Patent ID: 7288178

Claim:
A method of producing a structure, comprising: providing an electrode that functions as an anode; providing a substrate that functions as a cathode; providing an electrolyte between the anode and the cathode; providing a current source controllably connected to the anode and cathode; providing a mask that comprises an at least partially conformable material, the mask having at least one opening extending through the conformable material wherein the opening is defined by mask sidewalls and wherein the opening defines a mask pattern, the conformable portion of the mask also having a face surface; pressing the face surface of the mask against the substrate; after pressing, activating the current source to cause deposition of a material onto the substrate in a deposition pattern that is at least in part dictated by the pattern of the mask, wherein the deposition comprises deposition sidewalls; after said activating, relatively moving the face surface of the mask away from the substrate by a distance that is less than a distance that would cause separation of the mask sidewalls from the deposition sidewalls, and continuing application of the current so as to allow a height of the deposition to increase to produce the structure; and deviating a shape of the deposition such that the deposition has tapering sidewalls, wherein the deviating of the shape of the deposition occurs prior to completing the depositing that results in a full height of the deposition; wherein the deviating of the shape occurs by varying the dimensions over time of the at least one opening defined by the mask sidewalls.