Method of providing close contact for contact printing

Claim 1

A method of obtaining close contact between a master device and a replicate device, said method comprising the steps of: forming a master-replicate combination by superposing the master and replicate devices with a liquid therebetween; and spinning the master-replicate combination to obtain a layer of liquid between substantially the entire adjacent surfaces of the master and replicate devices, said liquid layer having a thickness less than about 1 micron.

Claim 2

A method of obtaining close contact between a master device and a replicate device, said method comprising the steps of: forming a master-replicate combination by superposing the master and replicate devices with a liquid therebetween; and spinning the master-replicate combination to obtain a layer of liquid between substantially the entire adjacent surfaces of the master and replicate devices, said liquid layer having a thickness less than about 1 micron.

Claim 3

A method of obtaining close contact between a master device having information recorded thereon and a replicate device for receiving the recorded information, said method comprising the steps of: forming a master-replicate combination by superposing the master and replicate devices in registration, the superposed master and replicate devices having a liquid in between; and spinning the master-replicate combination until a thin layer of liquid is formed having a thickness of about 100 angstroms substantially filling the space between the master and replicate devices.

Claim 4

A method of obtaining close contact between a master device having information recorded thereon and a replicate device for receiving the recorded information, said method comprising the steps of: forming a master-replicate combination by superposing the master and replicate devices in registration, the superposed master and replicate devices having a liquid in between; and spinning the master-replicate combination until a thin layer of liquid is formed having a thickness of about 100 angstroms substantially filling the space between the master and replicate devices.

Claim 5

A method of obtaining close contact between a master device and a replicate device in order to replicate imagery from the master device to the replicate device, said method comprising the steps of: superposing the master and replicate devices according to a desired registration to form a master-replicate combination having a liquid between the master and replicate devices; and spinning the master-replicate combination to cause the liquid to form a uniform layer between substantially the entire adjacent surfaces of the master and replicate devices, said liquid layer having a thickness less than about 1 micron, thus producing a vacuum effect which holds the master and replicate devices in close contact.

Claim 6

A method of obtaining close contact between a master device and a replicate device in order to replicate imagery from the master device to the replicate device, said method comprising the steps of: superposing the master and replicate devices according to a desired registration to form a master-replicate combination having a liquid between the master and replicate devices; and spinning the master-replicate combination to cause the liquid to form a uniform layer between substantially the entire adjacent surfaces of the master and replicate devices, said liquid layer having a thickness less than about 1 micron, thus producing a vacuum effect which holds the master and replicate devices in close contact.

Claim 7

A method of obtaining close contact between a master device having imagery thereon and a replicate device for receiving the imagery, said method comprising the steps of: applying a liquid to one or both of said master or replicate devices; superposing the master and replicate devices to form a master-replicate combination having liquid between the master and replicate devices; and spinning the master-replicate combination to cause the liquid to form a uniform layer about 100 angstroms in thickness between substantially the entire adjacent surfaces of the master and replicate devices.

Claim 8

A method of obtaining close contact between a master device having imagery thereon and a replicate device for receiving the imagery, said method comprising the steps of: applying a liquid to one or both of said master or replicate devices; superposing the master and replicate devices to form a master-replicate combination having liquid between the master and replicate devices; and spinning the master-replicate combination to cause the liquid to form a uniform layer about 100 angstroms in thickness between substantially the entire adjacent surfaces of the master and replicate devices.

Claim 9

A method of obtaining close contact between a master device and a replicate device in order to replicate imagery from the master device to the replicate device, said method comprising the steps of: applying a liquid to one or both of the master or replicate devices; superposing, according to a desired registration, the master and replicate devices to form a master-replicate combination with liquid between the master and replicate devices; and spinning the master-replicate combination so as to leave a layer of liquid less than about 1 micron in thickness substantially filling the space between the master and replicate devices, thereby producing a vacuum effect holding the master device and the replicate device in close contact.

Claim 10

A method of obtaining close contact between a master device and a replicate device in order to replicate imagery from the master device to the replicate device, said method comprising the steps of: applying a liquid to one or both of the master or replicate devices; superposing, according to a desired registration, the master and replicate devices to form a master-replicate combination with liquid between the master and replicate devices; and spinning the master-replicate combination so as to leave a layer of liquid less than about 1 micron in thickness substantially filling the space between the master and replicate devices, thereby producing a vacuum effect holding the master device and the replicate device in close contact.

