Alignment method for transfer and alignment device

While a pattern side register mark provided on a pattern transferring plate provided with a transfer pattern and a work side register mark provided on a work are optically observed by means of an observation optical system, at least one of the pattern transferring plate and a work surface plate carrying thereon the work is moved in a non-contact state in accordance with information provided by the observation optical system to effect registration between the transfer pattern and the work, so that the pattern transferring plate is pressed to the work thereby to transfer the transfer pattern onto the work.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an alignment method and an alignment 
apparatus for transfer, and more specifically to an alignment method and 
an alignment apparatus for a transfer process which is capable of 
correctly repeating the transfer of a transfer pattern to a work with high 
precision, and may particularly preferably be used in a transfer process 
wherein a printing plate having a curved surface is used as in the case of 
a roller transfer process, etc., and a pattern thereof is sequentially 
transferred to the work while the contact face between the plate and the 
work is shifted. For example, the present invention is particularly 
preferably applicable to the production of a thin film semiconductor 
element. 
For example, in the case of the production of a thin film semiconductor 
element, it is necessary to correctly prepare a minute pattern for forming 
a circuit or an element. 
In the production of such a thin film semiconductor element, for example, 
it is conceivable to use a method wherein a resist ink is directly applied 
onto a work (or material to be subjected to processing); or a photoresist 
layer is formed thereof by coating in advance, the work is supplied with a 
printing ink layer which has a predetermined configuration and is capable 
of intercepting ultraviolet rays, by a printing process, the resultant 
work is subjected to exposure and development steps, and then is subjected 
to an etching treatment, thereby to provide a minute pattern for forming 
an electric circuit or element. 
In such a process, in order to correctly form the minute pattern for 
forming a circuit or an element of a thin film semiconductor by use of a 
printing process, it is necessary to effect correct positioning between 
the printed pattern which has already been formed on the member to be 
printed, and a pattern of the printing ink to be newly subjected to 
printing. 
However, in the conventional printing process, in general, the positioning 
(or registration) between a member to be printed and a printing ink 
pattern is regulated by using preliminary printing in advance. When good 
results are obtained in a certain step of the preliminary printing, the 
printing ink pattern is actually transferred to the member to be printed. 
In the prior art, even when the positional relation between the member to 
be printed and the printing ink pattern is changed to a certain extent, 
the transfer of the printing ink pattern is generally continued regardless 
of such a change. 
Accordingly, the positioning precision and reproducibility in the 
positioning of the printing ink pattern to be transferred to the member to 
be printed by the conventional printing process is at most 20 to 30 .mu.m, 
which does not reach the level of the positioning precision and 
reproducibility required for an electroconductive minute pattern for the 
thin film semiconductor element, etc. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A principal object of the present invention is, in view of the above 
problems encountered in the prior art, to provide an alignment method and 
an alignment apparatus for a transfer process, which is capable of 
correctly transferring a transfer pattern of a pattern transferring plate 
to a work with high positioning precision and reproducibility comparable 
therewith, and may preferably be used for, e.g., the production of a thin 
film semiconductor element. 
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an 
alignment method for transfer process for pressing a transfer pattern 
formed on a pattern transfer plate to a work so as to transfer the 
transfer pattern to the work, the method comprising: 
a step of moving at least one of a work surface plate and the pattern 
transfer plate in a non-contact state in accordance with information 
provided by an observation optical system, while optically observing a 
pattern side register mark provided on the pattern transfer plate on which 
the transfer pattern has been formed, and a work side register mark 
provided on the work disposed on the work surface plate disposed opposite 
to the pattern transfer plate, so that the pattern side register mark and 
the work side register mark are superposed on each other to effect 
registration between the transfer pattern and the work; and 
a step of pressing the pattern transfer plate to the work thereby to 
transfer the transfer pattern to the work. 
According to the above first aspect of the present invention, the 
positioning between the transferring pattern and the work to which the 
pattern is to be transferred is effected with respect to each of the works 
while being optically observed, whereby the transferring pattern can 
correctly be transferred onto the work with high reproducibility. 
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an 
alignment apparatus comprising: 
an observation optical system for optically observing a pattern side 
register mark provided on the pattern transfer plate provided with the 
transfer pattern, and a work side register mark provided on the work 
disposed on a work surface plate disposed opposite to the pattern transfer 
plate; 
an alignment quantity calculation unit for calculating a positional 
difference between the pattern side register mark and the work side 
register mark in accordance with information provided by the observation 
optical system; 
a stage control unit for outputting a control signal in accordance with 
calculation result provided by the alignment quantity calculation unit; 
and 
a stage driving unit for moving the work surface plate to a position where 
the work side register mark and the pattern side register mark are 
superposed on each other, in accordance with the control signal output by 
the stage control unit. 
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an 
alignment apparatus comprising; 
an observation optical system for optically observing a pattern side 
register mark provided on the pattern transfer plate provided with the 
transfer pattern, and a work side register mark provided on the work 
disposed on a work surface plate disposed opposite to the pattern transfer 
plate; 
an alignment quantity calculation unit for calculating a positional 
difference between the pattern side register mark and the work side 
register mark in accordance with information provided by the observation 
optical system; 
a stage control unit for outputting a control signal in accordance with 
calculation result provided by the alignment quantity calculation unit; 
and 
a pattern transfer plate driving unit for moving the pattern transfer plate 
to a position where the work side register mark and the pattern side 
register mark are superposed on each other, in accordance with the control 
signal output by the stage control unit. 
According to the above second and third aspects of the present invention, 
the transferring pattern can correctly be transferred onto the work with 
high reproducibility in an alignment for a transfer process where the 
positioning between the work and the transferring pattern is effected. 
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention 
will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following 
description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in 
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Hereinbelow, the present invention will specifically be described with 
reference to preferred embodiments thereof. 
First, the pattern transferring plate to be used in the present invention 
may be a flat plate, a cylindrical plate or a curved surface comprising a 
portion thereof, or a substrate provided with a pattern wound around a 
cylindrical surface. 
Hereinbelow, there will be described an embodiment wherein a roller having 
a cylindrical surface is used as the pattern transferring plate. 
