US20180077499A1 - High sensitivity microphone and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents
High sensitivity microphone and manufacturing method thereof Download PDFInfo
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- US20180077499A1 US20180077499A1 US15/373,176 US201615373176A US2018077499A1 US 20180077499 A1 US20180077499 A1 US 20180077499A1 US 201615373176 A US201615373176 A US 201615373176A US 2018077499 A1 US2018077499 A1 US 2018077499A1
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Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R19/00—Electrostatic transducers
- H04R19/04—Microphones
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B81—MICROSTRUCTURAL TECHNOLOGY
- B81B—MICROSTRUCTURAL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS, e.g. MICROMECHANICAL DEVICES
- B81B3/00—Devices comprising flexible or deformable elements, e.g. comprising elastic tongues or membranes
- B81B3/0064—Constitution or structural means for improving or controlling the physical properties of a device
- B81B3/0067—Mechanical properties
- B81B3/0075—For improving wear resistance
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B81—MICROSTRUCTURAL TECHNOLOGY
- B81C—PROCESSES OR APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF MICROSTRUCTURAL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
- B81C1/00—Manufacture or treatment of devices or systems in or on a substrate
- B81C1/00015—Manufacture or treatment of devices or systems in or on a substrate for manufacturing microsystems
- B81C1/00134—Manufacture or treatment of devices or systems in or on a substrate for manufacturing microsystems comprising flexible or deformable structures
- B81C1/00158—Diaphragms, membranes
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R19/00—Electrostatic transducers
- H04R19/005—Electrostatic transducers using semiconductor materials
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R19/00—Electrostatic transducers
- H04R19/01—Electrostatic transducers characterised by the use of electrets
- H04R19/016—Electrostatic transducers characterised by the use of electrets for microphones
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R31/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of transducers or diaphragms therefor
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H10K—ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES
- H10K85/00—Organic materials used in the body or electrodes of devices covered by this subclass
- H10K85/20—Carbon compounds, e.g. carbon nanotubes or fullerenes
- H10K85/221—Carbon nanotubes
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B81—MICROSTRUCTURAL TECHNOLOGY
- B81B—MICROSTRUCTURAL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS, e.g. MICROMECHANICAL DEVICES
- B81B2201/00—Specific applications of microelectromechanical systems
- B81B2201/02—Sensors
- B81B2201/0257—Microphones or microspeakers
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B81—MICROSTRUCTURAL TECHNOLOGY
- B81B—MICROSTRUCTURAL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS, e.g. MICROMECHANICAL DEVICES
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- B81B2203/01—Suspended structures, i.e. structures allowing a movement
- B81B2203/0127—Diaphragms, i.e. structures separating two media that can control the passage from one medium to another; Membranes, i.e. diaphragms with filtering function
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B81—MICROSTRUCTURAL TECHNOLOGY
- B81C—PROCESSES OR APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF MICROSTRUCTURAL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
- B81C2201/00—Manufacture or treatment of microstructural devices or systems
- B81C2201/01—Manufacture or treatment of microstructural devices or systems in or on a substrate
- B81C2201/0101—Shaping material; Structuring the bulk substrate or layers on the substrate; Film patterning
- B81C2201/0102—Surface micromachining
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
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- B81C—PROCESSES OR APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF MICROSTRUCTURAL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
- B81C2201/00—Manufacture or treatment of microstructural devices or systems
- B81C2201/01—Manufacture or treatment of microstructural devices or systems in or on a substrate
- B81C2201/0101—Shaping material; Structuring the bulk substrate or layers on the substrate; Film patterning
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- H04R2201/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones covered by H04R1/00 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
- H04R2201/003—Mems transducers or their use
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R2231/00—Details of apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of transducers or diaphragms therefor covered by H04R31/00, not provided for in its subgroups
- H04R2231/003—Manufacturing aspects of the outer suspension of loudspeaker or microphone diaphragms or of their connecting aspects to said diaphragms
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R31/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of transducers or diaphragms therefor
- H04R31/003—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of transducers or diaphragms therefor for diaphragms or their outer suspension
Definitions
- the present disclosure relates to a high sensitivity microphone and a manufacturing method thereof.
- a microphone refers to a device converting a sound such as a voice therearound into an electrical signal and processing the electrical signal to a signal enabling a human being or a machine finally to recognize the sound.
- the capacitive type microphone includes a micro-electrochemical system (MEMS) in which a fixed membrane and a vibration membrane are spaced apart from each other.
- MEMS micro-electrochemical system
- a space between the fixed membrane and the vibration membrane is changed to cause a capacitive value to be changed to generate an electrical signal, and the sound pressure is measured with the electrical signal.
- the capacitive type MEMS microphone is advantageous in that performance thereof is less changed over a change in an external environment such as a temperature or humidity and performance variations of products are small due to a semiconductor batch process.
- capacitive type MEMS microphones have stable frequency response characteristics and excellent sensitivity.
- a change in capacitance between a vibration membrane and a fixed membrane is measured and output as a voltage signal, and it is expressed as sensitivity, one of major performance indices.
- FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a free-floating membrane structure of a commercialized MEMS microphone according to a related art.
- a general free-floating membrane structure includes a vibration membrane 3 , in a state of not being fixed, between a substrate 1 and a fixed membrane 2 , deviating from a concept of an existing clamped capacitive type vibration membrane.
