Plated multi-faceted reflector

Abstract

A nano-resonating structure constructed and adapted to include additional ultra-small structures that can be formed with reflective surfaces. By positioning such ultra-small structures adjacent ultra-small resonant structures the light or other EMR being produced by the ultra-small resonant structures when excited can be reflected in multiple directions. This permits the light or EMR out put to be viewed and used in multiple directions.

Description

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright or mask work protection. The copyright or mask work owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright or mask work rights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates to multi-directional electromagnetic radiation output devices, and particularly to ultra-small resonant structures, and arrays formed there from, together with the formation of, in conjunction with and in association with separately formed reflectors, positioned adjacent the ultra-small resonant structures. As the ultra-small resonant structures are excited and produce out put energy, light or other electromagnetic radiation (EMR), that output will be observable in or from multiple directions.

INTRODUCTION

Electroplating is well known and is used in a variety of applications, including the production of microelectronics, and in particular the ultra-small resonant structures referenced herein. For example, an integrated circuit can be electroplated with copper to fill structural recesses. In a similar way, a variety of etching techniques can also be used to form ultra-small resonant structures. In this regard, reference can be had to Ser. Nos. 10/917,511 and 11/203,407, previously noted above, and attention is directed to them for further details on each of these techniques, consequently those details do not need to be repeated herein.

Ultra-small structures encompass a range of structure sizes sometimes described as micro- or nano-sized. Objects with dimensions measured in ones, tens or hundreds of microns are described as micro-sized. Objects with dimensions measured in ones, tens or hundreds of nanometers or less are commonly designated nano-sized. Ultra-small hereinafter refers to structures and features ranging in size from hundreds of microns in size to ones of nanometers in size.

The devices of the present invention produce electromagnetic radiation by the excitation of ultra-small resonant structures. The resonant excitation in a device according to the invention is induced by electromagnetic interaction which is caused, e.g., by the passing of a charged particle beam in close proximity to the device. The charged particle beam can include ions (positive or negative), electrons, protons and the like. The beam may be produced by any source, including, e.g., without limitation an ion gun, a tungsten filament, a cathode, a planar vacuum triode, an electron-impact ionizer, a laser ionizer, a chemical ionizer, a thermal ionizer, an ion-impact ionizer.

Plating techniques, in addition to permitting the creation of smooth walled micro structures, also permit the creation of additional, free formed or grown structures that can have a wide variety of side wall or exterior surface characteristics, depending upon the plating parameters. The exterior surface can vary from smooth to very rough structures, and a multitude of degrees of each in between. Such additional ultra small structures can be formed or created adjacent the primary formation or array of ultra-small resonant structures so that when the latter are excited by a beam of charged particles moving there past, such additional ultra-small structures can act as reflectors permitting the out put from the excited ultra-small resonant structures to be directed or view from multiple directions.

A multitude of applications exist for electromagnetic radiating devices that can produce EMR at frequencies spanning the infrared, visible, and ultra-violet spectrums, in multiple directions.

Glossary

As used throughout this document:

The phrase “ultra-small resonant structure” shall mean any structure of any material, type or microscopic size that by its characteristics causes electrons to resonate at a frequency in excess of the microwave frequency.

The term “ultra-small” within the phrase “ultra-small resonant structure” shall mean microscopic structural dimensions and shall include so-called “micro” structures, “nano” structures, or any other very small structures that will produce resonance at frequencies in excess of microwave frequencies.

DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTLY PREFERRED EXAMPLES OF THE INVENTION

Brief Description of Figures

The invention is better understood by reading the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1A-1C comprise a diagrammatic showing of three steps in forming the reflectors;

FIG. 2A-2E comprise a diagrammatic showing of forming a reflector having an alternative shape;

FIG. 3 shows one exemplary configuration of ultra-small resonant structures and the additional reflectors; and

FIG. 4 shows another exemplary configuration of ultra-small resonant structures and additional reflectors.

DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A is a schematic drawing of selected steps in the process of forming ultra-small resonant structures and the additional structures that will serve as reflectors. It should be understood that the reflectors disclosed herein are deemed novel in their own right, and the invention contemplates the formation and use of reflectors by themselves, as well as in combination with other structures including the ultra-small resonant structures referenced herein and in the above applications. Reference can be made to application Ser. No. 11/203,407 for details on electro plating processing techniques that can be used in the formation of ultra-small resonant structures as well as the additional ultra-small structures that will serve as reflectors, and those techniques will not be repeated herein.

