Patent · US Expired

Three dimensional imaging system

US5822042A · kind A · utility

2Cited by
7References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 12, 1992
Grant dateOct 13, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 12, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05K3/0082
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The photolithography tool of the present invention in its simplest embodiment includes an afocal lens system and a three-dimensional master or mask. The three-dimensional mask is located within the object space of the afocal lens system and is imaged onto a three-dimensional circuit carrier or substrate located within the imaging space of the afocal lens system. By using an afocal lens, with which persons skilled in instrumental optics are familiar, a system can be designed for which the object space is identical to the imaging space for unity magnification. As a result, a mask can be used in which the surface contour and pattern to be imaged is identical to the desired substrate surface and pattern, thereby simplifying mask design.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.