Abstract:
In the fabrication of a free-standing miniaturized structure in a range of about 10 to 20 µm thick, a method based on a sacrificial system includes the steps of selecting a substrate material, depositing on the substrate material a sacrificial layer 58 of material and patterning the sacrificial layer to define a shape. A photoresist layer 62 of material is deposited on the sacrificial layer and patterned by contrast-enhanced photolithography to form a photoresist mould. Upon the mould there is plated a metallic layer 68 of material. The electroplated structure conforms to the resist profile and can have a thickness many times that of conventional polysilicon microstructures. The photoresist mould and the sacrificial layer are thereafter dissolved using etchants to form a free standing metallic structure in a range of about 10 to 20 µm thick, with vertical to lateral aspect ratios of 9:1 to 10:1 or more.
Abstract:
The method involves providing a substrate (53) made of a micro-machinable material, etching a pattern with help of photolithography, where the pattern includes a part through the substrate. The etched substrate is mounted on a support so as to leave top and bottom surfaces of the substrate. A coating of better tribological quality than the micro-machinable material is deposited on an outer surface of the part of the pattern. The part of the pattern is released from the substrate. The micro-machinable material is chosen from among group comprising crystalline silicon, crystalline silica and crystalline alumina.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method capable of pre-assembling simply and surely a part which makes it avoid to touch a functional portion of the part, so as to establish a state in which the part can be mounted any time in a device such as a timepiece without touching the part. SOLUTION: The invention relates to the method for manufacturing of the mechanical part including a step providing a substrate 53 made of micro-machinable material, and a step etching, with help of photo-lithography, a pattern that includes the mechanical part over the entire substrate 53. Furthermore, the method includes a step assembling a clip 91 on the mechanical part so that the mechanical part is ready to be mounted without being touched the portion made of micro-machinable material, and a step releasing the mechanical part from the substrate 53 so as to mount the mechanical part in the device such as a timepiece movement. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of manufacturing a single-layered or multilayered metal structure using a LIGA technique. SOLUTION: In this method, a photoresist layer is placed on a flat metal substrate, a photoresist mold is prepared by irradiation, electron bombardment or ion bombardment, a metal or alloy is electroplated in the mold, the electrocast metal structure is separated from the substrate, the photoresist is cut off from the metal structure, and the metal substrate is used as an agent involved in formation of at least one surface of the metal structure other than a surface formed by the flat surface of the substrate. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT