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US4387145A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Lift-off shadow mask

Assignee: National Semiconductor Corp
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Filing: 1981-09-28
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Granted: 1983-06-07
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Expires: 2001-09-28
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Abstract

Abstract A method for forming a predetermined configuration of a film material comprises the steps of forming a layer of a first material on a surface, forming a layer of a second material on the first material wherein the first material has an etch rate greater than that of the second material when the first material and the second material are exposed to a common etchant, etching portions of the second material and underlying portions of the first material to expose portions of the surface, forming a layer of film material on the exposed portions of the surface, forming a layer of film material on the exposed portions of the surface and on the remaining portions of the second material, and removing the remaining portions of the first material such that the overlying second material and the film material thereon is also removed.

Inventors

  • 👤 William I. Lehrer
  • 👤 John H. Vincak

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 15:58
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P14/00; H10P14/60; H10P14/68; G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/004; G03F7/09; G03F7/094; H10P14/63; H10P14/6326; H10P14/6328; H10P14/6334; H10P14/66; H10P14/662; H10P14/668; H10P14/6681; H10P14/6682; H10P14/69; H10P14/692; H10P14/6921; H10P14/69215; H10P76/00; H10P76/20; H10P76/202; H10P76/40; H10P76/405; H10P76/408; H10P76/4085; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S438/00; Y10S438/942; Y10S438/944; Y10S438/948; Y10S438/951

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 133 words
A method for forming a predetermined configuration of a film material comprising: (a) forming a layer of germanium dioxide on a surface; (b) forming a layer of a second material on said layer of germanium dioxide, said germanium dioxide having an etch rate greater than that of said second material when said germanium dioxide and said second material are exposed to a common etchant; (c) etching portions of said second material and underlying portions of said germanium dioxide utilizing a common etchant to expose portions of said surface; (d) forming a layer of film material on said exposed portions of said surface and on remaining portions of said layer of second material; and (e) removing remaining portions of said germanium dioxide such that overlying second material and film material thereon are also removed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 133 words
A method for forming a predetermined configuration of a film material comprising: (a) forming a layer of germanium dioxide on a surface; (b) forming a layer of a second material on said layer of germanium dioxide, said germanium dioxide having an etch rate greater than that of said second material when said germanium dioxide and said second material are exposed to a common etchant; (c) etching portions of said second material and underlying portions of said germanium dioxide utilizing a common etchant to expose portions of said surface; (d) forming a layer of film material on said exposed portions of said surface and on remaining portions of said layer of second material; and (e) removing remaining portions of said germanium dioxide such that overlying second material and film material thereon are also removed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 13 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said second material is silicon dioxide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
A method as in claim 2 wherein said etching is accomplished by plasma etching.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein said common etchant is CF 4 -based plasma.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 172 words
A method for forming a predetermined configuration of a film material comprising: (a) forming a layer of a water-soluble material on a surface; (b) forming a layer of a water-insoluble material on said layer of water-soluble material, said water-soluble material having an etch rate greater than that of said water-insoluble material when said materials are exposed to a common etchant; (c) covering said layer of water-insoluble material with photoresist and patterning said photoresist to expose portions of said layer of water-insoluble material; (d) plasma etching said exposed portions of said layer of water-insoluble material and underlying portions of said layer of water-soluble material utilizing a common etchant to expose portions of said surface; (e) forming a layer of film material on said exposed portions of said surface and on remaining portions of said layer of water-insoluble material; (f) immersing remaining portions of said water-soluble layer in water to dissolve said remaining portions of said water-soluble layer such that said overlying remaining portions of said water-insoluble layer and film material thereon are removed.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 172 words
A method for forming a predetermined configuration of a film material comprising: (a) forming a layer of a water-soluble material on a surface; (b) forming a layer of a water-insoluble material on said layer of water-soluble material, said water-soluble material having an etch rate greater than that of said water-insoluble material when said materials are exposed to a common etchant; (c) covering said layer of water-insoluble material with photoresist and patterning said photoresist to expose portions of said layer of water-insoluble material; (d) plasma etching said exposed portions of said layer of water-insoluble material and underlying portions of said layer of water-soluble material utilizing a common etchant to expose portions of said surface; (e) forming a layer of film material on said exposed portions of said surface and on remaining portions of said layer of water-insoluble material; (f) immersing remaining portions of said water-soluble layer in water to dissolve said remaining portions of said water-soluble layer such that said overlying remaining portions of said water-insoluble layer and film material thereon are removed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 13 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein said water-soluble material is germanium dioxide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 13 words
A method as in claim 6 wherein said water-insoluble material is silicon dioxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method as in claim 7 wherein said plasma is a CF 4 -based plasma.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3669661A Cited
US4108717A Cited
US4307179A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1986-06-06 1986-12-06 1987-06-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1990-06-06 1990-12-06 1991-06-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1994-06-06 1994-12-06 1995-06-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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