Foundry Business for MEMS Utilizing Thin-Film Piezoelectric Elements
ROHM Semiconductor has established a process for MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System, or 'piezoelectric MEMS') utilizing thin-film piezoelectric elements, and implemented the industry's first foundry business that integrates product design and manufacturing processes, from wafer pulling to mounting, in order to meet a variety of customer needs. Piezoelectric elements, which possess the inherent property of generating a voltage when pressure is applied, are incorporated into a variety of electronic devices, from emerging energy harvesting applications to conventional inkjet printheads to autofocus systems in infrared and standard cameras.
Combining these elements with MEMS technology, which is commonly used in accelerometers and gyroscopes, makes it possible to simplify design and reduce the size of processing controllers, contributing to increased performance, lower costs, and greater end-product miniaturization. In addition, the energy-saving characteristics of the piezoelectric element itself, which requires very little power during standby, are garnering increased attention, particularly in the sensor market where explosive growth is expected.
ROHM has already begun conducting joint development of piezoelectric MEMS products based on customer requirements and gradually expanding its production lines to accommodate growth markets, such as industrial inkjet printers, sensors, and wearable devices. Going forward the company will continue to integrate piezoelectric elements with MEMS technology in order to achieve greater miniaturization and energy savings.
However, in the device creation of piezoelectric MEMS, thin-film deposition that possesses high piezoelectric properties and precision fabrication and molding of micro-piezoelectric elements are difficult to realize. Furthermore, high-precision processing is required for the MEMS drive block, and additional knowledge and expertise – along with the cultivation of new technologies – are needed in order to support next-generation applications and emerging markets.
In response to these challenges, ROHM is actively engaged in the research of thin-film piezoelectric elements. Based on the findings of Professor Isaku Kanno of the Graduate School of Engineering at Kobe University on evaluation measurement methods for thin-film piezoelectric elements, and by taking advantage of development synergy created by combining the collective production technologies of the entire ROHM Group, which includes ROHM’s ferroelectric technology cultivated for long-term memory, LAPIS Semiconductor’s high-sensitivity MEMS/mounting technology, and Kionix’s MEMS miniaturization technology, ROHM was able to establish a manufacturing process at LAPIS Semiconductor Miyazaki and provide piezoelectric MEMS optimized for a variety of markets and applications.