FIGS. 1(A) to 1(C) are schematic views for sequentially illustrating the 
relation between a roller 1 as a pattern transferring plate and a work 4 
in each of sequential steps used in an embodiment of the transfer 
alignment method according to the present invention. In FIGS. 1(B) and 
1(C), the illustration of an alignment apparatus shown in FIG. 1(A) is 
omitted. 
As shown in FIG. 1(A), in the alignment method according to the present 
invention, first of all, while a pattern side register mark (not shown) 
disposed on (or in) a transferring pattern 2 formed on the roller 1, and a 
work side register mark (not shown) disposed on the work 4 which is 
disposed on a work surface plate 3 disposed opposite to the roller 1 are 
optically observed by means of an observation optical system 5, the work 
surface plate 3 or the roller 1 is moved in accordance with the 
information provided by the observation optical system 5 to superpose the 
above register marks on each other, thereby to effect the registration 
between the transferring pattern 2 and the work 4. Further, it is also 
possible to fix the work surface plate 3 and to move the roller 1 so as to 
effect the registration between the transferring pattern 2 and the work 4. 
The registration described above may be effected as shown in FIGS. 2(A) and 
2(B). In other words while the positional relation between the pattern 
side register mark 6 disposed in a predetermined position of the 
transferring pattern 2 and the work side register mark 7 disposed in a 
predetermined position of the work 4 is observed by means of the 
observation optical system 5, the work surface plate 3 or the roller 1 is 
moved to a position such that the pattern side register mark 6 and the 
work side register mark 7 are superposed on each other. 
More specifically, when the information provided by the observation optical 
system 5 shows a positional difference between the pattern side register 
mark 6 and the work side register mark 7, e.g., as shown in FIG. 2(A), the 
work surface plate 3 or the roller 1 is moved to a position at which there 
is observed that the pattern side register mark 6 and the work side 
register mark 7 are superposed on each other as shown in FIG. 2(B), 
whereby the transferring pattern 2 and the work 4 are correctly 
positioned. 
The work surface plate 3 or the roller 1 is moved in a horizontal direction 
(i.e., x-axis direction, Y-axis direction and a direction corresponding to 
an angle .theta. counted from the origin), and in a vertical direction 
(i.e., axis direction) in a space coordinate system (i.e., x-y-z 
coordinate system). 
In this embodiment the work surface plate 3 or the roller 1 is moved not 
only in a horizontal direction (i.e., x-axis direction, y-axis direction 
and a direction corresponding to an angle .theta. counted from the origin) 
but also in a vertical direction (i.e., z-axis direction), so that there 
can be maintained a predetermined registration gap which is required for 
the exact observation effected by the observation optical system 5. 
In the observation optical system 5, there may be used either transmission 
light or reflection light. 
It is preferred that the registration between the transferring pattern 2 
and the work 4 is effected corresponding to each of a plurality of pattern 
side register marks 6 provided on the transferring pattern 2 and a 
plurality of work side register marks 7 provided o the work 4. In such a 
case, the registration between the transferring pattern 2 and the work 4 
may be effected as follows. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 3(A) to 3(D), the 
registration between the work side register mark (not shown) provided on 
an end of the work 4 and the pattern side register mark (not shown) 
corresponding to such a register mark is effected (FIG. 3(A)), the 
observation optical system is sequentially moved toward the movement 
direction of the roller 1 while the roller 1 is rotated and moved (FIGS. 
3(B) and 3(C)), and the registration between the work side register mark 
provided on the other end of the work 4 and the pattern side register mark 
is effected (FIG. 3(D)). In FIGS. 3(B) to 3(D) used herein, the alignment 
shift quantity calculation unit 8, the stage control unit 9 and the stage 
driving unit 10 shown in FIG. 3(A) are omitted. It is also preferred to 
increase the number of the optical systems in a case where a plurality of 
register marks are studded, and a problem can occur in view of the 
alignment time and accuracy of measurement when the single optical system 
is moved as shown in these Figures. 
After the registration between the transferring pattern 2 and the work 4 is 
effected in the manner as described above, the work surface plate 3 is 
moved in the z-axis direction as described above so that the work 4 is 
pressed to the transferring pattern 2, as shown in FIG. 1(B). 
After such an operation, the transferring pattern 2 provided on the roller 
1 and the work 4 disposed on the work surface plate 3 are pressed to each 
other so that the pattern side register mark 6 and the work side register 
mark 7 are superposed on each other. 
In a case where a change in the registration position can mechanically 
occur in a period from the above registration operation to the pressing of 
the work 4 to the transferring pattern 2 based on the movement of the work 
surface plate 3 in the z axis direction, it is preferred to further 
continue the registration operation as described above. 
When the registration operation is continued, it is possible to prevent the 
occurrence of a positional difference (i.e., so-called "image shift") 
which can occur in the period between the time at which the initial 
registration between the transferring pattern 2 and the work 4 is 
effected, and the time at which the work 4 and the transferring pattern 2 
ar pressed to each other. 
After the work 4 and the transferring pattern 2 are pressed to each other, 
the roller 1 is rotated while the pressing state is maintained so that the 
transferring pattern 2 is transferred to the surface of the work 4. 
Accordingly, it is possible that the transferring pattern 2 is correctly 
transferred onto a predetermined position of the work 4 with high 
reproducibility. 
Next, there will be described an alignment apparatus. 
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the alignment apparatus according to the present 
invention comprises: an observation optical system 5 for optically 
observing a pattern side register mark (not shown) provided on a 
transferring pattern 2 on a roller 1, and a work side register mark (not 
shown) provided on a work 4 disposed on a work surface plate 3 disposed 
opposite to the roller 1; an alignment quantity calculation unit 8 for 
calculating a positional difference between the pattern side register mark 
and the work side register mark on the basis of the information provided 
by the observation optical system 5; a stage control unit 9 for outputting 
a control signal in accordance with the calculation result provided by the 
alignment quantity calculation unit 8; and a stage driving unit 10 for 
moving the work surface plate 3 to a position where the work side register 
mark and the pattern side register mark are superposed on each other, in 
accordance with the control signal output by the stage control unit 9. As 
shown in FIG. 6, the alignment apparatus may also comprise, in place of 
the above stage driving unit 10, a roller driving unit 20 for moving the 
roller 1 to a position where the work side register mark and the pattern 
side register mark are superposed on each other, in accordance with the 
control signal output by the stage control unit 9. 
