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Method of forming a microstructure

Assignee: Sharp Corp
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Filing: 1996-05-28
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Granted: 1998-09-08
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Expires: 2016-05-28
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Abstract

Abstract Method of forming a complex, minute three-dimensional structure, known as micromachining, which includes forming a plurality of thin films at least one of which is provided as a temporary layer composed of a lower layer made of an organic material and an upper layer made of an amphoteric metal material which is formed on the lower layer; and selectively removing the temporary layer to provide a three-dimensional structure. The temporary layer may comprise a composite sacrificial layer of photoresist and aluminum.

Inventors

  • 👤 Yorishige Ishii
  • 👤 Tetsuya Inui
  • 👤 Hirotsugu Matoba
  • 👤 Susumu Hirata
  • 👤 Masaharu Kimura
  • 👤 Hajime Horinaka
  • 👤 Shingo Abe
  • 👤 Hiroshi Onda

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 05:45
CPC Classifications
B; B81; B81C; B81C1/00; B81C1/00436; B81C1/00555; B81C1/00595; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/135; B41J2/16; B41J2/1621; B41J2/1626; B41J2/1628; B41J2/1629; B41J2/1631; B41J2/164; B41J2/1643; B41J2/1646; B41J2/14; B41J2002/14346; B81B; B81B2201/00; B81B2201/05; B81B2201/052; B81C2201/00; B81C2201/01; B81C2201/0101; B81C2201/0102; B81C2201/0105; B81C2201/0109

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim 80 words
A method of forming a microstructure for the production of a minute part with a composite structure, said method comprising the steps of: forming a plurality of layers as thin films; and selectively removing at least one of the plurality of layers as a temporary layer, wherein the temporary layer is formed as a composite of a lower layer composed of an organic material and an upper layer composed of an amphoteric material which is formed on the lower layer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 80 words
A method of forming a microstructure for the production of a minute part with a composite structure, said method comprising the steps of: forming a plurality of layers as thin films; and selectively removing at least one of the plurality of layers as a temporary layer, wherein the temporary layer is formed as a composite of a lower layer composed of an organic material and an upper layer composed of an amphoteric material which is formed on the lower layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the lower layer is completely covered with at least one of the upper layer or constituent materials of the upper layer during the formation of a pattern of the upper layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein the lower layer has a film thickness of 0.1-1 μm, and is selectively removed with an organic solvent, and the upper layer is selectively removed with a strongly alkaline aqueous solution.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the lower layer has a film thickness of 1-100 μm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein one or more selectively removable thin films are layered on the temporary layer to form a plurality of temporary layers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the temporary layer is selectively removed with a strongly alkaline aqueous solution.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein a positive-type photoresist is used as the organic material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the amphoteric material is aluminum.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 110 words
A method of forming a microstructure for the production of a minute part with a composite structure said method comprising the steps of: forming a plurality of layers as thin films; and selectively removing at least one of the plurality of layers as a temporary layer. wherein the temporary layer is formed as a composite of a lower layer composed of an organic material and an upper layer composed of an amphoteric material which is formed on the lower layer, and wherein the upper layer is formed on the lower layer through evaporation while maintaining the lower layer at a temperature lower than the deformation temperature of the organic material.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 110 words
A method of forming a microstructure for the production of a minute part with a composite structure said method comprising the steps of: forming a plurality of layers as thin films; and selectively removing at least one of the plurality of layers as a temporary layer. wherein the temporary layer is formed as a composite of a lower layer composed of an organic material and an upper layer composed of an amphoteric material which is formed on the lower layer, and wherein the upper layer is formed on the lower layer through evaporation while maintaining the lower layer at a temperature lower than the deformation temperature of the organic material.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 136 words
A method of forming a microstructure for the production of a minute part with a composite structure, said method comprising the steps of: forming a plurality of layers as thin films wherein one of the plurality of layers is an upper temporary layer formed on a second of the plurality of layers which is a lower temporary layer, said upper temporary layer and said lower temporary layer defining a temporary layer pair; and removing the upper temporary layer and the lower temporary layer, wherein the lower temporary layer is composed of an organic material and the upper temporary layer is composed of an amphoteric material, wherein the upper temporary layer and the lower temporary layer each occupies a volume which, when vacated by said removing step, at least partially defines a shape of said minute part.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 136 words
A method of forming a microstructure for the production of a minute part with a composite structure, said method comprising the steps of: forming a plurality of layers as thin films wherein one of the plurality of layers is an upper temporary layer formed on a second of the plurality of layers which is a lower temporary layer, said upper temporary layer and said lower temporary layer defining a temporary layer pair; and removing the upper temporary layer and the lower temporary layer, wherein the lower temporary layer is composed of an organic material and the upper temporary layer is composed of an amphoteric material, wherein the upper temporary layer and the lower temporary layer each occupies a volume which, when vacated by said removing step, at least partially defines a shape of said minute part.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method according to claim 10, wherein the lower temporary layer is removed before the upper temporary layer is removed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 39 words
The method according to claim 10, wherein the lower temporary layer is completely covered with at least one of the upper temporary layer or constituent materials of the upper temporary layer during the formation of the upper temporary layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein the lower temporary layer has a film thickness of 0.1-1 μm, and is selectively removed with an organic solvent, and the upper temporary layer is selectively removed with a strongly alkaline aqueous solution.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method according to claim 10, wherein the lower temporary layer has a film thickness of 1-100 μm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method according to claim 10, wherein the temporary layer pair is a first temporary layer pair, and wherein a second temporary layer pair is layered on the first temporary layer pair.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method according to claim 10, wherein the temporary layer pair is selectively removed with a strongly alkaline aqueous solution.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method according to claim 10, wherein a positive-type photoresist is used as the organic material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method according to claim 10, wherein the amphoteric material is aluminum.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method according to claim 10, wherein the upper temporary layer is formed on the lower temporary layer through evaporation while maintaining the lower temporary layer at a temperature lower than the deformation temperature of the organic material.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4434224A Cited
US5376231A Cited
JPH0639939A Cited
US5524784A Cited
US5478606A Cited
US5683591A Cited
US5698112A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-09-07 2002-03-09 2002-09-08 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-09-07 2006-03-09 2006-09-08 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-09-07 2010-03-09 2010-09-08 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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