Patent ID: 9250533
Filing Date: 2016-02-02
CPC Classification: C23C,C25D,G03F,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A method of fabricating a multi-level, metallic microstructure by a UV photolithographic and galvanic deposition technique, wherein it includes the steps of: a) providing a top planar substrate that has a conductive surface; b) covering the top planar conductive surface with a first layer of photosensitive resin; c) irradiating the first layer of photosensitive resin through a mask that matches a desired pattern cavity; d) developing the first layer so as to hollow out apertures therein and thus obtain a first level of a resin mould, the apertures in the first resin layer revealing the conductive surface of the top planar substrate; e) depositing a second layer of photosensitive resin over the first developed layer of photosensitive resin and the revealed top planar conductive surface of the substrate, so as to cover the first developed layer of photosensitive resin and the revealed top planar conductive surface and, to fill the apertures of the first developed layer of photosensitive resin; f) irradiating the second photosensitive resin layer through a mask that matches a desired pattern cavity; g) developing the second photosensitive resin layer so as to hollow out apertures therein and to obtain a multi-level resin mould, the apertures in the multi-level mould formed by the developed first and second resin layers, revealing the top planar conductive surface of the substrate; h) galvanically depositing a metal or alloy in the apertures of the multi-level resin mould formed by the developed first and second resin layers; i) separating the substrate, then removing the first and second resin layers so as to reveal the multi-level metallic structure formed by the metal or alloy deposited in the apertures.