Patent Application
20230168588
Systems and methods are described for general illumination for displaying illuminable patterns using maskless photography.
Photolithography is commonly used to produce semiconductors and nanoscale devices. The process generally involves the application, exposure and development of a photoresist that has been applied to the surface of a substrate, such as a silicon wafer. The exposure step in the photolithography process requires the application of a photoresist-curative light pattern to the surface of the photoresist to cure portions of the photoresist which have been exposed to the photoresist-curative. The light exposed photoresist is then developed to create patterned photoresist with voids therein. The patterned photoresist facilitates further processing such as the deposition of target materials such as dopant, metal, or metal oxide. The photoresist-curative light is often ultraviolet, which is used to selectively contact the photoresist-coated surface via the use of a writing beam, a projected image, or exposure through a patterned photomask.
A limitation in building devices that contain multiple layers of material deposited by photolithography is registration between layers and registration area limitations, i.e. the inability to accurately register features across a wide area. Typically a new layer of a device being built should have features registered with corresponding features on the currently top layer of the device. For example, according to one process, a registration limitation would be needed to cap a sub-micron scale optical feature with a metallic layer formed thereon, which requires the application and patterning of a photoresist that accurately creates a void above the area to be metalized. Features of the metallic layer should be registered with corresponding features of the sub-micron scale optical feature over the entire area of the device.
According to the inventive concepts disclosed herein there is provided a device. The device includes a light source and a light guide. The light source is configured to emit photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation. The light guide is arranged to receive the photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation from the light source and to guide the received radiation by total internal reflection, the light guide including a pattern of emission points on at least one surface of the light guide, the emission points emitting the photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation out of the light guide by frustration of total internal reflection caused by the emission points.
According to an aspect of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation is ultraviolet (UV) light.
According to an aspect of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the emission points comprise a light diffusing layer or a lens imprinted on the at least one surface of the light guide.
According to an aspect of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the device further includes a photoresist disposed on a first surface of the light guide, the emission points formed on the first surface, wherein portions of the photoresist material are cured by the photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation emitted at the emission points. According to an aspect of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the photoresist has an index of refraction less than that of the light guide so that the photoresist acts as an optical cladding to totally internally reflect the photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation at the interface between the light guide, other than at the emission points, and the photoresist.
According to an aspect of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the emission points include a roughened surface of the at least one surface.
According to an aspect of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the emission points include an implanted region of the at least one surface.
According to an aspect of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the emission points include a deposited light diffusing region adjacent the at least one surface.
According to an aspect of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the deposited light diffusing region includes a metal oxide.
According to an aspect of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the light source is arranged to the inject the photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation into an edge of the light guide.
According to an aspect of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the device further includes a photoresist disposed on a first surface of the light guide, the emission points formed on a second surface of the light guide opposite to the first surface, wherein portions of the photoresist material are cured by the photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation emitted at the emission points.
According to the inventive concepts disclosed herein there is provided a device. The device includes a light source and a light guide. The light source is configured to emit photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation. The light guide is arranged to receive the photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation from the light source and to guide the received radiation by total internal reflection, the light guide including a film on at least one surface of the light guide, the film having a pattern of emission points, the emission points emitting the photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation out of the light guide by frustration of total internal reflection caused by the emission points.
According to an aspect of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation is ultraviolet (UV) light. According to an aspect of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the film has an index of refraction less than that of the light guide so that the film acts as an optical cladding to totally internally reflect the photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation at the interface between the film, other than at the emission points, and the film.
According to an aspect of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the device further includes a photoresist disposed on a first surface of the light guide, the emission points formed on the film on the first surface, wherein portions of the photoresist material are cured by the photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation emitted at the emission points.
According to an aspect of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the device further includes a photoresist disposed on a first surface of the light guide, the emission points formed on the film on a second surface of the light guide opposite to the first surface, wherein portions of the photoresist material are cured by the photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation emitted at the emission points.
According to an aspect of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the light source is arranged to the inject the photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation into an edge of the light guide.
