Patent ID: 6277666
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: B81C,G01C,G01P

Abstract:
A method for fabricating a microelectromechanical (MEMS) structure comprising:providing a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer comprising a handle wafer, an insulating layer disposed on the handle wafer and a silicon layer disposed on the insulating layer;etching at least one trench through the silicon layer by reactive ion etching;bonding a support substrate to the silicon layer following said etching step, wherein a surface of the support substrate that is bonded to the silicon layer is nonplanar such that at least one cavity is defined between the support substrate and the SOI wafer;removing the handle wafer following said bonding step; andthereafter selectively removing the insulating layer such that the resulting MEMS structure comprises a silicon component at least partially suspended over the cavity and at least partially defined by the at least one trench etched through the silicon layer.