Method of Fabricating Hybrid Uncooled Infrared Detectors

The following U.S. patents are commonly assigned and are hereby incorporated herein by reference:

The following U.S. patent application filed concurrently with the present application is also incorporated herein by reference:

This invention generally relates to infrared or thermal imaging systems, and more specifically to thermal isolation in a thermal (infrared) detector array.

Infrared or thermal imaging systems typically use thermal sensors to detect infrared radiation and produce an image capable of being visualized by the human eye. Some examples of such thermal imaging devices include night vision equipment and law enforcement surveillance equipment.

Several prior art references disclose infrared imaging arrays and methods for producing such arrays. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,080,532 issued to Hopper; and 4,745,278 and 4,792,681 issued to Hanson utilize ferroelectric materials for infrared detection. Thermal imaging by means of uncooled sensors is described in a paper entitled Low-cost Uncooled Focal Plane Array Technology written by Hanson, Beratan, Owen and Sweetser presented Aug. 17, 1993 at the IRIS Detector Specialty Review.

The present invention is a method for fabricating a hybrid thermal detector structure, comprising the steps of providing integrated circuitry, depositing a precursor film on the integrated circuitry, gelling the precursor film to form a porous film, patterning and etching the porous film to form thermal isolation mesas on the integrated circuitry, and forming interconnect metal on the thermal isolation mesas, where the interconnect metal is electrically connected to the integrated circuitry. Then an infrared sensing array comprising at least three thermally sensitive pixels, electrical contacts abutting a first side of the pixels, and an optical coating in contact with a second side of the pixels is provided, and the interconnect metal is coupled to the electrical contacts of the infrared sensing array. A protective film may be deposited on the porous film after gelling the precursor film, to enhance the mechanical strength of the mesas.

The present invention also entails a hybrid thermal detector structure, comprising an infrared sensing array comprising at least three thermally sensitive pixels, electrical contacts abutting one side of the pixels, and an optical coating in contact with an opposite side of the pixels; and a sensing integrated circuit structure comprised of integrated circuitry, a thermal isolation structure mounted on the integrated circuitry, and interconnect metal electrically connecting the integrated circuitry to a top region of the thermal isolation structure; where the thermal isolation structure is comprised of a porous material and wherein the electrical contacts of the infrared sensing array are coupled to the interconnect metal of the sensing integrated circuit structure. The thermal isolation structure may also comprise a protective film.

Advantages of the invention include simplification of the lithography process for forming the interconnect metal that provides electrical connection between the pixels and the integrated circuitry, due to a decrease in the mesa height. Lower temperatures are required to process the porous film, which prevents or minimizes damage to the underlying integrated circuitry. Thermal isolation between the pixels and the integrated circuitry is improved because silica aerogels and xerogels are better thermal insulators than organic materials used in the past. The porous mesas result in improved thermal isolation, and may permit the use of thinner pixels in the future. The mesas may also comprise an optional protective film which enhances the mechanical strength of the mesas, creates a more planar surface for improved photolithography, and seals the surfaces of the mesas which minimizes outgassing in low pressure applications.

In the drawings, which form an integral part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, and in which like numerals and symbols are employed to designate similar components in various views unless otherwise indicated:

FIG. 1 illustrates the generic concept of a hybrid structure of the prior art consisting of a planar infrared sensing array electrically and physically bonded to thermally isolating mesas on a sensing integrated circuit;

FIG. 2 shows a precursor film deposited on sensing integrated circuit;

FIG. 3 shows the structure after the precursor film has been gelled to form a porous film on the integrated circuit;

FIG. 4 illustrates the structure after the porous film has been patterned and etched to form thermal isolation mesas;

FIG. 5 shows interconnect metal formed on the thermal isolation mesas, in contact with vias on the integrated circuit;

FIG. 6 shows a cross section of the hybrid structure having mesas comprised of a porous film, after the infrared sensing array has been attached to the sensing integrated circuit structure;

FIG. 7 shows the structure after an optional protective film has been deposited on the porous film;

FIG. 8 illustrates the structure after the protective film and porous fill have been patterned and etched to form thermal isolation mesas; and

FIG. 9 shows a cross section of the hybrid structure having mesas comprised of a porous film and a protective film, after the infrared sensing array has been attached to the sensing integrated circuit structure.

The drawings are neither to absolute nor relative scale. Thin film thicknesses have been exaggerated for clarity in description.

