IP Library Granted Patent US 8,383,023
Granted Patent B2
US 8,383,023 · App. 12/633,596 · Granted Feb 26, 2013

Molding method

Inventors: Jin-ha Kim (Busan-si, KR); Seung Seob Lee (Daejeon, KR)
Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,383,023
App. No.
12/633,596
Granted
Feb 26, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A molding method may include forming a pattern on a surface of a substrate, the pattern and the surface of the substrate having an opposite polarity to each other, providing the substrate on which the pattern is formed with a liquid to form a liquid mold on either the surface of the substrate or the pattern, the liquid having a polarity identical to the polarity of the surface of the substrate or the polarity of the pattern and cooling the liquid mold at a temperature below a freezing point of the liquid to form a solid mold.

Claims (47)

1. A molding method comprising:

forming a pattern on a surface of a substrate, the pattern and the surface of the substrate having an opposite polarity to each other;

providing the substrate on which the pattern is formed with a liquid to form a liquid mold on either a surface of the substrate or a surface of the pattern, the liquid having a polarity identical to the polarity of the surface of the substrate or the polarity of the pattern;

cooling the liquid mold at a temperature below a freezing point of the liquid to form a solid mold;

providing a molding material on the solid mold; and

heating the molding material and/or the substrate at a temperature greater than a boiling point of the liquid.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing a molding material on the solid mold includes providing the molding material having a temperature less than the freezing point of the liquid.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

heating the molding material and the solid mold to cure the molding material and to melt the solid mold into the liquid.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

discharging the liquid melted from the solid mold through an opening formed in the cured molding material and/or in the substrate.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

removing the substrate and/or the pattern.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a shape of the liquid mold is controlled by adjusting at least one of a viscosity of the liquid, a dipole moment of the liquid, a dipole moment of the surface of the substrate and a dipole moment of the pattern.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the substrate has either a hydrophilic property or a hydrophobic property and the pattern has an opposite property to the property of the surface of the substrate.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the liquid is hydrophilic.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the hydrophilic liquid is water.

10. The method of claim 2 , wherein the molding material is supplied by spin coating to form a thin film on the solid mold.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pattern is made of a photoresist patterned by photolithography.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid is provided by spraying the liquid on the surface of the substrate and on the pattern.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid is provided by immersing the substrate in the liquid.

14. A molding method comprising:

forming a hydrophobic pattern on a hydrophilic surface of a substrate;

providing hydrophilic liquid on the hydrophilic surface of the substrate and on the pattern to form a liquid mold on the hydrophilic surface of the substrate;

cooling the liquid mold at a temperature below a freezing point of the hydrophilic liquid to form a solid mold;

providing, on the solid mold and the pattern, a molding material; and

curing the molding material by heating the molding material at a temperature greater than a boiling point of the hydrophilic liquid.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

providing, on the solid mold and the pattern, the molding material having a temperature less than the freezing point of the hydrophilic liquid.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the substrate is made of silicon and the surface of the substrate is processed by thermal oxidation.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

discharging the hydrophilic liquid melted from the solid mold through an opening formed in the cured molding material and/or in the substrate.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the molding material is supplied by spin coating to form a thin film on the solid mold.

19. A molding method comprising:

forming a pattern on a surface of a substrate, the pattern and the surface of the substrate having an opposite polarity to each other;

providing the substrate on which the pattern is formed with a liquid to form a liquid mold on either a surface of the substrate or a surface of the pattern, the liquid having a polarity identical to the polarity of the surface of the substrate or the polarity of the pattern;

cooling the liquid mold at a temperature below a freezing point of the liquid to form a solid mold;

providing a molding material on the solid mold; and

heating the substrate and/or the molding material effective to at least partially vaporize the liquid to control a shape of the molding material.

20. The molding method of claim 19 , further comprising forming at least one opening in the substrate and/or the molding material, the at least one opening effective to discharge the liquid.

21. A molding method comprising:

forming a pattern on a surface of a substrate, the pattern and the surface of the substrate having an opposite polarity to each other;

providing the substrate on which the pattern is formed with a liquid to form a liquid mold on either a surface of the substrate or a surface of the pattern, the liquid having a polarity identical to the polarity of the surface of the substrate or the polarity of the pattern;

cooling the liquid mold at a temperature below a freezing point of the liquid to form a solid mold;

providing a molding material on the solid mold; and

cooling the substrate and/or the molding material effective to condense the liquid to control the shape of the molding material.

22. The molding method of claim 21 , further comprising forming at least one opening in the substrate and/or the molding material, the at least one opening effective to discharge the liquid.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS, RECORDED ON JULY 31, 2019 AT REEL 049924 FRAME 0794 Recorded Jun 22, 2026
From: CRESTLINE DIRECT FINANCE, L.P., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
Reel/Frame 075798/0763 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS, RECORDED ON JANUARY 29, 2019 AT REEL 048373 FRAME 0217 Recorded Sep 22, 2025
From: CRESTLINE DIRECT FINANCE, L.P., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
Reel/Frame 072936/0464 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2019
From: CRESTLINE DIRECT FINANCE, L.P.
To: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
Reel/Frame 049924/0794 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2019
From: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
To: CRESTLINE DIRECT FINANCE, L.P.
Reel/Frame 048373/0217 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 8, 2009
From: KIM, JIN-HA; LEE, SEUNG SEOB
To: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Reel/Frame 023623/0110 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110133360A1 · Jun 9, 2011