Patent ID: 7079301

Claim:
A method of forming a MEMS device, the method comprising: providing a substructure including a base material and at least one conductive layer formed on a side of the base material; forming a dielectric layer over the at least one conductive layer of the substructure; defining an actuating area for the MEMS device on the dielectric layer; including depositing a conductive material on the dielectric layer and communicating the conductive material with the at least one conductive layer of the substructure through the dielectric layer; forming a sacrificial layer over the conductive material and the dielectric layer, including depositing silicon over the conductive material and the dielectric layer, and forming a substantially planar surface of the silicon; forming an actuating element over the sacrificial layer within the actuating area, including communicating the actuating element with the conductive material of the actuating area through the sacrificial layer; and substantially removing the sacrificial layer between the actuating element and the dielectric layer.