Patent ID: 7820970

Claim:
A method for fabricating a thermal microphotonic sensor for detecting infrared radiation, comprising the steps of: providing a silicon substrate; etching at least one opening and at least one trench in the silicon substrate to a first etch depth, with each opening being located where a support post for an optical resonator will be subsequently formed, and with each trench being located where a base for an optical waveguide will be subsequently formed; filling in each opening and each trench with silicon oxide; depositing a layer of silicon nitride over the silicon substrate, and patterning the layer of silicon nitride to form each optical resonator and each optical waveguide; and etching the silicon substrate beneath each optical resonator and beneath each optical waveguide to a second etch depth which is less than or equal to the first etch depth and thereby elevating each optical resonator and each optical waveguide above the silicon substrate, with each optical resonator being elevated upon the support post, and with each optical waveguide being elevated upon the base which is located therebeneath.