The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 15, 2006
Filed:
Sep. 18, 2002
Jeffrey A. Hubbell, Zurich, CH;
Jane P. Bearinger, Livermore, CA (US);
Marcus Textor, Schaffhausen, CH;
Jeffrey A. Hubbell, Zurich, CH;
Jane P. Bearinger, Livermore, CA (US);
Marcus Textor, Schaffhausen, CH;
Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Lausanne, CH;
Abstract
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for locally patterning surfaces. In one such method, an oxidizable thioether is adsorbed onto a conductive surface. The surface is then contacted with a fluid medium. A conducting stamp is then brought into contact with the fluid medium above the thioether-coated surface. Next, a potential is applied between the stamp and the surface. It is expected that the charge will be transferred through the medium to the coated surface along a shortest distance path, thereby locally oxidizing the thioether and effectively creating a negative patterned image of the conducting stamp on the surface. Remaining adsorbed thioether may then be used as a mask for standard etching or material addition procedures.