Patents by Inventor Colby Steere

Colby Steere has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7717696
    Abstract: Apparatus for double-sided imprint lithography of an apertured substrate comprises a pair of correspondingly apertured molds, a support for an assembly of the substrate and molds, and an alignment mechanism with radially movable elements for aligning the apertures of the molds and the substrate. The movable elements can be at least partially disposed in a spindle and can be removed radially outward by a conically tapered drive rod. Opposing surfaces of the substrate can then be imprinted in registration at the same time, preferably by fluid pressure imprint lithography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Nanonex Corp.
    Inventors: Stephen Chou, Linshu Kong, Colby Steere, Mingtao (Gary) Li, Hua Tan, Lin Hu
  • Publication number: 20080213418
    Abstract: An imprint system for imprint lithography comprises an alignment subsystem and an imprint subsystem. The mask (mold) and the wafer for imprinting (substrate) are align on the alignment subsystem and contacted to each other to form a mask/wafer set. The mask/wafer set is then transferred onto the imprint subsystem while alignment is maintained. The mask/wafer set is then imprinted on the imprint subsystem. During transfer, the mask/wafer set can be held in alignment by surface. The surface adhesion can be enhanced by local pressing, local heating, or both. Alternatively, the mask/wafer set can be held in alignment by clamping. Advantageously, the imprinting is effected by fluid pressure imprinting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Hua Tan, Wei Zhang, He Gao, Linshu Kong, Lin Hu, Colby Steere, Stephen Y. Chou
  • Publication number: 20050146078
    Abstract: Apparatus for double-sided imprint lithography of an apertured substrate comprises a pair of correspondingly apertured molds, a support for an assembly of the substrate and molds, and an alignment mechanism with radially movable elements for aligning the apertures of the molds and the substrate. The movable elements can be at least partially disposed in a spindle and can be removed radially outward by a conically tapered drive rod. Opposing surfaces of the substrate can then be imprinted in registration at the same time, preferably by fluid pressure imprint lithography.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Inventors: Stephen Chou, Linshu Kong, Colby Steere, Mingtao (Gary) Li, Hua Tan, Lin Hu
  • Patent number: 6473987
    Abstract: A wafer edge grinding or polishing machine is provided with a pair of chucks for engaging a wafer therebetween, a fixed reference surface and a sensor which is movable with a movable chuck. Measurements are made by the sensor relative to the fixed reference plane when the movable chuck is in engagement with the opposite chuck without a wafer therebetween in order to obtain a standard measurement value. With a wafer between the chucks, the sensor obtains an actual measurement value relative to the fixed reference surface. A calculator determines the difference between the standard and actual measurements values and displays the difference as the thickness of the wafer. Multiple sensors may be used to obtain multiples readings which are averaged by the calculator to obtain a thickness measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Accretech USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Steere, III, Colby Steere