Patent · US Expired

Method for selectively exposing a light pattern to a photosensitive work surface

US6436610B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
14References
13Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 25, 2001
Grant dateAug 20, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 25, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F7/70291
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A maskless exposure system for selectively exposing a photosensitive work surface, such as a photoresist layer, includes a semiconductor substrate having an elongated aperture. A series of shutters and associated guides are formed upon the substrate using conventional wafer processing methods. The shutters move between a first position covering the aperture and a second position exposing the aperture. A corresponding series of computer-controlled actuators, in the form of electromagnetic coils, cooperate with the shutters for selectively sliding each shutter between its first and second positions. A light beam is directed toward the aperture, and the shutters create a patterned light beam exiting the aperture. A computer-controlled stepper is synchronized with the shutter actuators and adjusts the relationship between the patterned light beam and the photosensitive work surface to direct the patterned light beam at different portions of the work material.

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