Method and apparatus for step-and-repeat molding

1. A method of molding a structure on a top surface of a substrate using a mold apparatus, comprising the steps of:

dispensing mold material onto an area of the top surface of the substrate;

positioning a mold portion of the mold apparatus above the mold material;

surrounding the mold material with a shroud of the mold apparatus;

forming a seal between the shroud of the mold apparatus and the top surface of the substrate;

reducing pressure within the shroud of the mold apparatus below an ambient pressure;

lowering the mold portion of the mold apparatus toward the top surface of the substrate having the mold material while the pressure is reduced to below the ambient pressure, wherein at least an outer edge of the mold portion is in contact with the mold material;

after lowering the mold portion of the mold apparatus, raising the pressure within the shroud of the mold apparatus from below the ambient pressure to at least the ambient pressure, wherein raising the pressure within the shroud of the mold apparatus from below the ambient pressure to at least the ambient pressure causes the mold material to be forced into features of a bottom surface of the mold portion; and

curing the mold material to form the structure.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the mold material has at least one of a low viscosity or a low thixotropic index.

3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein:

the viscosity of the mold material is less than about 1000 Pascal-seconds; or

the thixotropic index of the mold material is less than about 10.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein positioning the mold apparatus includes compressing a gasket of the shroud of the mold apparatus against the top surface of the substrate to form the seal.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein reducing the pressure within the shroud of the mold apparatus below the ambient pressure includes pumping air out of the shroud.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein reducing the pressure within the shroud of the mold apparatus below the ambient pressure includes increasing a volume of the shroud of the mold apparatus.

7. A method according to claim 6 , wherein raising the pressure within the shroud of the mold apparatus to at least the ambient pressure includes reducing the volume of the shroud.

8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein lowering the mold portion of the mold apparatus includes the steps of:

holding the mold portion in a fixed position relative to a top end of the shroud; and

compressing a height of the shroud to lower the mold portion toward the top surface of the substrate.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein lowering the mold portion of the mold apparatus includes moving the mold portion away from a top end of the shroud to lower the mold portion toward the top surface of the substrate.

10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein:

the mold portion of the mold apparatus includes at least one pin extending from the outer edge of the mold portion; and

lowering the mold portion includes lowering the mold portion until the at least one pin is in contact with the top surface of the substrate.

11. A method according to claim 1 , wherein raising the pressure within the shroud of the mold apparatus to at least the ambient pressure includes at least one of:

opening a valve in the shroud;

pumping air into the shroud; or

breaking the seal between the shroud and the top surface of the substrate.

12. A method according to claim 1 , wherein curing the mold material includes at least one of:

waiting a predetermined period of time;

irradiating the mold material with UV radiation;

irradiating the mold material with IR radiation; or

heating the mold material.

13. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

raising the mold portion of the mold apparatus to release the structure.

14. A method according to claim 13 , further comprising the steps of:

dispensing additional mold material onto a further area of the top surface of the substrate;

stepping the mold apparatus horizontally to position the mold apparatus over the further area of the top surface of the substrate such that:

the shroud of the mold apparatus surrounds the mold material and forms a seal with the top surface; and

the mold portion of the mold apparatus is positioned above the additional mold material;

reducing a pressure within the shroud of the mold apparatus below the ambient pressure;

lowering the mold portion of the mold apparatus toward the top surface of the substrate, wherein at least the outer edge of the mold portion is in contact with the additional mold material;

raising the pressure within the shroud of the mold apparatus to the ambient pressure; and

curing the additional mold material to form a further structure on the top surface of the substrate.

15. A method of molding a structure on a top surface of a substrate, comprising the steps of:

mounting the substrate within a vacuum chamber;

dispensing mold material onto an area of the top surface of the substrate;

reducing pressure within the vacuum chamber below an ambient pressure;

positioning a mold above the area of the top surface of the substrate having the mold material while the pressure is reduced to below the ambient pressure, wherein at least an outer edge of the mold is in contact with the mold material;

after positioning the mold, raising the pressure within the vacuum chamber from below the ambient pressure to at least the ambient pressure, wherein raising the pressure within the vacuum chamber from below the ambient pressure to at least the ambient pressure causes the mold material to be forced into features of a bottom surface of the mold; and

curing the mold material to form the structure.

16. A method according to claim 15 , wherein reducing the pressure within the vacuum chamber below the ambient pressure produces at least a medium vacuum within the vacuum chamber.