- the vibration membrane 3 is fixed by electrostatic force based on an applied voltage (i.e., a driving voltage) by applying a rigid support post 4 to the free-floating membrane 3 and the fixed membrane 2 .
- an applied voltage i.e., a driving voltage
- the vibration membrane 3 when a driving voltage (bias) is applied to the microphone, the vibration membrane 3 is attracted toward the fixed membrane 2 due to an electrostatic force and attached and fixed to the support post 4 to vibrate by a sound pressure.
- the driving voltage when the driving voltage is not applied, the vibration membrane 3 is separated from the support post 4 and lowered to the substrate 1 because the electrostatic force is released.
- the vibration membrane 3 is not fixed and free between the substrate 1 and the fixed membrane 2 , and thus, the vibration membrane 3 may be damaged due to an impact.
- the present disclosure has been made in an effort to provide a highly sensitive microphone having advantages of preventing an impact regardless of an applied voltage by mechanically fixing a vibration membrane through an elastic support post and increasing a vibration displacement when a vibration membrane is vibrated by a sound pressure by providing rigidity changed according to a sound pressure, and a manufacturing method thereof.
- a high sensitivity microphone includes: a substrate having a through portion provided in a central portion thereof; a vibration membrane disposed on the substrate and covering the through portion; a fixed membrane installed above the vibration membrane, spaced apart from the vibration membrane with an air layer interposed therebetween, and having a plurality of air inlets perforated in a direction toward the air layer; and a plurality of support posts provided as vertical elastic posts between the fixed membrane and the vibration membrane and mechanically fixing the vibration membrane by a frictional force, regardless of an applied voltage.
- the support posts may be formed of carbon nanotube (CNT) patterned between the fixed membrane and the vibration membrane and arranged at a predetermined interval in a circular shape from a central point of the fixed membrane.
- CNT carbon nanotube
- the support posts may serve as springs with rigidity deformed by a sound pressure and may be simultaneously deformed together with the vibration membrane by a sound pressure.
- the vibration membrane may have a free-floating membrane structure whose contacts with respect to the support posts and the substrate are not attached.
- the vibration membrane may have a depression and protrusion portion provided on a lower edge thereof to prevent attachment of the vibration membrane to the substrate.
- a support portion of the fixed membrane vertically extending from an edge thereof may be installed on the substrate.
- a method for manufacturing a high sensitivity microphone includes operations of: a) forming a first sacrificial layer on a substrate and forming a vibration membrane thereon; b) forming a second sacrificial layer on the vibration membrane and patterning carbon nanotube (CNT) seeds on opposing sides of the second sacrificial layer; c) forming a fixed membrane on the substrate including the CNT seeds and the second sacrificial layer; d) etching the fixed membrane to generate a plurality of perforated air inlets; and e) removing the first sacrificial layer and the second sacrificial layer and growing the CNT seeds to form a plurality of CNT support posts as vertical elastic posts between the fixed membrane and the vibration membrane to mechanically fix the vibration membrane by a frictional force, regardless of an applied voltage.
- CNT carbon nanotube
- the operation b) may include: patterning a fixed electrode in a central portion of the second sacrificial layer.
- the fixed membrane and the fixed electrode may be etched to generate a plurality of air inlets perforated in the same pattern.
- the operation d) may include etching a rear side of the substrate to form a through portion to which a sound pressure is input from the outside.
- the vibration membrane may be formed as a monolayer membrane using polysilicon or a silicon nitride or may be formed as a multi-layer membrane by alternately stacking polysilicoin and a silicon nitride.
- the first sacrificial layer and the second sacrificial layer may be formed of any one of a photosensitive material, a silicon oxide, and a silicon nitride.
- the operation e) may include: removing the first sacrificial layer to position the vibration membrane in a state of not being attached to the substrate; and fixing the vibration membrane positioned in a non-attached manner on the substrate by a frictional force of the CNT support posts.
- the patterned CNT support posts are formed between the fixed membrane and the vibration membrane to mechanically fix the vibration membrane by a frictional force of the CNT support post, regardless of an applied voltage, an impact applied to the vibration membrane may be prevented and durability may be enhanced.
- the patterned CNT support posts serve as springs with a structure having optimized rigidity to increase a vibration displacement when the vibration membrane is vibrated by a sound pressure, an effect of enhancing sensitivity may be maximized.
- application of high durability and high sensitivity microphone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure to a vehicle may enhance performance of electronic equipment based on sound recognition, whereby enhancement of customer satisfaction of products may be anticipated.
- FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a free-floating membrane structure of a related art commercialized micro-electrochemical system (MEMS) microphone.
- MEMS micro-electrochemical system
- FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a microphone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view and a side view schematically illustrating a fixed membrane, a vibration membrane, and a support according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operation principle of a microphone when a sound pressure is input according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating result of comparison and verification of sensitivity between a microphone structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure and a related art structure.
- FIGS. 6 to 12 are views illustrating a method for manufacturing a microphone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a microphone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view and a side view schematically illustrating a fixed membrane, a vibration membrane, and a support according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
- a microphone 100 includes a substrate 110 , a vibration membrane 120 , a fixed membrane 130 , and a carbon nanotube (CNT) support post 140 .
