US5486427A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Patterned array of uniform metal microbeads
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1994-08-19
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Granted: 1996-01-23
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Expires: 2014-08-19
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a method for providing an array of metal microbeads on a substrate, preferably in a regular pattern of very fine, uniform size microspheres or microbeads at precise spacing or scale previously unachievable. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of providing a metal layer on a substrate that is partitioned into metal regions; heating the metal layer to a temperature sufficient to melt the metal and to permit beading of the layer into discrete microbeads.
Inventors
- 👤 David C. Koskenmaki
- 👤 Clyde D. Calhoun
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:17
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K35/00; B23K35/02; B23K35/0222; H; H10; H10W; H10W99/00; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/30; H05K3/32; H05K3/321; H05K3/323; H10W70/00; H10W70/60; H10W70/62; H10W70/66; H10W70/666; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/09; H05K2201/09818; H05K2201/09945; H05K2201/10; H05K2201/10227; H05K2201/10378; H05K2201/10613; H05K2201/10621; H05K2201/10719; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/03; H05K2203/0338; H05K2203/04; H05K2203/0425; H05K2203/12; H05K2203/128; H05K3/10; H05K3/102; H10W72/00; H10W72/071; H10W72/073; H10W72/07331; H10W72/30; H10W72/321; H10W72/325; H10W72/351; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12014
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
41 words
A regular array of discrete, uniform metal microspheres on a substrate, wherein said metal microspheres have a spherical portion, and a flat portion in contact with said substrate, and an average density on said substrate of about 600-6,000,000 beads/cm 2 .
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
41 words
A regular array of discrete, uniform metal microspheres on a substrate, wherein said metal microspheres have a spherical portion, and a flat portion in contact with said substrate, and an average density on said substrate of about 600-6,000,000 beads/cm 2 .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The array of microspheres of claim 1 wherein said average density of said microspheres is about 40,000-6,000,000 beads/cm 2 .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The array of microspheres of claim 2 wherein said average density of said microspheres is about 80,000-6,000,000 beads/cm 2 .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The array of microspheres of claim 1 further including an adhesive layer coated over said metal microspheres.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A population of particles wherein said particles comprise uniform metal microspheres having a nonrandom diameter and shape, said shape being partially spherical and partially flat, said diameter being less than 100 μm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A population of particles wherein said particles comprise uniform metal microspheres having a nonrandom diameter and shape, said shape being partially spherical and partially flat, said diameter being less than 100 μm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The population of particles according to claim 5 wherein said microspheres are dispersed in a liquid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The population of particles according to claim 6 wherein said liquid comprises an adhesive composition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The population of particles as claimed in claim 7, wherein the adhesive composition is coated on a substrate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The population of particles according to claim 5 wherein the diameter of said microspheres is about 0.2-100 μm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The population of particles according to claim 9 wherein the diameter of said microspheres is about 1-50 μm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The population of particles according to claim 5 wherein said microspheres exist as independently mobile elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The population of particles as claimed in claim 5, wherein the flat portion of said particles are in contact with a substrate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
A population of particles, wherein said particles comprise metal microspheres having a nonrandom distribution of diameter and shape, said shape being partially spherical and partially flat, said diameter being less than 100 μm, and wherein said microspheres have 2 or more selected diameters.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
A population of particles, wherein said particles comprise metal microspheres having a nonrandom distribution of diameter and shape, said shape being partially spherical and partially flat, said diameter being less than 100 μm, and wherein said microspheres have 2 or more selected diameters.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-01-22 | 1999-07-24 | 2000-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-22 | 2003-07-24 | 2004-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-22 | 2007-07-24 | 2008-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |