Fast Measurement of Droplet Parameters in Industrial Printing System

摘要

A droplet measurement system (DMS) is used in concern with an industrial printer used to fabricate a thin film layer of a flat panel electronic device. A clear tape serves as a printing substrate to receive droplets from hundreds of nozzles simultaneously, while an optics system photographs the deposited droplets through the tape (i.e., through a side opposite the printhead). This permits immediate image analysis of deposited droplets, for parameters such as per-nozzle volume, landing position and other characteristics, without having to substantially reposition the DMS or printhead. The tape can then be advanced and used for a new measurement. By providing such a high degree of concurrency, the described system permits rapid measurement and update of droplet parameters for printers that use hundreds or thousands of nozzles, to provide a real-time understanding of per-nozzle expected droplet parameters, in a manner that can be factored into print planning.

主权项

1. A system for use in measuring a parameter associated with droplet ejection by nozzles of a printhead, the system comprising:
a film having a first side and a second side, the first side to be positioned proximate to the printhead so as to provide a substrate to receive ink droplets from the nozzles; an image capture subsystem positioned so as to capture an image through the second side of the film, the image representing the ink droplets received from the nozzles at positions respective to the nozzles, the image capture subsystem to generate an output signal to convey the captured image to an image processing system; and a mechanism to advance the film so as to position a fresh portion of the film for an ensuing image capture process in which droplets are received on the first side of the film from nozzles of the printhead, the advancement of the film not requiring repositioning of either the printhead or the image capture subsystem.