer appears as two large sections that substantially cover
the surface area of the substrate and are joined by a bridge section. The bridge section
has a small cross-sectional area relative to the direction of current flow. The laminate
layer is constructed as a series of individual, alternating insulating and reactive
layers. The bridge section is reacted when current is passed through contacts on top
of the laminate, which initiates the remainder of the laminate. As one layer of the
laminate is consumed, another layer is exposed and becomes part of the conductive
circuit. The output energy produced is sufficient to ignite ordnance material across
a gap.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010]
Figure 1 is a top view of an embodiment of a semiconductor bridge (SCB) that does not form
part of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a cross-section view of the SCB of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a top view of an embodiment of an SCB according to the present invention
Figure 4 is a cross-section view of the SCB of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a cross-section view of an electro-explosive device (EED) according to the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate one embodiment of an SCB that does not form part of the present invention.
SCB 101 has integrally formed shunting diodes for protection against ESD events and
an enhanced bridge overcoating for increased firing efficiency. Referring first to
Figure 1, the SCB 101 is formed on a silicon wafer substrate 102 that is generally square
but may also be any convenient shape. A first generally triangular land 103 is deposited
on one side of the substrate 102 and a second generally triangular land 104 is deposited
on the opposite side of the substrate 102. The lands 103 and 104 are generally spaced
apart and electrically isolated from each other except for a relatively narrow conductive
bridge 106 that couples and electrically connects the lands together. In one embodiment,
the land 103 is formed partially of a deposited layer of palladium 107, and the land
104 is similarly formed partially of a deposited layer 108 of palladium. In one embodiment,
the bridge 106 is also formed of palladium. The lands 103 and 104 and the bridge 106
are further deposited as a single layer of palladium using common integrated circuit
etching and deposition techniques.
[0012] A first diode 112 is formed beneath and is electrically coupled to the palladium
layer 107 of the first land 103 and, similarly, a second diode 113 is formed beneath
and electrically coupled to the palladium layer of the second land 104. The formation
and structure of these diodes is described in more detail below: A first contact pad,
109 which preferably is formed of composite layers of titanium, nickel, and gold (Ti/Ni/Au)
is deposited on the palladium layer 107 of the first land 103 and a second similar
contact pad 111 is deposited on the palladium layer 108 of the second land 104. The
contact pads provide a suitable surface to which electrical leads can be connected
to the lands by means of solder, conductive epoxy or the like for supplying firing
current to the device. A chemically explosive composite overcoating 114, described
in more detail below, is provided on the bridge 106 for enhancing output energy and
increasing the dispersion of a firing event.
[0013] Referring now to
Figure 2, which is view of cross section A-A of
Figure 1, the substrate 102 is a silicon chip 116 processed in a conventional manner. A layer
117 of silicon dioxide is formed on the surface of the chip and functions as an electrical
insulator. Two spaced-apart triangular shaped openings 118 and 119 are etched in the
silicon dioxide layer using any appropriate etching technique to expose the surface
of the silicon chip. A first layer or pad 121 of aluminum is then deposited over the
first etched opening 118 and a second layer or pad 122 of aluminum is deposited over
the second etched opening 119. The aluminum pads may be deposited on the chip using
any appropriate technique such as, for example, vapor deposition. The first aluminum
pad 121 forms a first Schottky barrier junction 123 with the surface of the silicon
chip 116 and the second aluminum pad 122 forms a second Schottky barrier junction
124 with the surface of the silicon chip 116. Accordingly, a pair of spaced apart
Schottky diodes 112 and 113 are integrally formed with the SCB 101.
[0014] The SCB 101 includes a bowtie shaped layer 126 of palladium deposited over the surface
of the chip. The layer 126 of palladium is configured to define a first area 107,
a second area 108, and a bridge 106 that extends between and electrically couples
the larger areas 107 and 108 of the bowtie shaped area 126. The first area 107 of
the bowtie covers and is electrically bonded to the first Schottky diode 112 and the
second area 108 of the bowtie covers and is electrically bonded to the second Schottky
diode 113.
[0015] The first contact pad 109 is deposited on the surface of the first area 107 of the
bowtie shaped palladium layer and the second contact pad 11 is deposited on the surface
of the second area 108 of the bowtie shaped palladium layer. The contact pads 109
and 111, in one embodiment, are composite layers of Ti/Ni/Au. The contact pads 109
and 111 are contacts to which electrical leads may be bonded to the areas 107 and
108 of the bowtie shaped palladium layer 126. The electrical leads supply firing current
to the bowtie shaped palladium layer 126.