Thermal imaging systems described in prior art references utilize an array of ferroelectric or bolometric sensors to detect thermal scenes which may then be converted into a visual, for example, TV, image. Each pixel (or resistor, when bolometric sensors are used) in these arrays comprises a pyroelectric capacitor having a temperature-sensitive polarization. Since the charge stored by a capacitor is a function of its terminal voltage and capacitance, electronic circuitry may be attached to the two terminals of the pixel capacitor to measure the intensity of the infrared radiation impinging on a specific pixel. Obstructions in the imaging field are removed and electronic connections to these capacitors are simplified if one of these pixel terminals is common to all. From hundreds to hundreds of thousands of connections are made between the other isolated terminals of the capacitors and the integrated circuit used for electronic sensing. In addition, the pixels are thermally isolated from each other while having one terminal electrically connected to all the other common terminals.

The common connection, or common electrode, to one side of the pixel capacitors may be part of an optical coating comprised of a plurality of thin films having the desired physical properties, such as infrared transparency, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity, for example. The infrared energy is absorbed by the optical coating and is transferred to the pixels which may be made, for example, of barium strontium titanate (BST). The electrical polarization and capacitance of a pyroelectric material such as BST changes in response to temperature.

Typically, an infrared absorber and common electrode assembly are disposed on one side of the pyroelectric element and comprise an optical coating disposed over a common electrode. A sensor signal electrode may be disposed on the opposite side of each pyroelectric element. The infrared absorber and common electrode assembly typically extend across the surface of the focal plane array and electrically couple each pyroelectric element through the common electrode. Each infrared detector element or thermal sensor is defined, in part, by a portion of the infrared absorber and a common electrode assembly and a respective sensor signal electrode, which constitute capacitive plates, and a pyroelectric element, which constitutes a dielectric or insulator disposed between the capacitive plates.

To maximize thermal response and enhance thermal image accuracy, each pyroelectric element of a focal plane array is preferably isolated thermally from adjoining pyroelectric elements so that the sensor signal accurately represents incident infrared radiation associated with each thermal sensor. When the uncooled IR hybrid structure is in use, the temperature of the pixel is modulated by chopping incident IR radiation. This temperature change is sensed as a voltage by the readout IC. For optimum operating performance, it is also important to thermally isolate the pyroelectric elements from the sensing integrated circuitry.

The making and use of the presently preferred embodiments are discussed below in detail. However, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts which can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention, and do not delimit the scope of the invention.

The following is a description of preferred embodiments and manufacturing methods of the present invention. Table 1 below provides an overview of the elements of the embodiments and the drawings. The present invention and its advantages are best understood by referring to FIGS. 2-9 and Table 1 with like numbers being used for like and corresponding parts in the drawings.

While many different geometries and configurations have been described in the references, FIG. 1 shows a prior art drawing of a generic hybrid structure 30 comprised of an infrared sensing array 46 electrically and physically bonded to a sensing integrated circuit structure 48. The optical coating 32 is comprised of a partially infrared transparent layer 52, a 1/4 wavelength filter material 54 and an electrical conducting layer 56. The electrical and physical mounting of infrared sensing array 46 to sensing integrated circuit structure 48 is achieved by the use of a bonding material 60 to adhere the infrared electrical pixel contacts 42 with the interconnect metal 40 through the vias 38.

There are several problems with the prior an structure depicted in FIG. 1. First, the interconnect metal 40 which provides the electrical connection between the pixels 34 and the integrated circuitry 44 is difficult to pattern and etch because of the height of the mesas 36 which are typically around 12 .mu.m tall. Second, the temperatures required to process the organic materials used in the past for the thermal isolation mesas 36 may damage the underlying integrated circuitry 44. The properties of resistors on the underlying IC are permanently and deleteriously changed at the temperature range of 350.degree.-400.degree. C. that is currently used for polyimide. Third, although the pixels 34 have been thermally isolated from integrated circuitry 44 by thermal isolation mesas 36 mounted to integrated circuitry 44, thermal crosstalk may still result via thermal conduction through the mesas 36 and interconnect metal 40. Mesas 36 of prior art were comprised of an organic material such as polyimide or PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate) which does not provide sufficient thermal insulation between the pixels 34 and the integrated circuitry 44, and restricts ultimate detector geometry.

A first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 2-6. FIG. 2 shows the sensing integrated circuitry 44 upon which a precursor film 62 has been deposited. The precursor film 62 is preferably an organometallic silicate solution which may be gelled into a silicon-dioxide based xerogel. The precursor film 62 may also comprise liquids that will gel to form silicon dioxide-based aerogel, silicon carbide nerogel or xerogel, or other nerogels or xerogels. The precursor film 62 is liquid and is very planar when applied.

The precursor film 62 is gelled to form a porous film 64 as shown in FIG. 3. The precursor film 62 may be gelled by supercritical or non-supercritical drying. Aerogels are formed by drying a wet gel under supercritical conditions so that there is no capillary pressure and relatively little shrinkage. Exrogels are formed when a wet gel is dried by evaporation under normal conditions, giving rise to capillary pressure that causes shrinkage of the wet gel network. Preferably, the resulting porous film 64 is greater than 80% porous. However, the porous film 64 may also be less than or equal to 80% porous, so that the mechanical strength of the resulting porous film 64 is sufficient enough to structurally support the hybrid structure 30.

The porous film 64 is patterned and etched to form thermal isolation mesas 36' in porous film 64 as shown in FIG. 4. The mesas 36' may be of shorter height (for example 3-6 .mu.m, or one-quarter to half the height of an organic mesa found in prior art) than that of prior art due to the improved thermal insulative properties of the porous film 64. Interconnect metal 40 is then formed, making electrical connections to the integrated circuitry 44 as discussed in prior art. The lithography process for the interconnect metal 40 is made easier by the fact the topography of the mesas 36' has been scaled-down, or reduced. The infrared sensing array 46 is then bonded to the sensing integrated circuit structure 48 with the use of a bonding material 60 applied between the infrared pixel electrical contact 42 and interconnect metal 40, as illustrated in FIG. 6 to form the completed hybrid structure 30. (The infrared pixel electrical contact 42 is actually bonded to a contact pad connected to the interconnect metal, as described in the references).

A second embodiment of the present invention is demonstrated in FIGS. 7-9. After the precursor film 62 has been gelled to form the porous film 64, a protective film 66 is deposited over the porous film 64 as shown in FIG. 7. The protective film 66 is preferably silicon dioxide that is sputtered on at room temperature. However, the protective film 66 may also comprise other silicon composites, or conventional oxides or nitrides. Next, the protective film 66 and the porous film 64 are patterned and etched to form thermal isolation mesas 36'. Each mesa comprises a bottom portion of porous film and a top portion of protective film, as shown in FIG. 8. Interconnect metal 40 is deposited and the infrared sensing array 46 is bonded to the sensing integrated circuit structure 48 as described for the first embodiment to create the structure shown in FIG. 9. The protective film enhances the mechanical strength of the porous film, resulting in strengthened mesas 36' for structural support of the hybrid detector system 30.

There are many alternates to the hybrid structure illustrated. For example, although the optical coating 32 is represented as a planar surface, this coating may contain elevations or corrugations for better thermal isolation as has been shown in the references. The porous layer may comprise other suitable nerogels or xerogels. The protective film 66 may also be applied after the mesas have been formed, so that the protective film 66 covers all surfaces of the mesas.

The novel invention of thermal isolation mesas manufactured from a porous film has many advantages over prior art thermal isolation mesas. First, the lithography process, or patterning, of the interconnect metal 40 which provides the electrical connection between the pixels 34 and the integrated circuitry 44 is simplified because the height of the mesas 36' is reduced to 3-6 .mu.m. Second, the temperatures required to process the porous film 64 typically are below 100.degree. C. , which prevents or minimizes damage to the underlying integrated circuitry 44. Third, thermal isolation between the pixels 34 and the integrated circuitry 44 is improved because silica xerogels and aerogels are better thermal insulators than organic materials. The improved thermal isolation results in better acuity of the image produced by the hybrid structure, and may permit the use of thinner pixels. In the future, thinner pixels may be utilized for hybrid infrared detectors. The use of the porous film of this invention for the formation of the thermal isolation mesas provides increased thermal isolation and allows use of thinner pixels (although the interconnect metal material may need to be changed to a metal having a higher thermal resistance). The optional protective film 66 enhances the mechanical strength of the mesas, creates a more planar surface for improved photolithography, and seals the surfaces of the mesas which minimizes outgassing in low pressure applications.

While the invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications and combinations of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the inventions, will be apparent of persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description. It is therefore intended that the appended claims encompass any such modifications or embodiments.