Abstract: A method for building microstructures, comprising the steps of forming a photopolymer mask on a substrate, having a mask thickness equal to or larger than a desired height of a microstructure to be formed; forming a latent image on the photopolymer mask by exposure to light; applying an electrical charge to the photopolymer mask; developing the cavities in the mask with a functional liquid toner material whose electrical charge polarity is the same as the charge on the mask; and solidifying the functional liquid toner material into a useful microstructure.

Abstract: A backplane having a circuit array having at least one region comprising a substrate having a conductive plane under a dielectric surface, a first conductive layer on said dielectric surface, a selectively disposed insulator disposed over said first conductive layer, and a second conductive layer disposed on said insulator, wherein said first conductive layer is electrically insulated from said second conductive layer, said first conductive layer being formed electrographically, and said second conductive layer being formed by a process comprising selective deposition of liquid droplets, which are then solidified. The second conductive layer may be formed electrographically or by a raster deposition process. The backplane preferably forms an active matrix for a flat panel display using organic semiconductor active elements.

Abstract: A system and method for the manipulation of nanofibers using electrostatic forces. The nanofibers may be provided in a liquid medium, and the nanofibers may be nano-scale (i.e. measured in nanometers). The process is sensitive to the charge properties of the nanofibers (charge could be inherent to material or the charge can be induced into the material through electrochemical means), and therefore may be used to sort or classify particles. The nanofibers may also be aligned according to electrical fields, and thus anisotropic effect exploited. Devices produced may be conductors, semiconductors, active electronic devices, electron emitters, and the like. The nanofibers may be modified after deposition, for example to remove charge-influencing coatings to further enhance their performance, to enhance their adhesion to polymers for use as composite materials or result in the adhesion of the material at the proper location on a variety of different surfaces.

Abstract: A method for applying particles in a pattern to a substrate, either directly or by use of an intermediate tool, by electrokinetic or electrostatic means by exposing the substrate to particles in a fluid medium to electrokinetically or electrostatically deposit the particles onto the substrate.

Abstract: A system and method for the manipulation of nanofibers using electrostatic forces. The nanofibers may be provided in a liquid medium, and the nanofibers may be nano-scale (i.e. measured in nanometers). The process is sensitive to the charge properties of the nanofibers (charge could be inherent to material or the charge can be induced into the material through electrochemical means), and therefore may be used to sort or classify particles. The nanofibers may also be aligned according to electrical fields, and thus anisotropic effect exploited. Devices produced may be conductors, semiconductors, active electronic devices, electron emitters, and the like. The nanofibers may be modified after deposition, for example to remove charge-influencing coatings to further enhance their performance, to enhance their adhesion to polymers for use as composite materials or result in the adhesion of the material at the proper location on a variety of different surfaces.

Abstract: Liquid toners suitable for use in the electrostatic printing of functional materials to produce microstructures such as ribs, electrodes, spacers or filters, and methods of producing the liquid toners. The functional materials, which may include metals, glass and phosphors, are suspended as particles in a dilutent, which may be a non-polar liquid. The surface, or portions of the surface, of the functional material particles are given an appropriate acidic or hydroxyl functionality necessary for their use in electrostatic imaging either by etching or by coating with a material having the appropriate surface functionality.

Abstract: Electrostatic printing methods are used to allow the precise placement of small, discrete components on a substrate. The components are configured as liquid toners by coating one or more surfaces with a charge control agent which reacts with a charge director in a diluent to create a charge on the coated components allowing them to be manipulated and placed using electrical fields.

Abstract: A method for producing a latent image of differentially charged regions on an electrostatic printing plate that may subsequently be realized using toner particles. The printing plate's electrically conducting substrate is coated with a layer of photo-polymer material that has a low electrical conductivity in a normal state. Selected regions of the photo-polymer are then exposed to radiation of a wavelength that produces cross-linking of the photo-polymer. The surface of the photo-polymer is then charged using a corona-discharge while the conducting substrate is grounded. The applied charge is discharged in the unexposed, normal regions of the photo-resist, and retained in the cross-linked regions that were exposed to the radiation because the cross-linking increases the electrical resistance of the photo-polymer. The result is a latent image of differential charge.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the electrostatic printing of dry or wet toners using a novel tiered printing plate allows for superior and efficient transfer of toner from the plate to the printed item. The process for producing the printing plate uses photo polymer film resist with a positive photo tool which after developing yields trenches between ridges of hardened photo polymer which hold the toner in desired pattern.

