Patents by Inventor Timothy Brian Stachowiak

Timothy Brian Stachowiak 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: 10620539
    Abstract: A nanoimprint lithography method includes disposing a pretreatment composition on a nanoimprint lithography substrate to form a pretreatment coating, and disposing discrete portions of imprint resist on the pretreatment coating, each discrete portion of the imprint resist covering a target area of the nanoimprint lithography substrate. The imprint resist is a polymerizable composition and includes a polymerization initiator. A composite polymerizable coating is formed on the nanoimprint lithography substrate as each discrete portion of the imprint resist spreads beyond its target area. The composite polymerizable coating is contacted with a nanoimprint lithography template. The polymerization initiator is activated, and the composite polymerizable coating is polymerized to yield a composite polymeric layer and an uncured portion of the pretreatment coating on the nanoimprint lithography substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Timothy Brian Stachowiak, Weijun Liu
  • Publication number: 20190391484
    Abstract: The pattern forming method, which is a photo-nanoimprint technology, includes in this order: laying a layer formed of a curable composition (A1) containing at least a polymerizable compound on a surface of a substrate; dispensing liquid droplets of a curable composition (A2) containing at least a polymerizable compound dropwise discretely onto the layer of (A1) to lay the liquid droplets; sandwiching a layer obtained by partially mixing (A1) and (A2) between a mold and the substrate; of irradiating the layer obtained by partially mixing (A1) and (A2) with light from a side of the mold to cure the layer in one stroke; and releasing the mold from the layer formed of the curable compositions after the curing, in which a value Vr/Vc obtained by dividing a volume of (A2) per shot area (Vr) by a volume of (A1) (Vc) is 4 or more and 15 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Keiko Chiba, Shingo Ishida, Toshiaki Ando, Toshiki Ito, Timothy Brian Stachowiak, Weijun Liu
  • Patent number: 10509313
    Abstract: A nanoimprint lithography method includes disposing a pretreatment composition including a polymerizable component on a substrate to form a pretreatment coating. Discrete imprint resist portions are disposed on the pretreatment coating, with each discrete portion of the imprint resist covering a target area of the substrate. The imprint resist is a polymerizable composition and includes a fluorinated photoinitiator. A composite polymerizable coating is formed on the substrate as each discrete portion of the imprint resist spreads beyond its target area. The composite polymerizable coating includes a mixture of the pretreatment composition and the imprint resist. The composite polymerizable coating is contacted with a template, and is polymerized to yield a composite polymeric layer on the substrate. The interfacial surface energy between the pretreatment composition and air exceeds the interfacial surface energy between the imprint resist and air or between at least a component of the imprint resist and air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Weijun Liu, Fen Wan, Timothy Brian Stachowiak
  • Patent number: 10481491
    Abstract: A method can be used to generate a fluid droplet pattern for an imprint lithography process using a fluid dispense system having fluid dispense ports. The method can include determining a fluid droplet pattern for dispensing a formable material onto a substrate; during a first pass, dispensing the formable material onto the substrate to form a first part of the fluid droplet pattern for an imprint field; offsetting the fluid dispense ports and substrate relative to each other in an offset direction; and during a second pass, dispensing the formable material onto the substrate to form a second part of the fluid droplet pattern for the imprint field. The method can be used to form a patterned layer over a semiconductor wafer in fabricating an electronic device. An apparatus can be configured to carry out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Edward Brian Fletcher, Timothy Brian Stachowiak
  • Patent number: 10451966
    Abstract: A nanoimprint lithography method includes disposing a pretreatment composition including a polymerizable component on a substrate to form a pretreatment coating. Discrete imprint resist portions are disposed on the pretreatment coating, with each discrete portion of the imprint resist covering a target area of the substrate. The imprint resist is a polymerizable composition and includes a fluorinated photoinitiator. A composite polymerizable coating is formed on the substrate as each discrete portion of the imprint resist spreads beyond its target area. The composite polymerizable coating includes a mixture of the pretreatment composition and the imprint resist. The composite polymerizable coating is contacted with a template, and is polymerized to yield a composite polymeric layer on the substrate. The interfacial surface energy between the pretreatment composition and air exceeds the interfacial surface energy between the imprint resist and air or between at least a component of the imprint resist and air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Weijun Liu, Fen Wan, Timothy Brian Stachowiak
