Patent · US Active

Programmable deposition of thin films of a user-defined profile with nanometer scale accuracy

US9415418B2 · kind B2 · utility

35Cited by
2References
36Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 18, 2014
Grant dateAug 16, 2016
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 18, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB05D3/0493
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An inkjet-based process for programmable deposition of thin films of a user-defined profile. Drops of a pre-cursor liquid organic material are dispensed at various locations on a substrate by a multi-jet. A superstrate that has been bowed due to a backside pressure is brought down such that a first contact of the drops is made by a front side of the superstrate thereby initiating a liquid front that spreads outward merging with the drops to form a contiguous film captured between the substrate and the superstrate. A non-equilibrium transient state of the superstrate, the contiguous film and the substrate then occurs after a duration of time. The contiguous film is then cured to crosslink it into a polymer. The superstrate is then separated from the polymer thereby leaving a polymer film on the substrate. In such a manner, non-uniform films can be formed without significant material wastage in an inexpensive manner.

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