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. 10, 2015
Filed:
Dec. 17, 2010
Tracie J. Berniard, Saint Paul, MN (US);
Matthew H. Frey, Cottage Grove, MN (US);
Lance E. Behymer, Woodbury, MN (US);
Mikhail L. Pekurovsky, Bloomington, MN (US);
Richard W. Greger, Saint Paul, MN (US);
Daniel P. Meehan, Saint Paul, MN (US);
Jonathan J. O'hare, Oakdale, MN (US);
Tracie J. Berniard, Saint Paul, MN (US);
Matthew H. Frey, Cottage Grove, MN (US);
Lance E. Behymer, Woodbury, MN (US);
Mikhail L. Pekurovsky, Bloomington, MN (US);
Richard W. Greger, Saint Paul, MN (US);
Daniel P. Meehan, Saint Paul, MN (US);
Jonathan J. O'Hare, Oakdale, MN (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for microcontact printing are described. The microcontact printing apparatus includes a planar stamp and a pressurized roller. The pressurized roller includes an inflatable bladder that can be inflated by a fluid to a pressure that reduces printing defects such as voids and stamp collapse. A substrate is disposed between the pressurized roller and a stamp coated with an ink of functionalizing molecules. As the pressurized roller moves over the substrate, at least a portion of the functionalizing molecules are transferred from the stamp to the substrate in the desired pattern.