A shadow mask having two or more levels of openings enables selective step coverage of micro-fabricated structures within a micro-optical bench device. The shadow mask includes a first opening within a top surface of the shadow mask and a second opening within the bottom surface of the shadow mask. The second opening is aligned with the first opening and has a second width less than a first width of the first opening. An overlap between the first opening and the second opening forms a hole within the shadow mask through which selective coating of micro-fabricated structures within the micro-optical bench device may occur.

A method for manufacturing a filtering module comprising the steps of: forming a multilayer body comprising a filter layer of semiconductor material and having a thickness of less than 10 m, a first structural layer coupled to a first side of the filter layer, and a second structural layer coupled to a second side, opposite to the first side, of the filter layer; forming a recess in the first structural layer, which extends throughout its thickness; removing selective portions, exposed through the recess, of the filter layer to form a plurality of openings, which extend throughout the thickness of the filter layer; and completely removing the second structural layer to connect fluidically the first and second sides of the filter layer, thus forming a filtering membrane designed to inhibit passage of contaminating particles.

The various technologies presented herein relate to formation of carbon micromechanical systems (CMEMS), wherein the CMEMS comprise multiple layers of carbon structures and are formed using a plurality of photoresist precursors that are processed to form carbon. The various embodiments can be utilized in producing a plurality of CMEMS with full production level fabrication, e.g., 6 inch wafers can be processed. A pyrolyzed layer of carbon is lithographically defined after pyrolysis, wherein the post-pyrolysis etch process can produce carbon structures having repeatable and accurate device geometries, with straight sidewalls. A sacrificial layer can be applied to facilitate separation of a first carbon layer from a second carbon layer, wherein, upon pyrolysis to form the second carbon layer and lithography thereof, the sacrificial layer is removed to form a CMEMS comprising a first carbon layer (e.g., comprising bottom contacts) located beneath a second carbon layer (e.g., a mechanical layer).

A shadow mask having two or more levels of openings enables selective step coverage of micro-fabricated structures within a micro-optical bench device. The shadow mask includes a first opening within a top surface of the shadow mask and a second opening within the bottom surface of the shadow mask. The second opening is aligned with the first opening and has a second width less than a first width of the first opening. An overlap between the first opening and the second opening forms a hole within the shadow mask through which selective coating of micro-fabricated structures within the micro-optical bench device may occur.

A method for manufacturing a filtering module comprising the steps of: forming a multilayer body comprising a filter layer of semiconductor material and having a thickness of less than 10 m, a first structural layer coupled to a first side of the filter layer, and a second structural layer coupled to a second side, opposite to the first side, of the filter layer; forming a recess in the first structural layer, which extends throughout its thickness; removing selective portions, exposed through the recess, of the filter layer to form a plurality of openings, which extend throughout the thickness of the filter layer; and completely removing the second structural layer to connect fluidically the first and second sides of the filter layer, thus forming a filtering membrane designed to inhibit passage of contaminating particles.

A mirror device includes a frame body, a mirror configured to tilt about a Y-axis with respect to the frame body, a fixed inner comb electrode including a plurality of electrode fingers arranged in the arrangement direction along the Y-axis and provided at the frame body, and a movable inner comb electrode including a plurality of electrode fingers arranged in the arrangement direction and provided at the mirror, the electrodes fingers of the fixed inner comb electrode and the movable inner comb electrode being alternately arranged. The mirror includes a mirror body and an extension extending from the mirror body. Some of the electrode fingers of the movable inner comb electrode are provided at the mirror body, and another electrode fingers of the movable inner comb electrode are provided at the extension.

A MEMS device is provided. The MEMS device includes a substrate having at least one contact, a first dielectric layer disposed on the substrate, at least one metal layer disposed on the first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer disposed on the first dielectric layer and the metal layer and having a recess structure, and a structure layer disposed on the second dielectric layer and having an opening. The opening is disposed on and corresponds to the recess structure, and the cross-sectional area at the bottom of the opening is smaller than the cross-sectional area at the top of the recess structure. The MEMS device also includes a sealing layer, and at least a portion of the sealing layer is disposed in the opening and the recess structure. The second dielectric layer, the structure layer, and the sealing layer define a chamber.

A method for manufacturing an optical device includes: preparing a semiconductor substrate that includes a portion corresponding to a base, a movable unit, and an elastic support portion; forming a first resist layer in a region corresponding to the base on a surface of a first semiconductor layer which is opposite to an insulating layer; forming a depression in the first semiconductor layer by etching the first semiconductor layer using the first resist layer as a mask; forming a second resist layer in a region corresponding to a rib portion on a bottom surface of the depression, a side surface of the depression, and the surface of the first semiconductor layer which is opposite to the insulating layer; and forming the rib portion by etching the first semiconductor layer until reaching the insulating layer using the second resist layer as a mask.

A process for manufacturing a MEMS device includes forming a first structural layer of a first thickness on a substrate. First trenches are formed through the first structural layer, and masking regions separated by first openings are formed on the first structural layer. A second structural layer of a second thickness is formed on the first structural layer in direct contact with the first structural layer at the first openings and forms, together with the first structural layer, thick structural regions having a third thickness equal to the sum of the first and the second thicknesses. A plurality of second trenches are formed through the second structural layer, over the masking regions, and third trenches are formed through the first and the second structural layers by removing selective portions of the thick structural regions.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an electronic device includes a first emitter/collector region and a second emitter/collector region disposed in a substrate. The first emitter/collector region has a first edge/tip, and the second emitter/collector region has a second edge/tip. A gap separates the first edge/tip from the second edge/tip. The first emitter/collector region, the second emitter/collector region, and the gap form a field emission device.