A MEMS sensor includes a silicon substrate that has a first surface and a second surface on a side opposite to the first surface and that has a cavity in the first surface, a silicon diaphragm that has a first surface and a second surface on aside opposite to the first surface and in which the second surface is joined directly to the first surface of the silicon substrate, and a piezoresistance formed at the first surface of the silicon diaphragm, and, in the MEMS sensor, a plane orientation of the first surface of the silicon substrate and a plane orientation of the first surface of the silicon diaphragm differ from each other.

A method of forming an ultrasonic transducer device includes bonding a membrane to seal a transducer cavity with at least a portion of a getter material layer being exposed, the getter material layer comprising a portion of a bilayer stack compatible for use in damascene processing.

A 3D scaffold of a biocompatible polymer and colonized with biological cells is provided., The biological cells can be cultured to form a 3D cell culture construct that closely approximates a physiological architecture. A method for producing the 3D scaffold colonized with biological cells is also provided.

A microelectromechanical device having a first substrate of semiconductor material and a second substrate of semiconductor material having a bonding recess delimited by projecting portions, monolithic therewith. The bonding recess forms a closed cavity with the first substrate. A bonding structure is arranged within the closed cavity and is bonded to the first and second substrates. A microelectromechanical structure is formed in a substrate chosen between the first and second substrates. The device is manufactured by forming the bonding recess in a first wafer; depositing a bonding mass in the bonding recess, the bonding mass having a greater depth than the bonding recess; and bonding the two wafers.

Disclosed herein are force sensors which include a sense die assembly and methods for manufacturing the sense die assembly and the force sensor. The disclosed sense die assembly, force sensor, and methods utilize wafer-level retention to hold an actuation element in a cavity of the sense die.

A method embodiment includes providing a MEMS wafer comprising an oxide layer, a MEMS substrate, a polysilicon layer. A carrier wafer comprising a first cavity formed using isotropic etching is bonded to the MEMS, wherein the first cavity is aligned with an exposed first portion of the polysilicon layer. The MEMS substrate is patterned, and portions of the sacrificial oxide layer are removed to form a first and second MEMS structure. A cap wafer including a second cavity is bonded to the MEMS wafer, wherein the bonding creates a first sealed cavity including the second cavity aligned to the first MEMS structure, and wherein the second MEMS structure is disposed between a second portion of the polysilicon layer and the cap wafer. Portions of the carrier wafer are removed so that first cavity acts as a channel to ambient pressure for the first MEMS structure.

A semiconductor layer having an opening and a MEMS resonator formed in the opening is disposed between first and second substrates to encapsulate the MEMS resonator. An electrical contact that extends from the opening to an exterior of the MEMS device is formed at least in part within the semiconductor layer and at least in part within the first substrate.

CMOS Ultrasonic Transducers and processes for making such devices are described. The processes may include forming cavities on a first wafer and bonding the first wafer to a second wafer. The second wafer may be processed to form a membrane for the cavities. Electrical access to the cavities may be provided.

A ceramic substrate is mainly constituted of ceramic, and has a first main surface and a second main surface located opposite to the first main surface. A recessed portion recessed toward a first main surface side is formed in the second main surface. A wire portion extending from an outer peripheral surface of the ceramic substrate to inside of the recessed portion is formed, and a bottom portion located on the first main surface side in the recessed portion has a portion thinner than another portion of the ceramic substrate other than the bottom portion.

A photoacoustic sensor includes a first layer with an optical MEMS emitter; a second layer stacked over the first layer with a MEMS pressure pick-up and an optically transparent window, wherein the MEMS pressure pick-up and the optically transparent window are offset laterally with respect to one another; and a third layer stacked over the second layer with a cavity for a reference gas. The optical MEMS emitter transmits optical radiation along an optical path, wherein the optical path runs through the optically transparent window and the cavity for the reference gas, and wherein the MEMS pressure pick-up is outside the course of the optical path.