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:
Feb. 13, 2007
Filed:
Dec. 02, 2003
André Paul Labonté, Lewiston, ME (US);
Lee James Jacobson, Cape Elizabeth, ME (US);
André Paul Labonté, Lewiston, ME (US);
Lee James Jacobson, Cape Elizabeth, ME (US);
National Semiconductor Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
A single, controlled etch step can be used to form a sharp tip feature along a sidewall of an etch feature. An etch process is used that is selective to a layer of tip material relative to the substrate upon which the layer is deposited. A lag can be created in the etch, such that the etch rate is slower near the sidewall. The sharp tip feature is formed from the same layer of material used to create the etch feature. The sharp tip feature can be used to decrease the minimum critical dimension of an etch process, such as may be due to the minimum resolution of a photolithographic process. The novel tip feature also can be used for other applications, such as to create a microaperture for a photosensitive device, or to create a micromold that can be used to form objects such as microlenses.