Abstract: The invention describes techniques for the electrostatic printing of functional materials configured as liquid toners (45) on glass substrates (26) in a non-contact mode. The toners are patterned by a sensitized electrostatic printing plate (11) of fixed image configuration. Toner images (50) are transferred by an electric field (33) across a fluid filled mechanical gap (42) to the glass substrate (26). Techniques for optimizing the imaging and transfer processes are also disclosed. Two other techniques in which partially finished pieces are manipulated to “self-part” themselves, are described. In both cases defects in the pieces will over print the defect in the “self-healing” mode.

Abstract: The invention describes techniques for the electrostatic printing of functional materials configured as liquid toners (50) on glass substrates (26) in a non-contact mode. The toners are patterned by a sensitized electrostatic printing plate (11) of fixed image configuration. Toner images (50) are transferred by an electric field (33) across a fluid filled mechanical gap (42) to the glass substrate (26). Techniques for optimizing the imaging and transfer processes are also disclosed. Two other techniques in which partially finished pieces are manipulated to “self-print” themselves, are described. In both cases defects in the pieces will over print the defect in the “self-healing” mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the electrostatic printing of dry or wet toners using a novel tiered printing plate allows for superior and efficient transfer of toner from the plate to the printed item. The process for producing the printing plate uses photo polymer film resist with a positive photo tool which after developing yields trenches between ridges of hardened photo polymer which hold the toner in desired pattern.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the fabrication of a durable electrostatic printing plate. The electrostatic printing plate includes a substrate with an image receiving layer applied thereto. The image receiving layer includes a permanent pattern defined by an amorphous region and a polycrystalline region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the fabrication process for the printed wiring boards and flex circuits. An electrostatic printing plate includes a substrate with an image receiving layer applied thereto. The image receiving layer is a toner with a metallic toner and subsequently fixed in place or is transferred to a layer. The metal toner is then fixed on this receiving surface.

Abstract: A metal-containing toner is electrostatically printed on a semiconductor surface. Subsequently, this surface is annealed to achieve certain material modifications selectively at the regions where the toner is applied. If the toner contains a crystallization-catalyst metal, such as, Pd, Ni, Pt, and Cr, and is printed on an amorphous semiconductor film, annealing results in conversion of the printed regions to polycrystalline. If the metal-containing toner is printed on a silicon surface (i.e., amorphous/poly-Si layer or Si wafer) the printed regions are selectively converted to a metal-silicide (with the sufficient amount of metal applied on these regions) upon annealing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the fabrication process for the printed wiring boards and flex circuits. An electrostatic printing plate includes a substrate with an image receiving layer applied thereto. The image receiving layer is a toner with a metallic toner and subsequently fixed in place or is transferred to a layer. The metal toner is then fixed on this receiving surface.

Abstract: A metal-containing toner is electrostatically printed on a semiconductor surface. Subsequently, this surface is annealed to achieve certain material modifications selectively at the regions where the toner is applied. If the toner contains a crystallization-catalyst metal, such as, Pd, Ni, Pt, and Cr, and is printed on an amorphous semiconductor film, annealing results in conversion of the printed regions to polycrystalline. If the metal-containing toner is printed on a silicon surface (i.e., amorphous/poly-Si layer or Si wafer) the printed regions are selectively converted to a metal-silicide (with the sufficient amount of metal applied on these regions) upon annealing.

Abstract: A catalytic liquid toner is electrostatically printed on an amorphous silicon layer (or a substrate that is to support such a layer), in an image-wise fashion. After the liquid toner is dried, the amorphous silicon layer is heated, preferably using rapid thermal annealing, to approximately 550° C. for about 2 minutes to cause the toned areas to be converted to polysilicon. The toner used during the printing action is a dispersion of resin particles which contain a metallic catalyst, such as palladium, nickel or chromium.

Abstract: Particles are applied to the surfaces of materials, especially in the form of discontinuous or patterned coatings on the surfaces of sheet materials by a process comprising the steps of:a) providing a support,b) placing a bed of non-adhered particles on the support, the particles being capable of being moved by an electric field of less than 100 KV/cm,c) placing a mask with a first and second surface over the bed of non-adhered particles, the mask having holes which pass from the first to the second surface, the first surface facing the bed of non-adhered particles without the mask touching the bed of non-adhered particles, the holes in the mask having a size which would allow passage of individual particles from the bed of non-adhered particles through the holes,d) placing a receptor material capable of at least temporarily retaining an electric charge adjacent to the second surface of the mask, which second surface faces away from the bed of non-adhered particles,e) applying an electrical charge to the rece

Abstract: An electronic printer employing a bundle of optical fibers organizes the fiber ends in first and second faces of the bundle in a linear array and in an annulus or ring array respectively. A spinning prism is operative to image a linear array of light sources onto a segment of the annulus and move the image through a succession of positions to cover the entire area of the annulus in one revolution providing the pixels for a linear segment of a photosensitive medium optically coupled to the first face of the bundle.