IP Library Granted Patent US 9,937,664
Granted Patent B2
US 9,937,664 · App. 14/869,377 · Granted Apr 10, 2018

Method for producing a three-dimensional structure

Inventors: Michael Thiel (Karlsruhe, DE); Roman Reinhard Reiner (Karlsruhe, DE); Fabian Niesler (Karlsruhe, DE); Yann Tanguy (Linkenheim-Hochstetten, DE)
Assignee: Nanoscribe GmbH
B29C67/0066B29C33/3842B29C35/0805B29C64/10B29C64/124B29C64/129B29C64/135B29C64/141B29C64/153B29C64/277B29C64/282B29C64/295B29C64/40G03F7/0037G03F7/2024G03F7/2053G03F7/70416B29C2035/0827B29C2035/0833B29C2035/0838B29K2105/0058B29L2009/00B33Y10/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,937,664
App. No.
14/869,377
Granted
Apr 10, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for producing a three-dimensional structure ( 10 ) in a lithographic material ( 24 ) that can be polymerized and thus solidified using energy input methods, wherein initially a shell wall ( 16 ) of the three-dimensional structure ( 10 ) to be produced is polymerized so as to form a polymerized shell wall ( 16 ) such that a volume ( 28 ) of unpolymerized lithographic material is enclosed using a first, spatially resolving energy input method, wherein the lithographic material ( 24 ) surrounding the polymerized shell wall ( 16 ) is removed in an intermediate development step, wherein subsequently the volume ( 28 ) enclosed by the shell wall ( 16 ) is polymerized using a second energy input method.

Claims (20)

1. A method for producing a three-dimensional structure ( 10 ) in a lithographic material ( 24 ), wherein the lithographic material ( 24 ) is configured to be polymerizable and thus solidified using energy input methods, wherein initially a shell wall ( 16 ) of the three-dimensional structure ( 10 ) to be produced is polymerized so as to form a polymerized shell wall ( 16 ) such that a volume ( 28 ) of unpolymerized lithographic material is enclosed using a first, spatially resolving energy input method, wherein the lithographic material ( 24 ) surrounding the polymerized shell wall ( 16 ) is removed in an intermediate development step, wherein subsequently the volume ( 28 ) enclosed by the shell wall ( 16 ) is polymerized using a second energy input method,

wherein the shell wall ( 16 ) of the structure ( 10 ) to be produced is defined by sequentially producing a plurality of partial walls ( 22 , 22 ′; 22 a - 22 g ),

wherein a writing area ( 26 ) is sequentially moved and positioned for defining the partial walls ( 22 , 22 ′; 22 a - 22 g ), and wherein a partial wall ( 22 , 22 ′; 22 a - 22 g ) is defined in the writing area ( 26 ).

2. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the second energy input method is different from the first, spatially resolving energy input method, including where the second energy input method is without spatial resolution and/or where the second energy input method acts on the entire unpolymerized lithographic material enclosed in the shell wall ( 16 ).

3. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that in the first, spatially resolving energy input method the polymerization of the lithographic material takes place in a spatially movable focal area of a writing beam of a radiation source.

4. The method according to claim 3 , characterized in that the polymerization of the lithographic material is achieved by two-photon absorption or multi-photon absorption in the focal area of the writing beam.

5. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the first, spatially resolving energy input method is further used to define a support structure ( 30 ) located inside the shell wall ( 16 ), including where the support structure includes support elements that extend between sections of the shell wall ( 16 ).

6. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the lithographic material is deposited on a substrate ( 14 ) and that a section of the surface ( 12 ) of the substrate ( 14 ) encloses the volume ( 28 ) of unpolymerized lithographic material together with the shell wall ( 16 ).

7. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the intermediate development step leaves the volume ( 28 ) of unpolymerized lithographic material enclosed in the shell wall ( 16 ) unaffected.

8. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the lithographic material ( 24 ) used is configured to be photopolymerizable and/or thermopolymerizable.

9. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the shell wall ( 16 ) includes several wall sections ( 22 a - 22 g ) with different wall thicknesses.

10. The method according to claim 2 , characterized in that in the first, spatially resolving energy input method the polymerization of the lithographic material takes place in a spatially movable focal area of a writing beam of a radiation source.

11. The method according to claim 2 , characterized in that the first, spatially resolving energy input method is further used to define a support structure ( 30 ) located inside the shell wall ( 16 ), including where the support structure includes support elements that extend between sections of the shell wall ( 16 ).

12. The method according to claim 2 , characterized in that the lithographic material is deposited on a substrate ( 14 ) and that a section of the surface ( 12 ) of the substrate ( 14 ) encloses the volume ( 28 ) of unpolymerized lithographic material together with the shell wall ( 16 ).

13. The method according to claim 2 , characterized in that the intermediate development step leaves the volume ( 28 ) of unpolymerized lithographic material enclosed in the shell wall ( 16 ) unaffected.

14. The method according to claim 2 , characterized in that the lithographic material ( 24 ) used is configured to be photopolymerizable and/or thermopolymerizable.

15. The method according to claim 2 , characterized in that the shell wall ( 16 ) includes several wall sections ( 22 a - 22 g ) with different wall thicknesses.

16. The method according to claim 3 , characterized in that the first, spatially resolving energy input method is further used to define a support structure ( 30 ) located inside the shell wall ( 16 ), including where the support structure includes support elements that extend between sections of the shell wall ( 16 ).

17. The method according to claim 3 , characterized in that the lithographic material is deposited on a substrate ( 14 ) and that a section of the surface ( 12 ) of the substrate ( 14 ) encloses the volume ( 28 ) of unpolymerized lithographic material together with the shell wall ( 16 ).

18. The method according to claim 3 , characterized in that the intermediate development step leaves the volume ( 28 ) of unpolymerized lithographic material enclosed in the shell wall ( 16 ) unaffected.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 5, 2021
From: NANOSCRIBE GMBH
To: NANOSCRIBE HOLDING GMBH
Reel/Frame 056140/0345 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 29, 2015
From: THIEL, MICHAEL, DR.; REINER, ROMAN REINHARD; NIESLER, FABIAN, DR.; TANGUY, YANN, DR.
To: NANOSCRIBE GMBH
Reel/Frame 036684/0538 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2014 221 480 · Oct 22, 2014 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160114530A1 · Apr 28, 2016