Patent ID: 6689694
Filing Date: 2004-02-10
Classification: B81B,B81C,C30B

Abstract:
A method of forming a micromechanical system, the method comprising:providing a (111) silicon substrate; etching into the (111) silicon substrate to a depth to define a thickness of a silicon microstructure, wherein the etching forms walls; covering at least a portion of the walls with an etch stop layer; further etching through the etch stop layer and into the (111) silicon substrate using at least a portion of the etch stop layer to define a lateral extent of the further etching into the (111) silicon substrate; and selective etching along at least one {100} plane or at least one {110} plane to separate the silicon microstructure from the (111) silicon substrate, the selective etching guided by one or more {111} planes, the selective etching proceeding between the silicon microstructure and the substrate to release the silicon microstructure.