  • Patent number: 10317793
    Abstract: A nanoimprint lithography method includes coating a surface of a nanoimprint lithography substrate with a pretreatment composition to yield a layer of the pretreatment composition on the surface of the substrate, disposing an imprint resist on the layer of the pretreatment composition to yield a composite layer on the surface of the substrate, contacting the composite layer with a nanoimprint lithography template, and forming a polymeric layer on the surface of the substrate by polymerizing the composite layer. The pretreatment composition includes a polymerizable component having a molecular mass between about 300 and about 750. The imprint resist is a polymerizable composition. The composite layer includes a mixture of the pretreatment composition and the imprint resist. An average spreading rate of the imprint resist to form the composite layer exceeds an average spreading rate of the imprint resist on the substrate under otherwise identical conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Timothy Brian Stachowiak, Weijun Liu, Fen Wan
  • Patent number: 10189188
    Abstract: A compound of Formula A-1: where n is an integer and R is C1-10 alkyl. In some cases, n is an integer of 1 to 20 or 5 to 15. R may be substituted or unsubstituted. An adhesive composition may include a compound of Formula A-1. The adhesive composition may include at least one of a crosslinker, a catalyst, and a solvent. An imprint lithography stack may include a substrate and an adhesion layer adhered to the substrate, where the adhesion layer includes a compound of Formula A-1. Forming an adhesion layer on an imprint lithography substrate includes disposing an adhesive composition on the imprint lithography substrate and polymerizing the adhesive composition to yield the adhesion layer on the substrate, where the adhesive composition includes a compound of Formula A-1, where n is an integer and R is C1-10 alkyl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fen Wan, Weijun Liu, Timothy Brian Stachowiak
  • Patent number: 10134588
    Abstract: Facilitating throughput in nanoimprint lithography processes by using an imprint resist including fluorinated components and a substrate treated with a pretreatment composition to promote spreading of an imprint resist on the substrate. The interfacial surface energy between the pretreatment composition and air exceeds the interfacial surface energy between the imprint resist and air by at least 1 mN/m, and the contact angle of the imprint resist on the surface of the nanoimprint lithography template is less than 15°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Weijun Liu, Timothy Brian Stachowiak, James P. DeYoung, Niyaz Khusnatdinov
  • Patent number: 10095106
    Abstract: A nanoimprint lithography method to remove uncured pretreatment composition from an imprinted nanoimprint lithography substrate. The method includes disposing a pretreatment composition on a nanoimprint lithography substrate to form a pretreatment coating and disposing discrete portions of imprint resist on the pretreatment coating, each discrete portion of the imprint resist covering a target area of the nanoimprint lithography substrate. A composite polymerizable coating is formed on the nanoimprint lithography substrate as each discrete portion of the imprint resist spreads beyond its target area, and the composite polymerizable coating is contacted with a nanoimprint lithography template. The composite polymerizable coating is polymerized to yield a composite polymeric layer and an uncured portion of the pretreatment coating on the nanoimprint lithography substrate, and the uncured portion of the pretreatment coating is removed from the nanoimprint lithography substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Timothy Brian Stachowiak, Weijun Liu, Niyaz Khusnatdinov, Zhengmao Ye, Toshiki Ito
  • Publication number: 20180272634
    Abstract: A nanoimprint lithography method includes disposing a pretreatment composition on a substrate to form a pretreatment coating. The pretreatment composition includes a polymerizable component. Discrete imprint resist portions are disposed on the pretreatment coating, with each discrete portion of the imprint resist covering a target area of the substrate. A composite polymerizable coating is formed on the substrate as each discrete portion of the imprint resist spreads beyond its target area. The composite polymerizable coating includes a mixture of the pretreatment composition and the imprint resist. The composite polymerizable coating is contacted with a template, and is polymerized to yield a composite polymeric layer on the substrate. The interfacial surface energy between the pretreatment composition-and air exceeds the interfacial surface energy between the imprint resist and air or between at least a component of the imprint resist and air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Niyaz Khusnatdinov, Timothy Brian Stachowiak, Weijun Liu
  • Publication number: 20180252999
    Abstract: A nanoimprint lithography method includes coating a surface of a nanoimprint lithography substrate with a pretreatment composition to yield a layer of the pretreatment composition on the surface of the substrate, disposing an imprint resist on the layer of the pretreatment composition to yield a composite layer on the surface of the substrate, contacting the composite layer with a nanoimprint lithography template, and forming a polymeric layer on the surface of the substrate by polymerizing the composite layer. The pretreatment composition includes a polymerizable component having a molecular mass between about 300 and about 750. The imprint resist is a polymerizable composition. The composite layer includes a mixture of the pretreatment composition and the imprint resist. An average spreading rate of the imprint resist to form the composite layer exceeds an average spreading rate of the imprint resist on the substrate under otherwise identical conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Timothy Brian Stachowiak, Weijun Liu, Fen Wan
  • Publication number: 20180164678
    Abstract: A method can be used to generate a fluid droplet pattern for an imprint lithography process using a fluid dispense system having fluid dispense ports. The method can include determining a fluid droplet pattern for dispensing a formable material onto a substrate; during a first pass, dispensing the formable material onto the substrate to form a first part of the fluid droplet pattern for an imprint field; offsetting the fluid dispense ports and substrate relative to each other in an offset direction; and during a second pass, dispensing the formable material onto the substrate to form a second part of the fluid droplet pattern for the imprint field. The method can be used to form a patterned layer over a semiconductor wafer in fabricating an electronic device. An apparatus can be configured to carry out the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Edward Brian FLETCHER, Timothy Brian STACHOWIAK
  • Publication number: 20170371240
    Abstract: A nanoimprint lithography method includes disposing a pretreatment composition including a polymerizable component on a substrate to form a pretreatment coating. Discrete imprint resist portions are disposed on the pretreatment coating, with each discrete portion of the imprint resist covering a target area of the substrate. The imprint resist is a polymerizable composition and includes a fluorinated photoinitiator. A composite polymerizable coating is formed on the substrate as each discrete portion of the imprint resist spreads beyond its target area. The composite polymerizable coating includes a mixture of the pretreatment composition and the imprint resist. The composite polymerizable coating is contacted with a template, and is polymerized to yield a composite polymeric layer on the substrate. The interfacial surface energy between the pretreatment composition and air exceeds the interfacial surface energy between the imprint resist and air or between at least a component of the imprint resist and air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Weijun Liu, Fen Wan, Timothy Brian Stachowiak
  • Publication number: 20170335150
    Abstract: A compound of Formula A-1: where n is an integer and R is C1-10 alkyl. In some cases, n is an integer of 1 to 20 or 5 to 15. R may be substituted or unsubstituted. An adhesive composition may include a compound of Formula A-1. The adhesive composition may include at least one of a crosslinker, a catalyst, and a solvent. An imprint lithography stack may include a substrate and an adhesion layer adhered to the substrate, where the adhesion layer includes a compound of Formula A-1. Forming an adhesion layer on an imprint lithography substrate includes disposing an adhesive composition on the imprint lithography substrate and polymerizing the adhesive composition to yield the adhesion layer on the substrate, where the adhesive composition includes a compound of Formula A-1, where n is an integer and R is C1-10 alkyl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Fen Wan, Weijun Liu, Timothy Brian Stachowiak
  • Publication number: 20170287708
    Abstract: Facilitating throughput in nanoimprint lithography processes by using an imprint resist including fluorinated components and a substrate treated with a pretreatment composition to promote spreading of an imprint resist on the substrate. The interfacial surface energy between the pretreatment composition and air exceeds the interfacial surface energy between the imprint resist and air by at least 1 mN/m, and the contact angle of the imprint resist on the surface of the nanoimprint lithography template is less than 15°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Weijun Liu, Timothy Brian Stachowiak, James P. DeYoung, Niyaz Khusnatdinov
