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Mechanical Process For Creating Particles Using Two Plates

Technology Benefits

More Cost Effective- in IC manufacturing, lithography typically accounts for about 30 % of the cost of manufacturingDon’t need to be run continuouslyHigher throughput levels System and run particle formation in parallel

Technology Application

Patterning microelectronic and nanoelectronic structures and circuitsMicroelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devicesIntegrated circuits for use in electronic devicesPCB design for use in electronic devicesAccelerometersGyroscopesPressure SensorsChemical and Gas Sensors

Detailed Technology Description

Researchers at UCLA have developed a novel method for microparticle fabrication that is more efficient than the current lithographic practices of using optical exposure to create LithoParticles. The basic concept is to make microscale and nanoscale particles by 1) using a solid patterned form, 2) depositing a material into the form made using lithography to 3) create discontiguous depressions or other predetermined discrete features (i.e. desired particle shapes) 4) turning the deposited material into a solid (if it is not already) and 5) separating the solid particulates of deposited material from the patterned form which usually involves dispersing the particles in fluid.With a solid patterned form, which can be re-used, particles can be made without the need for complex expensive exposure systems such as optical lithography or electron-beam lithography. This lithographic process provides robust means of producing shape-designed particles in parallel at higher throughput levels than single optical systems.

Application No.

8562892

Others

Background

This technology relates to the process and system for making microparticles and nanoparticles. Applications include lithography and patterning microelectronic and nanoelectronic structures for MEMS technology. The global market for MEMS devices and production equipment was worth $11.7 billion in 2014. This market is expected to reach $12.8 billion in 2015 and $21.9 billion by 2020. In the internet of things, MEMS technology, as well as microscopic particle production, is heavily utilized in commercial applications. 

Additional Technologies by these Inventors

• Litho-particle Dispersions: Designer Particles with Customizable Shapes
• Process For Creating Stable Double Emulsions
• Massively Parallel Assembly of Composite Structures using Depletion Attractions
• Process for Directing Assemblies of Particulate Dispersions Using Surface Roughness
• Improved Treatment of Acute Metabolic Acidosis
• Measuring Size Distributions of Small-Scale Objects
• Method of Making Multicomponent Nanoemulsions
• Process For Recycling Surfactant In Nanoemulsion Production
• Process For Sorting Dispersed Colloidal Structures

Tech ID/UC Case

27482/2007-234-0

Related Cases

2007-234-0

*Abstract

UCLA researchers in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry & Physics and Astronomy have developed a novel method to lithograph two polished solid surfaces by using a simple mechanical alignment jig with piezoelectric control and a method of pressing them together and solidifying a material.

*IP Issue Date

Oct 22, 2013

*Principal Investigator

Name: Thomas Mason

Department:

Country/Region

USA