Process and apparatus for the formation of patterns in a photoresist by continuous laser irradiation, application to the production of microtips emissive cathode electron sources and flat display screens
First Claim
1. A process for the formation of patterns in a photoresist layer comprising:
- forming a plurality of non-mutually interfering elementary light beams at a surface of the photoresist layer;
performing at least one first relative translation at a constant speed and constant light power of said elementary beams with respect to the photoresist layer, the elementary beams being focused on the photoresist, so as to irradiate first parallel lines of said photoresist layer, said speed and said power being chosen in such a way that each first irradiated parallel line receives a first light dose lower than the light dose necessary for the development of said photoresist layer;
performing a relative rotation by a given angle of all the elementary light beams with respect to the photoresist layer;
performing at least one second relative translation, at constant speed and constant light power, of said elementary beams with respect to the photoresist layer, the elementary beams being focused on the photoresist layer, so as to irradiate second parallel lines of said photoresist layer which intersect said first parallel lines, said speed and said light power being chosen in such a way that each irradiated second parallel line receives a second light dose equal to the difference between the light dose necessary for the development and the first light dose, so that only the intersections of the first and second lines receive the dose necessary for the development; and
developing the photoresist such that patterns are formed at said intersections.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Process and apparatus for the formation of patterns in a photosensitive resin layer or photoresist by continuous laser irradiation, application to the production of microtip emissive cathode electron sources and flat display screens. Formation takes place of non-mutually interfering elementary light beams (41), there is at least one relative translation at constant light power and speed of said beams with respect to the layer in order to irradiate lines thereof, each line receiving a light dose lower than that necessary for the development of the resin, a relative rotation of all the beams with respect to the layer takes place, the translation is recommenced in order to irradiate other lines, each line receiving a light dose complimentary to the preceding dose and the resin is developed.
49 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A process for the formation of patterns in a photoresist layer comprising:
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forming a plurality of non-mutually interfering elementary light beams at a surface of the photoresist layer; performing at least one first relative translation at a constant speed and constant light power of said elementary beams with respect to the photoresist layer, the elementary beams being focused on the photoresist, so as to irradiate first parallel lines of said photoresist layer, said speed and said power being chosen in such a way that each first irradiated parallel line receives a first light dose lower than the light dose necessary for the development of said photoresist layer; performing a relative rotation by a given angle of all the elementary light beams with respect to the photoresist layer; performing at least one second relative translation, at constant speed and constant light power, of said elementary beams with respect to the photoresist layer, the elementary beams being focused on the photoresist layer, so as to irradiate second parallel lines of said photoresist layer which intersect said first parallel lines, said speed and said light power being chosen in such a way that each irradiated second parallel line receives a second light dose equal to the difference between the light dose necessary for the development and the first light dose, so that only the intersections of the first and second lines receive the dose necessary for the development; and developing the photoresist such that patterns are formed at said intersections. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for the formation of patterns in a photoresist layer comprising:
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a light source able to transmit a light beam having a constant power; means for the formation of a plurality of non-mutually interfering, elementary light beams at a surface of the photoresist layer from the constant power light beam; and means for the relative translation and rotation of the means for the formation of a plurality of said non mutually interfering elementary light beams with respect to the photoresist layer. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A process for the production of a microtip emissive cathode electron source, comprising:
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forming a structure having a plurality of parallel cathode conductors on a substrate, an electrically insulating layer covering said cathode conductors; and
a plurality of parallel grids over said insulating layer and positioned at an angle with said cathode conductors;forming holes through the grids and insulating layer in areas where the grids cross the cathode conductors, said process of forming holes comprising, depositing a layer of positive photoresist at least in said areas where the grid crosses the cathode conductor, forming a plurality of non-mutually interfering elementary light beams at a surface of the photoresist layer, performing at least one first relative translation at a constant speed and constant light power of said elementary beams with respect to the photoresist layer, the elementary beams being focused on the photoresist, so as to irradiate first parallel lines of said photoresist layer, said speed and said power being chosen in such a way that each first irradiated parallel line receives a first light dose lower than the light dose necessary for the development of said photoresist layer, performing a relative rotation by a given angle of all the elementary light beams with respect to the photoresist layer, performing at least one second relative translation, at constant speed and constant light power, of said elementary beams with respect to the photoresist layer, the elementary beams being focused on the photoresist layer, so as to irradiate second parallel lines of said photoresist layer which intersect said first parallel lines, said speed and said light power being chosen in such a way that each irradiated second parallel line receives a second light dose equal to the difference between the light dose necessary for the development and the first light dose, so that only the intersections of the first and second lines receive the dose necessary for the development, developing the photoresist such that patterns are formed at said intersections, etching the grids and insulating layer through said holes formed in the photoresist; and forming electron emitting material microtips in said holes on the cathode conductors. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification