Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a pattern formation method including forming a target layer to be processed on a substrate, adding a second dispersion containing a polymer material including a polymer chain having a base metal at a terminal end and a second solvent to a first dispersion containing noble-metal microparticles and a first solvent, thereby preparing a noble-metal microparticle layer coating solution in which microparticles covered with the polymer material are dispersed, arranging the noble-metal microparticles covered with the polymer material on the target layer by using the noble-metal microparticle layer coating solution, and transferring a projections pattern of the noble-metal microparticles covered with the polymer material to the target layer.

Abstract: The invention provides a master disc comprising a stack of a substrate, a phase transition material layer, a heat absorption layer provided between the substrate and the phase transition layer, and an anisotropic heat sink layer provided between the substrate and the absorption layer. Further, a method of manufacturing a master disc is provided. A stack having an upper side and a lower side is provided, wherein the stack comprises a substrate provided at the lower side of the stack, a phase transition material layer, a heat absorption layer provided between the substrate and the phase transition layer, and an anisotropic heat sink layer provided between the substrate and the absorption layer. The upper side of the stack is exposed to a laser beam and developed.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide materials and methods for a printer member used in ink-jet marking systems that can include a layer electrospun over an aluminum roller to facilitate transport of a printable substrate having ink images thereon and to reduce ink offset from the printable substrate.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, patterns of protrusions and recesses includes a substrate including a conductive region on at least one major surface, and a projecting pattern layer formed on the conductive region on the major surface, and made of a microcrystalline material, a polycrystalline material, an amorphous material, or an oxide of the microcrystalline, polycrystalline, or amorphous material.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electroforming master comprises a patterns of protrusions and recesses formed on one major surface of an Si substrate having two major surfaces, corresponding to information for positioning of a read/write head (a preamble, address, and burst), recording tracks or recording bits. Impurity ions are doped in the surface of this patterns of protrusions and recesses. The impurity ion concentration distribution in the film thickness direction of the Si substrate has a peak in a portion from the patterns of protrusions and recesses surface to a depth of 40 nm in the film thickness direction. The impurity concentration of this peak is 1×1020 to 2×1021 ions/cm3.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a stamper manufacturing method includes forming a conductive material concentration gradient layer including the projections pattern, and a composition ratio of a buffering agent to a conductive material in the conductive material concentration gradient layer reducing in a thickness direction from a master side.

Abstract: A magnetic transfer master disk including a magnetic layer and exhibiting excellent shape stability of a protrusion/recess pattern is provided. An initial layer formed of a conductive film is formed on a surface of a master on which a pattern of minute protrusions/recesses is formed, and then a magnetic layer (principal layer) is formed on the initial layer, and then, a metal layer is formed by electroforming. A duplicate in which the initial layer, the magnetic layer and the metal layer have been integrated is peeled off from the master, thereby obtaining a magnetic transfer master disk, which is a duplicate in which the magnetic layer and the initial layer are deposited on the protruded/recessed surface of the metal layer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a master plate for producing a stamper includes a substrate, and patterns of protrusions and recesses formed on the substrate and corresponding to patterns of recording tracks or recording bits in data areas and to information in servo areas, in which the protrusion has a structure in which a first metal layer, a silicon layer and a second metal layer are stacked on the substrate and a metal oxide film is formed on a surface of the protrusion.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a master disk for transfer having an uneven pattern corresponding to information to be transferred comprises an initial layer forming step of forming an initial layer containing a nickel film on a surface of a reverse type master disk; an electroforming step of forming a metal layer so as to layer the metal layer on the initial layer by an electroforming method; and a peeling off step of peeling off a duplicated disk having at least two layers that are the initial layer and the metal layer to be integrated from the reverse type master disk after the electroforming step, and obtaining the master disk for transfer that is the duplicated disk with the initial layer being formed by being stacked on an uneven surface of the metal layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a master disk for magnetic transfer, comprising the steps of electroforming a master substrate of a metal disk with a surface on which an convexoconcave pattern corresponding to information to be transferred is transferred using a reverse die with a reversed convexoconcave pattern, and forming a magnetic layer on the convexoconcave pattern of the master substrate, the method comprising the steps of: a conductive layer forming step to form a conductive layer with a thickness t1 on a surface of the reverse die; an initial electroforming step to form a first plated layer with a thickness t2 equal to or more than the thickness t1 of the conductive layer by plating a surface of the conductive layer at a current density of 0.35 A/dm2 or less; and a main electroforming step to form a second plated layer by plating a surface of the first plated layer at a current density of 0.35 A/dm2 or more.

