Patent ID: 7279269
Filing Date: 2007-10-09
Classification: G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A process to form a first pedestal that is self-aligned with respect to a second pedestal, comprising: (a) providing a sheet of material having a first thickness and a surface; (b) forming a temporary mask, having a second thickness and a width that is constant throughout said second thickness and that determines the width of said first pedestal, on said surface; (c) directing an ion beam at said surface, said ion beam being disposed to be at a first angle relative to an axis perpendicular to said surface while rotating said sheet relative to said ion beam, about said axis, through a second angle of up to 180 degrees; (d) thereby removing material from said surface in a region that extends outwards from a side of the mask closest to the ion beam, whereby a thickness for said first pedestal is determined according to how long the ion beam is active; (e) also thereby, removing material from said surface in a region that extends outwards from a line parallel to a side of the mask that is furthest from the ion beam, said line being located a distance from the mask that equals said mask thickness times the tangent of said first angle, whereby a width for said second pedestal is determined; and (f) then rotating the sheet 180 degrees relative to the ion beam following which, with no other steps intervening, repeating steps (c) (d) and (e).