[0016] The deposition, etching, and shaping of the various layers of materials on the surface
of the chip 116 is accomplished using conventional integrated circuit fabrication
techniques. The choices of metals for the various layers, the shape of the layers,
and the relative sizes of the various portions of the layers may be different in different
embodiments according to particular requirements. For example, gold or aluminum might
be substituted for the palladium of the bowtie and other combinations of appropriate
metals could be substituted for the Ti/Ni/Au of the contact pads.
[0017] A composite overcoat 114 is deposited atop the bridge 106. As illustrated in Figure
2, the composite overcoat 114 includes a layer 125 of zirconium deposited on the bridge
and a layer 129 of an oxidizer such as, for example, copper oxide or iron oxide, also
known as thermite, deposited atop the zirconium layer 128. Copper oxide and iron oxide
are formed of molecules with relatively weak chemical bonds and thus tend to donate
their oxygen readily in a chemical reaction contributing to high temperature exothermic
reactions. The composite overcoat 114 can be deposited on the bridge 106 using any
of a variety of known deposition techniques. Furthermore, the composite overcoat need
not necessarily be deposited in layers, but could be deposited as a single layer of
a mixture of metal and oxidizer. In addition, substitutes may be made for the thermite
components, the zirconium and the oxidizer. For example, other weak oxides and metal
fuels may be used. Any appropriate chemically explosive overcoating might be substituted
in other embodiments.
[0018] In operation, the contact pads 109 and 111 are each electrically connected to a respective
pair of leads by means, for example, of wirebond, conductive epoxy, or solder. The
leads are then coupled to a switchable source of firing potential. When in its dormant
state prior to an intentional firing, the SCB is protected from inadvertent firing,
such as by ESD events, by the shunt diodes 112 and 113 and the no-fire energy of the
bridge. More specifically, electric potential induced across the contacts by an ESD
event typically is much higher than the turn-on voltage of the diodes formed on the
SCB. Thus, the diodes appear to ESD induced potentials as closed circuit shunts and
electric current above the shunt threshold is conducted away from the resistive bridge
to prevent ohmic heating of the bridge and consequent accidental firing.
[0019] In order to fire the bridge of the SCB, a firing potential that is near or above
the turn-on voltage of the diodes 112 and 113 is applied to the contacts from a source
capable of delivering sufficient firing potential for an appropriate length of time.
The firing potential can be provided, for example, by switching a charged capacitor
in series with the SCB. The portion of the firing potential that is less than the
turn-on voltage of the diodes is applied across the bridge. Current then flows through
the bridge causing it to heat rapidly and to vaporize in a relatively high energy
plasma reaction.
[0020] The heat generated in the palladium bridge by the firing current is directly coupled
to the composite overcoat 114 of the SCB. As a consequence, the overcoat is also heated
rapidly until the zirconium layer of the overcoat also begins to vaporize in a plasma.
This in turn initiates a chemically explosive reaction between the zirconium of the
overcoat and the oxidizer layer. The result is a chemical/plasma reaction in the vicinity
of the bridge 106 that is substantially more energetic than the plasma explosion of
a conductive bridge alone. The explosion generates a plasma filled fireball that projects
outwardly from the surface of the SCB. Thus, the composite overcoat 114 greatly enhances
the efficiency of the SCB in igniting a ordnance mix packed against its surface while
the integral diode shunt protects the bridge from ESD events.
[0021] Figures 3 and 4 illustrate an embodiment of an SCB according to the present invention. The SCB 90
includes a greater amount of reactive materials layered over a greater surface area
of the SCB as compared to the SCB 101. The SCB 90 has significantly greater energy
output upon firing than for example the SCB 101, without appreciably increased energy
input. The SCB 90 requires only enough energy to start and minimally sustain a reaction
between two reactive materials that explode in plasma projecting outward from the
surface of the SCB 90, as further described below. The SCB 90 further includes integrally
formed shunting diodes for protection against ESD events.
[0022] The sensitivity of the SCB 90 may be adjusted to operate at an input electrical power
level required of an application independent of the required energy level to ignite
the output ordnance material. The SCB 90 may ignite insensitive materials or materials
which require a large amount of heat to ignite.