FIG. 4 is a schematic view for illustrating an embodiment of the structure 
of an alignment apparatus which uses transmission light in the observation 
optical system 5. FIG. 5 is a schematic view for illustrating an 
embodiment of the structure of an alignment apparatus which uses 
reflection light in the observation optical system 5. 
The observation optical system 5 may be constituted, e.g., by use of a 
microscope, a CCD (charge coupled device), a half mirror, etc.. 
In a case where at least a portion of the work 4 for forming the work side 
register mark comprises a light transmissive material such as silica glass 
substrate, it is preferred to use transmission light in combination with 
the observation optical system 5. 
In a case where at least a portion of the work 4 for forming the work side 
register mark comprises a light reflective material such as insulating 
ceramic substrate, it is preferred to use reflection light in combination 
with the observation optical system 5. 
In a case where the transmission light is used in combination with the 
observation optical system 5 as shown in FIG. 4, it is generally required 
that an observation portion (opening or aperture) 3a is provided in the 
work surface plate 3. In such a case, it is possible to provide a 
plurality of the pattern side register marks 6 and/or a plurality of the 
work side register marks 7. On the other hand, in a case where reflection 
light is used in combination with the observation optical system 5 as 
shown in FIG. 5, the observation optical system may be constituted, e.g., 
by use of a half mirror 11. When the half mirror 11 is used, both of the 
work side register mark and the pattern side register mark may be observed 
by means of a single observation optical system 5. 
The observation optical system 5 is movably supported with respect to the 
work surface plate 3. 
By use of the above observation optical system 5, there may optically be 
observed a positional relation between the pattern side register mark 6 
provided on the transferring pattern 2, and the work side register mark 7 
provided on the work 4 disposed on the work surface plate 3. 
The observation optical system 5 is connected with the alignment quantity 
calculation unit 8. 
The alignment quantity calculation unit 8 calculates the positional 
difference between the pattern side register mark 6 and the work side 
register mark 7 with respect to the positional relation between the 
pattern side register mark 6 and the work side register mark 7 on the 
basis of the optical information provided by the observation optical 
system 5. 
The alignment quantity calculation unit 8 may be constituted, e.g., by use 
of an input/output interface (I/O), a central processing unit (CPU) and a 
random access memory (RAM) as shown in FIG. 7. 
The positional relation between the pattern side register mark 6 and work 
side register mark 7 is calculated by means of the alignment quantity 
calculation unit 8 and the thus obtained calculation result is output to 
the stage driving unit as a control signal by the medium of the stage 
control unit 9. 
More specifically, in the stage control unit 9, the stage driving unit 10 
receives a control signal required for moving the work surface plate 3 to 
a position where the pattern side register mark 6 and the work side 
register mark 7 are superposed on each other, while retaining a 
predetermined registration gap, with respect to the positional relation, 
between the pattern side register mark 6 and the work side register mark 7 
in a horizontal direction (i.e., x-axis direction, y-axis direction and a 
direction corresponding to an angle .theta. counted from the origin), and 
in a vertical direction (i.e., z-axis direction) in a space coordinate 
system (i.e., x-y-z coordinate system). The control signal relating to the 
vertical direction (z-axis direction) is one corresponding to the 
maintenance of the registration gap (represented by in FIG. 4) for exact 
observation by the observation optical system 5 and the pressing of the 
transfer pattern 2 to the work 4. 
The stage driving unit 10 to be connected with the stage control unit 9 
moves the work surface plate 3 to a position where the pattern side 
register mark 6 and the work side register mark 7 are superposed on each 
other, on the basis of the control signal as described above, and moves 
the work surface plate 3 until the work 4 disposed on the work surface 
plate 3 is pressed to the transfer pattern 2 on the roller 1. Further, it 
is also possible to move the roller 1 by means of the roller driving unit 
20 for driving the roller 1 as shown in FIG. 6. 
In the alignment apparatus according to the present invention, it is 
preferred that the registration operation as described above can further 
be continued in a period of from the above registration operation between 
the transfer pattern 2 and the work 4 to the pressing of the work 4 to the 
transfer pattern 2 based on the movement of the work surface plate 3 in 
the above z-axis direction. 
In order to continue the above registration operation, it is possible to 
provide a feed back function which is capable of feeding back to the stage 
driving unit 10 a control signal output by the stage control unit 9 on the 
basis of the calculation result provided by the alignment quantity 
calculation unit 8 for processing the optical information provided by the 
observation optical system 5, in a period of from the registration between 
the transfer pattern 2 and the work 4 to the pressing of the work 4 to the 
transfer pattern 2 based on the movement of the work surface plate 3 in 
the above z-axis direction. 
The stage driving unit 10 or the roller driving unit 20 may be constituted, 
e.g., by use of various motors such as a linear motor and a pulse motor 
capable of providing a minute step. 
The alignment apparatus according to the present invention is preferably 
applicable to various roller transfer methods, and is particularly 
applicable to the transfer alignment method according to the present 
invention. 
There will be described another embodiment of the transfer alignment method 
according to the present invention with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11. 
FIG. 8 schematically shows a relation between a roller 41 as a pattern 
transferring plate and a transfer receiving flat plate 42 as a work. 
As shown in FIG. 8(A), at first, the roller 41 is disposed opposite to the 
transfer receiving flat plate 42 with a predetermined registration gap H 
therebetween. 
In the roller 41, a transfer pattern 43 which is transferable to the 
transfer receiving flat plate 42 is provided, and a pattern side 
non-adhesive register mark 44 is formed in a non-transfer region so as to 
effect exact registration with the transfer receiving flat plate 42. The 
non-transfer region used herein is a region (or portion) which has no 
adhesion property to the transfer receiving flat plate 42. 
