Dean Y Arakaki

US Patent:

6376393, Apr 23, 2002

Filed:

Dec 31, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/224044

Inventors:

Mike Newton - Palm Bay FL
Joseph P. Dougherty - State College PA
Else Breval - State College PA
Maria Klimkiewicz - State College PA
Yi Ton Shi - State College PA
Dean Arakaki - State College PA

Assignee:

Harris Corporation - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

H01L 2131

US Classification:

438783, 438784

Abstract:

A method for making an anisotropic dielectric layer includes the steps of: forming a fluid layer comprising a plurality of magnetizable particles, for example, in a fluid capable of solidifying to fix the configuration of the magnetizable particles in a dielectric matrix; aligning the magnetizable particles of the fluid layer in a predetermined configuration by applying a magnetic field thereto; and fixing the aligned magnetizable particles in the predetermined configuration within the dielectric matrix by solidifying the fluid. In one particularly advantageous application, the fluid layer is coated onto a surface portion of an integrated circuit, such as a fingerprint sensor, to provide mechanical protection without effecting the image resolution. In addition, the step of aligning for certain devices preferably comprises aligning the magnetizable particles in a predetermined configuration so that an impedance perpendicular to the anisotropic dielectric layer is less than an impedance parallel to the anisotropic dielectric layer. The magnetizable particles may be mixed in a curable polymer fluid, and the step of fixing the aligned magnetizable particles may comprise curing the curable polymer fluid, such as by applying heat or radiation.