Patent ID: 7648641

Claim:
A method for deep etching features on a surface, the method comprising: providing a substrate having a surface selected to undergo a feature etching process; coating the substrate surface with a protective layer and an imprintable layer, the imprintable layer selected to undergo an imprinting process and to protect selected portions of the protective layer during the feature etching process, the protective layer disposed between the substrate and the imprintable layer, the protective layer comprising a material having less erosion resistance to the feature etching process than a material comprising the imprintable layer such that the protective layer erodes at a rate faster than an erosion rate for the imprintable layer during the feature etching process, wherein the protective layer is configured to erode during the feature etching process, and wherein the imprintable layer protects the protective layer such that the protective layer continues to cover the selected portions of the substrate after the feature etching process; and wherein the imprintable layer is substantially removed subsequent to the feature etching process, wherein the protective layer remains covering the selected portions of the substrate subsequent to the feature etching process.