The transfer pattern 43 may preferably be formed by using various printing 
inks or metal thin films as described hereinafter. However, when the 
transfer pattern 43 is formed by use of a metal thin film, it is necessary 
to provide an appropriate adhesive layer on a surface of the metal thin 
film contacting the transfer receiving flat plate 42 or a surface of the 
transfer receiving flat plate 42 contacting the metal thin film, as 
described hereinafter. The adhesive layer may for example comprise a 
universal adhesive (agent) such as vinyl chloride vinyl acetate type. 
natural rubber type, synthetic rubber type, various acrylate types, and 
epoxy type; a heat sensitive thermoplastic adhesive, a light curing (or 
light hardening) adhesive, or an electrodeposition resin based on 
electrophoresis, etc.. 
The transfer pattern 43 and the above adhesive layer each having an 
adhesive property to the transfer receiving flat plate 42 is not formed on 
the pattern side non-adhesive register mark 44. 
If the transfer pattern 43 or the above adhesive layer is formed on the 
pattern side non-adhesive register mark 44, there can be posed a problem 
as described hereinafter. More specifically, when the non-transfer region 
of the roller 41 is caused to closely contact a non-adhesive region of the 
transfer receiving flat plate 42 on which a work side non-adhesive 
register mark 45 is formed to correctly position the roller 41 relative to 
the transfer receiving flat plate 42 as described hereinafter, the 
non-transfer region is bonded to the transfer receiving flat plate 42. As 
a result it is not possible to repeat the positioning operation. 
Similarly, the work side non-adhesive register mark 45 formed on the non 
adhesive region of the transfer receiving flat plate 42, i.e. the region 
thereof having no adhesive property to the roller 41, has no adhesion 
property to the transfer receiving flat plate 42. Accordingly, the 
adhesive layer is not provided on the work side non adhesive register mark 
45, even when an appropriate adhesive layer is provided on the transfer 
receiving flat plate 42. 
In FIGS. 8(A) to 8(D), the reference numeral 50 denotes a work surface 
plate for retaining the transfer receiving flat plate 42, and the 
reference numeral 51 denotes an observation hole (or through hole) 
provided in the work surface plate 50. The transfer receiving flat plate 
42 used in this embodiment is transparent. 
Then, there is effected a positioning operation (or registration) between 
the roller 41 and the transfer receiving flat plate 42. 
In such a case, the positioning between the roller 41 and the transfer 
receiving flat plate 42 disposed opposite to each other with a 
registration gap H may be effected in the following manner. 
First, as shown in FIG. 8(A), in a state where the registration gap H is 
retained, the positional relation between the pattern side non-adhesive 
register mark 44 provided in the non-transfer region of the roller 41 and 
the work side non-adhesive register mark 45 provided in the non-adhesive 
region of the transfer receiving flat plate 42 is optically observed with, 
e.g., an observation optical system 60. At least one of the roller 41 and 
the transfer receiving flat plate 42 is moved to a position where a 
predetermined relation between the pattern side non-adhesive register mark 
44 and the work side non-adhesive register mark 45 is observed, in 
accordance with the information provided by the above observation optical 
system 60. 
More specifically, when there is a difference in the positional relation 
between the pattern side non-adhesive register mark 44 provided on the 
non-transfer region of the roller 41 and the work side non-adhesive 
register mark 45 provided on the non-adhesive region of the transfer 
receiving flat plate 42, as shown in FIG. 9(A), at least one of the roller 
41 and the transfer receiving flat plate 42 is moved to a position where a 
predetermined relation between the pattern side non-adhesive register mark 
44 and the work side non-adhesive register mark 45 is observed, as shown 
in FIG. 9(B). In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8(B), the work surface 
plate 50 carrying thereon the transfer receiving flat plate 42 is moved 
from a position denoted by a long and short dash line to a position 
denoted by a solid line (or full line) in a direction of an arrow a. 
Then, as shown in FIG. 8(C), the non-transfer region on which the pattern 
side non-adhesive register mark 44 is formed is caused to closely contact 
the non-adhesive region on which the work side non-adhesive register mark 
45 is formed. 
In a case where the pattern transferring plate comprises a cylindrical 
surface or a portion thereof as in the case of the roller 41 used in this 
embodiment, in general, there may be provided a positional difference (or 
so-called image shift between the position provided at the time at which 
the positional relation between the pattern side register mark 44 and the 
work side register mark 45 is observed, and the position provided at the 
time at which the roller 41 is pressed to the transfer receiving flat 
plate 42. When such en image shift occurs, the positioning between the 
roller 41 and the transfer receiving flat plate 42 is repeated as shown in 
FIGS. 10(A) to 10(D). 
For example, as shown in FIG. 10(A), the work surface plate 50 carrying and 
supporting thereon the transfer receiving flat plate 42 is moved to a 
position where the matching between the pattern side non-adhesive register 
mark 44 and the work side non-adhesive register mark 45 is observed. 
Then, as shown in FIG. 1O(D), at this position, the non-transfer region of 
the roller 41 on which the pattern side non adhesive register mark 44 is 
formed is closely caused to contact the non-transfer region of the 
transfer receiving flat plate 42 on which the work side non-adhesive 
register mark 45 is formed. 
At this time, if the so-called image shift as described above is observed, 
the roller 41 is separated from the transfer receiving flat plate 42 as 
shown in FIG. 10(C)so as to move the work surface plate 50 or the roller 
41 to a position where the above image shift is reduced. Herein, the 
non-transfer region on which the pattern side non adhesive register mark 
44 is formed and the non-transfer region on which the work side 
non-adhesive register mark 45 is formed have no adhesion property to the 
transfer receiving flat plate 42 and the roller 41, respectively. 
Accordingly, the roller 41 may easily be separated from the transfer 
receiving flat plate 42, so that the positioning can be effected many 
times as desired until the image shift is corrected. 
More specifically, the positioning is completed at the time when the roller 
41 is again caused to closely contact the transfer receiving flat plate 42 
and the correction of the image shift is confirmed, as shown in FIG. 
10(D). 
It is preferred to effect the above registration with respect to a 
plurality of combinations of the pattern side non-adhesive register mark 
44 and the work side non-adhesive register mark 45. 
