Methods of positioning components using liquid prime movers and related structures
AssigneeUnitive Electronics, Inc.
InventorGlenn A. Rinne
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A liquid prime mover can be used to position a component on a substrate. For example, a liquid material can be provided on the substrate adjacent the component such that the component has a first position relative to the substrate. A property of the liquid material can then be changed to move the component from the first position relative to the substrate to a second position relative to the substrate. Related structures are also discussed.
Claims42
A method of positioning a component on a substrate, the method comprising:
- providing a liquid material on the substrate adjacent the component such that the component has a first position relative to the substrate;
- and
- changing a property of the liquid material while in a liquid state to move the component from the first position relative to the substrate to a second position relative to the substrate while in a liquid state.
A method of positioning a component on a substrate, the method comprising:
- providing an initial volume of liquid on a wettable area of the substrate adjacent the component such that the component has a first position relative to the substrate;
- changing the volume of the liquid on the wettable area of the substrate adjacent the component to move the component from the first position relative to the substrate to the second position relative to the substrate;
- and
- after providing the initial volume of the liquid and changing the volume of the liquid, securing the component in the second position relative to the substrate.
A method of positioning a component on a substrate, the method comprising:
- providing liquid material on substrate adjacent the component wherein the liquid material is confined to a wettable area of the substrate such that the component is in a first position relative to the substrate;
- and
- differentially heating the liquid material to move the component from the first position to a second position relative to the substrate.
A method of manipulating a light path between two optical components, the method comprising:
- providing a liquid material on a wettable area of a substrate so that the liquid material forms a bump on the wettable area;
- and
- changing a height of the liquid bump between a first height and a second height so that the liquid bump interrupts the light path at the first height of the liquid bump and so that the light path is not interrupted at the second height of the liquid bump.
An optical structure comprising:
- first and second elongate liquid bumps on a substrate wherein the first and second elongate liquid bumps are parallel;
- and
- an optical fiber in contact with and between the first and second elongate liquid bumps.
An optical structure comprising:
- an optical component that generates an optical output along an optical path;
- and
- a liquid bump in the optical path wherein the liquid bump is adapted to selectively transmit and interrupt or reflect the optical output.
A structure comprising:
- a substrate;
- a first wettable area on the substrate;
- a second wettable area on the substrate;
- a wettable channel on the substrate coupling the first and second wettable areas;
- liquid material on the first wettable area;
- and
- a flow control dam on the wettable channel wherein the flow control dam prevents flow of liquid between the first and second wettable areas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.