Claim 11

A method of obtaining close contact between a master device having imagery thereon and a replicate device for receiving the imagery, the master and replicate devices each having a generally planar surface, said method comprising the steps of: forming a master-replicate combination by superposing the generally planar surfaces of the master and replicate devices with a liquid therebetween; and spinning the master-replicate combination to form a uniform layer of liquid less than about 1 micron in thickness between substantially the entire adjacent and generally planar surfaces of the master and replicate devices.

Claim 12

A method of obtaining close contact between a master device having imagery thereon and a replicate device for receiving the imagery, the master and replicate devices each having a generally planar surface, said method comprising the steps of: forming a master-replicate combination by superposing the generally planar surfaces of the master and replicate devices with a liquid therebetween; and spinning the master-replicate combination to form a uniform layer of liquid less than about 1 micron in thickness between substantially the entire adjacent and generally planar surfaces of the master and replicate devices.

Claim 13

A method of obtaining close contact between a master device and a replicate device in order to replicate imagery from the master device to the replicate device, the master and replicate devices each having a generally planar surface, said method comprising the steps of: applying a liquid to the generally planar surface of one of said master or replicate devices; placing the generally planar surface of the other of said master or replicate devices in contact with the liquid to form a master-replicate combination; and spinning the master-replicate combination to form a thin and uniform layer of liquid less than about 1 micron in thickness substantially filling the space between the generally planar surfaces of the master and replicate devices, thereby producing a vacuum effect which holds the generally planar surfaces of the master and replicate devices in close contact.

Claim 14

A method of obtaining close contact between a master device and a replicate device in order to replicate imagery from the master device to the replicate device, the master and replicate devices each having a generally planar surface, said method comprising the steps of: applying a liquid to the generally planar surface of one of said master or replicate devices; placing the generally planar surface of the other of said master or replicate devices in contact with the liquid to form a master-replicate combination; and spinning the master-replicate combination to form a thin and uniform layer of liquid less than about 1 micron in thickness substantially filling the space between the generally planar surfaces of the master and replicate devices, thereby producing a vacuum effect which holds the generally planar surfaces of the master and replicate devices in close contact.

Claim 15

A method of obtaining close contact between a master device having imagery thereon and a replicate device for receiving the imagery, one of the master or replicate devices being flexible, and the other of the master or replicate devices being rigid and having a generally planar surface, said method comprising the steps of: forming a master-replicate combination by superposing the flexible of the master or replicate devices with the generally planar surface of the rigid of the master or replicate devices with a liquid therebetween; and spinning the master-replicate combination to leave a thin and uniform layer of liquid less than about 100 angstroms in thickness substantially filling the space between the master and replicate devices.

Claim 16

A method of obtaining close contact between a master device having imagery thereon and a replicate device for receiving the imagery, one of the master or replicate devices being flexible, and the other of the master or replicate devices being rigid and having a generally planar surface, said method comprising the steps of: forming a master-replicate combination by superposing the flexible of the master or replicate devices with the generally planar surface of the rigid of the master or replicate devices with a liquid therebetween; and spinning the master-replicate combination to leave a thin and uniform layer of liquid less than about 100 angstroms in thickness substantially filling the space between the master and replicate devices.

Claim 17

A method of obtaining close contact between a master device and a replicate device, one of the master or replicate devices being flexible and the other of the master or replicate devices being rigid and having a generally planar surface, said method comprising the steps of: applying a liquid to one of said master or replicate devices; placing the other of the master or replicate devices in contact with the liquid to form a master-replicate combination having liquid between the flexible of the master or replicate devices and the generally planar surface of the rigid of the master or replicate devices; and spinning the master-replicate combination to form a thin and uniform layer of liquid less than about 1 micron in thickness substantially filling the space between the master and replicate devices, thereby producing a vacuum effect which holds the master and replicate devices in close contact.

Claim 18

A method of obtaining close contact between a master device and a replicate device, one of the master or replicate devices being flexible and the other of the master or replicate devices being rigid and having a generally planar surface, said method comprising the steps of: applying a liquid to one of said master or replicate devices; placing the other of the master or replicate devices in contact with the liquid to form a master-replicate combination having liquid between the flexible of the master or replicate devices and the generally planar surface of the rigid of the master or replicate devices; and spinning the master-replicate combination to form a thin and uniform layer of liquid less than about 1 micron in thickness substantially filling the space between the master and replicate devices, thereby producing a vacuum effect which holds the master and replicate devices in close contact.