The observation optical system 60 may be constituted, e.g., by use of a 
microscope, a CCD (charge coupled device), etc., similarly as in the case 
of the observation optical system 5 as described hereinabove. Further, it 
is possible to constitute the observation optical system 60 by suitably 
using a known laser optical system. Particularly, a control mechanism 
based on a known laser optical system is advantageous to the positioning 
with high precision. It is preferred to provide at least two observation 
optical systems 60. When two or more observation optical systems 60 are 
provided, it is possible to simultaneously effect observation at a 
plurality of positions. However, even in a case where only a single 
observation optical system 60 is provided, it is possible to effect 
observation at a plurality of positions if the observation optical system 
60 is movable. 
In order to move at least one of the roller 41 and the transfer receiving 
flat plate 42 in accordance with the information provided by the 
observation optical system 60, for example, it is possible to connect the 
observation optical system 60 with the stage moving mechanism 63 by the 
medium of the alignment quantity calculation unit 61 and the stage control 
unit 62, as shown in FIG. 11. 
The alignment quantity calculation unit 61 has a function of calculating 
the positional difference between the pattern side non-adhesive register 
mark 44 and the work side non-adhesive register mark 45 on the basis of 
the optical information provided by the observation optical system 60. 
The alignment quantity calculation unit 61 may be constituted. e.g., by use 
of an input/output interface (I/O), a central processing unit (CPU) and 
random access memory (RAM), similarly as in the case of the quantity 
calculation unit 8 as described above. 
The calculation result provided by the alignment quantity calculation unit 
61 is output to the stage moving unit 63 as a control signal by the medium 
of the stage control unit 62. 
More specifically, in the stage control unit 62, the stage driving unit 63 
receives a control signal required for moving the work surface plate 50 to 
a position where the superposition of the pattern side non-adhesive 
register mark 44 and the work side non-adhesive register mark 45 is 
observed while retaining a predetermined registration gap H with respect 
to the positional relation between the pattern side non-adhesive register 
mark 44 and the work side non-adhesive register mark 45 in a horizontal 
direction (i.e., x-axis direction, y-axis direction and a direction 
corresponding to an angle .theta. counted from the origin), in a two 
dimensional system (i.e., x-y coordinate system). The work surface plate 
50 has a function of supporting the transfer receiving flat plate 42 and 
is movable by means of the stage moving mechanism. 
The stage moving mechanism 63 may be constituted. e.g., by use of various 
motors such as a linear motor and a pulse motor capable of providing a 
minute step. 
After the registration between the roller 41 and the transfer receiving 
flat plate 42 is effected in the manner as described above, the roller 41 
is pressed to the transfer receiving flat plate 42 as shown in FIG. 8(D). 
whereby the transfer pattern 43 is transferred to the transfer receiving 
flat plate 42. 
The above pressing can be effected while sequentially shifting the contact 
face between the pattern transfer plate and the work, when the plate 
surface of the pattern transferring plate, comprises a curved surface of 
the roller 41 as in the case of this embodiment. When the plate surface of 
the pattern transferring plate comprises a flat surface, the pressing can 
be effected simultaneously over the entire contact face between the 
pattern transferring plate and the work, or can sequentially be effected 
by locally pressing the contact face therebetween. In addition, it is also 
possible that a pattern transferring plate 71 comprising a portion of a 
cylindrical surface is used as shown in FIGS. 12(A) and 12(B), and the 
inside of the transferring plate 71 is locally pressed by means of a 
pressing roller 80, whereby the transfer pattern 73 is sequentially 
pressed to the work 72. In FIGS. 12(A) and 12(B), the reference numeral 90 
denotes an adhesive layer. 
The transfer pattern which is transferred to a predetermined position of 
the work in the manner as described above is excellent in the positioning 
precision and the reproducibility therefor, and may satisfy the level of 
the positioning precision and reproducibility therefor (1 to 5 .mu.m. for 
example), required for an electroconductive minute pattern for a thin film 
semiconductor element, etc.. 
Next, there will be described the formation of the transfer pattern 2 and 
43 as described above. 
FIG. 13 is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of the 
structure of a pattern transfer plate in a flat form. First, a pattern 
transferring plate 101 as shown in FIGS. 13(A), 13(B) or 13(C) is 
prepared. The pattern transferring plate 101 used herein is not restricted 
to one having a flat form as shown in these Figures but may for example be 
a cylindrical plate comprising a rubber roller and a plate wound a round 
such a roller. In FIG. 13(A), the pattern transferring plate 101 comprises 
a substrate 102 having an electroconductivity and a desired resist pattern 
disposed thereon which has been formed by an ordinary photolithographic 
method such that a photoresist is applied onto the substrate 102, the 
resultant coated substrate is exposed to a desired image pattern and is 
subjected to developing and drying, and is further subjected to baking, as 
desired. 
The substrate 102 having an electroconductivity may comprise an 
electroconductive material such as metal plate, or may comprise a member 
comprising a substrate of a non-conductive material at least surface of 
which is supplied with an electroconductivity by bonding, coating or vapor 
deposition (or vacuum deposition) of a conductive member (or material) 
such as tin oxide, indium tin oxide, (ITO), and carbon. The above 
electroconductive surface may preferably assume a state capable of 
providing an adhesion strength such that an electrodeposition substance 
deposited by an electrolysis step which is to be effected subsequently may 
adhere thereto with an appropriate strength, and such a substance may 
easily be peeled in a subsequent transfer step. Accordingly,, the surface 
of the substrate 102 may be subjected to mirror finish (or mirror 
polishing) so as to provide a low adhesion strength, and then may be used 
in such a state for the above purpose. In consideration of the above 
factors, when the material of the substrate 102 comprises a metal, it may 
preferably comprise a stainless steel plate or copper plate coated with 
nickel plating or chromium plating having an appropriate adhesion 
strength. Further, the photoresist used for such a purpose may be a resist 
having a good electrical insulating property. 
According to the above step, there are formed on the substrate 102 an 
electrical insulating photoresist pattern 103 and a line image portion 104 
in which the electroconductive surface is provided, in the next process, 
by the deposition of the electrodeposition substance based on an 
electrolysis reaction. 
On the other hand, the pattern transferring plate 101 as shown in FIG. 
