A semiconductor differential pressure sensor element is such that as strain sensitive elements are disposed only inside a diaphragm, and strain relaxation grooves are provided along the diaphragm, it is difficult for thermal stress caused by expansion or contraction of a case to propagate to the strain sensitive elements, thus suppressing characteristic fluctuations resulting from a change in external temperature. Also, as a configuration is such that a sacrificial column is provided inside a depressed portion, and that the diaphragm is held by the sacrificial column in a diaphragm formation step which thins a second semiconductor substrate and a functional element formation step which repeatedly implements a cleaning step, breakage of the diaphragm can be prevented, thus achieving a significant improvement in yield.

A semiconductor structure includes a first substrate, a second substrate disposed over the first substrate, and including a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, a via portion extending between the first surface and the second surface, a first through hole and a second through hole, and a device disposed over the second surface, and including a dielectric layer, a backplate at least partially exposed from the dielectric layer and a membrane at least partially exposed from the dielectric layer and disposed between the backplate and the first substrate, wherein the via portion is disposed within the second through hole, and the dielectric layer is bonded with the second substrate, and the device is electrically connected to the first substrate through the via portion.

Disclosed are methods and devices relating to microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). A method for fabricating a mechanical beam in a microelectromechanical (MEM) device may comprise depositing a masking layer on a first side of a substrate; etching a first notch on the first side of the substrate; forming a beam structure on the substrate, wherein a first portion of the beam structure is coupled to the first notch; etching a second notch at a second portion of the beam structure; depositing an oxide layer on the beam structure, the masking layer, and the substrate; etching a horizontal surface of the oxide layer at the masking layer and the substrate; and releasing the mechanical beam from the substrate, wherein the mechanical beam comprises the beam structure, the oxide layer, and the masking layer.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device in which a slit at a movable mass of the MEMS device has a top notch slit profile. The MEMS device may, for example, be a speaker, an actuator, or the like. The slit extends through the movable mass, from top to bottom, and has a width that is uniform, or substantially uniform, from the bottom of the movable mass to proximate the top of movable mass. Further, in accordance with the top notch slit profile, top corner portions of the MEMS substrate in the slit are notched, such that a width of the slit bulges at the top of the movable mass. The top notch slit profile may, for example, increase the process window for removing an adhesive from the slit while forming the MEMS device.

A method of strain gauge fabrication is presented herein. The method includes: providing a first substrate having a cavity side; providing a second substrate having a semiconductor side; positioning the second substrate in relation to the first substrate such that the semiconductor side and the cavity side are contactable; processing the second substrate such that the first and second substrates are substantially joined via the semiconductor side and the cavity side; and etching the second substrate to define a strain gauge cantilevered over the cavity side of the first substrate.

Method for encapsulating a microelectronic device, comprising the following steps: producing a sacrificial portion covering the device; producing a cover covering the sacrificial portion, comprising two superimposed layers of separate materials and having different residual stresses and/or coefficients of thermal expansion; etching, through the cover, of a trench of which the pattern comprises a curve and/or two straight non-parallel segments; etching of the sacrificial portion through the trench; depositing a sealing material on the trench; in which, during the etching of the sacrificial portion, a portion of the cover defined by the trench deforms under the effect of a mechanical stress generated by the residual stresses and/or a thermal expansion of the layers of the cover and increases the dimensions of the trench, this stress being eliminated before the sealing of the trench.

The present disclosure involves forming a method of fabricating a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) device. A plurality of openings is formed in a first side of a first substrate. A dielectric layer is formed over the first side of the substrate. A plurality of segments of the dielectric layer fills the openings. The first side of the first substrate is bonded to a second substrate that contains a cavity. The bonding is performed such that the segments of the dielectric layer are disposed over the cavity. A portion of the first substrate disposed over the cavity is transformed into a plurality of movable components of a MEMS device. The movable components are in physical contact with the dielectric the layer. Thereafter, a portion of the dielectric layer is removed without using liquid chemicals.

Membrane transducer structures and thin-film encapsulation methods for manufacturing the same are provided. In one example, the thin film encapsulation methods may be implemented to co-integrate processes for thin-film encapsulation and formation of microelectronic devices and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) that include the membrane transducers.

A simplified MEMS fabrication process and MEMS device is provided that allows for cheaper and lighter-weight MEMS devices to be fabricated. The process comprises etching a plurality of holes or other feature patterns into a MEMS device, and then etching away the underlying wafer such that, after the etching process, the MEMS device is the required thickness and the individual die are separated, avoiding the extra steps of wafer thinning and die dicing. By etching trenches into the substrate wafer and filling them with a MEMS base material, sophisticated taller MEMS devices with larger force may be made.

An integrated MEMS device is provided. The integrated MEMS device comprises a circuit chip and a device chip. The circuit chip has a patterned first bonding layer disposed thereon, the bonding layer being composed of a conductive material/materials. The device chip has a first structural layer and a second structural layer, the first structural layer being connected to the second structural layer and the first bonding layer of the circuit chip, and being sandwiched between the second structural layer and the circuit chip. A plurality of hermetic spaces are enclosed by the first structural layer, the second structural layer, the first bonding layer and the circuit chip.