[0023] Significantly, the SCB 90 provides reliable ignition across a gap between the bridge
and the ordnance material. This greatly enhances reliability because an intimate interface
between the bridge and the ordnance material does not need to be guaranteed for proper
operation. Verification of the interface between the bridge and ordnance material
is thus not required. It is only necessary to verify, using conventional techniques,
that the semiconductor wafer has been correctly processed. The presence of an output
charge may be easily verified by weighing or x-ray. This also reduces production costs.
[0024] Figure 3 is a top view of the SCB 90 showing the outlines of a series of material layers set
on top of each other as they would appear on a substrate (not shown).
Figure 4 is a simplified diagram of a cross-section of the SCB 90. The SCB 90 includes alternating
layers of different materials which are chemically reactive with each other. Typically,
one of the materials is a metal. Typically, one of the materials is an insulator,
in that it has a high resistivity and low thermal conductivity relative to the metal.
In one embodiment, boron is used as the insulator and titanium is used as the metal.
In other embodiments, other materials may be used. For example, the metal used may
be one or more of aluminum, magnesium, and zirconium, as well as other metals. The
insulator used may be one or more of calcium, manganese, and silicon, as well as other
insulators.
[0025] Alternating layers, or sublayers 502 of titanium and sublayers 504 of boron are built
up on a silicon dioxide insulating layer 306. The top layer of the series of layers
is a "bridge" layer 203 of titanium that is in contact with the contacts pads 202.
The alternating sublayers 502 and 504, and the top bridge layer 203 make up a laminate
layer. The layers 502, 504, and 203 are integrally bonded in situ during the semiconductor
fabrication process that produces the substrate upon which the layers appear. The
resulting structure, including a bridge and fuel, is therefore monolithic. This is
in contrast to prior devices which may be fabricated by depositing the fuel as powders
after the semiconductor fabrication process, and then mechanically pressing the powder
fuel around a bridge.
[0026] The top bridge layer 203, as shown in
Figure 3, is a continuous layer of a metal, in this case titanium, that includes two relatively
large sections 203A and 203B joined by a bridge section 203C. In other embodiments,
the top layer may be boron or some other reactive material. The bridge section 203C
has a small cross-sectional area relative to the direction of current flow from the
contact pads 202. The cross-sectional area and geometry of the bridge section 203C
determine how much energy is required to heat the bridge. The materials used in the
bridge, and their geometry and thickness, affect the starting resistance of the bridge
section 203C. In various embodiments, the contact pads 202 may be electrically connected
to the top bridge layer 203 only, or to the top bridge layer 203 and multiple sublayers
502 and 504. The number of layers electrically connected to the contact pads 202 affects
the resistance and heating characteristics of the bridge section 203C. In the case
of a single layer in contact with the contact pads 202, the resistance of the layer
may be reduced by the addition of a thin layer of a material with a lower resistivity,
such as gold. The resistance of the bridge may thus be adjusted to meet specific requirements.
[0027] The insulating layer 306 is built on the silicon substrate 304 substantially covers
the surface area of the substrate 304. In one embodiment the insulating layer 306
is silicon dioxide. The boron layers 504 and titanium layers 502 and 203 are each
approximately 0.25 microns thick. Boron is a relatively poor conductor of heat and
has relatively high sheet electrical resistivity compared to titanium. Boron and titanium
may be processed with standard semiconductor techniques. The boron sublayers 504 and
titanium sublayers 502 are built up under the top bridge layer 203, which includes
the bridge section 203C, in a series of layers until the desired thickness is achieved.
The thickness of the laminate layer is dependent upon the amount of plasma required
to be produced and the desired no-fire level. The thickness of the laminate layer
is practically limited only by semiconductor processing technology. A stoichiometry
that yields relatively high output energy is one titanium atom per two boron atoms.
To achieve this, layer thicknesses may be 250 nm for titanium and 220 nm for boron.
A practical number of layers, considering such factors as total processing time, is
four layers of titanium and four layers of boron. In most applications, the laminate
layer (which includes boron sublayers 504 and titanium sublayers 502 and bridge layer
203) may have a thickness of between two microns and fourteen microns.
