3m Innovative Properties Company

Molecular Imprints, Inc.

David James Lentz

Michael Nevin Miller

Sidlgata V Sreenivasan

Frank Y Xu

Niyaz Khusnatdinov

Dwayne L LaBrake

Steven Y Yu

Cynthia B Brooks

Thickness of a residual layer may be altered to control critical dimension of features in a patterned layer provided by an imprint lithography process. The thickness of the residual layer may be directly proportional or inversely proportional to the critical dimension of features. Dispensing techniques and material selection may also provide control of the critical dimension of features in the patterned layer.

Critical dimension control during template formation

An electrode assembly for electroplating conducting portions of nonconductors comprises an insulating frame having a first projection opposite a second projection. Preferably the insulating frame comprises a resin selected from the group consisting of acrylic resins, polyvinyl chloride resins and polycarbonate resins. A metal filament, for connection to the negative pole of a source of electrical energy, extends from the first projection to the second projection. Adjacent to the metal filament a first conductive plate is attached to the insulating frame at a first distance from the metal filament. A second conductive plate attaches to the insulating frame at a second distance from the metal filament. The first plate and the second plate are adapted for connection to the positive pole of a source of electrical energy. The nonconductor is at least one optical fiber having a conducting portion in contact with the metal filament to provide connection of the conducting portion to a negative pole of the source of electrical energy. In one embodiment of an assembly according to the present invention, there is a plurality of optical fibers each having a conducting portion in contact with the metal filament. An electrode assembly may be used in a process according to the present invention to provide a conductive composite coating on the surface of a nonconductor, preferably an optical fiber.

Electroplating assembly for metal plated optical fibers

Growing community of inventors

Leander, TX, United States of America

David James Lentz