Abstract: A micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) structure for an angular rate sensor includes seismic masses arranged to have a first degree of rotational freedom about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of a silicon substrate, and a second degree of rotational freedom about an axis substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of driving beams to which the seismic masses are attached. A sensing system is arranged such that, when the structure is subjected to an angular velocity around a third axis that is substantially in the plane of the silicon substrate and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the beams, a Coriolis force arises which causes the secondary oscillation of the seismic masses.

Abstract: A method for providing hermetic sealing within a silicon-insulator composite wafer for manufacturing a hermetically sealed structure, comprising the steps of: patterning a first silicon wafer to have one or more recesses that extend at least partially through the first silicon wafer; filling said recesses with an insulator material able to be anodically bonded to silicon to form a first composite wafer having a plurality of silicon-insulator interfaces and a first contacting surface consisting of insulator material; and using an anodic bonding technique on the first contacting surface and an opposing second contacting surface to create hermetic sealing between the silicon-insulator interfaces, wherein the second contacting surface consists of silicon.

Abstract: A method for providing hermetic sealing within a silicon-insulator composite wafer for manufacturing a hermetically sealed structure, comprising the steps of: patterning a first silicon wafer to have one or more recesses that extend at least partially through the first silicon wafer; filling said recesses with an insulator material able to be anodically bonded to silicon to form a first composite wafer having a plurality of silicon-insulator interfaces and a first contacting surface consisting of insulator material; and using an anodic bonding technique on the first contacting surface and an opposing second contacting surface to create hermetic sealing between the silicon-insulator interfaces, wherein the second contacting surface consists of silicon.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) structure for an angular rate sensor, the structure being positioned between first and second silicon-insulator composite wafers formed of a plurality of structured silicon parts, electrically isolated from each other by an insulator material, the structure comprising: a mono-crystalline silicon substrate structured to form a sensing system and a frame, the sensing system being completely de-coupled from and surrounded by the frame, which is positioned between engaging surfaces of the first and second composite wafers such that the sensing system is hermetically sealed within a cavity defined by the first and second composite wafers and the frame, the sensing system including: two seismic masses having front and back surfaces; two driving beams, each having a first end attached to a seismic mass and a second end attached to the first and second composite wafers by means of fixed pedestals provided on the silicon substrate; and a bending spring arranged to directly conne

Abstract: A pedestal structure and its fabrication method stress release assembly of micromechanical sensors, in particular acceleration sensor, angular rate sensors, inclination sensors or angular acceleration. At least one silicon seismic mass is used as sensing element. The at least one silicon seismic mass is joined to the silicon frame via at least one assembly pedestal, the surface of which is bonded to a covering wafer, either glass or silicon.