- CNT carbon nanotube
- the substrate 110 may be formed of silicon and have a through portion provided in a central portion thereof to which a sound pressure is input.
- the vibration membrane 120 covers the through portion 111 on the substrate 110 .
- the vibration membrane 120 is partially exposed by the through portion 111 formed in the substrate 110 , and the exposed portion of the vibration membrane 120 is vibrated by a sound pressure transferred from the outside.
- the vibration membrane 120 includes protrusion and depression portions (dimples) 121 provided at a lower edge thereof placed on the substrate in order to prevent attachment of the vibration membrane 120 to the substrate 110 .
- the protrusion and depression portions 121 may have at least one protrusion.
- the vibration membrane 120 may serve as an electrode by itself, or may have a separate vibration electrode (not shown) disposed in an upper portion thereof.
- the vibration electrode may be vibrated together with the vibration membrane 120 when a sound pressure is input.
- the vibration membrane 120 may have a monolayer membrane structure formed of polysilicon or silicon nitride (SiNx) film. Further, without being limited thereto, the vibration membrane 120 may have a multi-layer film structure in which polysilicon and silicon nitride film are alternately stacked.
- the fixed membrane 130 is installed above the vibration membrane 120 and spaced apart from the vibration membrane 120 with an air layer 131 interposed therebetween, and a support portion 134 vertically extending from the fixed membrane 130 is installed on the substrate 110 in order to support the fixed membrane 130 (however, in order to show the CNT support post 140 , the support portion is omitted in FIG. 3 ).
- the fixed membrane 130 has a casing structure having a diameter greater than that of the vibration membrane 120 and covering the vibration membrane 120 placed on the substrate 110 .
- the fixed membrane 130 includes a plurality of air inlets 132 perforated in a direction toward the air layer 131 .
- a fixed electrode 133 is disposed on a lower portion of the fixed membrane 130 and is perforated in the same pattern as that of the air inlets 132 .
- the fixed membrane 130 and the fixed electrode 133 include a plurality of air inlets 132 perforated in the same pattern.
- the plurality of air inlets 132 allow for an air flow, the fixed membrane 130 and the fixed electrode 133 are not vibrated by a sound source.
- the CNT support post 140 is formed as a vertical elastic post between the fixed membrane 130 and the vibration membrane 120 , and mechanically fixes the vibration membrane 120 , regardless of an applied voltage.
- the CNT support post 140 a carbon nanotube (CNT) patterned between the fixed membrane 130 and the vibration membrane 120 , mechanically fixes the vibration membrane 120 by a frictional force.
- CNT carbon nanotube
- the free-floating membrane is not fixed so it is damaged by an impact in a non-driving state without an applied voltage.
- the vibration membrane 120 is fixed mechanically by a frictional force of the CNT support post 14 , whereby the damage problem is solved and high durability is provided.
- a CNT support post 140 serves as a spring through adjustment of rigidity of a columnar CNT, and for the purposes of description, the CNT support post 140 is illustrated as a spring.
- the vibration membrane 120 is fixed to the substrate 110 by the CNT support post 140 and horizontally disposed in a non-driving state.
- the vibration membrane 120 When a sound pressure is input in a driving state, the vibration membrane 120 is vibrated by the sound pressure, causing a space between the vibration membrane 120 and the fixed membrane 130 to be changed, and thus, capacitance between the vibration membrane 120 and the fixed membrane 130 is changed.
- the CNT support 140 is deformed by the sound pressure together with the vibration membrane 120 to increase a vibration displacement of the vibration membrane 120 .
- a displacement due to the role of the CNT support post 140 as a spring is added to a displacement of the vibration membrane 120 due to the sound pressure to increase an overall vibration displacement, whereby a vibration width between the vibration membrane 120 and the fixed membrane 130 is increased to increase a change in capacitance.
- the increased capacitance is transferred through a pad (not shown) and a conducting wire connected to each of the fixed electrode 133 and the vibration membrane 120 and converted into an electrical signal by a circuit (not shown) for signal processing to sense a sound from the outside, thereby implementing a high sensitivity microphone 100 .
- the CNT support post 140 serves as a spring with elasticity simultaneously deformed with the vibration membrane 120 by a sound pressure, further increasing vibration displacement when the vibration membrane 120 is vibrated by a sound pressure, thus resultantly obtaining enhancement of sensitivity.
- a first sacrificial layer 150 - 1 is formed on the substrate 110 and partially etched to pattern a recess 151 for formation of a depression and protrusion portion 121 of a vibration membrane 120 .
- the substrate 110 may be formed of silicon.
- the vibration membrane 120 is formed on an upper portion of the first sacrificial layer 150 - 1 .
- a depression and protrusion portion 121 is formed under the vibration membrane 120 along the recess 151 formed on the first sacrificial layer 150 - 1 .
- the vibration membrane 120 may be formed as a monolayer membrane using polysilicoin or a silicon nitride film. Without being limited thereto, the vibration membrane 120 may also be formed as a multi-layer by alternately stacking polysilicon and a silicon nitride film.
- a CNT (seed metal) 141 for growing a CNT support post 140 later is patterned on both side portions of the second sacrificial layer 150 - 2 , and a fixed electrode 133 formed under a fixed membrane 130 later is patterned in a central portion of the second sacrificial layer 150 - 2 .
- the fixed electrode 133 may be patterned by a polysilicon.