Abstract: A high-density data storage medium, a method of manufacturing the data storage medium, a high-density data storage apparatus, and methods of writing data on, and reading and erasing data from the data storage medium by using the data storage apparatus are provided. The data storage medium includes a lower electrode, an insulation layer deposited on the lower electrode, a photoelectron emission layer deposited on the insulation layer and having a plurality of protrusions from which photoelectrons are emitted due to collisions between the protrusions and photons, and a dielectric layer deposited on the photoelectron emission layer and storing the photoelectrons emitted from the photoelectron emission layer.

Abstract: A method of producing a stamper for roughening a substrate of an optical recording medium contains the steps of placing a conductive ring having a hole at the center thereof on a major surface of an original metal plate, electroforming a metal layer over a portion of the metal plate exposed in the hole of the conductive ring, an inner end-face of the conductive ring, and a portion of a major surface of the conductive ring, and entirely or partly roughening a major surface of the metal layer by a blasting treatment to obtain an original stamper.

Abstract: A master information carrier for magnetic transfer includes a master substrate made of metal, including an embossed pattern corresponding to information to be transferred. The master substrate is produced by laminating a metal disk with a predetermined thickness on an original disk, on which an embossed pattern is formed, by electroforming, peeling off the metal disk and die-cutting a disk in a desired size. An outer diameter of the metal disk is at least 1.7 times longer than an outer diameter of the die-cut master substrate. When the metal disk is peeled off from the original disk, deformation due to the forces acting from the side of the outer circumference is reduced. The flatness of the metal disk is ensured and the transfer qualities are improved. Further, a step of removing distortion of the metal disk, caused at the time of peeling off the metal disk, may also be provided.

Abstract: There is provided a method for manufacturing a high quality master information carrier for magnetic transfer, the method preventing the metallic disk formed by electroforming from coming off from the conduction ring and decreasing the distortion of the master information carrier. A conduction ring connected to a cathode is arranged on a matrix and electroforming is performed with the conduction ring being smaller in bore diameter than a presser ring for fixing the conduction ring and the matrix.

Abstract: There is provided a mold which contains at least two electroforming layers, wherein the mold has a concavo-convex pattern on a surface thereof, and the electroforming layers include at least two adjacent layers having the same crystal orientation.

Abstract: A process for producing a master carrier contains steps of: forming a desired pattern on a support to form a resist pattern support; forming a first ferromagnetic thin film on the resist pattern support by a vacuum film forming method; forming a third ferromagnetic thick film on the first ferromagnetic thin film by an electroplating; and peeling the support from the resist pattern support provided with the first ferromagnetic thin film and the third ferromagnetic thick film.

Abstract: A process produces a sulfonated solid particle by burning sulfur to yield gaseous sulfur dioxide, subjecting the gaseous sulfur dioxide to catalytic oxidation to yield gaseous sulfur trioxide, and sulfonating a dry powdery or granular solid particle with the gaseous sulfur trioxide in a gas phase-solid phase reaction.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a production method for an optical disc, capable of obtaining a good S/N ratio without deterioration of the stamper quality due to reaction with an electron attractive group contained in a resist material. The processes of forming a resist film on a substrate, patterning the resist film on the substrate by an electron beam cutting, forming a nickel alloy thin film on the patterned resist film, forming a nickel layer on the nickel alloy thin film by the electrocasting, and injection molding of a resin, using the nickel layer peeled off from the nickel alloy thin film as a stamper, are provided. The nickel alloy thin film has a composition containing Ni element as the main component as well as Ru element by less than 25% by weight.

Abstract: An anode includes an anode cup, a membrane and ion source material, the anode cup and membrane forming an enclosure in which the ion source material is located. The anode cup includes a base section having a central aperture and the membrane also has a central aperture. A jet is passed through the central apertures of the base section of the anode cup and through the membrane allowing plating solution to be directed at the center of a wafer being electroplated.

Abstract: Processes for producing the multi-layered optical recording medium shown in FIG. 2 using the embossing master (20) shown in FIG. 3, where an etched metal thin layer (22) has been electroplated with a thick metal layer and the luminescent recording layer (25) cast thereover forming pits (24) between adjacent metallized areas. The luminescent layer may then be cured using UV light (26).

