Fabrication Comparison of the SCS-Based and SOI-Based Micromachining

Abstract

The two different fabrications of the Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) mirrors were compared: a single-crystal-silicon (SCS)-based micromachining and a silicon-on-insulator (SOI)- based micromachining. While the SOI parts had significantly smaller curved device appearance, they were outperformed in most areas by the SCS parts. This was due primarily to the smaller stress factor in the device layer in the SOI parts compared to the polysilicon layer used in the SCS parts.