Patent ID: 8319254

Claim:
A micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) device, comprising: a substrate; a first beam suspended relative to a surface of the substrate, the first beam comprising a first portion and a second portion that are separated by an isolation joint, wherein the first and second portions each comprise a semiconductor and a first dielectric layer, wherein an electrically conductive trace is mechanically coupled to the first beam and electrically coupled to the semiconductor of the second portion but not the semiconductor of the first portion; a second beam suspended relative to the surface of the substrate, the second beam comprising a second dielectric layer to promote curvature of the second beam; and a third beam suspended relative to the surface of the substrate; wherein each of the first, second, and third beams has a profile defining a side wall, the profile of each of the first, second, and third beams having been formed by a dry etch; wherein a cavity separates the surface of the substrate from the first, second, and third beams, the cavity having been formed by a dry etch; and wherein a side wall of each of the first, second, and third beams has substantially no dielectric layer disposed thereon, the dielectric layer having been removed by a vapor-phase etch.