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US5344539A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electrochemical fine processing apparatus

Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc
•
Filing: 1993-03-29
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Granted: 1994-09-06
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Expires: 2013-03-29
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Abstract

Abstract An electrochemical fine processing apparatus for electrochemically performing an adding processing and a removing processing of a substance such as a metal or a polymer in a solution in order to produce a structure having a high aspect ratio. Removing electrodes for applying an electric potential opposite to that applied to an addition electrode are disposed around the addition electrode, whereby an excess portion of metal or polymer film pattern can be scraped electrochemically. In addition, alternate electric potential pulses are applied successively to the addition electrode and then to the removing electrodes. It becomes possible to form on the support a structure with sharp pattern edge portions and a high aspect ratio.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masataka Shinogi
  • 👤 Toshihiko Sakuhara
  • 👤 Masayuki Suda
  • 👤 Fumiharu Iwasaki
  • 👤 Akito Ando

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 12:31
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25F; C25F3/00; C25F3/02; C25F3/14

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 143 words
An electrochemical fine processing apparatus for forming a film structure on a support comprising: a container adapted to contain an electrolytic solution in which the support is immersed; an addition electrode adapted to be dipped in the electrolytic solution in close proximity to the support for effecting deposition of a substance from the electrolytic solution on the support by electrochemical reaction when a first potential is applied to said addition electrode; a removing electrode disposed adjacent to said addition electrode for scraping a part of the deposited substance on the support by electrochemical reaction when a second electric potential is applied to said removal electrode, wherein the second electric potential is of opposite polarity to the first electric potential; and potential supplying means for applying the first electric potential to said addition electrode and the second electric potential to said removing electrode, respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 143 words
An electrochemical fine processing apparatus for forming a film structure on a support comprising: a container adapted to contain an electrolytic solution in which the support is immersed; an addition electrode adapted to be dipped in the electrolytic solution in close proximity to the support for effecting deposition of a substance from the electrolytic solution on the support by electrochemical reaction when a first potential is applied to said addition electrode; a removing electrode disposed adjacent to said addition electrode for scraping a part of the deposited substance on the support by electrochemical reaction when a second electric potential is applied to said removal electrode, wherein the second electric potential is of opposite polarity to the first electric potential; and potential supplying means for applying the first electric potential to said addition electrode and the second electric potential to said removing electrode, respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 65 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said potential supplying means alternately applies the first electric potential to said addition electrode for depositing the substance and the second electric potential to said removing electrode for scraping a part of the deposited substance, and wherein said addition electrode and said removing electrode are moved above the support to form a predetermined pattern of the deposited substance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of said removing electrodes disposed around said addition electrode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the substance disposed on the support is a metal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the substance disposed on the support is a polymer.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2399289A Cited
US2862863A Cited
US3445354A Cited
US3852176A Cited
US3873512A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-09-05 1998-03-07 1998-09-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-09-05 2002-03-07 2002-09-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-09-05 2006-03-07 2006-09-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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