Photostructured chemical devices and methods for making same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9481571-B2
Application number	US-201414564406-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2014
Priority date	Jan 13, 2010
Publication date	Nov 1, 2016
Grant date	Nov 1, 2016

Abstract

A photostructurable ceramic is processed using photostructuring process steps for embedding devices within a photostructurable ceramic volume, the devices may include one or more of chemical, mechanical, electronic, electromagnetic, optical, and acoustic devices, all made in part by creating device material within the ceramic or by disposing a device material through surface ports of the ceramic volume, with the devices being interconnected using internal connections and surface interfaces.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of making an embedded chemical device, comprising:
providing a homogeneous volume of unexposed ceramic material;
photostructuring plumbing in the ceramic volume by selective laser exposure of the ceramic volume during a photostructurable process, wherein the photostructuring of plumbing comprises:
photostructuring a top chamber;
photostructuring a bottom chamber;
photostructuring a catalyst chamber between the top chamber and the bottom chamber and in fluid communication with the top chamber and the bottom chamber;
photostructuring a top chamber conduit between the top chamber and an exterior of the ceramic volume providing a fluidic pathway between the top chamber and the exterior of the ceramic volume;
photostructuring a bottom chamber conduit between the bottom chamber and the exterior of the ceramic volume providing a fluidic pathway between the bottom chamber and the exterior of the ceramic volume;

electrically coupling a first end of an electrical conductor to the catalyst chamber;
disposing a second end of the electrical conductor along the exterior of the ceramic volume;
disposing a device material in the catalyst chamber, the device material comprising a catalyst and forming a chemical device in the catalyst chamber;
disposing a first chemical in the top chamber, wherein the first chemical interacts with the catalyst;
disposing a second chemical in the bottom chamber; wherein the second chemical interacts with the catalyst; and
controlling the catalyst by providing an electrical signal to the catalyst via the electrical conductor.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic volume comprises a homogeneous volume of unexposed photostructurable ceramic material encapsulating the device material.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plumbing has shapes including at least one of a cavity, via, tank, void, bubble, tube, conduit, gap, well, sphere, plenum, tunnel, plate, coil, feedthrough or guide.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second chemical is disposed from an external source via the bottom chamber conduit.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first chemical is disposed from an external source via the top chamber conduit.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
electrically coupling a first end of a second electrical conductor to the catalyst chamber;
disposing a second end of the second electrical conductor along the exterior of the ceramic volume;
wherein the electrical conductor is a positive electrical conductor and wherein the second electrical conductor is a negative electrical conductor.

Assignees

• Helvajian Henry
• Aerospace Corp

Inventors

• Helvajian Henry

Classifications

• B81C1/00634

  Processes for shaping materials not provided for in groups B81C1/00444 - B81C1/00626 · CPC title

• B01L2300/0874

  Three dimensional network · CPC title

• B81C1/00341 Primary

  Processes for manufacturing microsystems not provided for in groups B81C1/00023 - B81C1/00261 · CPC title

• Y10T29/49117

  Conductor or circuit manufacturing · CPC title

• B01L3/502738

  characterised by integrated valves (throttle valves in microfluidic sample containers B01L3/502746) · CPC title