13(B) may be formed by forming a concavity in the electroconductive 
substrate 102 by chemical milling or etching based on photoetching, by 
mechanical cutting, etc.; filling the resultant concavity with a substance 
105 having a good adhesion property and a good insulating property; and 
then subjecting the resultant product to hard chromium (or chrome) plating 
to form a chromium layer 106. The portion filled with the above substance 
105 forms a non-line image portion, and the portion supplied with the 
chromium layer forms, a line image portion. When the hard chromium plating 
is effected in such a manner, the printing repeatability, i.e., printing 
resistance may be improved. 
Further, the pattern transferring plate 101 as shown in FIG. 13(C) may be 
formed by forming a concavity in the electroconductive substrate 102 by a 
similar method of as in the case of FIG. 13(B); subjecting the entire 
surface of the substrate 102 provided with the concavity to hard chromium 
(or chrome) plating to form a chromium layer 107; and filling the 
resultant concavity with a substance 108 having a good adhesion property 
and a good insulating property. 
In the description appearing hereinafter, the pattern transferring plate 
101 as shown in FIG. 13(A) is used. However, as a matter of course, the 
following description is similarly applicable to the printing plate as 
shown in FIG. 13(B) or FIG. 13(C). 
The pattern transferring plate 101 is prepared in the manner as described 
above. Then, an electrolyte liquid 111 containing an electrodeposition 
substance component is charged into an appropriate electrolytic cell 110, 
the pattern transferring plate 101 is used as an electrode on one side, 
and an electroconductive member comprising an appropriate material is used 
as the electrode 112 on the other side, as shown in the sectional view of 
FIG. 14. Thereafter, a DC power supply 113 is connected with these 
electrodes, and electrolysis is conducted under a proper voltage so as to 
provide a proper current. As a result, as shown in the sectional view of 
FIG. 15, the electrodeposition substance 114 is deposited on the line 
image portion 104 shown in FIG. 13(A). 
As a matter of course, the material usable as the electrodeposition 
substance is one capable of showing an electrochemical behavior and being 
deposited on one electrode side. In general, metals are known as materials 
for electroplating. As such metals, universal materials may widely be 
used. In the present invention, however, it is preferred to use Ni, Cr, 
Fe, Ag, Au, Cu, Zn, Sn, or compounds or alloys containing at least one of 
these metals. The reason for this is that these metals may provide good 
properties after the electrodeposition such as film forming property, thin 
film shielding property and resolution (or resolving power). 
On the other hand, an electrodeposition substance comprising organic 
materials (or polymer materials) is known. In the prior art, there has 
been a report wherein various vinyl compounds are electrochemically 
polymerized on an Fe electrode thereby to obtain a polymer film Metal 
Surface Technique (Kingoku Hyomen Gijutsu) Vol. 19, No. 12, 1968). 
Recently, there have been conducted researches wherein an 
electroconductive polymer film comprising polypyrrole or polythienylene is 
formed from pyrrole or thiophene on an electrode. 
As another method, there is known a method wherein a polymer is deposited 
from a polymer solution on an electrode by using insolubilization thereof. 
For example, there is well known an electrodeposition coating method 
wherein a colored pigment is dispersed in a polymer solution and a colored 
coating film is formed on an electrode by using such a solution. 
Accordingly, in general, it is possible to use a material which has been 
developed to be used for the electrodeposition coating of an automobile. 
The electrodeposition may be classified into cationic electrodeposition and 
anionic electrodeposition depending on the reaction between the 
electrodeposition substance and a main electrode as an electrodeposition 
electrode, i.e., depending on whether the electrodeposition substance is 
present as a cation or it behaves as an anion. 
Specific examples of the organic polymer substances usable in the 
electrodeposition may include: natural fat and oil type, synthetic fat and 
oil type, alkyd resin type, polyester resin type, acrylic resin type, 
epoxy resin type, etc. 
In the anionic type, there have been known maleic modified oils and 
polybutadiene type resins. In such a case, the curing (or hardening) is 
based on an oxidation polymerization reaction. 
The cationic type has widely been used for general electrodeposition 
coating. In such a case, an epoxy resin may mainly be used as such or 
after the modification thereof. The curing thereof is generally effected 
by using a crosslinking agent of an isocyanate type. In addition, there 
may mainly be used polybutadiene type resins and so-called polyamino type 
resins such as melamine type resin and acrylic type resin. 
These electrodeposition films may be cured (or hardened) by oxidation 
polymerization, thermal polymerization, or photopolymerization, etc., 
thereby to form a film having good corrosion resistance. Particularly, an 
anionic type acrylic resin has been disclosed as an ultraviolet ray curing 
electrodeposition resin for forming negative type image. 
As described above, the transfer pattern may generally be formed as a metal 
or organic resin film on the pattern transferring plate, but the 
electrodeposition substance generally has no adhesion property. When a 
viscous substance having a tackiness or adhesiveness is used as described 
hereinabove, it is difficult to faithfully reproduce the transfer pattern 
at the time of the transfer thereof. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the 
above solid pattern is used so as to prevent the deformation thereof based 
on an external force such as pressure. Accordingly, the pattern substance 
per se has no adhesiveness or tackiness, or has very little adhesiveness 
or tackiness, if any. 
Therefore, in order to transfer the deposited electrodeposition substance, 
it is necessary to subsequently impart adhesiveness or tackiness to such a 
substance. In such a case, it is possible to use a method wherein a 
tackifying agent or adhesive agent is applied to the work surface or the 
pattern transfer surface after the electrodeposition. 
The tackifying agent may for example comprise a universal adhesive (agent) 
such as vinyl chloride vinyl acetate, natural rubber type, sysnthetic 
rubber type, various acrylate types, and epoxy type; m heat sensitive 
thermoplastic adhesive, or a light curing (or light hardening) adhesive, 
etc.. 
The non-line image portion of the adhesive layer which has been formed for 
the purpose of transferring the electrodeposition pattern, is not 
necessary for the etching of the work surface. Accordingly, it is 
necessary to remove the adhesive layer in the non-line-image-portion. As a 
method for effecting such removal, it is convenient to use a dry etching 
method in combination with a plasma incineration method in the presence of 
oxygen. In such a case, the organic electrodeposition substance is also 
subjected to incineration. However, since the electrodeposition substance 
layer has a larger thickness than that of the adhesive layer, the adhesive 
layer may be removed prior to that of the electrodeposition substance 
layer, even when the incineration velocities for these layers are the 
some. 