In one presently preferred embodiment, an array of ultra-small resonant structures can be prepared by evaporating a 0.1 to 0.3 nanometer thick layer of nickel (Ni) onto the surface of a silicon (Si) wafer, or a like substrate, to form a conductive layer on that substrate. The artisan will recognize that the substrate need not be silicon. The substrate can be substantially flat and may be either conductive or non-conductive with a conductive layer applied by other means. In the same processing a 10 to 300 nanometer layer of silver (Ag) can then be deposited using electron beam evaporation on top of the nickel layer. Alternative methods of production can also be used to deposit the silver coating. The presence of the nickel layer improves the adherence of silver to the silicon. In an alternate embodiment, a thin carbon (C) layer may be evaporated onto the surface instead of the nickel layers. Alternatively, the conductive layer may comprise indium tin oxide (ITO) or comprise a conductive polymer or other conductive materials.

The now-conductive substrate 102, with the nickel and silver coatings thereon, is coated with a layer of photoresist as is shown in FIG. 1A at 110 or with an insulating layer, for example, silicon nitride (SiNx). In current embodiments, a layer of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is deposited over top of the conductive coating. The PMMA may be diluted to produce a continuous layer of 200 nanometers. The photoresist layer is exposed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and developed to produce a pattern of the desired device structure. The patterned substrate is positioned in an electroplating bath. A range of alternate examples of photoresists, both negative and positive in type, can be used to coat the conductive surface and then patterned to create the desired structure. In FIG. 1A, ultra-small resonant structures are shown at 106 and 108 as having been previously formed in the patterned layer of photoresist or an insulating layer 110. FIG. 1A also shows the next step of depositing an additional photoresist material 112 on top of and covering the existing previously deposited photoresist or insulating layer 110 and covering the ultra-small resonant structures 106 and 108. An opening is then formed in the material 112, down to the opening 104 that remains in the material 110, and in subsequent processing a free formed, or unconstrained structure 114 is in the process of being formed.

FIG. 1B shows the free formed, or unconstrained, structure 116 that has resulted from further electro plating processing and with the additional photoresist material or insulating 112 removed. It should be understood that the formation process, for these additional structures, can be controlled very precisely so that it is possible to form any size or shape additional structures, and to control the nature of the exterior surface of those additional structures.

FIG. 1C shows the result following removal of the initial photoresist layer 110 which leaves the ultra-small resonant structures 106 and 108 as well as the additional structure 116 formed there between. It should be noted that this photoresist or insulating layer does not need to be removed, but can be left in place. This additional structure 116 can have a wide variety of side wall morphologies varying from smooth to very rough, so that a number of surfaces thereof can be reflective surfaces, including all or portions of the sides, the top and a variety of angled or other surfaces there between. For reflection purposes it is preferred to have the outer surface of the additional structure 116 formed with a very rough exterior. Light or other EMR emanating from each of the ultra-small resonant structures 106 and 108, in the direction of the additional structure 116, can then be reflected by the exterior of that additional structure 116 in a multiple of directions as indicated at 120. As a result, various devices for receiving the produced EMR, such as light and colors, which can vary from optical pick up devices to the human eye, will be able to see the reflected energy from multiple directions.

FIG. 2A shows another embodiment where the substrate 202, on which the Ni and Ag has been applied, has already had a layer of photoresist or insulating material 210 deposited and an ultra-small resonant structure 206 has been formed. An additional amount of photoresist 212 has been deposited over the first photoresist 210 and over the ultra-small resonant structure 206. To the right of the ultra-small resonant structure 206 an opening 211 has been made in the photoresist layer 210, and additional photoresist material 215 has been deposited on the right side of the substrate 202. The outer portion is shown in dotted line to indicate that this photoresist material 215 can extend to the edge of the substrate 202 whether that edge is near the opening 211 or the outer edge of a chip or circuit board, as shown in the solid lines, or farther away as shown by the dotted lines. This additional photoresist material 215 is also formed with a flat, vertical interior surface 216. Subsequent electroplating steps will then begin the process of forming or growing an additional structure which is shown in an initial stage of development at 214. It should be understood that the photoresist material could be shaped in any desired manner so that some portion of the additional structure subsequently being formed can then take on the mirror image of that shaped structure. Thus, flat walls, curved walls, angled or angular surfaces, as well as many other shapes or exterior surfaces, in addition to rough exterior surfaces, could be created to accomplish a variety of desired results as a designer might desire. For example, it might be desired to have a particular angle or shape formed on a reflector surface to angle or focus the produced energy put in a particular direction or way.

