Molecular Imprints, Inc. (MII) has unveiled the
latest addition to its Imprio line of imprint lithography tools today at the Strategies in Light trade conference. The
Imprio 1100 Precision Imprint Lithography System is a high throughput, whole wafer imprinter designed to enable
next generation devices in a broad array of applications, including Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), high density disk
substrates for Hard Disk Drives (HDD), and optical components requiring fine resolution patterning and three
dimensional features. MII has sold and installed two of its new Imprio 1100 systems and expects several additional
sales and system placements in 2007.
The high-brightness LED market, one of several market applications for MII’s new Imprio 1100, is predicted to
double over the next 5 years driven by continued advances in the creation, extraction and collection of light.
Many of the most promising new technologies, for example, quantum dots for light generation, substrate patterning
for light extraction and photonic crystals for light collection, require the ability to pattern nanometer-scale features.
The Imprio 1100 delivers cost effective patterning of sub-50nm features on the fragile, non-flat substrates
commonly encountered in the compound semiconductor industry. The same high resolution processes can also be
used to pattern larger features like laser diode ridges and diffractive optical elements with unprecedented pattern
fidelity and CD control.
The Imprio 1100 Precision Imprint Lithography System represents the next generation in fully automated nanoimprint
lithography combining the resolution and CD control of e-beam lithography with the throughput, overlay
and operating simplicity of a mask aligner. The system can be configured to accept the most commonly used
substrate types and is ideal for advanced development, pilot production or full production depending on the options
selected. MII’s proven, step and flash imprint lithography (S-FILTM) processes, template fabrication support,
template replication capability, and application expertise combine to produce a cost effective imprint lithography
solution with best in class cost of ownership.
“MII has made tremendous progress over the last 18 months adapting the S-FIL process, originally developed for
step and repeat imprint lithography on CMOS wafers, to the specific needs of the compound semiconductor industry.
MII can now provide turnkey lithographic processes capable of high throughput and long process life on the fragile,
non-flat surfaces of compound semiconductor wafers.” said Mark Melliar-Smith, CEO of Molecular Imprints. “In
addition, the I-1100’s conformal S-FIL technology is providing an enabling technology for similar high resolution
applications like the patterning of discrete track and bit patterned media for hard disk drive development and
precision grating structures for optical components.”
http://www.molecularimprints.com