Thermally controlled fluidic self-assembly
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsRavi Sharma, Charles Lusignan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatuses are provided for assembling a structure on a support having a pattern of binding sites. In accordance with the method, a first fluid is provided on the surface of the support with the first fluid being of a type that that increases viscosity when cooled, the first fluid having first micro-components suspended therein each adapted to engage the binding sites. First fluid proximate to selected binding sites is cooled to increase the viscosity of the responsive fluid proximate to the selected binding sites so that the first micro-components suspended in the first fluid are inhibited from engaging the selected binding sites.
Claims30
A method for assembling a structure on a support having a surface with a pattern of binding sites, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first fluid on the surface of the support with the first fluid being of a type that that increases viscosity when cooled, said first fluid having first micro-components suspended therein each adapted to engage the binding sites;
- and
- cooling the first fluid proximate to selected binding sites to increase the viscosity of the first fluid proximate to the selected binding sites so that the first micro-components suspended in the first fluid are inhibited from engaging the selected binding sites.
A method for assembling a structure using a support having a pattern of binding sites, the method comprising the steps of:
- applying a first fluid to the support, said fluid being of a type that increases viscosity when cooled;
- cooling the first fluid to form areas of increased viscosity in the first fluid proximate to selected binding sites;
- and
- applying a first carrier fluid having first micro-components therein adapted to engage the binding sites;
- wherein the areas of increased viscosity of the first fluid inhibit the first micro-components from engaging the selected binding sites.
A method for arranging at a pattern of at least three colored micro-components, using a support having an arrangement of binding sites adapted to receive the colored micro-components, the method comprising the steps of:
- cooling a first fluid that increases viscosity when cooled, at binding sites for second and third colored micro-components so that each binding site for a second and a third colored micro-component is blocked by a portion of the first fluid having an increased viscosity;
- exposing the support to a first slurry containing a first colored micro-structure and a first carrier fluid so that the first colored micro-components can assemble to binding sites that are not blocked;
- removing any non-assembled first colored micro-components from the support and allowing the portions of the first fluid having an increased viscosity to heat so that they do not block the binding sites for the second and third colored micro-components;
- cooling a second fluid that increases viscosity in when cooled, at binding sites for the third colored micro-structures so that each binding sites for each third colored micro-component is blocked by a portion of the second fluid having an increased viscosity;
- exposing the support to a second slurry containing the second colored micro-components and a second carrier fluid so that the second colored micro-structures can assemble to binding sites to which are not occupied by the first colored micro-components and which are not blocked,
- removing any non-assembled second colored micro-components from the support and allowing the portions of the second fluid having an increased viscosity to heat so that they do not block the binding sites for the third colored micro-components;
- and
- exposing the support to a third slurry containing the third colored micro-components and a third carrier fluid so that the third colored micro-components can assemble to binding sites which are not occupied by the first colored micro-components and the second micro-components.
An apparatus for assembling a micro-assembled structure on a support having binding sites thereon, the apparatus comprising:
- a fluid source adapted to apply a first fluid having first micro-components therein onto the support, said first micro-components being adapted to engage the binding sites and said first fluid being of a type that increases viscosity when cooled;
- and
- a cooling applicator adapted to apply a cooling material to the support so that the support cools the first fluid to increase the viscosity of the first fluid proximate to the selected binding sites so that micro-components are inhibited from engaging the selected binding sites.
An apparatus for assembling a structure using a support having binding sites thereon, the apparatus comprising:
- a means for providing onto the support a first fluid of a type that increases viscosity when cooled;
- a means for selectively cooling the first fluid proximate to selected binding sites;
- and
- a means for exposing the support to a first slurry of a carrier fluid having a first type of micro-components therein, so that the first type of micro-components can engage the non-selected binding sites.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.