[0028] The contact pads 202 are titanium/nickel/gold (Ti/Ni/Au) in one embodiment. The contact
pads 202 are formed by selectively covering part of the top bridge layer 203 with
a standard Ti/Ni/Au coat to form electrical contacts that can be connected, for example,
via wire bonds, solder, or conductive epoxy. Titanium has adhesion characteristics
that promote bonding to other materials. Nickel provides a solderable contact, if
one is desired. Gold is an excellent conductor for providing a conductive path to
the layered reactants, and also helps keep the nickel from readily oxidizing. As shown
in
Figure 4, the contact pads 202 extend over and through the sublayers 502 and 504 to the aluminum
312. The SCB 90 includes diodes 204 which are integrally formed by the interface of
the aluminum 312 with the silicon substrate 304. Two spaced apart triangular shaped
openings are etched in the silicon dioxide layer 306 using any appropriate etching
technique to expose the surface of the silicon chip 304. Layers or pads 312 of aluminum
are then deposited over the etched openings using any appropriate technique such as,
for example, vapor deposition. One aluminum pad forms a first barrier junction 204A
with the surface of the silicon chip 304 and the other aluminum pad forms a second
barrier junction 204B with the surface of the silicon chip 304. The doping of the
substrate determines the breakdown voltage of the diode. In applications such as automobile
airbag initiators, for example, a breakdown voltage of seven to eight volts provides
significant ESD protection. Other application requiring less sensitive bridges may
use higher breakdown voltages.
[0029] The length and width of the laminate layer formed by layers 203, 502, and 504 extends
significantly beyond the length and width of the small bridge section 203C. When current
is applied to the small bridge section 203C, the top layer 203 is ohmically heated
until it is hot enough to react with the adjoining boron layer. An exothermic reaction
results, producing Titanium and various Titanium compounds, which are expelled as
hot plasma. The boron acts as an insulator so that only the plasma arc and the exposed
portions of metal layers act as a conductive path. The reaction ceases when the source
electrical energy (for example, from a capacitor) is depleted or all of the layers
are consumed to a distance at which the plasma arc is extinguished. The output energy
is used to heat the ordnance material that is ignited by the plasma. The heat transferred
to the sublayers 502 and 504 aids in the reaction instead of being lost to the silicon
substrate.
[0030] In reactive processes in which the heat released is more than the heat absorbed by
the substrate or lost in plasma release, or other mechanisms, the reactive process
will continue until all available reactants are consumed. In cases in which the losses
exceed the energy output, the reaction will be sustained by the addition of electrical
energy via the plasma until the electrical energy is discontinued or the arc length
requires more voltage than the source can supply.
[0031] Tests of SCB 90 have shown that ignition of ordnance materials occurs across a gap.
This eliminates the need to assure contact between the bridge and the primary ordnance
material, greatly simplifying manufacture. Additionally, not having to maintain contact
between the bridge and the primary ordnance material eliminates many of the reliability
problems that may result, such as breaking of wire bonds during powder pressing operations.
The SCB 90 can thus be reliably assembled in quantity.
[0032] In other embodiments, the area of the SCB 90 covered by layers of reactive material
may be varied according to performance requirements. The shape of the area covered
may also be varied. For example, multiple layers of boron and titanium, or some other
appropriate materials, may be stacked as high as practicable only in the narrow bridge
area between the contacts of the SCB.
[0033] Figure 5 is a diagram of a cross-section of an electro-explosive device (EED) 60. An SCB 50
is attached to a header 62, which is formed from a ceramic or metal alloy. The SCB
50 may be similar to the SCB 101 or the SCB 90. The SCB 50 is typically attached with
a nonconductive epoxy. An electrical attachment 64, for example conductive epoxy or
wire bond, is applied between pins 66 on the header 62, and cap 68 is placed on the
header 62 to form an enclosure filled with ordnance material 69.
[0034] In operation, a firing signal supplied to the initiator 60 is routed through the
pins 66, through the electrical attachment 64, and to the reactive bridge section
of the SCB 50, firing the reactive bridge and initiating a reaction that involves
all of the reactive material layers on the SCB.
[0035] The invention has been described with reference to specific examples. Various modifications
may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of
the invention as defined in the following claims.
1. A semiconductor bridge (SCB) device, comprising:
a laminate layer on top of an insulating material (306) deposited on a surface area
of a substrate (304), the laminate layer comprising a series of alternating layers
(502,504), and wherein the laminate layer comprises
two relatively large sections (203A,203B) that substantially cover the surface area
of the insulating material (306); and
a bridge section (203C) joining the relatively large sections (203A,203B);
at least one conductive contact pad (202) coupled to at least one layer of the series
of layers, wherein a predetermined current through the at least one conductive contact
pad (202) causes the bridge section (203C) to initiate a reaction in which the laminate
layer is involved,
characterised in that the alternating layers (502, 504) consist of a reactive metal and a reactive insulator,
the reactive insulator having a resistivity that is high relative to the resistivity
of the reactive metal.
