Patent ID: 7176111

Claim:
A method of fabricating a MEMS device or a micro-machined structure comprising: depositing a sacrificial layer on a substrate; depositing a silicon germanium semiconductor layer on said sacrificial layer, at least a portion of said silicon germanium semiconductor layer being crystalline, such that a stress and a stress gradient of said silicon germanium semiconductor layer are controlled; and removing at least a portion of said sacrificial layer from under said silicon germanium layer, wherein said silicon germanium semiconductor layer has a composition of Si x Ge 1−x , wherein ‘x’ designates a concentration amount, and wherein depositing said silicon germanium semiconductor layer comprises depositing said silicon germanium semiconductor layer at a deposition temperature and a deposition pressure using a plasma, wherein said temperature, pressure, plasma and concentration amount ‘x’ are selected such that at least a partial crystallization of said silicon germanium semiconductor layer occurs.