Abstract: To manufacture integrated semiconductor devices comprising chemoresistive gas microsensors, a semiconductor material body is first formed, on the semiconductor material body are successively formed, reciprocally superimposed, a sacrificial region of metallic material, formed at the same time and on the same level as metallic connection regions for the sensor, a heater element, electrically and physically separated from the sacrificial region and a gas sensitive element, electrically and physically separated from the heater element; openings are formed laterally with respect to the heater element and to the gas sensitive element, which extend as far as the sacrificial region and through which the sacrificial region is removed at the end of the manufacturing process.

Abstract: An acceleration sensor is described which is formed by planar technology on a substrate. It includes a core of ferromagnetic material and, coupled conductively together by the core, a first winding adapted to be connected to a power supply and a second winding adapted to be connected to circuit means for measuring an electrical magnitude induced therein. The core has two suspended portions which are free to bend as a result of an inertial force due to an accelerative movement of the sensor itself. The bending causes lengthening of the core and hence a variation in the reluctance of the magnetic circuit. If a constant current is supplied to the first winding, a voltage is induced in the second winding as a result of the variation in the magnetic flux caused by the variation in reluctance.

Abstract: A diode integrated on semiconductor material with BCD technology and of the type provided on a substrate having a first type of conductivity inside an isolation region having a second type of conductivity. The diode comprises also a buried anode region having a first type of conductivity and a cathode region having a second type of conductivity. The cathode region comprises an epitaxial layer located above the buried anode region and a highly doped region provided inside the epitaxial layer. The buried anode region comprises depressions opposite which is located the highly doped region with the depressions being achieved by the intersection of lateral diffusions of distinct and adjacent portions of the buried anode region.

Abstract: A wafer of semiconductor material for fabricating integrated devices, including a stack of superimposed layers including first and second monocrystalline silicon layers separated by an intermediate insulating layer made of a material selected from the group comprising silicon carbide, silicon nitride and ceramic materials. An oxide bond layer is provided between the intermediate layer and the second silicon layer. The wafer is fabricated by forming the intermediate insulating layer on the first silicon layer in a heated vacuum chamber; depositing the oxide layer; and superimposing the second silicon layer. When the stack of silicon, insulating material, oxide and silicon layers is heat treated, the oxide reacts so as to bond the insulating layer to the second silicon layer. As a ceramic material beryllium oxide, aluminium nitride, boron nitride and alumina may be used.

Abstract: The resin sealing layer enclosing the device is biased to a low voltage by means of an anchoring structure formed close to high-voltage contact pads. The anchoring structure is formed by a metal region deposited on the surface of the device and contacting the resin layer, and by a deep region extending from the surface of the device, beneath the metal region, to the substrate. The electrical field in the resin layer is confined between the high-voltage pads and the anchoring structure and prevented from generating polarity inversions in the semiconductor material at the low-voltage contact pads or any other points at which the resin layer contacts the body of semiconductor material.

Abstract: A diode integrated on semiconductor material with BCD technology and of the type provided on a substrate having a first type of conductivity inside an isolation region having a second type of conductivity. The diode comprises also a buried anode region having a first type of conductivity and a cathode region having a second type of conductivity. The cathode region comprises an epitaxial layer located above the buried anode region and a highly doped region provided inside the epitaxial layer. The buried anode region comprises depressions opposite which is located the highly doped region with the depressions being achieved by the intersection of lateral diffusions of distinct and adjacent portions of the buried anode region.