- the fixed membrane 130 may have a “U” shape and cover the entire area of the substrate 110 .
- the fixed membrane 130 may be formed by depositing a silicon nitride (SiN). In another exemplary embodiment, the fixed membrane 130 may be formed by depositing polysilicon.
- the plurality of air inlets 132 may be formed through dry etching or wet etching, and etching is performed until the second sacrificial layer 150 - 2 is exposed in a vertical direction in which the vibration membrane 120 is formed.
- a rear surface of the substrate 110 is etched until the first sacrificial layer 150 - 1 is exposed to form a through portion 111 to which a sound pressure is input from the outside.
- the second sacrificial layer 150 - 2 and the first sacrificial layer 150 - 1 are removed to form an air layer 131 between the vibration membrane 120 and the fixed membrane 130 .
- the air layer 131 is formed and the vibration membrane 120 is placed in a non-attached state on the substrate 110 .
- the fixed electrode 133 of the fixed membrane 130 and a vibration electrode of the vibration membrane 120 may be electrically connected to a circuit for signal processing through a pad and a conducting wire thereof.
- the microphone and the manufacturing method thereof according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure described above are not limited to the aforementioned process (flow) but may be variously modified.
- FIG. 10 it is illustrated and described that the plurality of air inlets 132 are formed, and thereafter, the through portion 111 is formed on a rear side of the substrate 110 , but the manufacturing method of the present disclosure is not limited to the order of the description.
- the process of forming the through hole 111 on the rear side of the substrate 110 may also be performed before the formation of the air inlets 132 or after the sacrificial layers 150 of FIG. 11 are removed.
- the patterned CNT support posts are formed between the fixed membrane and the vibration membrane to mechanically fix the vibration membrane by a frictional force of the CNT support post, regardless of an applied voltage, an impact applied to the vibration membrane may be prevented and durability may be enhanced.
- the patterned CNT support posts serve as springs with a structure having optimized rigidity to increase vibration displacement when the vibration membrane is vibrated by a sound pressure, an effect of enhancing sensitivity may be maximized.
- application of high durability and high sensitivity microphone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure to a vehicle may enhance performance of electronic equipment based on sound recognition, whereby enhancement of customer satisfaction of products may be anticipated.
- the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may not necessarily be implemented only through the foregoing devices and/or methods but may also be implemented through a program for realizing functions corresponding to the configurations of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a recording medium including the program, or the like, and such an implementation may be easily made by a skilled person in the art to which the present disclosure pertains from the foregoing description of the embodiments.
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Abstract
A high sensitivity microphone includes a substrate having a through portion provided in a central portion thereof, a vibration membrane disposed on the substrate and covering the through portion, a fixed membrane installed above the vibration membrane, spaced apart from the vibration membrane with an air layer interposed therebetween, and having a plurality of air inlets perforated in a direction toward the air layer, and a plurality of support posts provided as vertical elastic posts between the fixed membrane and the vibration membrane and mechanically fixing the vibration membrane by a frictional force, regardless of an applied voltage.
Description
- This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0116721 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Sep. 9, 2016, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- The present disclosure relates to a high sensitivity microphone and a manufacturing method thereof.
- In general, a microphone refers to a device converting a sound such as a voice therearound into an electrical signal and processing the electrical signal to a signal enabling a human being or a machine finally to recognize the sound.
- As microphones converting an audio signal into an electrical signal, capacitive and piezoelectric type microphones have been developed.
- The capacitive type microphone includes a micro-electrochemical system (MEMS) in which a fixed membrane and a vibration membrane are spaced apart from each other. In the MEMS, when a sound pressure is applied to the vibration membrane, a space between the fixed membrane and the vibration membrane is changed to cause a capacitive value to be changed to generate an electrical signal, and the sound pressure is measured with the electrical signal.
- Compared with an existing electrets condenser microphone (ECM), the capacitive type MEMS microphone is advantageous in that performance thereof is less changed over a change in an external environment such as a temperature or humidity and performance variations of products are small due to a semiconductor batch process.
- Further, most capacitive type MEMS microphones have stable frequency response characteristics and excellent sensitivity. In the capacitive type microphone, a change in capacitance between a vibration membrane and a fixed membrane is measured and output as a voltage signal, and it is expressed as sensitivity, one of major performance indices.
- In order to enhance sensitivity, it is designed to lower residual stress of a vibration membrane, and to this end, a free-floating membrane structure has been researched.
