Patent Document ID: 20050221577
Application ID: 10813372
Patent Status: 0

Claim One:
1. A method for manufacturing a microstructure device, which includes at least one fine feature on an existing feature, using a near field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) laser micromachining system including an NSOM and a micro-machining laser, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a microstructure device preform including the existing feature on a top surface; b) profiling a portion of the top surface of the microstructure device preform with the NSOM to produce a topographical image of the portion of the top surface, the portion of the top surface selected such that the topographical image includes a representation of the existing feature; c) defining an image coordinate system, in terms of settings of the NSOM, for the profiled portion of top surface of the microstructure device preform based on the topographical image; d) determining coordinates of a reference point and an orientation of the existing feature of the top surface of the microstructure device preform in the image coordinate system using the topographical image; e) aligning a probe tip of an NSOM probe of the NSOM over a portion of the existing feature of the microstructure device preform using the coordinates of the reference point and the orientation of the existing feature determined in step (d); and f) machining the top surface of the microstructure device preform with the micro-machining laser to form the at least one fine feature on the existing feature, completing the microstructure device.