Patterned stamp manufacturing method, patterned stamp imprinting method and imprinted article

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9908358-B2
Application number	US-201414905856-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2014
Priority date	Jul 22, 2013
Publication date	Mar 6, 2018
Grant date	Mar 6, 2018

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a patterned stamp ( 100 ) for patterning a contoured surface ( 10 ) is disclosed. The method comprises providing a pliable stamp layer ( 120 ) carrying a pattern of features ( 122 ), forcing the pliable stamp layer onto the contoured surface with said pattern of features facing the contoured surface; applying a fluid support layer ( 130 ) over the pliable stamp layer on the contoured surface; solidifying the support layer ( 140 ) to form the patterned stamp; and removing the patterned stamp from the contoured surface. A corresponding patterned stamp, imprinting method and imprinted article are also disclosed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of manufacturing a patterned stamp for patterning a contoured surface, the method comprising:
providing a pliable stamp layer carrying a pattern of relief features;
forcing the pliable stamp layer onto the contoured surface with said pattern of relief features facing the contoured surface;
applying a fluid support layer over the pliable stamp layer on the contoured surface;
solidifying the support layer to form the patterned stamp; and
removing the patterned stamp from the contoured surface.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein forcing the pliable stamp layer onto the contoured surface comprises:
placing the contoured surface with the pliable stamp layer in a vacuum chamber; and
reducing the pressure in said vacuum chamber to force the pliable stamp layer onto the contoured surface.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein solidifying comprises grafting the support layer onto the pliable stamp layer.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the pliable stamp layer and the support layer comprise a rubbery material.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the rubbery material is a siloxane-based material such as polydimethylsiloxane.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the relief features have a larger than intended dimensions, the relief features shrinking to the intended dimensions during solidifying.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying a soft layer onto the contoured surface, wherein forcing the pliable stamp layer onto the contoured surface comprises forcing the relief features into the soft layer.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pliable stamp layer comprises a distorted pattern of features, and wherein forcing the patterned pliable stamp layer onto the contoured surface comprises deforming the distorted pattern into an intended pattern.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising fixating the patterned stamp on a rigid carrier.

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Van Brakel Remco
• Verschuuren Jr Marcus Antonius

Classifications

• B41N1/14 Primary

  Lithographic printing foils {(B41N1/003, B41N3/03 take precedence; compositions of the image-forming layer B41C1/10)} · CPC title

• B41F7/00

  Rotary lithographic machines {(such office printing machines B41L7/00)} · CPC title

• B41K1/28

  flexible · CPC title

• G03F7/0002 Primary

  Lithographic processes using patterning methods other than those involving the exposure to radiation, e.g. by stamping · CPC title

• B41K1/26

  with stamping surfaces adapted for application to non-flat surfaces · CPC title