In practice, the resistance to the incineration may be imparted to the 
electrodeposition substance layer by selecting the electrodeposition agent 
and mixing therewith a substance (such as fine inorganic material) which 
provides a small incineration velocity or is not subjected to 
incineration. 
In a case where the electrodeposition substance comprises a metal, when the 
surface of the substrate for the electrodeposition is subjected to an 
appropriate release treatment or is provided with a conductive face having 
little compatibility with the electrodeposition metal, it is possible to 
obtain an adhesion property which is capable of attaining easy 
electrodeposition and easy transfer. For example, it is possible to use 
chromic acid treatment, mirror surface nickel plating chromium plating, or 
a metal substrate such as stainless steel plate which originally shows 
poor adhesion to the electrodeposition metal. 
On the other hand, the organic electrodeposition material based on the 
material for the electrodeposition coating, which is to be used for such a 
purpose, mostly shows good adhesion to the electrodeposition substrate. In 
such a case, even when a transfer adhesive layer is disposed between the 
work surface and the electrodeposition substance deposited thereon by the 
electrodeposition, the adhesion between the electrodeposition substance 
and the substrate can be too strong in some cases so that it cannot be 
subjected to peeling and transferring, or is partially broken and 
subjected to the transferring. As a result, good pattern transfer cannot 
be effected in some cases. 
In such a case, it is preferred that the substrate is preliminarily 
provided with a thin metal film comprising a metal which has a poor 
compatibility with the metal material of the substrate and has a good 
releasability, by primary electrodeposition, and then the resultant 
product is provided with the intended organic electrodeposition substance 
by secondary electrodeposition. When such electrodeposition substance is 
intended to be transferred by the medium of the adhesive layer, it may 
easily be peeled at the interface between the substrate and the primary 
electrodeposition metal to be transferred. After the transfer, the 
resultant coating comprises the organic electrodeposition substance 
covered with the primary electrodeposition metal. 
Accordingly when the primary electrodeposition metal is removed by etching 
after the transfer operation, an intended pattern of the organic 
electrodeposition substance may be obtained. In such a case, the 
electrodeposition substance is transferred while being covered with the 
primary electrodeposition metal, thereby to provide an excellent image 
pattern without the breakage or deformation of the electrodeposition 
substance. 
As such a primary electrodeposition metal aiding the above peeling and 
transferring, it is possible to use all of the metals described above as 
general releasing electrodeposition metals. However, it is preferred to 
use a metal such that it may be used in a less hazardous etching liquid 
and may easily be subjected to the etching, when removed by etching after 
the transfer operation. For example, metals such as Ag, Ni and Cu may 
particularly preferably be used for such a purpose. However the metals 
usable for such a purpose should not be restricted to these metals. 
When the above method using the peelable primary metal electrodeposition is 
used, the transfer may completely be effected even in the case of a 
material showing a relatively poor film forming property at the time of 
the electrodeposition. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain a line image 
without a pin hole or unevenness. 
Next, there will be described the formation of the transfer pattern on a 
curved pattern transfer plate such as roller. 
FIG. 16(A) and 16(B) are schematic sectional views each showing an 
embodiment of the structure of a pattern transferring plate in a roller 
form. In FIG. 16(A), the roller 131 is one comprising the 
electroconductive material as described above or one comprising a roller 
having no conductivity and a conductive film disposed on the peripheral 
surface thereof. On the roller 131, in a similar manner as in the case of 
the flat pattern transferring plate as described above, a photoresist is 
applied onto the roller 131, the resultant coated roller is exposed to a 
desired image pattern and is subjected to developing and drying 
operations, and is further subjected to baking, as desired, whereby a 
desired resist pattern is formed. Then, in a similar manner as in the case 
of the flat pattern transferring plate as described above, an 
electrodeposition substance 135 is deposited on a line image portion 133 
wherein the conductive surface of the roller 131 is exposed, as shown in 
FIG. 16(B). It is also possible to apply a tackifying agent or adhesive 
agent onto the pattern transferring plate in a roller form in a similar 
manner as in the case of the flat pattern transferring plate as described 
above. In addition, it is possible that a thin metal film comprising a 
metal which has a low affinity to the surface metal of the roller and has 
a good releasability is formed on the line image 133 by primary 
electrodeposition, and then a film of an organic electrodeposition 
substance is formed on the resultant film by secondary electrodeposition. 
Next, there will be described another embodiment for forming a transfer 
pattern on a pattern transfer plate. 
FIG. 17(A) to 17(E) are schematic views for illustrating steps for forming 
a transfer pattern on a flat pattern transferring, plate. 
FIG. 17(A) shows a flat pattern transferring plate 141. The plate 141 may 
comprise an intaglio plate as shown in the Figure or planographic plate as 
described hereinafter. The plate 141 used herein is not restricted to one 
having a flat form as shown in the Figure but may for example be a 
cylindrical plate comprising a rubber roller and a plate wound around such 
a roller. 
When the plate 141 comprises an intaglio plate, concavities 142 capable of 
providing a printing line image are formed on the intaglio plate 141. When 
the plate 141 comprises a planographic plate, pattern portions 
corresponding to the above concavities 142 are formed on the planographic 
plate. The method of formation of the concavities 142 is not particularly 
restricted. The concavities may for example be formed by cutting a 
smoothly ground metal plate material (generally, a metal such as copper, 
copper alloy, iron, and iron alloy) by a fine cutting method, or by 
optically forming a resist mask on the plate material, and then subjecting 
the resultant material to etching. The concavities 142 may be formed as 
fine (or minute) concavities having a line width of about 5 to 50 .mu.m, 
and a depth (plate depth) of about 1 to 10 .mu.m. The plate material may 
also comprise a hard material such as glass, ceramic and metal, or a 
material having a flexibility such as metal thin plate and plastic film. 