-
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a free-floating membrane structure of a commercialized MEMS microphone according to a related art. - Referring to
FIG. 1 , a general free-floating membrane structure includes avibration membrane 3, in a state of not being fixed, between asubstrate 1 and afixed membrane 2, deviating from a concept of an existing clamped capacitive type vibration membrane. - With this structure, since the
vibration membrane 3 is not restrained between thesubstrate 1 and thefixed membrane 2 after all the processes are finished, a vibration membrane residual stress, one of the most important factors determining sensitivity of the MEMS microphone, may be removed. - In the vibration membrane structure without a residual stress, the
vibration membrane 3 is fixed by electrostatic force based on an applied voltage (i.e., a driving voltage) by applying arigid support post 4 to the free-floating membrane 3 and thefixed membrane 2. - In detail, when a driving voltage (bias) is applied to the microphone, the
vibration membrane 3 is attracted toward thefixed membrane 2 due to an electrostatic force and attached and fixed to thesupport post 4 to vibrate by a sound pressure. When the driving voltage is not applied, thevibration membrane 3 is separated from thesupport post 4 and lowered to thesubstrate 1 because the electrostatic force is released. - However, when the related art microphone is not driven, the
vibration membrane 3 is not fixed and free between thesubstrate 1 and thefixed membrane 2, and thus, thevibration membrane 3 may be damaged due to an impact. - Stress caused as the
vibration membrane 3 is repeatedly brought into contact with or separated from thefixed membrane 2, and thesupport post 4 according to driving/non-driving of the microphone may degrade durability. - In addition, due to the clamped structure in which the
vibration membrane 3 is fixed to therigid support post 4 when the microphone is driven, it is not easy to adjust rigidity, making it difficult to additionally enhance sensitivity. - Matters described in the background art section are provided to promote understanding of the background of the present disclosure, which may include a matter that is not a prior art known to those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains.
- The present disclosure has been made in an effort to provide a highly sensitive microphone having advantages of preventing an impact regardless of an applied voltage by mechanically fixing a vibration membrane through an elastic support post and increasing a vibration displacement when a vibration membrane is vibrated by a sound pressure by providing rigidity changed according to a sound pressure, and a manufacturing method thereof.
- According to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, a high sensitivity microphone includes: a substrate having a through portion provided in a central portion thereof; a vibration membrane disposed on the substrate and covering the through portion; a fixed membrane installed above the vibration membrane, spaced apart from the vibration membrane with an air layer interposed therebetween, and having a plurality of air inlets perforated in a direction toward the air layer; and a plurality of support posts provided as vertical elastic posts between the fixed membrane and the vibration membrane and mechanically fixing the vibration membrane by a frictional force, regardless of an applied voltage.
- The support posts may be formed of carbon nanotube (CNT) patterned between the fixed membrane and the vibration membrane and arranged at a predetermined interval in a circular shape from a central point of the fixed membrane.
- The support posts may serve as springs with rigidity deformed by a sound pressure and may be simultaneously deformed together with the vibration membrane by a sound pressure.
- The vibration membrane may have a free-floating membrane structure whose contacts with respect to the support posts and the substrate are not attached.
- The vibration membrane may have a depression and protrusion portion provided on a lower edge thereof to prevent attachment of the vibration membrane to the substrate.
- A support portion of the fixed membrane vertically extending from an edge thereof may be installed on the substrate.
- The fixed membrane may have a fixed electrode disposed on a lower surface thereof and perforated in the same pattern as that of the air inlets.
- According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for manufacturing a high sensitivity microphone includes operations of: a) forming a first sacrificial layer on a substrate and forming a vibration membrane thereon; b) forming a second sacrificial layer on the vibration membrane and patterning carbon nanotube (CNT) seeds on opposing sides of the second sacrificial layer; c) forming a fixed membrane on the substrate including the CNT seeds and the second sacrificial layer; d) etching the fixed membrane to generate a plurality of perforated air inlets; and e) removing the first sacrificial layer and the second sacrificial layer and growing the CNT seeds to form a plurality of CNT support posts as vertical elastic posts between the fixed membrane and the vibration membrane to mechanically fix the vibration membrane by a frictional force, regardless of an applied voltage.
- The operation a) may include: etching a portion of the first sacrificial layer to pattern a plurality of recesses; and forming a depression and protrusion portion by the plurality of recesses formed in the first sacrificial layer under the vibration membrane.
- The operation b) may include: patterning a fixed electrode in a central portion of the second sacrificial layer.
- In the operation d), the fixed membrane and the fixed electrode may be etched to generate a plurality of air inlets perforated in the same pattern.
- The operation d) may include etching a rear side of the substrate to form a through portion to which a sound pressure is input from the outside.
- The vibration membrane may be formed as a monolayer membrane using polysilicon or a silicon nitride or may be formed as a multi-layer membrane by alternately stacking polysilicoin and a silicon nitride.
- The first sacrificial layer and the second sacrificial layer may be formed of any one of a photosensitive material, a silicon oxide, and a silicon nitride.
- The operation e) may include: removing the first sacrificial layer to position the vibration membrane in a state of not being attached to the substrate; and fixing the vibration membrane positioned in a non-attached manner on the substrate by a frictional force of the CNT support posts.
- According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, since the patterned CNT support posts are formed between the fixed membrane and the vibration membrane to mechanically fix the vibration membrane by a frictional force of the CNT support post, regardless of an applied voltage, an impact applied to the vibration membrane may be prevented and durability may be enhanced.
- In addition, since the patterned CNT support posts serve as springs with a structure having optimized rigidity to increase a vibration displacement when the vibration membrane is vibrated by a sound pressure, an effect of enhancing sensitivity may be maximized.
- In addition, application of high durability and high sensitivity microphone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure to a vehicle may enhance performance of electronic equipment based on sound recognition, whereby enhancement of customer satisfaction of products may be anticipated.
-
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a free-floating membrane structure of a related art commercialized micro-electrochemical system (MEMS) microphone. -
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a microphone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view and a side view schematically illustrating a fixed membrane, a vibration membrane, and a support according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operation principle of a microphone when a sound pressure is input according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating result of comparison and verification of sensitivity between a microphone structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure and a related art structure. -
FIGS. 6 to 12 are views illustrating a method for manufacturing a microphone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. - In the following detailed description, only certain example embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, simply by way of illustration. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.
