Abstract:
An electroplating method that includes: a) contacting a first substrate with a first article, which includes a substrate and a conformable mask disposed in a pattern on the substrate; b) electroplating a first metal from a source of metal ions onto the first substrate in a first pattern, the first pattern corresponding to the complement of the conformable mask pattern; and c) removing the first article from the first substrate, is disclosed. Electroplating articles and electroplating apparatus are also disclosed.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a polymeric substrate having a glass-like surface, in particular an etched-glass-like surface and to a chip made of at least one such polymeric substrate. The present invention also relates to a method of providing a polymeric substrate with an etched-glass-like surface. Moreover, the present invention relates to a kit for manufacturing a chip using such polymeric substrate. Moreover, the present invention relates to the use of a polymeric substrate having a glass-like surface, in particular an etched-glass-like surface for manufacturing a chip.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for depositing a plurality of droplets in a three-dimensional array are disclosed. The array can comprise a first type of droplets disposed to form a support structure and a second type of droplets forming a conductive seed layer on the support structure. A structure material can be electrodeposited onto the seed layer to create a three-dimensional structure.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for depositing a plurality of droplets in a three-dimensional array are disclosed. The array can comprise a first type of droplets disposed to form a support structure and a second type of droplets forming a conductive seed layer on the support structure. A structure material can be electrodeposited onto the seed layer to create a three-dimensional structure.
Abstract:
Electrochemical fabrication methods for forming single and multilayer mesoscale and microscale structures are disclosed which include the use of diamond machining ( e.g. fly cutting or turning) to planarize layers. Some embodiments focus on systems of sacrificial and structural materials which are useful in Electrochemical fabrication and which can be diamond machined with minimal tool wear ( e.g. Ni-P and Cu, Au and Cu, Cu and Sn, Au and Cu, Au and Sn, and Au and Sn-Pb), where the first material or materials are the structural materials and the second is the sacrificial material). Some embodiments focus on methods for reducing tool wear when using diamond machining to planarize structures being electrochemically fabricated using difficult-to-machine materials ( e.g. by depositing difficult to machine material selectively and potentially with little excess plating thickness, and/or pre-machining depositions to within a small increment of desired surface level ( e.g. using lapping or a rough cutting operation) and then using diamond fly cutting to complete the process, and/or forming structures or portions of structures from thin walled regions of hard-to-machine materials as opposed to wide solid regions of structural material.
Abstract:
Various embodiments of the invention present techniques for forming structures (e.g. HARMS-type structures) via an electrochemical extrusion (ELEX TM ) process. Preferred embodiments perform the extrusion processes via depositions through anodeless conformable contact masks that are initially pressed against substrates that are then progressively pulled away or separated as the depositions thicken. A pattern of deposition may vary over the course of deposition by including more complex relative motion between the mask and the substrate elements. Such complex motion may include rotational components or translational motions having components that are not parallel to an axis of separation. More complex structures may be formed by combining the ELEX TM process with the selective deposition, blanket deposition, planarization, etching, and multi-layer operations of EFAB TM .
Abstract:
A method for manufacturing a MEMS double-layer suspension microstructure comprises steps of: forming a first film body (310) on a substrate (100), and a cantilever beam (320) connected to the substrate (100) and the first film body (310); forming a sacrificial layer (400) on the first film body (310) and the cantilever beam (320); patterning the sacrificial layer (400) located on the first film body (310) to manufacture a recessed portion (410) used for forming a support structure (520), the bottom of the recessed portion (410) being exposed of the first film body (310); depositing a dielectric layer (500) on the sacrificial layer (400); patterning the dielectric layer (500) to manufacture a second film body (510) and the support structure (520), the support structure (520) being connected to the first film body (310) and the second film body (510); and removing the sacrificial layer (400) to obtain the MEMS double-layer suspension microstructure.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method (1) for producing a silicon-metal composite micromechanical part, combining DRIE-type and LIGA-type processes. The invention also relates to a micromechanical part (51) comprising a layer containing a silicon part (53) and a metal part (41) in such a way as to form a composite-type micromechanical part (51). The invention can be used in the field of timekeeping movements.