Patent ID: 7510894

Claim:
A method of isolating regions of silicon in producing an integrated sensor comprising: delineating a sensor from a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate utilizing a trench etch, wherein the SOI substrate comprises a silicon layer situated over a first insulator layer, wherein the first insulator layer is situated over a silicon substrate; and releasing the sensor utilizing a lateral etch to undercut the sensor from the silicon substrate, wherein a masking agent is used to mask a vertical surface of the silicon layer from the lateral etch, wherein the first insulator layer and a photosensitive film are utilized to mask a horizontal surface of the silicon layer from the lateral etch, and wherein the isolating is performed after fabrication of compensating electronics for the integrated sensor, wherein delineating the sensor comprises: etching an open window through a portion of a second insulator layer, exposing the silicon layer; etching a trench into the silicon layer; and etching a portion of the first insulator layer, exposing the silicon substrate situated below the first insulator layer.