According to the inventive concepts disclosed herein there is provided a method for exposing photoresist to photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation. The photoresist is disposed on a first surface of a light guide, the light guide having a pattern of emission points. Photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation is injected into the light guide such that the photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation is guided within the light guide by total internal reflection, the emission points emitting the photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation into the photoresist by frustration of total internal reflection caused by the emission points. The photoresist is developed to form a patterned photoresist.
According to an aspect of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation is injected into an edge of the light guide.
According to an aspect of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation is ultraviolet (UV) light.
According to an aspect of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the emission points comprise a light diffusing layer or a lens imprinted on the first surface of the light guide.
According to an aspect of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the method further comprises forming a patterned reflective layer on the light guide using the patterned photoresist.
Implementations of the inventive concepts disclosed herein may be better understood when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the included drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, and in which some features may be exaggerated and some features may be omitted or may be represented schematically in the interest of clarity. Like reference numerals in the drawings may represent and refer to the same or similar element, feature, or function. In the drawings:
According to at least one embodiment, an optical substrate with a light-emitting surface pattern is deployed to enable maskless photolithography, which eliminates some registration limitations while providing the ability to register nanoscale features across a wide area, for example areas greater than 500 square inches. For example, the maskless photolithography may include providing a pattern on the optical substrate, and introducing photo-curative light into the substrate to selectively expose a photoresist to photo-curative light based on the pattern on the optical substrate.
The optical substrate may be part of displays that emit light, including ultra-high definition displays, multi-layer displays, and displays that feature transparent illumination. The optical substrate may be part of a nanoscale electronic device, as another example.
The display formed may be, for example, a one-way see-through illumination device which may be formed according to at least one embodiment.
Some of the light, but not all, originally emitted from the light source 130 is ultimately directed to the back surface 142 and exits the back surface 142. On the other hand, light originally emitted from the light source 130 which is directed to the front surface 140 is totally internally reflected and does not exit the front surface 140. Thus, the eye 150 of a viewer which is on the side of the back surface 142 is able to view light originating from the light source 130 and injected into the light guide 110. On the other hand, the eye 150 of a viewer, if the eye 150 is on the side of the front surface 140, is not able to view light originating from the light source 130 and injected into the light guide 110. Thus, the light originating from the light source 130 and injected into the light guide 110 appears to be invisible from the front surface 140.
A light ray 132 is emitted from the light source 130 and directed into the light guide 110 at an angle such that the light ray 132 impinging on the front surface 140 or back source 142 undergoes total internal reflection, and the light ray 132 stays within the light guide 110. The light diffusing layer 124 may be chosen to be made of a light diffusing material which has an index of refraction such that when the light ray 132 originally emitted from the light source 130 impinges on the light diffusing layer 124, total internal reflection does not occur, and the light ray 132 is transmitted into the light diffusing layer 124. The light ray 132 transmitted into the light diffusing layer 124 is diffused and impinges on the light reflecting layer 122, where the light ray 132 is reflected back into the light diffusing layer 124 and is further diffused. The reflected and diffused light from the light diffusing layer 124 then exits the light diffusing layer 124, and impacts the back surface 142 at less than the critical angle such that the light exits the light guide 110, and can be seen.
The one-way see-through illumination device 100 may be formed using maskless techniques according to at least one embodiment.
According to at least one embodiment, a device is provided for the emission of photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation by frustration of total internal reflection in an optical substrate, a light guide, caused by a pattern of emission points. At the pattern of emission points, the photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation changes direction so that it may impinge upon a photoresist as part of photolithography process. The light guide may be an optically clear (light transmissive) substrate, such as glass or a transparent plastic. For example, the light guide may be PMMA (acrylic), PETG, PS (polystyrene), or PC (polycarbonate).
An initial step in the subject photolithography process is the formation of emission points. The emission points may be permanent or temporary, and may be light refracting, light diffusing, or light reflecting, where the emission points may be on at least one surface of light guide. The pattern of emission points may be used to frustrate photoresist-curative light, which is present within the light guide due to total internal reflection. In this regard, the photoresist-curative light is edge-injected into the light guide and redirected so that it is emitted onto the surface of the photoresist.