Claim 19

A method of obtaining close contact between a master device having imagery thereon and a replicate device for receiving the imagery, both the master and replicate devices being flexible, and said method for use with a support device having a generally planar surface, said method comprising the steps of: forming a support device combination by superposing one of the master or replicate devices with the generally planar surface of the support device with a liquid therebetween; spinning the support device combination to leave a thin and uniform layer of liquid substantially filling the space between the one of the master or replicate devices and the generally planar surface of the support device; forming a master-replicate-support device combination by superposing, with a liquid therebetween, the other of the master or replicate devices with the one of the master or replicate devices forming part of the support device combination; and spinning the master-replicate-support device combination to leave a thin and uniform layer of liquid substantially filling the space between the last superposed of the master or replicate devices and the support device combination.

Claim 20

A method of obtaining close contact between a master device having imagery thereon and a replicate device for receiving the imagery, both the master and replicate devices being flexible, and said method for use with a support device having a generally planar surface, said method comprising the steps of: forming a support device combination by superposing one of the master or replicate devices with the generally planar surface of the support device with a liquid therebetween; spinning the support device combination to leave a thin and uniform layer of liquid substantially filling the space between the one of the master or replicate devices and the generally planar surface of the support device; forming a master-replicate-support device combination by superposing, with a liquid therebetween, the other of the master or replicate devices with the one of the master or replicate devices forming part of the support device combination; and spinning the master-replicate-support device combination to leave a thin and uniform layer of liquid substantially filling the space between the last superposed of the master or replicate devices and the support device combination.

Claim 21

A method of contact printing imagery from a master device to a replicate device, said method comprising the steps of: forming a master-replicate combination by superposing the master and replicate devices in registration, the superposed master and replicate devices having a liquid in between; spinning the master-replicate combination until a thin layer of liquid less than about 1 micron in thickness is formed substantially filling the space between the master and replicate devices; and exposing the replicate device of the master-replicate combination to actinic radiation through the master device.

Claim 22

A method of contact printing imagery from a master device to a replicate device, said method comprising the steps of: forming a master-replicate combination by superposing the master and replicate devices in registration, the superposed master and replicate devices having a liquid in between; spinning the master-replicate combination until a thin layer of liquid less than about 1 micron in thickness is formed substantially filling the space between the master and replicate devices; and exposing the replicate device of the master-replicate combination to actinic radiation through the master device.

Claim 23

A method of contact printing imagery from a master device to a replicate device comprising the steps of: applying a liquid to one of said master or replicate devices; superposing the master and replicate devices to form a master-replicate combination having liquid between the master and replicate devices; spinning the master-replicate combination to cause the liquid to form a thin and uniform layer less than about 1 micron in thickness substantially filling the space between the master and replicate devices; and exposing the replicate device of the master-replicate combination to actinic radiation through the master device.

Claim 24

A method of contact printing imagery from a master device to a replicate device comprising the steps of: applying a liquid to one of said master or replicate devices; superposing the master and replicate devices to form a master-replicate combination having liquid between the master and replicate devices; spinning the master-replicate combination to cause the liquid to form a thin and uniform layer less than about 1 micron in thickness substantially filling the space between the master and replicate devices; and exposing the replicate device of the master-replicate combination to actinic radiation through the master device.

Claim 25

A method of contact printing imagery from a master device to a replicate device comprising the steps of: applying a liquid to one of the master or replicate devices; placing, according to a desired registration, the other of said master or replicate devices in contact with the liquid to form a master-replicate combination with liquid between the master and replicate devices; spinning the master-replicate combination so as to leave a thin layer of liquid less than about 1 micron in thickness substantially filling the space between the master and replicate devices, thereby producing a vacuum effect holding the master device and the replicate device in close contact; and exposing the replicate device of the master-replicate combination to actinic radiation through the master device.

Claim 26

A method of contact printing imagery from a master device to a replicate device comprising the steps of: applying a liquid to one of the master or replicate devices; placing, according to a desired registration, the other of said master or replicate devices in contact with the liquid to form a master-replicate combination with liquid between the master and replicate devices; spinning the master-replicate combination so as to leave a thin layer of liquid less than about 1 micron in thickness substantially filling the space between the master and replicate devices, thereby producing a vacuum effect holding the master device and the replicate device in close contact; and exposing the replicate device of the master-replicate combination to actinic radiation through the master device.

Claim 27

A method of contact printing imagery from a master device to a replicate device, one of the master or replicate devices being flexible, and the other of the master or replicate devices being rigid and having a generally planar surface, said method comprising the steps of: forming a master-replicate combination by superposing the flexible of the master or replicate devices with the generally planar surface of the rigid of the master or replicate devices with a liquid therebetween; spinning the master-replicate combination to leave a thin and uniform layer of liquid less than about 1 micron in thickness substantially filling the space between the master and replicate devices; and exposing the replicate device of the master-replicate combination to actinic radiation through the master device.

