Patent ID: 9038269
Filing Date: 2015-05-26
Classification: B41J,H05K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for forming a nanoprinthead comprising a nanotip cantilever array including a plurality of nanotip cantilevers, the method comprising: forming a patterned first mask having a first pattern over a first side of a substrate and a patterned second mask having a second pattern over a second side of the substrate, wherein the second side is opposite to the first side; etching the first side of the substrate using the first mask as a pattern to form a plurality of nanotips; etching the second side of the substrate using the second mask as a pattern, wherein the etching of the first side and the second side forms a plurality of bridges wherein each bridge comprises substrate material adjacent to each nanotip; forming a sacrificial layer over the first side of the substrate, over the plurality of nanotips, and over the plurality of bridges; etching the second side of the substrate to remove the plurality of bridges, to separate the substrate into a plurality of discrete structures held together by the sacrificial layer, and to form the nanotip cantilever array with each nanotip cantilever comprising a cantilever connected to the nanotip; and attaching the nanotip cantilever array to an array of actuation devices, wherein the array of actuation devices is configured to move each nanotip in a direction toward a surface to be contacted by the nanotip, and each nanotip cantilever of the nanotip cantilever array is individually addressable.