A method for encapsulation of microelectronic components includes making a portion of sacrificial material on a front face of a first substrate in which the component is to be made. The method then includes making a cover encapsulating the portion of sacrificial material, and making the component by etching the first substrate from its back face. The etching is such that part of the component faces the portion of the sacrificial material, and such that the portion of sacrificial material is accessible from a back face of the component. The method then includes eliminating the portion of the sacrificial material by etching from the back face of the component, and securing the back face of the component to a second substrate.

Example sensor apparatus for microfluidic devices and related methods are disclosed. In examples disclosed herein, a method of fabricating a sensor apparatus for a microfluidic device includes etching a portion of an intermediate layer to form a sensor chamber in a substrate assembly, where the substrate assembly has a base layer and the intermediate layer, and where the base layer comprises a first material and the intermediate layer comprises a second material different than the first material. The method includes forming a first electrode and a second electrode in the sensor chamber. The method also includes forming a fluidic transport channel in fluid communication with the sensor chamber, where the fluidic transport channel comprises a third material different than the first material and the second material.

A method for producing thin MEMS wafers including: (A) providing an SOI wafer having an upper silicon layer, a first SiO2 layer and a lower silicon layer, the first SiO2 layer being situated between the upper silicon layer and the lower silicon layer, (B) producing a second SiO2 layer on the upper silicon layer, (C) producing a MEMS structure on the second SiO2 layer, (D) introducing clearances into the lower silicon layer down to the first SiO2 layer, (E) etching the first SiO2 layer and thus removing the lower silicon layer.

A micro-device including at least one first element comprising at least: a portion of material corresponding to a compound of at least one semi-conductor and at least one metal, first and second protective layers each covering one of two opposite faces of said portion of material, such that the first and second protective layers are in direct contact with said portion of material, that the first protective layer comprises at least one first material able to withstand an HF etching, that the second protective layer comprises at least one second material able to withstand the HF etching, and that at least one of the first and second materials able to withstand the HF etching includes the semi-conductor.

A Through Silicon Interposer Wafer and Method of Manufacturing the Same A through silicon interposer wafer having at least one cavity formed therein for MEMS applications and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The through silicon interposer wafer includes one or more filled silicon vias formed sufficiently proximate to the at least one cavity to provide support for walls of the at least one cavity during subsequent processing of the interposer wafer.

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.

An example microelectromechanical system (MEMS) force sensor is described herein. The MEMS force sensor can include a sensor die configured to receive an applied force. The sensor die can include a first substrate and a second substrate, where a cavity is formed in the first substrate and where at least a portion of the second substrate defines a deformable membrane. The MEMS force sensor can also include an etch stop layer arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a sensing element arranged on a surface of the second substrate. The sensing element can be configured to convert a strain on the surface of the membrane substrate to an analog electrical signal that is proportional to the strain.

In accordance with an embodiment, a MEMS structure is produced on a front side of a substrate. A decoupling structure which has recesses is produced in the substrate, which decoupling structure decouples a first region from a second region of the substrate in terms of stresses. In a rear side, situated opposite the front side, of the substrate, a first cavity is produced by means of a first etching process and a second cavity is produced by means of a second etching process. The first cavity and the second cavity are produced such that the second cavity encompasses the first cavity and such that the second cavity adjoins a base region of the MEMS structure and a base region of the decoupling structure.

A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device may include a MEMS structure over a first substrate. The MEMS structure comprises a movable element. Depositing a first conductive material over the first substrate and etching trenches in a second substrate. Filling the trenches with a second conductive material and depositing a third conductive material over the second conductive material and the second substrate. Bonding the first substrate and the second substrate and thinning a backside of the second substrate which exposes the second conductive material in the trenches.

The invention relates to a silicon-based component with at least one chamfer formed from a method combining at least one oblique side wall etching step with a Bosch etching of vertical side walls, thereby enabling aesthetic improvement and improvement in the mechanical strength of components formed by micromachining a silicon-based wafer.