Patent ID: 8741692

Claim:
A method for forming semiconductor devices with wafer-level packaging (WLP), comprising: providing a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, the SOI substrate comprising a first silicon layer, a second silicon layer, and an insulator layer between the first and the second silicon layers; forming a mask on the first silicon layer, the mask defining openings; etching the first silicon layer through the openings to the insulator layer to form elements initially bonded to but later released from the insulator layer; bonding a support substrate to the first silicon layer, the support substrate defining through holes, the support substrate defining depressions opposite the elements so the elements are not bonded to the support substrate; depositing a metal over the through holes to contact the first silicon layer; and singulating devices from the bonded SOI substrate and the support substrate, wherein each device comprises a hermetically sealed package including a portion of the SOI substrate and a portion of the support substrate.