- Throughout the specification, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word “comprise” and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements. In addition, the terms “-er”, “-or” and “module” described in the specification mean units for processing at least one function and operation and can be implemented by hardware components or software components and combinations thereof.
- Hereinafter, a highly sensitive microphone and a manufacturing method thereof according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
-
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a microphone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view and a side view schematically illustrating a fixed membrane, a vibration membrane, and a support according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. - Referring to
FIGS. 2 and 3 , amicrophone 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes asubstrate 110, avibration membrane 120, afixed membrane 130, and a carbon nanotube (CNT) supportpost 140. - The
substrate 110 may be formed of silicon and have a through portion provided in a central portion thereof to which a sound pressure is input. - The
vibration membrane 120 covers the throughportion 111 on thesubstrate 110. - Thus, the
vibration membrane 120 is partially exposed by thethrough portion 111 formed in thesubstrate 110, and the exposed portion of thevibration membrane 120 is vibrated by a sound pressure transferred from the outside. - The
vibration membrane 120 includes protrusion and depression portions (dimples) 121 provided at a lower edge thereof placed on the substrate in order to prevent attachment of thevibration membrane 120 to thesubstrate 110. The protrusion anddepression portions 121 may have at least one protrusion. - The
vibration membrane 120 may serve as an electrode by itself, or may have a separate vibration electrode (not shown) disposed in an upper portion thereof. Here, the vibration electrode may be vibrated together with thevibration membrane 120 when a sound pressure is input. - The
vibration membrane 120 may have a monolayer membrane structure formed of polysilicon or silicon nitride (SiNx) film. Further, without being limited thereto, thevibration membrane 120 may have a multi-layer film structure in which polysilicon and silicon nitride film are alternately stacked. - The fixed
membrane 130 is installed above thevibration membrane 120 and spaced apart from thevibration membrane 120 with anair layer 131 interposed therebetween, and asupport portion 134 vertically extending from the fixedmembrane 130 is installed on thesubstrate 110 in order to support the fixed membrane 130 (however, in order to show theCNT support post 140, the support portion is omitted inFIG. 3 ). - Accordingly, the fixed
membrane 130 has a casing structure having a diameter greater than that of thevibration membrane 120 and covering thevibration membrane 120 placed on thesubstrate 110. - The fixed
membrane 130 includes a plurality ofair inlets 132 perforated in a direction toward theair layer 131. - A fixed
electrode 133 is disposed on a lower portion of the fixedmembrane 130 and is perforated in the same pattern as that of theair inlets 132. - That is, the fixed
membrane 130 and the fixedelectrode 133 include a plurality ofair inlets 132 perforated in the same pattern. Here, since the plurality ofair inlets 132 allow for an air flow, the fixedmembrane 130 and the fixedelectrode 133 are not vibrated by a sound source. - The
CNT support post 140 is formed as a vertical elastic post between the fixedmembrane 130 and thevibration membrane 120, and mechanically fixes thevibration membrane 120, regardless of an applied voltage. - The
CNT support post 140, a carbon nanotube (CNT) patterned between the fixedmembrane 130 and thevibration membrane 120, mechanically fixes thevibration membrane 120 by a frictional force. - The CNT support posts 140 are arranged at a uniform interval in a circular shape based on a central point of the fixed
membrane 130. - The
CNT support post 140 may be able to fix thevibration membrane 120, regardless of an applied voltage (i.e., driving/non-driving) in the related art, by growing a CNT seed formed on a lower portion of the fixedmembrane 130 and applying a frictional force to an upper portion of thevibration membrane 120 through a follow-up process in manufacturing a micro-electrochemical system (MEMS). - Here, the
vibration membrane 120 may have a free-floating membrane structure in which thevibration membrane 120 is fixed by a frictional force between the CNT support posts 140 but a contact point with respect to theCNT support post 140 or thesubstrate 110 is not mechanically or chemically attached. - That is, in the related art, the free-floating membrane is not fixed so it is damaged by an impact in a non-driving state without an applied voltage.
