Patent ID: 9035532
Filing Date: 2015-05-19
Classification: B06B

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a capacitive micromachined transducers (CMUT) microarray comprising a plurality of transducers, said method comprising, providing a first silicon wafer having generally planar, parallel top and bottom surfaces, said first wafer having a thickness selected at between about 300 and 500 microns, photo-plasma etching said top surface of the first wafer to form a plurality of pockets therein, each of said pockets having a common geometric shape, each of said pockets characterized by a respective sidewall extending generally normal to said top surface and extending to a depth of between about 0.2 and 5 microns, providing a second silicon wafer having generally planar, parallel top and bottom surfaces, said second wafer having a thickness selected at between about 0.05 and 5 microns, and preferably 0.2 and 2 microns as a device layer, contiguously sealing the bottom surface of the second wafer over the top surface of the first wafer to substantially seal each pocket as a transducers air gap, applying a conductive metal layer to at least part of at least one of the bottom surface of the first wafer and the top surface of the second wafer.