In an embodiment, a method for manufacturing a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) transducer device includes providing a substrate body with a surface, depositing an etch-stop layer (ESL) on the surface, depositing a sacrificial layer on the ESL, depositing a diaphragm layer on the sacrificial layer and removing the sacrificial layer, wherein depositing the sacrificial layer includes depositing a first sub-layer of a first material and depositing a second sub-layer of a second material, and wherein the first material and the second material are different materials.

In an embodiment, an integrated MEMS transducer device includes a substrate body having a first electrode on a substrate, an etch stop layer located on a surface of the substrate, a suspended micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) diaphragm with a second electrode, an anchor structure with anchors connecting the MEMS diaphragm to the substrate body and a sacrificial layer in between the anchors of the anchor structure, the sacrificial layer including a first sub-layer of a first material, wherein the first sub-layer is arranged on the etch stop layer, a second sub-layer of a second material, wherein the second sub-layer is arranged on the first sub-layer, and wherein the first and the second material are different materials.

A method for creating at least one recess, in particular an aperture, in a transparent or transmissive material, includes: selectively modifying the material along a beam axis by electromagnetic radiation; and creating the at least one recess by one or more etching steps, using different etching rates in a modified region and in non-modified regions. The electromagnetic radiation produces modifications having different characteristics in the material along the beam axis such that the etching process in the material is heterogeneous and the etching rates differ from one another in regions modified with different characteristics under unchanged etching conditions.

An optical electronics device includes first, second and third wafers. The first wafer has a semiconductor substrate with a dielectric layer on a side of the semiconductor substrate. The second wafer has a transparent substrate with an anti-reflective coating on a side of the transparent substrate. The first wafer is bonded to the second wafer at a silicon dioxide layer between the semiconductor substrate and the anti-reflective coating. The first and second wafers include a cavity extending from the dielectric layer through the semiconductor substrate and through the silicon dioxide layer to the anti-reflective coating. The third wafer includes micromechanical elements. The third wafer is bonded to the dielectric layer, and the micromechanical elements are contained within the cavity.

A method and an apparatus for etching microstructures and the like that provides improved selectivity to surrounding materials when etching silicon using xenon difluoride (XeF2). Etch selectivity is greatly enhanced with the addition of hydrogen to the process chamber.

A method of forming an IC (integrated circuit) device is provided. The method includes receiving a first wafer including a first substrate and including a plasma-reflecting layer disposed on an upper surface thereof. The plasma-reflecting layer is configured to reflect a plasma therefrom. A dielectric protection layer is formed on a lower surface of a second wafer, wherein the second wafer includes a second substrate. The second wafer is bonded to the first wafer, such that a cavity is formed between the plasma-reflecting layer and the dielectric protection layer. An etch process is performed with the plasma to form an opening extending from an upper surface of the second wafer and through the dielectric protection layer into the cavity. A resulting structure of the above method is also provided.

A method for manufacturing a protective layer for protecting an intermediate structural layer against etching with hydrofluoric acid, the intermediate structural layer being made of a material that can be etched or damaged by hydrofluoric acid, the method comprising the steps of: forming a first layer of aluminum oxide, by atomic layer deposition, on the intermediate structural layer; performing a thermal crystallization process on the first layer of aluminum oxide, forming a first intermediate protective layer; forming a second layer of aluminum oxide, by atomic layer deposition, above the first intermediate protective layer; and performing a thermal crystallization process on the second layer of aluminum oxide, forming a second intermediate protective layer and thereby completing the formation of the protective layer. The method for forming the protective layer can be used, for example, during the manufacturing steps of an inertial sensor such as a gyroscope or an accelerometer.

In an embodiment, a method for manufacturing a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) transducer device includes providing a substrate body with a surface, depositing an etch-stop layer (ESL) on the surface, depositing a sacrificial layer on the ESL, depositing a diaphragm layer on the sacrificial layer and removing the sacrificial layer, wherein depositing the sacrificial layer includes depositing a first sub-layer of a first material and depositing a second sub-layer of a second material, and wherein the first material and the second material are different materials.

In an embodiment a device includes a substrate including an upper substrate surface and a lower substrate surface and a membrane-layer suspended above the upper substrate surface, wherein the substrate includes a recess penetrating the substrate between the lower substrate surface and the upper substrate surface, wherein the membrane-layer spans the recess, wherein the recess includes an upper recess region, an intermediate recess region, and a lower recess region, wherein the upper recess region is a part of the recess in direct vicinity to the upper substrate surface, the intermediate recess region is a part of the recess directly below the upper recess region, and the lower recess region is a part of the recess other than the upper recess region and the intermediate recess region, and wherein a cross-sectional area of the upper recess region determined parallel to the upper substrate surface is larger than a respective cross-sectional area of the intermediate recess region.

The present invention relates to a method for machining a workpiece, comprising the steps of introducing a plurality of adjacent modifications into the material of the workpiece by means of laser radiation, etching the material of the workpiece in a first etching operation with a first selectivity, in order to remove predominantly the material modified by the laser radiation, and, after completion of the first etching operation, etching the material of the workpiece in a second etching operation with a second selectivity, different from the first selectivity, in order to remove the webs left between the removed modified material.