Patent ID: 9522821
Filing Date: 2016-12-20
CPC Classification: B81B,B81C,B82Y,G01Q,H01L

Claim Text:
1. A method of fabricating a plurality of pillar-like structures on a substrate, said substrate having a plurality of protuberances formed thereon, each of the protuberances having an apex and sidewalls extending downward from an apex area, said method comprising: forming a protective layer covering each protuberance of the plurality of protuberances with a mask material to cover at least the apex of the each protuberance; removing the protective layer of the mask material from sidewalls of the each protuberance to expose the sidewalls and leave an island of the mask material covering the apex to form a mask on the apex of the each protuberance; and etching each of the protuberances anisotropically with an etchant gas in a batch process to form the plurality of pillar-like structures, each pillar-like structure being etched from one of the protuberances and having a shaft extending from the mask towards the substrate, the shaft having along its length a transverse cross-sectional shape substantially defined by the shape of the mask.