Claim 28

A method of contact printing imagery from a master device to a replicate device, one of the master or replicate devices being flexible, and the other of the master or replicate devices being rigid and having a generally planar surface, said method comprising the steps of: forming a master-replicate combination by superposing the flexible of the master or replicate devices with the generally planar surface of the rigid of the master or replicate devices with a liquid therebetween; spinning the master-replicate combination to leave a thin and uniform layer of liquid less than about 1 micron in thickness substantially filling the space between the master and replicate devices; and exposing the replicate device of the master-replicate combination to actinic radiation through the master device.

Claim 29

A method of contact printing information from a flexible master device to a flexible replicate device, said method for use with a support device having a generally planar surface, said method comprising the steps of: forming a support device combination by superposing one of the master of replicate devices with the generally planar surface of the support device with a liquid therebetween; spinning the master-replicate support device combination to leave a thin and uniform layer of liquid less than about 1 micron in thickness substantially filling the space between the last superposed of the master or replicate devices and the support device combination; and exposing the replicate device of the master replicate combination to actinic radiation through the master device.

Claim 30

A method of contact printing information from a flexible master device to a flexible replicate device, said method for use with a support device having a generally planar surface, said method comprising the steps of: forming a support device combination by superposing one of the master of replicate devices with the generally planar surface of the support device with a liquid therebetween; spinning the master-replicate support device combination to leave a thin and uniform layer of liquid less than about 1 micron in thickness substantially filling the space between the last superposed of the master or replicate devices and the support device combination; and exposing the replicate device of the master replicate combination to actinic radiation through the master device.

Claim 31

A method of obtaining close contact between a master device having imagery thereon and a replicate device, said method comprising the steps of: forming a master-replicate combination by superposing the master and replicate devices with a liquid therebetween, the liquid being chemically active with the replicate device; and spinning the master-replicate combination to obtain a thin layer of liquid less than about 1 micron in thickness substantially filling the space between the master and replicate devices.

Claim 32

A method of obtaining close contact between a master device having imagery thereon and a replicate device, said method comprising the steps of: forming a master-replicate combination by superposing the master and replicate devices with a liquid therebetween, the liquid being chemically active with the replicate device; and spinning the master-replicate combination to obtain a thin layer of liquid less than about 1 micron in thickness substantially filling the space between the master and replicate devices.

Claim 33

A method of obtaining close contact between a master device and a replicate device in order to replicate imagery from the master device to the replicate device, said method comprising the steps of: applying a liquid to one of the master or replicate devices, which liquid is chemically active with the replicate device; placing, according to a desired registration, the other of said master or replicate devices in contact with the liquid to form a master-replicate combination with liquid between the master and replicate devices; and spinning the master-replicate combination so as to leave a thin layer of liquid less than about 1 micron in thickness substantially filling the space between the master and replicate devices, thereby producing a vacuum effect holding the master device and the replicate device in close contact.

Claim 34

A method of obtaining close contact between a master device and a replicate device in order to replicate imagery from the master device to the replicate device, said method comprising the steps of: applying a liquid to one of the master or replicate devices, which liquid is chemically active with the replicate device; placing, according to a desired registration, the other of said master or replicate devices in contact with the liquid to form a master-replicate combination with liquid between the master and replicate devices; and spinning the master-replicate combination so as to leave a thin layer of liquid less than about 1 micron in thickness substantially filling the space between the master and replicate devices, thereby producing a vacuum effect holding the master device and the replicate device in close contact.

Claim 35

A method of contact printing imagergy from a master device to a replicate device, said method comprising the steps of: forming a master-replicate combination by superposing the master and replicate devices in registration, the superposed master and replicate devices having a liquid in between, the liquid being chemically active with the replicate device; spinning the master-replicate combination until a thin layer of liquid is formed having a thickness less than about 1 micron substantially filling the space between the master and replicate devices; and exposing the replicate device of the master-replicate combination to actinic radiation through the master device.

Claim 36

A method of contact printing imagergy from a master device to a replicate device, said method comprising the steps of: forming a master-replicate combination by superposing the master and replicate devices in registration, the superposed master and replicate devices having a liquid in between, the liquid being chemically active with the replicate device; spinning the master-replicate combination until a thin layer of liquid is formed having a thickness less than about 1 micron substantially filling the space between the master and replicate devices; and exposing the replicate device of the master-replicate combination to actinic radiation through the master device.