IP Library Granted Patent US 7,931,846
Granted Patent B2
US 7,931,846 · App. 12/688,190 · Granted Apr 26, 2011

Method to control an atmosphere between a body and a substrate

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,931,846
App. No.
12/688,190
Granted
Apr 26, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems to control an atmosphere about a substrate are described. The systems include a wall coupled to the substrate to create a resistance of the flow between different regions of the substrate.

Claims (32)

1. A system to control an atmosphere about a substrate, the system comprising:

a template having a mold spaced-apart a distance from a surface of the substrate;

a supply of fluid coupled to introduce a flow between the mold and the substrate;

a substrate chuck supporting the substrate; and

a wall coupled to the substrate chuck to create a resistance of the flow between first and second regions of the substrate, with a position of the wall being varied in response to a decrease in a magnitude of the distance.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 further including a plurality of walls coupled to the substrate chuck.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the supply of fluid further includes a conduit to introduce the fluid between the mold and the substrate.

4. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the supply of fluid further includes a plurality of conduits at differing locations to introduce the fluid between the mold and the substrate.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the fluid is selected from a group of gases including helium, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and xenon.

6. The system as recited in claim 3 further including a pump system in fluid communication with the conduit.

7. The system as recited in claim 1 further including a motor in communication with the wall, with the motor being a solenoid selected from a group of solenoids comprising electric, pneumatic, and hydraulic.

8. A system to control an atmosphere about a substrate, the system comprising:

a template having a mold spaced-apart a distance from a surface of the substrate;

a supply of fluid coupled to introduce a flow between the mold and the substrate;

a substrate chuck supporting the substrate; and

a wall coupled to the substrate chuck to create a resistance of the flow between first and second regions of the substrate, with a position of the wall being varied to minimize a probability of contact between the wall and the template when a magnitude of the distance is decreased.

9. The system as recited in claim 8 further including a plurality of walls coupled to the substrate chuck.

10. The system as recited in claim 8 wherein the supply of fluid further includes a conduit to introduce the fluid between the mold and the substrate.

11. The system as recited in claim 8 wherein the supply of fluid further includes a plurality of conduits at differing locations to introduce the fluid between the mold and the substrate.

12. The system as recited in claim 11 further including a pump system in fluid communication with the conduit.

13. The system as recited in claim 8 wherein the fluid is selected from a group of gases including helium, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and xenon.

14. The system as recited in claim 8 further including a motor in communication with the wall, with the motor being a solenoid selected from a group of solenoids comprising electric, pneumatic, and hydraulic.

15. A system to control an atmosphere about a substrate, the system comprising:

a template having a mold spaced-apart from a surface of the substrate a first distance;

a conduit in fluid communication with a pump system coupled to introduce a flow between the mold and the substrate;

a substrate chuck supporting the substrate; and

a wall coupled to the substrate chuck to create a resistance to the flow between first and second regions of the substrate to control the atmosphere about the first region, the wall positioned at a second distance, wherein the first distance is substantially greater than the second distance.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the second distance is between approximately 10 μm-100 μm.

17. The system as recited in claim 15 , further including a plurality of walls coupled to the substrate chuck.

18. The system as recited in claim 15 , further including a plurality of conduits at differing locations.

19. The system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the fluid is selected from a group of gases including helium, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and xenon.

20. The system as recited in claim 15 , further including a motor in communication with the wall, with the motor being a solenoid selected from a group of solenoids comprising electric, pneumatic, and hydraulic.

Assignments (11)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2025
From: MAGIC LEAP, INC.; MENTOR ACQUISITION ONE, LLC; MOLECULAR IMPRINTS, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073388/0027 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Nov 7, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 050967/0138 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 22, 2019
From: MAGIC LEAP, INC.; MOLECULAR IMPRINTS, INC.; MENTOR ACQUISITION ONE, LLC
To: JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 050138/0287 →
CONFIRMATORY ASSIGNMENT OF JOINT PATENT OWNERSHIP Recorded Apr 27, 2015
From: CANON NANOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: MOLECULAR IMPRINTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 035507/0559 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 30, 2014
From: MII NEWCO, INC.
To: MOLECULAR IMPRINTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 033449/0684 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 24, 2014
From: MOLECULAR IMPRINTS, INC.
To: CANON NANOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 033400/0184 →
ASSIGNMENT OF JOINT OWNERSHIP Recorded Jul 15, 2014
From: MOLECULAR IMPRINTS, INC.
To: MII NEWCO, INC.
Reel/Frame 033329/0280 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNOR AND ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 033161 FRAME 0705. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jun 25, 2014
From: CANON INC.
To: MOLECULAR IMPRINTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 033227/0398 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 13, 2014
From: MOLECULAR IMPRINTS, INC.
To: CANON INC.
Reel/Frame 033161/0705 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE FROM AN "ASSIGNMENT" TO "SECURITY AGREEMENT" PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 026842 FRAME 0929. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT SUBMITTED WAS A "SECURITY AGREEMENT". Recorded Aug 13, 2013
From: MOLECULAR IMPRINTS, INC.
To: CANON INC.
Reel/Frame 031003/0031 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2011
From: MOLECULAR IMPRINTS, INC.
To: CANON INC.
Reel/Frame 026842/0929 →