FIG. 2B demonstrates that the additional structure 226 has been formed and with the material 215 removed, or not since removal is not required, the additional structure 226 has a flat exterior wall surface 228 where it was in contact with photoresist material at the surface 216.

FIG. 2C shows that all of the photoresist material has been removed, even though it does not need to be, leaving the ultra-small resonant structure 206 and the additional structure 226 on substrate 202. As shown by the lines 220, light or energy produced by the ultra-small resonant structure 206 when excited and which is directed toward the additional structure 226 will be reflected in multiple directions by the rough exterior surface thereon.

In FIG. 2D another embodiment is shown where the substrate 302, similar to the substrates described above, has been coated with a layer of photoresist or an insulating layer 310 and an ultra-small resonant structure 306 has been formed. Additional photoresist material has been deposited over the whole substrate and a hole has been formed down to the substrate and layer 310 as indicated by the dotted line at 320. This has also formed the two opposing vertical walls 316 and 318. The subsequent electro plating will form the structure 314 where one side has developed in an unconstrained way and is irregular while the portion in contact with wall 318 is flat and relatively smooth, and a mirror image of wall 318. Once the material 312 is removed, as shown in FIG. 2E, the ultra-small resonant structure 306 and the additional ultra-small structure 314 remain. The additional ultra-small structure 314 will act as a reflector of the EMR or light emitted by 306 as shown by the waves 322.

It should be understood that a wide variety of shapes, sizes and styles of ultra-small resonant structures can be produced, as identified and described in the above referenced applications, all of which are incorporated by reference herein. Consequently, FIGS. 3 and 4 show only two exemplary arrays of ultra-small resonant structures where reflectors 116/226, like those described above, have been formed outside of the arrays.

In FIG. 3 an array 152 of a plurality of ultra-small resonant structures 150 is shown with spacings between them 124 that extend from the front of one ultra-small resonant structure to the front of the next adjacent structure, and with widths 126. A beam of charged particles 130 is being directed past the array 152 and a plurality of segmented or separately formed reflectors 116/226 are located on the side of the array 152 opposite to the side where beam 130 is passing. Consequently, light or other EMR being produced by the excited array 152 of ultra-small resonant structures 150 will be reflected as shown at 154 in a multiple of directions by the reflectors 116/226. While a plurality of separately formed reflectors are shown, it is also possible to form or grow one elongated reflector as shown in dotted line at 116L.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment employing two parallel arrays of ultra-small resonant structures, 155R and 155G, designating then as being red and green light producing ultra-small resonant structures. A beam of charged particles 134 being generated by a source 140 and deflected by deflectors 160 as shown by the multiple paths of that beam 134. The red and green light producing ultra-small resonant structures 155R and 155G are being exited by beam 134 and the light being produced is being reflected by the additional structures 116/226 located along the arrays and on each side of the arrays opposite where beam 134 is passing. This reflected light is shown at 170, and because the exterior surface of the additional structures 116/226 is rough the reflected light will be visible in multiple of directions. While the reflectors have been shown as being segmented or spaced apart, they could also be in the form of one elongated reflector structure 175, or as several elongated reflector structures as shown at 176.

It should be understood that while a small oval structure, or the elongated rectangles at 116L, 175 and 176, respectively, are being used in FIGS. 3 and 4 to represent the reflector structures, these reflectors can have a wide variety of shapes, as noted previously above, and these representations in FIGS. 3 and 4 should not be viewed as being limiting in any way. Further, the invention also comprises the reflectors themselves on a suitable substrate.