The emission points may be of a material, and/or geometry, that causes a portion of the photoresist-curative light within the light guide to exceed the critical angle needed to maintain total internal reflection. As a result, the photoresist receives the photoresist-curative light at regions directly above the pattern of light emissive points, and the photoresist may be developed to form a pattern of voids in the photoresist at regions corresponding to the light emissive points. The photoresist may be a negative photoresist or positive photoresist, for example.
The device 200 includes a light guide 110. The light guide 110 includes a pattern of emission points 210. The emission points 210 may be light refracting, light diffusing, or light reflecting, for example. For example, the pattern of light emission points 210 may be a light diffusing layer 124 as shown in
Referring to
The emission points 210 emit the photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation by frustration of total internal reflection caused by the emission points 210. A light ray 132 is emitted from the light source 230 and directed into the light guide 110 at an angle such that the light ray 132 impinging on a front surface 140 or back surface 142 of the light guide undergoes total internal reflection, and the light ray 132 stays within the light guide 110. The light source 210 may direct photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation into the light guide 110 by edge injection into an edge 250 of the light guide 110. If the emission points 210 are part of a light diffusing layer 124, the light diffusing layer 124 may be chosen to be made of a light diffusing material which has an index of refraction such that when the light ray 132 originally emitted from the light source 130 impinges on an emission points 210, total internal reflection does not occur, and the light ray 132 exits the light guide 110 at the emission points 210. The exiting light ray 132 impinges on corresponding regions of a photoresist 240 disposed on the light guide 110. The photoresist 240 is then developed to form a patterned photoresist 245 as shown in
The light source 230 is configured to emit photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation. If the photoresist is UV curable, for example, the light source 230 would be configured to emit UV light. Alternatively, the photoresist may be visible light curable. The light source 230 may be the same as the light source 130 of the device in
The emission points 210 may be light diffusing material. Alternatively, the emission points 210 may be light refracting. For example, the emission points 210 may be formed as lenses imprinted on a surface of the light guide 110.
The emission points 210 may be formed in any way to provide a frustration of total internal reflection at the emission points of the photoresist-curative electromagnetic radiation being guided in the light guide 110. The emission points 210 may be formed as a roughened surface of the light guide 110. In this regard the emission points 210 may be formed by etching or laser ablation, for example. The etching may be wet or dry etching, for example. The dry etching may be reactive ion etching for example. The emission points 210 may be formed as an implanted region on the surface of the light guide 110. For example, the surface of the light guide 110 may be implanted with metal ions. The emission points 210 may be formed as a deposited light diffusing region. For example, the emission points 210 may be formed by depositing a metal oxide on the light guide 110.
The emission points 210 are of a material and geometry in
The emission points 210 are of a material and geometry in
Further in
Once the photoresist 240 is patterned into the patterned photoresist 245 according to any of the devices of
For example, starting with the device of
Once the light diffusing layer 124 is formed, the light reflecting layer 122 may be formed on the light diffusing layer 124, such as, for example, as shown in
The light reflecting layer 122 may be formed, for example, by sputter deposition of a metal. For example, Aluminum may be deposited as the light reflecting layer 122. An example of a light reflecting layer 122, capable of reflecting 99.99% of incidental light, would be 400 Angstroms of Aluminum applied by magnetron sputter coating.
Referring to
The embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein have been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts.
Embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein have been described with reference to drawings. The drawings illustrate certain details of specific embodiments that implement systems and methods of the present disclosure. However, describing the embodiments with drawings should not be construed as imposing any limitations that may be present in the drawings.
The foregoing description of embodiments has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the subject matter to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the subject matter disclosed herein. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principals of the disclosed subject matter and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the disclosed subject matter in various embodiments with various modification as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the embodiments without departing from the scope of the presently disclosed subject matter.
This application Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/041,756, filed Mar. 27, 2019, entitled “MASKLESS PHOTOLITHOGRAPHY DEVICES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS, which is a US National Phase of and claims priority to International Application Serial No. PCT/US2019/024434, filed Mar. 27, 2019, entitled “MASKLESS PHOTOLITHOGRAPHY DEVICES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS,” which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/648,780 filed Mar. 27, 2018, entitled “MASKLESS PHOTOLITHOGRAPHY DEVICES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS,” incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62648780 | Mar 2018 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17041756 | Sep 2020 | US |
| Child | 18102274 | US |
