In situ trench etching and releasing technique of high aspect ratio beams using magnetically enhanced reactive ion etching

Abstract

An in situ trench etching and releasing technique were studied to fabricate high aspect-ratio beams using magnetically enhanced reactive ion etching (MERIE) method. The dependency of MERIE etching rates on open ratio and pattern size was also discussed for high aspect-ratio microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) structures. The results showed that the MERIE etching rates of Si substrate were insensitive to the open ratio in the range from 10% to 50% as compared to inductively coupled plasma etching.