A wide range of morphologies can be achieved in forming the additional structures to be used as reflectors, for example, by altering parameters such as peak voltage, pulse widths, and rest times. Consequently, many exterior surface types and forms can be produced allowing a wide range of reflector surfaces depending upon the results desired.

Nano-resonating structures can be constructed with many types of materials. Examples of suitable fabrication materials include silver, copper, gold, and other high conductivity metals, and high temperature superconducting materials. The material may be opaque or semi-transparent. In the above-identified patent applications, ultra-small structures for producing electromagnetic radiation are disclosed, and methods of making the same. In at least one embodiment, the resonant structures of the present invention are made from at least one layer of metal (e.g., silver, gold, aluminum, platinum or copper or alloys made with such metals); however, multiple layers and non-metallic structures (e.g., carbon nanotubes and high temperature superconductors) can be utilized, as long as the structures are excited by the passage of a charged particle beam. The materials making up the resonant structures may be deposited on a substrate and then etched, electroplated, or otherwise processed to create a number of individual resonant elements. The material need not even be a contiguous layer, but can be a series of resonant elements individually present on a substrate. The materials making up the resonant elements can be produced by a variety of methods, such as by pulsed-plating, depositing or etching. Preferred methods for doing so are described in co-pending U.S. application Ser. Nos. 10/917,571 and No. 11/203,407, both of which were previously referenced above and incorporated herein by reference.

While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A nano-resonating structure comprising: at least one ultra-small resonant structure mounted on a substrate, a source of charged particles arranged to excite and cause the at least one ultra-small resonant structure to resonate to thereby produce EMR, and at least one additional structure positioned adjacent the at least one ultra-small resonant structure so that at least a portion of an exterior surface of the additional structure will act as a reflector of at least a portion of the EMR being produced.

2. The nano-resonating structure as in claim 1 further comprising an array comprised of at least two ultra-small resonant structures.

3. The nano-resonating structure as in claim 2 wherein the at least one additional structure comprises an elongated structure extending along at least a portion of the array.

4. The nano-resonating structure as in claim 2 further including a plurality of additional structures.

5. The nano-resonating structure as in claim 4 wherein each of the plurality of additional structures comprises an ultra small structure arranged as a series of spaced apart individual reflectors.

6. The nano-resonating structure as in claim 1 wherein the at least one additional structure has a rough exterior surface.

7. The nano-resonating structure as in claim 1 wherein the at least one additional structure has at least one angled reflecting surface.

8. The nano-resonating structure as in claim 1 wherein the at least one additional structure has a surface that will reflect and focus EMR directed there towards.

9. The nano-resonating structure as in claim 1 wherein the at least one additional structure exhibits a multi-directional reflecting exterior surface.

10. The nano-resonating structure as in claim 2 wherein the at least one additional structure is positioned on one side of the array.

11. The nano-resonating structure as in claim 2 wherein the at least one additional structure is positioned on two sides of the array.

12. The nano-resonating structure as in claim 2 wherein the at least one additional structure is positioned on opposite sides of the array.

13. The nano-resonating structure as in claim 2 further including a plurality of additional structures that are segmented and spaced apart along the array.

14. The nano-resonating structure as in claim 1 wherein all of the EMR being produced by the at least one ultra-small resonant structure.

15. A nano-reflecting structure comprising a substrate having formed thereon a nano-structure having at least one portion of an exterior surface that will reflect EMR directed there toward.

16. The nano-reflecting structure as in claim 15 wherein the exterior surface is multi-faceted to reflect EMR in a plurality of directions.

17. The nano-reflecting structure as in claim 15 wherein the nano-structure comprises a series of spaced apart structures.

18. The nano-reflecting structure as in claim 15 wherein the nano-structure comprises an elongated structure.

19. The nano-reflecting structure as in claim 15 further comprising a plurality of nano-structures each having a multi-faceted exterior capable of reflecting at least a portion of EMR directed there toward.

20. The nano-reflecting structure as in claim 19 wherein the nano-reflecting structure reflects in a multi-directional manner.

21. The nano-reflecting structure as in claim 15 wherein the at least one portion of an exterior surface that is reflecting comprises a side surface.

22. The nano-reflecting structure as in claim 15 wherein the at least one portion of an exterior surface that is reflecting comprises a top surface.