Multiple degenerately-doped silicon layers are implemented within resonant structures to control multiple orders of temperature coefficients of frequency.

A capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer including a lower electrode, an upper electrode, and a membrane attached to the upper electrode and positioned between the lower electrode and the upper electrode. Anchors are connect to the membrane and the lower electrode such that a cavity is defined between the lower electrode and the membrane. One or more posts are positioned within the cavity, the posts partially buried within the membrane and extending towards the lower electrode. A method of producing a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer includes forming an oxide growth layer on a device layer of undoped silicon and removing portions of the oxide growth layer to form anchors extending beyond the outer surface of the device layer and posts partially buried within post holes in the device layer and extending beyond the outer surface of the device layer.

A gyro vibrating element includes a drive signal pattern including a drive signal electrode to which a drive signal is applied and a drive signal wire connected to the drive signal electrode, a first detection signal pattern including a first detection electrode that outputs a first detection signal and a first detection signal wire connected to the first detection electrode, the first detection signal pattern being capacitively coupled to the drive signal pattern, and a second detection signal pattern including a second detection electrode that outputs a second detection signal opposite in phase to the first detection signal and a second detection signal wire connected to the second detection electrode, the second detection signal pattern being capacitively coupled to the drive signal pattern. Any one of the first detection signal pattern, the second detection signal pattern, and the drive signal pattern includes an adjustment pattern for adjusting an area of the signal pattern.

An approach includes a method of fabricating a switch. The approach includes forming a first cantilevered electrode over a first fixed electrode, forming a second cantilevered electrode with an end that overlaps the first cantilevered electrode, forming a third cantilevered electrode operable to directly contact the first cantilevered electrode upon an application of a voltage to a second fixed electrode, and forming a hermetically sealed volume encapsulating the first fixed electrode, the second fixed electrode, the first cantilevered electrode, and the second cantilevered electrode.

An approach includes a method of fabricating a switch. The approach includes forming a first cantilevered electrode operable to directly contact a second fixed electrode upon an application of a voltage to a first fixed electrode, forming a second cantilevered electrode with an end that overlaps the first cantilevered electrode, and forming a hermetically sealed volume encapsulating the first fixed electrode, the second fixed electrode, the first cantilevered electrode, and the second cantilevered electrode.

A semiconductor device includes a first substrate having a first surface, and a second substrate having a second surface. A part of the second substrate is bonded to a part of the first surface with atmospheric pressure plasma. The semiconductor device further includes an oxide film disposed on the first surface of the first substrate, and a protection film layered on a surface of the oxide film opposite to the first substrate.

The disclosed subject matter provides thin films including a metal silicide and methods for forming such films. The disclosed subject matter can provide techniques for tailoring the electronic structure of metal thin films to produce desirable properties. In example embodiments, the metal silicide can comprise a platinum silicide, such as for example, PtSi, Pt.sub.2Si, or Pt.sub.3Si. For example, the disclosed subject matter provides methods which include identifying a desired phase of a metal silicide, providing a substrate, depositing at least two film layers on the substrate which include a first layer including amorphous silicon and a second layer including metal contacting the first layer, and annealing the two film layers to form a metal silicide. Methods can be at least one of a source-limited method and a kinetically-limited method. The film layers can be deposited on the substrate using techniques known in the art including, for example, sputter depositing.

A microelectromechanical structure, including a functional element situated in a cavity of the microelectromechanical structure. The functional element includes an aluminum nitride layer. The cavity is closed by a cap layer. The cap layer includes epitaxial silicon. A method for manufacturing a micromechanical structure is also described.

A method of fabricating a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) according to one aspect of the present invention may include forming, on a semiconductor substrate, a first region implanted with impurity ions at a first average concentration and a second region implanted with no impurity ions or implanted with the impurity ions at a second average concentration lower than the first average concentration, forming an insulating layer by oxidizing the semiconductor substrate wherein the insulating layer includes a first oxide layer having a first thickness on at least a part of the first region and a second oxide layer having a second thickness smaller than the first thickness on at least a part of the second region, and forming a membrane layer on the insulating layer such that a gap is defined between the second oxide layer and the membrane layer.

A capacitive transducer or microphone includes a first substrate of one or more layers and which includes a first surface, a first cavity in the first surface, and a mesa diaphragm that spans the first cavity. The capacitive transducer or microphone includes a second substrate fixed to the first substrate. The second substrate has one or more layers which includes a second cavity having a nonplanar (e.g., contoured or structured or stepped) bottom surface that faces the mesa diaphragm. A shape or relief of the bottom surface of the cavity may advantageously be, to at least some degree, complementary to a deformed shape of the diaphragm. The second substrate may include one or more acoustic holes, non-uniformly distributed thereacross. One or more vents may vent the second cavity.