2. The SCB device of claim 1, wherein the reactive metal is in contact with the at least
one conductive contact pad (202).
3. The SCB device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the reactive metal is titanium und the reactive
insulator is boron.
4. The SCB device of any one of claims 1-3, wherein each layer of the series of layers
is approximately 0.25 microns thick.
5. The SCB device of claim 4, wherein the series of layers has a thickness of between
2 and 14 microns.
6. The SCB device of any one of claims 1-5, further comprising an integrated diode (204)
formed by an interface of the insulating material with another material.
7. The SCB device of claim 6, wherein the other material is aluminum.
8. The SCB device of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the at least one conductive contact
pad (202) comprises titanium/nickel/gold.
9. An electro-explosive device (EED), comprising:
a header (62);
a cap (68) coupled to a first side of the header (62) to form an enclosure; ordnance
material (69) inside the enclosure;
at least one electrically conductive pin (66) that passes through a second side of
the enclosure opposite the first side; and
a semiconductor bridge (SCB) according to any one of claims 1-8, at least one conductive
contact pad (202) being coupled to at least one layer of the series of layers and
to the at least one electrically conductive pin (66), wherein a predetermined current
through the at least one electrically conductive pin (66) causes the bridge section
(203C) to initiate a reaction in which the series of layers is involved, igniting
the ordnance material (69).
10. The EED of claim 9, wherein the reactive metal is coupled to the at least one electrically
conductive pin (66).
11. A method of fabricating a semiconductor bridge (SCB) device, comprising:
depositing a layer of electrically insulating material over a surface area of a substrate
so as to substantially cover a surface area of the substrate; selectively etching
the electrically insulating material to expose the substrate; depositing a metal in
areas exposed by the etching so as to form at least one diode;
depositing a series of alternating layers of a reactive metal and a reactive insulator,
the reactive insulator having a resistivity that is high relative to the resistivity
of the reactive metal,
wherein the series of layers comprises
two relative relatively large sections that substantially cover the surface area of
the substrate; and
a bridge section joining the relatively large sections;
coupling at least one conductive contact pad to at least one layer of the series of
layers, wherein a predetermined current through the at least one conductive contact
pad causes the bridge section to initiate a reaction in which the series of layers
is involved.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the reactive metal is in contact with the at least
one conductive contact pad.
13. The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein the reactive metal is titanium und the reactive
insulator is boron.
14. The method of any one of claims 11-13, wherein each layer of the series of layers
is approximately 0.25 microns thick.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the series of layers has a thickness of between 2
and 14 microns.
16. The method of any one of claims 11-15, wherein the metal is aluminum.
17. The method of any one of claims 11-16, wherein the at least one conductive contact
pad comprises titanium/nickel/gold.
1. Halbleiterbrücken (SCB)-Vorrichtung umfassend:
einer Laminatschicht oben auf einem Isoliermaterial (306), das auf einem Oberflächenbereich
eines Substrats (304) aufgebracht ist, wobei die Laminatschicht eine Reihe von alternierenden
Schichten (502, 504) umfasst, und wobei die Laminatschicht umfasst:
zwei relativ große Abschnitte (203A, 203B), die im Wesentlichen den Oberflächenbereich
des Isoliermaterials (306) abdecken; und
einen Brückenabschnitt (203C), der die relativ großen Abschnitte (203A, 203B) verbindet;
mindestens einer leitende Kontaktfläche (202), die mit mindestens einer Schicht der
Reihe von Schichten gekoppelt ist, wobei ein vorbestimmter Strom durch die mindestens
eine leitende Kontaktfläche (202) bewirkt, dass der Brückenabschnitt (203C) eine Reaktion
einleitet, bei der die Laminatschicht beteiligt ist,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die alternierenden Schichten (502, 504) aus einem reaktiven Metall und einem reaktiven
Isolator aufgebaut sind, wobei der reaktive Isolator einen spezifischen Widerstand
aufweist, der bezogen auf den spezifischen Widerstand des reaktiven Metalls hoch ist.