Abstract: An electrode substrate comprises a backing substrate carrying thereon a metal electrode layer and/or a recording layer, the layer or layers having a smooth surface area with a surface roughness of less than 1 nm by more than 1 &mgr;m2. The smooth surface of the metal electrode layer and/or the recording layer is formed by firstly forming the layer on another substrate having a corresponding smooth surface and then peeling the another substrate off the layer after the layer is bonded to the surface of the backing substrate, whereby the smooth surface profile of the another substrate is transferred to the surface of the layer formed on the backing substrate.

Abstract: A method produces a liquid ejecting head having an ejection outlet for ejecting a liquid, a heat generating element for applying thermal energy to the liquid, a liquid flow path having a first path portion in fluid communication with the ejection outlet and a second path portion disposed below the first path portion and provided with the heat generating element in a bottom surface thereof, a partition wall for partitioning the liquid flow path into the first path portion and second path portion, and a movable member disposed above the heat generating element in the portion wall and arranged as displaceable to a side of the first path portion in accordance with a bubble generated in the liquid by the thermal energy in which upon generation of the bubble the first path portion and the second path portion are in fluid communication with each other and the pressure is directed toward the ejection outlet by the movable member displaced to eject the liquid droplet.

Abstract: An electrode substrate and a recording medium having a smooth surface with surface unevenness of 1 nm or less and a size of 1 &mgr;m□ or more are disclosed. An electrode substrate and a recording medium having a concave-shaped groove for tracking on the surface, which groove has a depth which can detect of the tunnel current from the bottom thereof by a probe electrode for scanning the surface are also disclosed. Information processing devices equipped with the smooth recording medium, an electroconductive probe arranged approximate to the recording medium and a pulse voltage application circuit for recording are also disclosed.

Abstract: A substrate having a photoresist coated thereon is exposed to exposure light along a line through a lens 1. The exposure position is moved from the initial position O1 to a position O2 that is separated from the initial position by a distance corresponding to the sum of a groove width Gw and a land width Lw. The exposure is carried out along a line parallel to the initial exposure line. By repeating this, exposed areas having a width Lw and a separation Gw are formed on the photoresist. The photoresist is developed to remove the exposed areas of the photoresist. A resin or the like is pressed on it to form a replica. From the replica, a stamper is manufactured using an electroforming method. Finally, a grooved molding substrate is manufactured from a glass or resin using the stamper. Although the land width Lw is defined by the effective spot diameter &phgr; of the optical system, the groove width Gw can be less than this value.

Abstract: A writable optical disc has an information writing track, and a guiding track for introducing a laser beam to the information writing track. The guiding track has prepit information recorded thereon, the prepit information including at least address information of the optical disc. The prepit information is recorded on the guiding track at a position where interference of adjacent guiding tracks with the prepit information is prevented. The information writing track is a groove track, and the guiding track is a land track.

Abstract: A system and method for electro-forming a metal layer on a substrate. The system has a rotary jet planarizer in an electro-forming or galvanic cell. The cell includes a toroidally-shaped manifold with two inlets and an outlet. Each of the inlets is coupled to tubing from a sump assembly. Pressurized electrolyte flows from the sump assembly to the manifold. Directly downstream from the manifold is a diffuser having a plurality of openings. Electrolyte flows through the diffuser to an toroidally-shaped anode basket filled with metal pellets. After flowing through the anode basket, the electrolyte flows to a rotary jet planarizer. The planarizer has a rotatable plate with a main opening, a plurality of apertures radially extending from the main opening, and a conduit that is coupled to the main opening and extends out of the cell. A motor is coupled to the rotary jet planarizer to rotate the plate.

Abstract: A plating cell for plating a flat substrate employs a sparger to introduce a flow of electrolyte or other plating solution across the surface of the substrate to be plated. A fluid-powered rotary blade or wiper within the cathode chamber has a rotary blade with an edge spaced a small distance, preferably about three-eighths inch, from the substrate, and an annular turbine which rotates under a flow of the electrolytic fluid that is also being fed to the sparger. The rotary wiper is run at a speed between about 35 and 80 rpm and draws the electrolyte away from the substrate. This helps remove hydrogen bubbles that form during electroplating. In addition, a megasonic transducer applies megasonic acoustic energy to the solution, e.g., at 0.2 to 5 MHz.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and method for continuously adjusting the anode/cathode distance for controlling uniformity of deposition. The entire cathode head is mounted on a lead screw which, when manually turned, moves the cathode head in or out in relation to the anode basket. Alternatively, the lead screw mechanism is driven by a servo motor and is suitably controlled by a computer which monitors the voltage and current in the electroforming cell and adjusts the screw accordingly. The present invention also includes an apparatus and method for a hinged, coated, metal clamping mechanism for fixturing a master against a backplate. To avoid plating of the metallic clamping ring, the metal is coated with a suitable substantially non-conductive, substantially non-chipping, extremely thin material.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for thermal process control in electroforming stampers for the production of CD/LD data carriers or the like. The temperature of an electrolytic solution in an electroforming cell is maintained at a value nearest a specific maximum temperature by raising or lowering the temperature of the electrolytic solution in a storage tank provided outside of the electroforming cell as a function of the temperature measured in a cathode space of the electroforming cell. A temperature sensor is disposed in or near the cathode space adjacent an electrolyte injection nozzle in a space between the anode and cathode means for supplying signals to a control unit. The temperature sensor and the injection nozzle are preferably assembled into a single mounting unit. The electroforming process can thus be run with an optimum effectivity in the vicinity of a maximum permissible temperature of the electrolytic solution.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and method for continuously adjusting the anode/cathode distance for controlling uniformity of deposition. The entire cathode head is mounted on a lead screw which, when manually turned, moves the cathode head in or out in relation to the anode basket. Alternatively, the lead screw mechanism is driven by a servo motor and is suitably controlled by a computer which monitors the voltage and current in the electroforming cell and adjusts the screw accordingly. The present invention also includes an apparatus and method for a hinged, coated, metal clamping mechanism for fixturing a master against a backplate. To avoid plating of the metallic clamping ring, the metal is coated with a suitable substantially non-conductive, substantially non-chipping, extremely thin material.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead body has an ink filter structure integrally incorporated therein and operative to filter ink flowing into its internal ink receiving channels disposed between piezoelectrically deflectable interior wall portions of the body. In various illustrated embodiments of the printhead, the filter structure is defined by a series of photoetched micro filter passageways formed integrally in an outer side portion of the printhead body, a filter cavity formed in the outer side portion and receiving a separate photoetchable filter member in which photoetched micro filter passageways are formed, and a filter cavity formed in the outer side portion and receiving a separate mesh-type micro filter member.

Abstract: A plating cell for plating a flat substrate, for example, a stamper for a high-density compact disk recording, employs a sparger to introduce a flow of electrolyte across the surface of the substrate to be plated. A fluid-powered rotary blade or wiper within the cathode chamber has a rotary blade with an edge spaced a small distance, preferably about three-eighths inch, from the substrate, and an annular turbine which rotates under a flow of the electrolytic fluid that is also being fed to the sparger. The rotary wiper is run at a speed between about 35 and 80 rpm and draws the electrolyte away from the substrate. This helps remove hydrogen bubble that form during electroplating. A semipermeable weir separates the cathode chamber from an anode chamber that contains an anode basket that is filled with plating material. The plating cell is provided with a backwash flow regime so that impurities and inclusions from the anode chamber are kept out of the plating bath.

Abstract: A plate made of silicate glass (glass master) (3) is provided with a pressing surface (surface coat) carrying the sound recording in the form of raised contours formed from a photoresist (5) with a layer of primer (adhesion promotor) (4) to hold the photoresist layer (5) to the glass plate (3). A first metal layer (6) is deposited on the photoresist (5) from a sputter target which consists of a NiV alloy; and a protective layer (7) of nickel is electrolytically deposited on the first layer. The metal master (8) consisting of first layer (6) and protective layer (7) is pulled from the photoresist layer (5).

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing an optical disk having spiral or concentric grooves and land portions between the grooves are disclosed. In one aspect, the methods include projection of light spots onto a photosensitive material so that areas of the photosensitive material exposed to a first light spot form the pattern of spiral or concentric grooves and that areas of said photosensitive material which correspond to said land portions and are exposed to a second light spot form a predetermined pit pattern.

Abstract: A soft-magnetic multilayer thin film produced by electroplating, wherein an anode-dissolution process is effected by intermittently applying a reverse d.c. bias current with respect to the plating-forward current. Involving the anode-dissolution process allows the formation of a re-dissolution effect layer differing in crystal structure from the plated film layer. A soft-magnetic multilayer thin film characterized by having a multilayer film structure which comprises a plated layer and a re-dissolution effect layer laminated to each other and which the plated layer is at least magnetically isolated. Further, a method of manufacturing a soft-magnetic multilayer thin film having a multilayer film structure magnetically isolated only through plating, which is offered by introducing the anode-dissolution process.

Abstract: Electrical data is recorded and retrieved by producing and detecting impedance change. A layer of high resistivity material on a conductive substrate is used as the recording layer. A conductive probe pressing on it is used for sending writing or reading electrical current flowing in a direction normal to its surface. A large enough electrical voltage pulse is applied on this probe, causing electro-forming in a data spot in the recording layer under the probe, turning the local resistance of this data spot from high to low. This change in resistance or more generally, change in impedance, is utilized to write data. Several kinds of impedance detecting circuits, utilizing the principle of voltage divider circuit or field effect transistors are employed in data reading. A large number of writing/reading units can be integrated compactly.

Abstract: An optical disk die is manufacture from a laminated disk which includes a substrate, an overlying heat sensitive layer, a reflective layer, and a final output protective layer. A laser beam forms micro-pits in the heat sensitive layer. These micro-pits become exposed after removal of the protective and reflective layers. A thin metallic coating is deposited over the surface of the pitted heat sensitive layer wherein the contours of the micro-pits are followed. A thicker second metallic layer is deposited over the first metallic layer and has an interface with the first metallic layer which duplicates a pattern of the micro-pits. Finally, the deposited second layer is separated from the remainder of the laminated disk thereby forming a die having the micro-pit pattern therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for electroplating, particularly in the production of metal matrices for manufacturing articles of plastic, such as compact discs, said apparatus comprising a container having a peripheral wall and opposed first and second end walls so as to form a plating space therein, adapted to house an electrolyte, and an anode, a carrier with an electrically conductive surface to be plated forming the cathode and means being arranged between the anode and the cathode for providing a flow of electrolyte from said cathode towards said anode. For allowing a faster production of metal matrices with better quality it is suggested according to the invention that the peripheral wall is formed with an internal contour which substantially corresponds to the surface to be plated, said carrier forming the second container end wall which through intermediate current supply members is sealingly urged against the mating edge of the peripheral wall, while the anode is located adjacent said first end wall of the container.

Abstract: Disclosed are a master holder of a stamper electroforming apparatus and an electroforming method using this master holder. The master holder is for use in a stamper electroforming apparatus that forms a metal film by electroforming on a conductive film formed on a master having a minute relief pattern on its surface; and this master includes: a contact ring for electrically connecting the conductive film to a power source; and a structure for controlling the rate at which the metal film is formed, which structure is provided on the contact ring and adapted to control the metal-film-formation rate such that the thickness of a peripheral portion of the metal film gradually decreases in the vicinity of the contact ring.

Abstract: A method of reducing the surface noise of optical disk products of the type having a surface relief pattern is disclosed. In one embodiment, an adherent layer is applied to the substrate of the disk before it is coated with the recording material layer. In another embodiment, a polymeric replica produced from a master disk is treated by spin coating or dipping in a weak solvent which serves to smooth out microscopic roughness thereby removing surface irregularities. In a third embodiment, a metal coated replica is subjected to an electropolishing operation which again serves to remove a small amount of metal material, preferentially from "high spots".

Abstract: An optical disk manufacturing method comprises a step of preparing a master disk having an elastomer layer, formed on a transparent substrate and containing photosensitive dyes, and a polymer support layer, formed on the elastomer layer and having a glass transition temperature; a step of forming minute bumps on the master disk by irradiation of a focusing laser beam; a step of forming a metal layer on that surface of the master disk which has the minute bumps; and a step of forming a stamper layer on that surface of the master disk which is rendered conductive, thereby forming a stamper. According to another optical disk manufacturing method, the metal stamper forming step is replaced with a step of forming a transfer layer, made of a transparent ultraviolet-ray hardening resin, on that surface of the master disk which has the minute bumps, thereby forming a resin stamper.