Electric field assisted assembly process
AssigneeThe Penn State Research Foundation
InventorsThomas N. Jackson, Theresa Mayer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention is directed toward a process of manufacturing, including a technique of assembling parts of an apparatus. The technique includes forming electrode structures on a substrate, suspending the apparatus part or parts in a dielectric medium between electrodes of the electrode structure, and using near-field (that is, short range) electric field forces to align the part or parts in pre-determined positions in accordance with the desired apparatus topography. The part or parts may include semiconductor die, nanometer wires for making connections to devices, or other components requiring precision alignment.
Claims38
An electric field assisted assembly process using short-range electric field effects, either singly or in combination with longer range electric field effects, process comprising:
- forming a short-range electric field alignment electrode structure on a substrate, said electrode structure having a field electrode capacitively coupled to said electrode structure;
- supplying apparatus parts in a fluid dielectric medium near said electrode structure;
- and
- appplying an AC or DC voltage to said electrode structure that induces a non-uniform electric field in said dielectric medium to align one of said parts in a pre-determined position proximate to said field electrode, wherein inducing said non-uniform electric field produces a dielectrophoretic force so as to cause a dipole moment in said parts to move said parts sufficiently close to said filed electrode such that said short range electric field alignment electrode structure cause said one of said parts to align.
An electric field assisted assembly process using short-range electric field effects, either singly or in combination with longer range electric field effects, process comprising:
- forming a short-range electric field alignment electrode structure on a substrate, said electrode structure having a field electrode capacitively coupled to said electrode structure;
- supplying apparatus parts in a fluid dielectric medium near said electrode structure;
- and
- appplying an AC or DC voltage to said electrode structure that induces a non-uniform electric field in said dielectric medium to align one of said parts in a pre-determined position proximate to said field electrode, wherein alignment of said one of said parts causes a shielding of said non-uniform electric field in said predetermined position so as to prevent further parts from being aligned to said predetermined position.
An electric field assisted assembly process using short range electric field effects, either singly or in combination with longer range electric filed effects, process comprising:
- forming a short range electric field alignment electrode structure with size scale similar to apparatus parts to be aligned on a substrate, said electrode structure having a field electrode capacitively coupled to said electrode structure;
- supplying said apparatus parts in a fluid dielectric medium near said electrode structure;
- and
- applying a non-uniform electric field to align one of said parts in a pre-determined position proximate said field electrode, wherein said applying of said non-uniform electric field produces a dielectrophoretic force so as to induce a dipole moment in said parts to move the parts sufficiently close to said electrode structures that said short range elextric field alignment electrode structure is effective.
An electric field assisted assembly process using short range electric field effects, either singly or in combination with longer range electric filed effects, process comprising:
- forming a short range electric field alignment electrode structure with size scale similar to apparatus parts to be aligned on a substrate, said electrode structure having a field electrode capacitively coupled to said electrode structure;
- supplying said apparatus parts in a fluid dielectric medium near said electrode structure;
- and
- applying a non-uniform electric field to align one of said parts in a pre-determined position proximate said field electrode, wherein alignment of said one of said parts causes a shield of said non-uniform electric field in said pre-determined position so as to prevent additional parts from being aligned to said pre-determined position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.