- In contrast, in an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, even in a non-driving state without an applied voltage, the
vibration membrane 120 is fixed mechanically by a frictional force of theCNT support post 14, whereby the damage problem is solved and high durability is provided. -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operation principle of a microphone when a sound pressure is input according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. - Referring to
FIG. 4 , aCNT support post 140 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure serves as a spring through adjustment of rigidity of a columnar CNT, and for the purposes of description, theCNT support post 140 is illustrated as a spring. - The
vibration membrane 120 is fixed to thesubstrate 110 by theCNT support post 140 and horizontally disposed in a non-driving state. - When a sound pressure is input in a driving state, the
vibration membrane 120 is vibrated by the sound pressure, causing a space between thevibration membrane 120 and the fixedmembrane 130 to be changed, and thus, capacitance between thevibration membrane 120 and the fixedmembrane 130 is changed. - In particular, the
CNT support 140 is deformed by the sound pressure together with thevibration membrane 120 to increase a vibration displacement of thevibration membrane 120. - That is, a displacement due to the role of the
CNT support post 140 as a spring is added to a displacement of thevibration membrane 120 due to the sound pressure to increase an overall vibration displacement, whereby a vibration width between thevibration membrane 120 and the fixedmembrane 130 is increased to increase a change in capacitance. - The increased capacitance is transferred through a pad (not shown) and a conducting wire connected to each of the fixed
electrode 133 and thevibration membrane 120 and converted into an electrical signal by a circuit (not shown) for signal processing to sense a sound from the outside, thereby implementing ahigh sensitivity microphone 100. -
FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating result of comparison and verification of sensitivity between a microphone structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure and a related art structure. - Referring to
FIG. 5 , the relatedart support post 4 as illustrated inFIG. 1 merely serves as a fixed end as a rigidity structure, which is not easy to adjust rigidity thereof, leading to a difficulty in additionally enhancing sensitivity. - In contrast, the
CNT support post 140 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure serves as a spring with elasticity simultaneously deformed with thevibration membrane 120 by a sound pressure, further increasing vibration displacement when thevibration membrane 120 is vibrated by a sound pressure, thus resultantly obtaining enhancement of sensitivity. - A method for manufacturing the
high sensitivity microphone 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. -
FIGS. 6 to 12 are views illustrating a method for manufacturing a microphone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. - Referring to
FIG. 6 , after asubstrate 110 is prepared, a first sacrificial layer 150-1 is formed on thesubstrate 110 and partially etched to pattern arecess 151 for formation of a depression andprotrusion portion 121 of avibration membrane 120. Here, thesubstrate 110 may be formed of silicon. - The first sacrificial layer 150-1 may be formed of any one of a photosensitive material, a silicon oxide, and a silicon nitride. The photosensitive material may have a thermally and mechanically stable structure and may be easily removed in terms of process.
- Referring to
FIG. 7 , thevibration membrane 120 is formed on an upper portion of the first sacrificial layer 150-1. - Here, a depression and
protrusion portion 121 is formed under thevibration membrane 120 along therecess 151 formed on the first sacrificial layer 150-1. - Here, the
vibration membrane 120 may be formed as a monolayer membrane using polysilicoin or a silicon nitride film. Without being limited thereto, thevibration membrane 120 may also be formed as a multi-layer by alternately stacking polysilicon and a silicon nitride film. - Referring to
FIG. 8 , a second sacrificial layer 150-2 is formed on thevibration membrane 120 and the first sacrificial layer 150-1. Here, the second sacrificial layer 150-2 may be formed of the same material as that of the first sacrificial layer 150-1 and may have a thickness for forming anair layer 131. - Referring to
FIG. 9 , a CNT (seed metal) 141 for growing aCNT support post 140 later is patterned on both side portions of the second sacrificial layer 150-2, and a fixedelectrode 133 formed under a fixedmembrane 130 later is patterned in a central portion of the second sacrificial layer 150-2. Here, the fixedelectrode 133 may be patterned by a polysilicon. - Referring to
FIG. 10 , the fixedmembrane 130 is formed on thesubstrate 100 including theCNT seed 141, the fixedelectrode 133, and the second sacrificial layer 150-2. - The fixed
membrane 130 may have a “U” shape and cover the entire area of thesubstrate 110. - Here, the fixed
membrane 130 may be formed by depositing a silicon nitride (SiN). In another exemplary embodiment, the fixedmembrane 130 may be formed by depositing polysilicon. - Thereafter, the fixed
membrane 130 and the fixedelectrode 133 positioned thereunder are etched to generate a plurality ofair inlets 132 perforated in the same pattern. - Here, the plurality of
air inlets 132 may be formed through dry etching or wet etching, and etching is performed until the second sacrificial layer 150-2 is exposed in a vertical direction in which thevibration membrane 120 is formed. - In addition, a rear surface of the
substrate 110 is etched until the first sacrificial layer 150-1 is exposed to form a throughportion 111 to which a sound pressure is input from the outside. - Referring to
FIG. 11 , the second sacrificial layer 150-2 and the first sacrificial layer 150-1 are removed to form anair layer 131 between thevibration membrane 120 and the fixedmembrane 130. - The sacrificial layers 150 may be removed through a wet etching method using an etchant through the
air inlet 132. Also, the sacrificial layers 150 may be removed through a dry etching method by performing ashing based on oxygen (O2) plasma through theair inlet 132. - When the sacrificial layers 150 are removed through the wet or dry etching method, the
air layer 131 is formed and thevibration membrane 120 is placed in a non-attached state on thesubstrate 110. - Referring to
FIG. 12 , when the sacrificial layers are entirely removed, theCNT seed 141 is grown to form theCNT support post 140. - Columnar end portions of the plurality of CNT support posts 140 are lowered to be in contact with upper portions of the
vibration membrane 120 positioned not to be attached to thesubstrate 110, thereby mechanically fixing thevibration membrane 120 by a frictional force. - Thereafter, although not shown, the fixed
electrode 133 of the fixedmembrane 130 and a vibration electrode of thevibration membrane 120 may be electrically connected to a circuit for signal processing through a pad and a conducting wire thereof. - The microphone and the manufacturing method thereof according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure described above are not limited to the aforementioned process (flow) but may be variously modified.
