Maskless photolithography for etching and deposition
First Claim
1. A maskless photolithography system for photoselective metal deposition on a substrate comprising:
- a. a computer system for generating mask patterns and alignment instructions;
b. a maskless patterned light generator, radiating a patterned light beam, operably connected to and controllable by said computer system;
c. a light activated catalytic coating bath to coat said substrate; and
d. a deposition bath for depositing metal on said substrate corresponding to regions activated by said patterned light beam;
wherein said substrate, coated with said light activated catalyst, receives radiation from said patterned light beam, wherein said patterned light beam impinging on the substrate creates activated regions on the substrate corresponding to said patterned light beam, wherein metal in solution is deposited on said activated regions of the substrate.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to maskless photolithography using a patterned light generator for creating 2-D and 3-D patterns on objects using etching and deposition techniques. In an embodiment, the patterned light generator uses a micromirror array to direct pattern light on a target object. In an alternate embodiment, the patterned light generator uses a plasma display device to generate and direct patterned light onto a target object. Specifically, the invention provides a maskless photolithography system and method for photo stimulated etching of objects in a liquid solution, patterning glass, and photoselective metal deposition. For photo stimulated etching of objects in a liquid solution, the invention provides a system and method for immersing a substrate in an etchant solution, exposing the immersed substrate to patterned light, and etching the substrate according to the pattern of incident light. For patterning photoreactive glass, the invention provides a system and method for exposing photosensitive or photochromic glass, and washing the target glass with rinse and acid etchant solutions. For photoselective metal deposition, the invention provides a system and method for coating and rinsing a substrate prior to exposure exposing the substrate to a patterned light generator to activate areas corresponding to the incident light pattern, and plating the substrate in the area activated by the light after exposure. By providing a maskless pattern generator, the invention advantageously eliminates the problems associated with using masks for photo stimulated etching, patterning glass, and photoselective metal deposition.
42 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A maskless photolithography system for photoselective metal deposition on a substrate comprising:
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a. a computer system for generating mask patterns and alignment instructions; b. a maskless patterned light generator, radiating a patterned light beam, operably connected to and controllable by said computer system; c. a light activated catalytic coating bath to coat said substrate; and d. a deposition bath for depositing metal on said substrate corresponding to regions activated by said patterned light beam; wherein said substrate, coated with said light activated catalyst, receives radiation from said patterned light beam, wherein said patterned light beam impinging on the substrate creates activated regions on the substrate corresponding to said patterned light beam, wherein metal in solution is deposited on said activated regions of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A maskless photolithography system for photoselective metal deposition on a substrate comprising:
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a means for generating mask patterns and alignment instructions; a means for radiating a patterned light beam in accordance with the generated mask patterns, wherein the means for radiating a patterned light beam shifts the patterned light beam in accordance with the alignment instructions; a means for coating a substrate with a light activated catalyst; a means for exposing the coated substrate to the patterned light beam, wherein the light activated catalyst is made receptive for deposition of metal where light impinges on the coated substrate; and a means for subjecting the coated substrate to a chemical bath, wherein a metal in the chemical bath is deposited on the exposed regions of the coated substrate. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification