• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.733-740
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• 2014

A resistive micro Pirani gauge using amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin membrane is proposed. The proposed Pirani gauge can be easily integrated with the other process-compatible membrane-type sensors, and can be applicable for in-situ vacuum monitoring inside the vacuum package without an additional process. The vacuum level is measured by the resistance changes of the membrane using the low noise correlated double sampling (CDS) capacitive trans-impedance amplifier (CTIA). The measured vacuum range of the Pirani gauge is 0.1 to 10 Torr. The sensitivity and non-linearity are measured to be 78 mV / Torr and 0.5% in the pressure range of 0.1 to 10 Torr. The output noise level is measured to be $268{\mu}V_{rms}$ in 0.5 Hz to 50 Hz, which is 41.2% smaller than conventional CTIA.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.326-331
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• 2014

In this study, a MEMS microphone that uses $Si_3N_4$ as the vibration membrane was produced for application as an auditory device using a sound visualization technique (sound visualization) for the hearing impaired. Two sheets of 6-inch silicon wafer were each fabricated into a vibration membrane and back plate, after which, wafer bonding was performed. A certain amount of charge was created between the bonded vibration membrane and the back plate electrodes, and a MEMS microphone that functioned through the capacitive method that uses change in such charge was fabricated. In order to evaluate the characteristics of the prepared MEMS microphone, the frequency flatness, frequency response, properties of phase between samples, and directivity according to the direction of sound source were analyzed. The MEMS microphone showed excellent flatness per frequency in the audio frequency (100 Hz-10 kHz) and a high response of at least -42 dB (sound pressure level). Further, a stable differential phase between the samples of within -3 dB was observed between 100 Hz-6 kHz. In particular, excellent omnidirectional properties were demonstrated in the frequency range of 125 Hz-4 kHz.