  • Publication number: 20170283632
    Abstract: A pattern is formed on a substrate with forming a layer of a curable composition (A1) containing a polymerizable compound (a1) on a surface of the substrate, then dispensing droplets of a curable composition (A2) containing a polymerizable compound (a2) dropwise discretely onto the curable composition (A1) layer, subsequently sandwiching a mixture layer of the curable composition (A1) and the curable composition (A2) between a mold and the substrate, then irradiating the mixture layer with light to cure the mixture layer, and releasing the mold from the mixture layer after the curing. The curable composition (A1) except a solvent has a viscosity at 25° C. of 40 mPa·s or more and less than 500 mPa·s. The curable composition (A2) except a solvent has a viscosity at 25° C. of 1 mPa·s or more and less than 40 mPa·s.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Keiko Chiba, Toshiki Ito, Timothy Brian Stachowiak, Niyaz Khusnatdinov, Weijun Liu
  • Publication number: 20170285464
    Abstract: A pattern is formed on a substrate with forming a layer of a curable composition (A1) containing a component (a1) serving as a polymerizable compound and a component (d1) serving as a solvent on a surface of the substrate, then dispensing droplets of a curable composition (A2) containing at least a component (a2) serving as a polymerizable compound dropwise discretely onto the layer of the curable composition, subsequently sandwiching a mixture layer of the curable composition (A1) and the curable composition (A2) between a mold and the substrate, then irradiating the mixture layer with light to cure the layer, and releasing the mold from the mixture layer after the curing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Toshiki Ito, Tomonori Otani, Keiko Chiba, Weijun Liu, Timothy Brian Stachowiak
  • Publication number: 20170282440
    Abstract: A nanoimprint lithography method to remove uncured pretreatment composition from an imprinted nanoimprint lithography substrate. The method includes disposing a pretreatment composition on a nanoimprint lithography substrate to form a pretreatment coating and disposing discrete portions of imprint resist on the pretreatment coating, each discrete portion of the imprint resist covering a target area of the nanoimprint lithography substrate. A composite polymerizable coating is formed on the nanoimprint lithography substrate as each discrete portion of the imprint resist spreads beyond its target area, and the composite polymerizable coating is contacted with a nanoimprint lithography template. The composite polymerizable coating is polymerized to yield a composite polymeric layer and an uncured portion of the pretreatment coating on the nanoimprint lithography substrate, and the uncured portion of the pretreatment coating is removed from the nanoimprint lithography substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Timothy Brian Stachowiak, Weijun Liu, Niyaz Khusnatdinov, Zhengmao Ye, Toshiki Ito
  • Publication number: 20170285466
    Abstract: A pattern is formed on a substrate with forming a layer of a curable composition (A1) containing a component (a1) as a polymerizable compound and a component (c1) as a surfactant on a surface of the substrate, then dispensing droplets of a curable composition (A2) containing a component (a2) as a polymerizable compound and a component (c2) as a surfactant dropwise discretely onto the layer formed of the curable composition (A1), subsequently sandwiching a mixture layer of the curable composition (A1) and the curable composition (A2) between a mold having a pattern and the substrate, then irradiating the mixture layer with light to cure the mixture layer, and releasing the mold from the mixture layer after the curing. The curable composition (A1) containing at least 0.5 wt % or more of the component (c1), the curable composition (A2) containing at least 0.5 wt % or more of the component (c2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Keiko Chiba, Toshiki Ito, Weijun Liu, Timothy Brian Stachowiak, Niyaz Khusnatdinov
  • Publication number: 20170285463
    Abstract: A pattern is formed on a substrate with forming a layer of a curable composition (A1) containing a component (a1) serving as a polymerizable compound (a1) and a component (b1) serving as a photopolymerization initiator on a surface of the substrate, then dispensing droplets of a curable composition (A2) containing a component (a2) serving as a polymerizable compound (a2) and a component (b2) serving as a photopolymerization initiator dropwise discretely onto the layer of the curable composition (A1), subsequently sandwiching a mixture layer of the curable composition (A1) and the curable composition (A2) between a mold and the substrate, then irradiating the mixture layer with light to cure the mixture layer, and releasing the mold from the mixture layer after the curing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Toshiki Ito, Weijun Liu, Timothy Brian Stachowiak, Niyaz Khusnatdinov, Tomonori Otani, Masayuki Tanabe