Magnetically patterned etch mask
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A process for providing a masking layer, comprising:
- providing a substrate assembly;
dispensing a matrix material and a plurality of objects onto the substrate assembly;
distributing the objects with a magnetic field; and
removing at least a portion of the matrix material.
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Abstract
A method for forming an etch mask is described. In particular, an etch mask is formed using masking particles positionally restrained by a matrix medium. Either the masking particles or the matrix medium is more magnetically conductive with respect to the other. A magnetic field is applied for making a random distribution of the masking particles less random. Consequently, agglomeration of the masking particles is reduced. Masking particles with submicron dimensions may be used for providing features of less than a micron. The mask formed may be an etch mask employed in forming a field emitter tip for a field emission display.
89 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A process for providing a masking layer, comprising:
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providing a substrate assembly;
dispensing a matrix material and a plurality of objects onto the substrate assembly;
distributing the objects with a magnetic field; and
removing at least a portion of the matrix material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A process for providing an etch mask, comprising:
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providing a substrate assembly;
dispensing matrix material and masking objects onto the substrate assembly, the matrix material being less magnetically permeable than the masking objects; and
applying a magnetic field to the masking objects sufficient to relocate the objects. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A process for providing an etch mask, comprising:
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providing a substrate assembly;
dispensing a matrix material and masking objects onto the substrate assembly, the matrix material being more magnetically permeable than the masking objects; and
applying a magnetic field to the matrix material sufficient to disperse the masking objects. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A process for forming an etch mask, comprising:
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providing a substrate assembly;
dispensing masking objects on the substrate assembly;
dispensing a matrix material on the substrate assembly; and
applying a magnetic field to disperse the masking objects within the matrix material. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A process for forming an etch mask, comprising:
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dispensing masking objects on a substrate assembly, at least some of the masking objects forming a number of clusters; and
applying a magnetic field to the masking objects to reduce the number of clusters thereof. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A process for providing a mask on a surface of a substrate assembly, comprising:
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locating spacer objects on the surface of the substrate assembly;
locating masking objects on the surface of the substrate assembly; and
applying a magnetic field to the spacer objects and the masking objects located on the surface of the substrate assembly to alter a distribution thereof. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification