Abstract: A hingeable plate assembly includes first and second substantially flat glass plates and first and second displaceable hinges for hingeably connecting the plates so that the second plate is outwardly displaceable with respect to the first plate in substantially parallel aligned relation thereto. The hinges each include first and second hinge pieces which are attached to the first and second plates, respectively, and pivot elements which are captured between the respective first and second hinge pieces thereof. The pivot elements are preferably formed as spherical balls which are received in elongated slots in the respective first hinge pieces thereof and sockets in the respective second hinge pieces thereof. The ball elements can rotate in the respective slots and/or sockets thereof to enable the second plate to be hinged relative to the first plate, and they can travel in the respective slots thereof to enable the second plate to be displaced outwardly from the first plate.

Abstract: Hinged glass photomask assemblies for photolithographic processes are disclosed wherein a flexible polymeric split hinge is used to join glass plates thereby providing for greater flexibility of the phototool.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing an electroforming mandrel. The method comprises providing a substrate which transmits actinic radiation with a pattern which masks the transmission of actinic radiation, depositing on a surface of the patterned substrate a continuous conductive film which transmits actinic radiation depositing on the conductive film a continuous layer of a photoresist, exposing said photoresist to actinic radiation through said masking substrate and conductive film, and developing said photoresist to selectively remove a portion thereof in order to uncover a pattern of the underlying conductive film.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electroforming process and mandrel which utilize a photomask substrate. The process comprises preparing an electroforming mandrel consisting of a photomask substrate, a continuous transparent conductive film on a surface of the substrate, and a discontinuous layer of photoresist which defines a pattern on the surface of the conductive film. A cathodic connector is attached to the conductive film of the electroforming mandrel and anodic connector is attached to an electrode comprising metal to be deposited on the mandrel. The mandrel and the metal electrode are immersed into an electroforming solution and electric current is established through the electrodes and solution. Electrodeposition of the metal is carried out to the desired thickness to electroform the metallic part on the mandrel.