- For example, in
FIG. 10 , it is illustrated and described that the plurality ofair inlets 132 are formed, and thereafter, the throughportion 111 is formed on a rear side of thesubstrate 110, but the manufacturing method of the present disclosure is not limited to the order of the description. For example, the process of forming the throughhole 111 on the rear side of thesubstrate 110 may also be performed before the formation of theair inlets 132 or after the sacrificial layers 150 ofFIG. 11 are removed. - In this manner, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, since the patterned CNT support posts are formed between the fixed membrane and the vibration membrane to mechanically fix the vibration membrane by a frictional force of the CNT support post, regardless of an applied voltage, an impact applied to the vibration membrane may be prevented and durability may be enhanced.
- Since the patterned CNT support posts serve as springs with a structure having optimized rigidity to increase vibration displacement when the vibration membrane is vibrated by a sound pressure, an effect of enhancing sensitivity may be maximized.
- In addition, application of high durability and high sensitivity microphone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure to a vehicle may enhance performance of electronic equipment based on sound recognition, whereby enhancement of customer satisfaction of products may be anticipated.
- The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may not necessarily be implemented only through the foregoing devices and/or methods but may also be implemented through a program for realizing functions corresponding to the configurations of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a recording medium including the program, or the like, and such an implementation may be easily made by a skilled person in the art to which the present disclosure pertains from the foregoing description of the embodiments.
- While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical example embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Claims (15)
1. A high sensitivity microphone comprising:
a substrate having a through portion formed in a central portion of the substrate;
a vibration membrane disposed on the substrate and covering the through portion;
a fixed membrane disposed above the vibration membrane, spaced apart from the vibration membrane with an air layer interposed therebetween, and having a plurality of air inlets perforated in a direction toward the air layer; and
a plurality of support posts disposed between the fixed membrane and the vibration membrane, as elastic vertical posts, and mechanically fixing the vibration membrane by a frictional force regardless of an applied voltage.
2. The high sensitivity microphone of claim 1 , wherein:
the support posts are formed of carbon nanotube (CNT) patterned between the fixed membrane and the vibration membrane and arranged at a predetermined interval in a circular shape from a central point of the fixed membrane.
3. The high sensitivity microphone of claim 1 , wherein:
the support posts serve as springs with rigidity deformed by a sound pressure and are simultaneously deformed together with the vibration membrane by a sound pressure.
4. The high sensitivity microphone of claim 1 , wherein:
the vibration membrane has a free-floating membrane structure whose contacts with respect to the support posts and the substrate are not attached.
5. The high sensitivity microphone of claim 1 , wherein:
the vibration membrane has a depression and protrusion portion formed at edge on a bottom surface of the vibration membrane to prevent attachment of the vibration membrane to the substrate.
6. The high sensitivity microphone of claim 1 , wherein:
the fixed membrane includes a support portion that vertically extends from an edge of the fixed membrane on the substrate.
7. The high sensitivity microphone of claim 1 , wherein:
the fixed membrane has a fixed electrode disposed on a lower surface thereof and perforated in the same pattern as that of the air inlets.
8. A method for manufacturing a high sensitivity microphone, the method comprising:
a) forming a first sacrificial layer on a substrate and forming a vibration membrane thereon;
b) forming a second sacrificial layer on the vibration membrane and patterning carbon nanotube (CNT) seeds on opposing sides of the second sacrificial layer;
c) forming a fixed membrane on the substrate including the CNT seeds and the second sacrificial layer;
d) etching the fixed membrane to generate a plurality of perforated air inlets; and
e) removing the first sacrificial layer and the second sacrificial layer and growing the CNT seeds to form a plurality of CNT support posts as vertical elastic posts between the fixed membrane and the vibration membrane to mechanically fix the vibration membrane by a frictional force, regardless of an applied voltage.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein operation a) comprises:
etching a portion of the first sacrificial layer to pattern a plurality of recesses; and
forming a depression and protrusion portion by the plurality of recesses formed in the first sacrificial layer under the vibration membrane.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein operation b) comprises:
patterning a fixed electrode in a central portion of the second sacrificial layer.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein in operation d),
the fixed membrane and the fixed electrode are etched to generate a plurality of air inlets perforated in the same pattern.
12. The high sensitivity microphone of claim 8 , wherein operation d) comprises:
etching a rear side of the substrate to form a through portion to which a sound pressure is input from the outside.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein
the vibration membrane includes a monolayer membrane formed of polysilicon or a silicon nitride or a multi-layer membrane formed by alternately stacking polysilicoin and a silicon nitride.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein
the first sacrificial layer and the second sacrificial layer are formed of any one of a photosensitive material, a silicon oxide, and a silicon nitride.
15. The method of claim 8 , wherein operation e) comprises:
removing the first sacrificial layer to position the vibration membrane in a state of not being attached to the substrate; and
fixing the vibration membrane positioned in a non-attached manner on the substrate by a frictional force of the CNT support posts.
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US20200283290A1 (en) * | 2019-03-08 | 2020-09-10 | Infineon Technologies Ag | Sensor with a membrane electrode, a counterelectrode, and at least one spring |
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Also Published As
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US20190230447A1 (en) | 2019-07-25 |
CN107809717B (en) | 2021-06-15 |
KR101807146B1 (en) | 2017-12-07 |
US10582308B2 (en) | 2020-03-03 |
CN107809717A (en) | 2018-03-16 |
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