A sensor device is described. The sensor device includes at least one substrate; an edge region that is disposed on the substrate and laterally delimits an inner region above the substrate; a diaphragm that is anchored on the edge structure and at least partly spans the inner region, the diaphragm encompassing in the inner region at least one region which is movable by way of a pressure and which encloses a cavity between the diaphragm and the substrate; and a first intermediate carrier that extends in the movable region below the diaphragm and is connected to the diaphragm, and in particular has at least one trench.

According to at least one embodiment, a method of fabricating a micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) structure is disclosed. The method involves causing an etchant to remove a portion of a sacrificial layer of the MEMS structure, the sacrificial layer between a structural layer of the MEMS structure and a substrate of the MEMS structure. In this embodiment, causing the etchant to remove the portion of the sacrificial layer involves causing a target portion of the substrate to be released from the MEMS structure. According to another embodiment, another method of fabricating a MEMS structure is disclosed. The method involves causing an etchant including water to remove a portion of a sacrificial layer of the MEMS structure, the sacrificial layer between a structural layer of the MEMS structure and a substrate of the MEMS structure. In this embodiment, the sacrificial layer and the substrate are hydrophobic.

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.

MEMS devices comprise a filter configured and arranged to inhibit the entry of particles into at least a region of the interior of the substrate cavity from a region underlying the substrate.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes following operations. A first substrate is provided. A plate is formed over the first substrate. The plate includes a first tensile member, a second tensile member, a semiconductive member between the first tensile member and the second tensile member, and a plurality of apertures penetrating the first tensile member, the semiconductive member and the second tensile member. A membrane is formed over and separated from the plate. The membrane include a plurality of holes. A plurality of conductive plugs passing through the plate or membrane are formed. A plurality of semiconductive pads are formed over the plurality of conductive plugs. The plate is bonded to a second substrate. The second substrate includes a plurality of bond pads, and the semiconductive pads are in contact with the bond pads.

Microelectromechanical (MEMS) devices and associated methods are disclosed. Piezoelectric MEMS transducers (PMUTs) suitable for integration with complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuit (IC), as well as PMUT arrays having high fill factor for fingerprint sensing, are described.

A method of forming a MEMS device includes providing a substrate having a device stopper. The device stopper is integral to the substrate and formed of the substrate material. A thermal dielectric isolation layer may be arranged over the device stopper and the substrate. A device cavity may be formed in the substrate and the thermal dielectric isolation layer. The thermal dielectric isolation layer and the device stopper at least partially surround the device cavity. An active device layer may be formed over the thermal dielectric isolation layer and the device cavity.

A micromechanical component for a sensor or microphone device. An electrode surface of a first electrode structure is aligned with a second electrode structure. A substructure of the first electrode structure is entirely made of at least one electrically conductive material. The electrode surface and an opposite surface of the first electrode structure are outer surfaces of the substructure. A stop structure protruding from the electrode surface towards the second electrode structure is formed on the first electrode structure. The first electrode structure includes an insulating region which extends from the electrode surface to the opposite surface of the first electrode structure. The stop structure is formed either as a projection of the at least one insulating region protruding from the electrode surface towards the second electrode structure or is bordered by the at least one insulating region.

A method of forming a MEMS device includes providing a substrate having a device stopper. The device stopper is integral to the substrate and formed of the substrate material. A thermal dielectric isolation layer may be arranged over the device stopper and the substrate. A device cavity may be formed in the substrate and the thermal dielectric isolation layer. The thermal dielectric isolation layer and the device stopper at least partially surround the device cavity. An active device layer may be formed over the thermal dielectric isolation layer and the device cavity.

A method includes obtaining an active device layer. The active device layer has a first surface with one or more active feature areas. First portions of the active feature areas are exposed, and second portions of the active feature areas are covered by an insulating layer. A conformal overcoat layer is formed on the first surface. A base of a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device layer is formed on the conformal overcoat layer. The MEMS device layer is spatially segregated from the active feature areas by removing portions of the base of the MEMS device layer in one or more antiparasitic regions (APRs) that correspond to the active feature areas. Metal MEMS features are formed on the base of the MEMS device layer. Selected portions of the active feature areas are exposed removing portions of the conformal overcoat layer that overlay the active feature areas.