2. SCB-Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 1, bei der das reaktive Metall in Kontakt mit der mindestens
einen leitenden Kontaktfläche (202) ist.
3. SCB-Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 1 oder 2, bei der das reaktive Metall Titan und der
reaktive Isolator Bor ist.
4. SCB-Vorrichtung gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, bei der jede Schicht der Reihe
von Schichten ungefähr 0,25 µm dick ist.
5. SCB-Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 4, bei der die Reihe von Schichten eine Dicke zwischen
2 und 14 µm aufweist.
6. SCB-Vorrichtung gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, ferner mit einer integrierten Diode
(204), die durch eine Grenzfläche des Isoliermaterials mit einem anderen Material
gebildet wird.
7. SCB-Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 6, bei der das andere Material Aluminium ist.
8. SCB-Vorrichtung gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, bei der die mindestens eine leitende
Kontaktfläche (202) Titan/Nickel/Gold umfasst.
9. Elektrische Zünd (EEC)-Vorrichtung umfassend:
einer Kopfplatte (62);
einer Kappe (68), die mit einer ersten Seite der Kopfplatte (62) gekoppelt ist, um
eine Umschließung zu bilden;
Waffenmaterial (69) innerhalb der Umschließung;
mindestens einem elektrisch leitenden Stift (66), der durch eine zweite Seite der
Umschließung gegenüberliegend der ersten Seite läuft; und
einer Halbleiterbrücke gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8, wobei mindestens eine leitende
Kontaktfläche (202) mit mindestens einer Schicht der Reihe von Schichten und mit dem
mindestens einen elektrisch leitenden Stift (66) gekoppelt ist, wobei ein vorbestimmter
Strom durch den mindestens einen elektrisch leitenden Stift (66) bewirkt, dass der
Brückenabschnitt (203C) eine Reaktion einleitet, bei der die Reihe von Schichten beteiligt
ist, wobei das Waffenmaterial (69) gezündet wird.
10. EED gemäß Anspruch 9, bei der das reaktive Metall mit dem mindestens einen elektrisch
leitenden Stift (66) gekoppelt ist.
11. Verfahren zur Herstellung einer SCB-Vorrichtung umfassend:
Aufbringen einer Schicht elektrisch isolierenden Materials über einen Oberflächenbereich
eines Substrats, um im Wesentlichen einen Oberflächenbereich des Substrats abzudecken;
selektives Ätzen des elektrisch isolierenden Materials, um das Substrat freizulegen;
Aufbringen eines Metalls in durch das Ätzen freigelegte Bereiche, um mindestens eine
Diode zu bilden;
Aufbringen einer Reihe von alternierenden Schichten eines reaktives Metall und eines
reaktiven Isolators, wobei der reaktive Isolator einen spezifischen Widerstand aufweist,
der bezogen auf den spezifischen Widerstand des reaktiven Metalls hoch ist,
wobei die Reihe von Schichten umfasst:
zwei relative relativ große Abschnitte, die im Wesentlichen den Oberflächenbereich
des Substrats abdecken; und
einen Brückenabschnitt, der die relativ großen Abschnitte verbindet; Koppeln mindestens
einer leitenden Kontaktfläche mit mindestens einer Schicht der Reihe von Schichten,
wobei ein vorbestimmter Strom durch die mindestens eine leitende Kontaktfläche bewirkt,
dass der Brückenabschnitt eine Reaktion einleitet, bei der die Reihe von Schichten
beteiligt ist.
12. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 11, bei der das reaktive Material in Kontakt mit der mindestens
einen leitenden Kontaktfläche ist.
13. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 11 oder 12, bei dem das reaktive Metall Titan und der reaktive
Isolator Bor ist.
14. Verfahren gemäß einem der Ansprüche 11 bis 13, bei dem jede Schicht der Reihe von
Schichten ungefähr 0,25 µm dick ist.
15. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 14, bei dem die Reihe von Schichten eine Dicke zwischen 2
und 14 µm aufweist.
16. Verfahren gemäß einem der Ansprüche 11 bis 15, bei dem das Metall Aluminium ist.
17. Verfahren gemäß einem der Ansprüche 11 bis 16, bei dem die mindestens eine leitende
Kontaktfläche Titan/Nickel/Gold umfasst.
