Patent ID: 7803649

Claim:
A method of manufacturing an angular rate sensor, which comprises: a first structure which includes a fixed portion having an opening, a displacing portion placed in the opening and configured to be displaced relative to the fixed portion, and a connecting portion adapted to connect the fixed portion and the displacing portion, and is formed of a substrate composed of a first semiconductor material; a second structure which includes a weighting portion respectively joined to the displacing portion, and a pedestal portion arranged to surround the weighting portion and joined to the fixed portion, and is laminated in place on the first structure and composed of a second semiconductor material; a first substrate laminated on the first structure; a second substrate laminated on the second structure; a vibration imparting portion adapted to impart vibration to the displacing portion of the first structure; and a displacement detecting portion adapted to detect displacement of the displacing portion; wherein the first substrate, the fixed portion, the pedestal portion, and the second substrate form a sealed body together such that the displacing portion and the weighting portion can be moved in the sealed body; the first substrate includes a first metal layer and a first insulating layer laminated on the first metal layer, the first insulating layer including a first recess, and being connected to the fixed portion; and the second substrate includes a second metal layer and a second insulating layer laminated on the second metal layer, the second insulating layer including a second recess, and being connected to the pedestal portion; the method comprising the steps of: producing a semiconductor substrate by laminating a first layer composed of the first semiconductor material, a second layer composed of an oxide, and a third layer composed of the second semiconductor material, in succession; etching the first and third layers of the semiconductor substrate to produce, from the first layer, the first structure which includes the fixed portion having the opening, the displacing portion placed in the opening and adapted to be displaced relative to the fixed portion, and the connecting portion adapted to connect the fixed portion and the displacing portions, and produce, from the third layer, the second structure which includes the weighting portions and the pedestal portion arranged to surround the weighting portions, and is laminated in place on the first structure; etching the second layer of the semiconductor substrate, in which the first and second structures have been produced, to produce a joining portion including a first joining portion having an opening and adapted to join the fixed portion to the pedestal portion, and a second joining portion arranged in the opening of the first joining portion and adapted to join the displacing portions to the weighting portion; and joining the first substrate to the first structure and joining the second substrate to the second structure, by lamination, respectively.