Patent ID: 7066205

Claim:
A method of fabricating an electrostatic microvalve, comprising the following steps: (a) providing a first wafer having a top surface and a bottom surface; (b) providing a masking material on said top surface of said first wafer; (c) providing a second wafer having a top surface and a bottom surface; (d) etching a plurality of spaced openings on said top surface of said second wafer; (e) bonding said bottom surface of said first wafer to said top surface of said second wafer via a sacrificial layer; (f) etching said masking material of said first wafer to create a shutter and a plurality of actuators operative therewith; (g) etching a portion of said second wafer to provide a latch for said shutter; (h) etching a portion of said second wafer so as to create a passage in flow communication with said spaced openings etched on said top surface thereof; and (i) removing a portion of said sacrificial layer between said first and second wafers to release said actuators.