1. Dispositif formant pont à semiconducteur (SCB), comprenant :
une couche stratifiée sur un matériau isolant (306) déposé sur une aire d'un substrat
(304), la couche stratifiée comprenant une série de couches alternées (502, 504),
et où la couche stratifiée comprend :
deux sections relativement grandes (203A, 203B) qui couvrent substantiellement l'aire
du matériau isolant (306) ; et
une section pont (203C) reliant les sections relativement grandes (203A, 203B) ;
au moins un contact conducteur (202) couplé à au moins une couche de la série de couches,
dans lequel un courant prédéterminé traversant ledit au moins un contact conducteur
(202) fait que la section pont (203C) amorce une réaction dans laquelle la couche
stratifiée est impliquée, caractérisé en ce que les couches alternées (502, 504) sont constituées d'un métal réactif et d'un isolant
réactif, l'isolant réactif ayant une résistivité qui est élevée par rapport à la résistivité
du métal réactif.
2. Dispositif SCB selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le métal réactif est en contact
avec ledit au moins un contact conducteur (202).
3. Dispositif SCB selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel le métal réactif est du
titane et l'isolant réactif est du bore.
4. Dispositif SCB selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel chaque
couche de la série de couches fait approximativement 0,25 micromètre d'épaisseur.
5. Dispositif SCB selon la revendication 4, dans lequel la série de couches a une épaisseur
comprise entre 2 et 14 micromètres.
6. Dispositif SCB selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, comprenant en outre
une diode intégrée (204) formée par une interface du matériau isolant avec un autre
matériau.
7. Dispositif SCB selon la revendication 6, dans lequel l'autre matériau est de l'aluminium.
8. Dispositif SCB selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, dans lequel ledit
au moins un contact conducteur (202) comprend du titane/nickel/or.
9. Dispositif électropyrotechnique (EED), comprenant :
une embase (62) ;
un chapeau (68) couplé à un premier côté de l'embase (62) pour former une enceinte
;
un matériau pyrotechnique (69) à l'intérieur de l'enceinte ;
au moins une broche électriquement conductrice (66) qui traverse un deuxième côté
de l'enceinte, opposé au premier côté ; et
un pont à semiconducteur (SCB) conforme à l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à
8, au moins un contact conducteur (202) étant couplé à au moins une couche de la série
de couches et à ladite au moins une broche électriquement conductrice (66), dans lequel
un courant prédéterminé traversant ladite au moins une broche électriquement conductrice
(66) fait que la section pont (203C) amorce une réaction dans laquelle la série de
couches est impliquée, ce qui allume le matériau pyrotechnique (69).
10. EED selon la revendication 9, dans lequel le matériau réactif est coupé à ladite au
moins une broche électriquement conductrice (66).
11. Procédé de fabrication d'un dispositif formant pont à semiconducteur (SCB), comprenant
les étapes suivantes :
dépôt d'une couche de matériau électriquement isolant sur une aire d'un substrat de
façon à couvrir substantiellement une aire du substrat ;
attaque chimique sélective du matériau électriquement isolant pour exposer le substrat
;
dépôt d'un métal dans les zones exposées par l'attaque chimique afin de former au
moins une diode ;
dépôt d'une série de couches alternées d'un métal réactif et d'un isolant réactif,
l'isolant réactif ayant une résistivité qui est élevée par rapport à la résistivité
du métal réactif,
dans lequel la série de couches comprend :
deux sections relativement grandes qui couvrent substantiellement l'aire du substrat
; et
une section pont qui relie les sections relativement grandes ;
couplage d'au moins un contact conducteur avec au moins une couche de la série de
couches, dans lequel un courant prédéterminé traversant ledit au moins un contact
conducteur fait que la section pont amorce une réaction dans laquelle la série de
couches est impliquée.
12. Procédé selon la revendication 11, dans lequel le métal réactif est en contact avec
ledit au moins un contact conducteur.
13. Procédé selon la revendication 11 ou 12, dans lequel le métal réactif est du titane
et l'isolant réactif est du bore.
14. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 11 à 13, dans lequel chaque couche
de la série de couches fait approximativement 0,25 micromètre d'épaisseur.
15. Procédé selon la revendication 14, dans lequel la série de couches a une épaisseur
comprise entre 2 et 14 micromètres.
16. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 11 à 15, dans lequel le métal est
de l'aluminium.
17. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 11 à 16, dans lequel ledit au moins
un contact conducteur comprend du titane/nickel/or.