A method for forming an ultra-low density three-dimensional thin film structure made of a solid thin film, including: radiating ultraviolet rays of different patterns in respective predetermined directions to a liquid photosensitive resin bulk so as to harden a portion of the resin bulk; removing the liquid photosensitive resin which is not hardened so as to form a solid photosensitive resin structure; coating the surface of the solid photosensitive resin structure with a thin film; removing the thin film from the outermost surface of the resin bulk so as to expose the solid photosensitive resin; and removing the solid photosensitive resin structure.

According to some aspects, a storage unit for storing a photopolymer resin is provided. The storage unit may comprise a photopolymer resin, a bottom face comprising at least one region of actinically transparent material, the actinically transparent material being actinically transparent with respect to the photopolymer resin, at least one wall extending upwards from said bottom face comprising at least one region of actinically opaque material, the actinically opaque material being actinically opaque with respect to the photopolymer resin, and a lid comprising the actinically opaque material and removably connectable to the at least one wall.

According to one embodiment, a template for imprint includes a base, a convex portion, and a liquid-repellent layer. The base has a main surface. The convex portion is provided on the main surface. The convex portion has an end surface on a side opposite to the main surface, and a concavo-convex pattern to be pressed against a liquid material to be transferred is formed on the end surface. The liquid-repellent layer is formed on at least the side surface of the convex portion so as to avoid the concavo-convex pattern. The liquid-repellent layer repels the liquid material to be transferred.

The present invention describes a shaped footwear device intended to be used as a supportive insole or orthotic and a system and methods for making the same. The footwear device includes a top foam layer, a light-cured composite material layer, and a bottom textile layer. The footwear device is created by conforming a pre-cured insole assembly to the plantar surface of a foot or foot mold and then exposing the pre-cured insole assembly to light to create a shaped footwear device with a light-cured composite material support plate.

The disclosure provides microstructured articles and methods useful for detecting an analyte in a sample. The articles include microwell arrays. The articles can be used with an optical system component in methods to detect or characterize an analyte.

Methods, apparatus and systems are disclosed by which patterned layers can be formed in a roll-to-roll process using a variable and programmable means for applying liquids and solutions used in the patterning process.

A fiber application tool for a fiber placement and production method has a fiber contact surface area, which has a fiber contact surface for applying and/or pressing the fibers onto a work surface. The tool further includes an activation device for activating an adhesive, matrix, resin, or binder material provided at the fibers by means of an activation radiation so that the fibers are tacked onto the work surface. The fiber contact surface area for the activation radiation may be transparent and that the activation device may be designed so to guide and/or deliver the activation radiation through the transparent fiber contact surface area to the fibers to be pressed by the fiber contact surface.

A light irradiation molding apparatus includes a pair of rubber molds through which light passes, and a light-irradiating means for emitting light from surfaces of the pair of rubber molds to a particulate thermoplastic resin placed in the cavity. The light irradiation molding apparatus relatively and sequentially moves the pair of rubber molds and the light-irradiating means so that an irradiation position of light emitted from the light-irradiating means moves from a melted portion to an unmelted portion of the thermoplastic resin, and the light irradiation molding apparatus sequentially melts portions of the thermoplastic resin.

A light irradiation molding apparatus 1 includes a pair of rubber die units 2A and 2B, which are formed of a rubber material having a property of transmitting light X therethrough and form a cavity between facing sides which face each other, and a light irradiation means 4, which applies light X to a particulate or solid thermoplastic resin 6 arranged in the cavity 20 through surfaces of a pair of the rubber die units 2A and 2B. The light irradiation molding apparatus 1 is constituted so that a pair of the rubber die units 2A and 2B are made to come close to each other while the thermoplastic resin 6 arranged in the cavity 20 is molten by the light X applied from the light irradiation means 4, and a molded article 7 of the thermoplastic resin 6 is formed in the cavity 20 having a reduced volume.

An imprint apparatus for forming a pattern of an imprint material on a substrate using a mold includes a heating unit, a generation unit, and a measurement unit. The heating unit irradiates a region to be processed on the substrate with light to heat the region to be processed. The generation unit generates irradiation amount distribution data, which indicates an irradiation amount distribution of light with which the heating unit is to irradiate the region to be processed. The measurement unit measures information about absorption of the light by the region to be processed. The generation unit generates the irradiation amount distribution data by correcting, using a result of measurement by the measurement unit, temporary irradiation amount distribution data temporarily generated based on a shape of the region to be processed taken before the region to be processed is heated by the heating unit.