Apparatus for fabricating self-assembling microstructures

US5904545A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• John Stephen Smith · San Jose, US
• Hsi-Jen J. Yeh · Covina, US
• Mark Allan Hadley · Los Altos, US
• Ashish Verma · New Delhi, IN

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 7, 1995
• Grant date: May 18, 1999
• Expiry date: Jun 7, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H10H20/819
• WIPO field: Semiconductors
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Apparatus for assembling microstructures onto a substrate through fluid transport. The apparatus includes a vessel that contains the substrate, a fluid, and microstructures. The substrate has at least one recessed region thereon. The microstructures being shaped blocks self-align into the recessed regions located on the substrate such that the microstructure becomes integral with the substrate. The apparatus also includes a pump that circulates the microstructures within the vessel at a rate where at least one of the microstructures is disposed into the recessed region.