Further, in order to enhance the hardness of the surface of the intaglio 
plate 141, the surface may be coated with plating of a hard metal such as 
nickel and chromium. In such a case, the plate surface may be supplied 
with resistance to ink scraping effected by a doctor. In order to form a 
pattern portion of the planographic plate, it is possible to use a known 
plate making method used for planographic printing. 
Then, a curing type ink 143 is applied onto the surface of the above 
pattern transferring plate (intaglio plate) 141, as shown in FIG. 17(B). 
The application of the ink may easily be effected by dipping the plate 
into an ink reservoir, or by pouring the ink over the plate surface. 
The ink used for such a purpose may be a heat curing (or hardening) type, 
ionizing radiation curing type, etc., and may preferably be one of a 
solventless type having a relatively low viscosity. Specific examples of 
the ink to be used for such a purpose may generally include commercially 
available inks such as ultraviolet ray curing ink, electron beam curing 
ink, and infrared ray (or heat) curing type. The present invention is also 
advantageous because it may use the known inks as described above. In the 
case of the ultraviolet ray curing ink, the basic composition of the ink 
143 contains no solvent and comprises a photosensitive prepolymer (or a 
monomer and a photopolymerization initiator) as a binder, a coloring 
pigment and an appropriate ink aid such as sensitizer and tackiness 
regulating agent. It is also possible to use one selected from photoresist 
materials used for semiconductor processing, photoetching, etc., in place 
of the ordinary ultraviolet ray curing ink. In addition, it is not 
necessary to use a high viscosity ink as in the conventional planographic 
printing process but an ink having a somewhat low viscosity is also 
usable. The viscosity of the ink may be regulated by selecting, as a 
binder, a low viscosity prepolymer or a monomer containing a 
photopolymerization initiator. 
In a case where the plate 141 comprises an intaglio plate, after the 
application of the ink 143 to the plate 141, the unnecessary ink 143a 
disposed on the surface of the intaglio plate 141 is scraped off with a 
doctor blade 144 comprising a thin metal blade, etc., to be removed 
therefrom, as shown in FIG. 17(C), and the concavities 142 capable of 
providing a printing line image are selectively filled with the ink 143. 
On the other hand, in a case where the plate 141 comprises a planographic 
plate, the curing type ink 143 applied thereonto selectively adheres to 
the pattern portion spontaneously on the basis of the interaction between 
the surface energy of the plate and that of the ink, as shown in FIG. 
17(D). In each of the above plates, the ink 143 is subjected to patterning 
at this step, thereby to form a transfer pattern. 
Then, as shown in FIG. 17(E), the ink 143 disposed in the concavity 142 ,is 
subjected to curing treatment by using irradiation thereof with heat or 
radiation 145 to reaction activate the ink so that a viscosity increasing 
reaction or curing reaction is caused to occur in the concavity 142 and 
the fluidity of the ink is removed to form a cured (or solid) ink 143b. In 
the case of the planographic plate, as shown in FIG. 17(D), a viscosity 
increasing reaction or curing reaction occurs on the plate on the basis of 
the irradiation thereof with heat, radiation or electron beam 145 in the 
same manner as in the case of the intaglio plate, and the ink 143 
subjected to the patterning is converted into the cured ink (or transfer 
pattern) 143b. At this time, the degree of curing may preferably be 90% or 
higher as a whole in terms of gel fraction. 
In the above formation of the transfer pattern FIG. 17), the pattern 
transferring plate is in the form of a planographic plate. Next, there is 
described a case wherein the pattern transferring plate is cylindrical, 
with reference to FIG. 18. FIGS. 18(A) to 18(C) are schematic views for 
illustrating steps for forming a transfer pattern on a cylindrical pattern 
transferring plate. 
The steps shown in FIGS. 18(A) and 18(C) correspond to the steps shown in 
FIGS. 17(A) and 17(C). In these figures, the corresponding portions are 
denoted by the same reference numerals. 
In such a case, as shown in FIG. 18(C), the ink 143 which has been 
subjected to patterning in the concavity 142 on the plate 141 or pattern 
plate portion, is subjected to a curing treatment by use of heat or 
radiation 145, and the ink 143 is cured so that at least a surface layer 
portion of the ink 143 is incompletely cured, thereby to form a transfer 
pattern. As a result, the curing type ink 143 is converted into one 
comprising an incompletely cured surface layer portion 143C and a 
completely cured portion 143d. Due to the curing treatment, the ink 143 is 
reaction activated to cause a viscosity increasing reaction or curing 
reaction in the concavity 142 of the cylindrical pattern transferring 
plate 141, whereby the fluidity of the ink disappears. In the incompletely 
cured surface layer portion 143C, the degree of curing is lower than that 
of the completely cured portion 143d and a physical property such as 
adhesion property remains in the surface layer portion 143C. The method 
for partially converting the ink surface layer into an incompletely cured 
state is not particularly restricted. Specific examples of such a method 
may include one wherein a curing characteristic of a curing type ink is 
utilized, one wherein the curing velocity is regulated by use of a curing 
inhibitor (or curing retarder), etc., one wherein the direction or degree 
of the curing treatment is regulated, etc. 
The curing type ink to be used for such a purpose may comprise an ink 
predominantly comprising a resinous material which has an acrylic group or 
methacrylic group and is capable of being cured by vinyl polymerization. 
The ink of such a type has a property such that in the process of the 
polymerization thereof, the polymerization is inhibited in a portion 
thereof contacting the air under the action of oxygen. By using such a 
property, the ink surface layer portion 143C in the incomplete cured state 
may easily be formed. For example, when the curing treatment 145 as shown 
in FIG. 18(C) is effected, a portion which is disposed inside the 
concavity 142 and does not contact the air causes complete curing to be 
converted into the completely cured portion 143d. On the other hand, in a 
portion contacting the air, the polymerization is inhibited to be 
retarded, and such a portion is converted into the incompletely cured 
surface layer portion 143c. 
The present invention may be embodied in various ways without deviating the 
spirit or predominant feature thereof. Therefore, the embodiments as 
described above are only examples in all respects, and the present 
invention should not be restricted to the specific embodiments as 
described above. The scope of the present invention is defined by claims, 
and is not confined to the body of the specification. Any modification or 
change falling within equivalent range of the claims is in the scope of 
the present invention.