Multicolor electronic devices and processes of forming the same by printing
View Patent ↗There is provided a process of forming a regular array of rows of subpixels on a workpiece. The subpixels having 3 different colors, and a subpixel pitch s. Of the three colors, q colors are formed by printing and r colors are formed by a non-printing method. The process includes the steps: (1) providing a printing head having z nozzles arranged in a row with a spacing between the nozzles of p, where z=3n 1 and p=2s, the printhead being at a first position relative to the workpiece; (2) providing q different printing inks, one for each of the q printed colors; (3) supplying each of the printing inks to the nozzles in a regular alternating pattern; (4) printing a first set of z rows of subpixels with the printing head; (5) moving and printing in a first pattern with the steps: (a) moving the workpiece laterally relative to the printing head by a distance d 1 , where d 1 =3n 2 ; and (b) printing a set of z rows of subpixels with the printing head; (6) moving and printing in a second pattern with the steps: (c) moving the workpiece laterally relative to the printing head by a distance d 2 , where d 2 =3n 3 , such that d 1 +d 2 =pz; and (d) printing a set of z rows of subpixels with the printing head; (7) repeating steps (5) and (6) multiple times in the same order; and (8) applying r colors by a non-printing method. Variables include: n 1 , an integer greater than 0; n 2 and n 3 , odd integers, such that n 2 +n 3 =2n 1 ; q, an integer from 1-3; and r, an integer, such that q+r=3.
1. A process of forming a regular array of rows of subpixels on a workpiece, the subpixels having 3 different colors, and having a subpixel pitch s, and wherein q colors are formed by printing and r colors are formed by a non-printing method, said process comprising:
(1) providing a printing head having z nozzles arranged in a row with a spacing between the nozzles of p, where z=3n 1 and p=2s, the printhead being at a first position relative to the workpiece;
(2) providing q different printing inks, one for each of the q printed colors;
(3) supplying each of the printing inks to the nozzles in a regular alternating pattern;
(4) printing a first set of z rows of subpixels with the printing head;
(5) moving and printing in a first pattern comprising:
(a) moving the workpiece laterally relative to the printing head by a distance d 1 , where d 1 =3n 2 s;
(b) printing a set of z rows of subpixels with the printing head;
(6) moving and printing in a second pattern comprising:
(c) moving the workpiece laterally relative to the printing head by a distance d 2 , where d 2 =3n 3 s, such that d 1 +d 2 =pz; and
(d) printing a set of z rows of subpixels with the printing head;
(7) repeating steps (5) and (6) multiple times in the same order; and
(8) applying r colors by a non-printing method; where:
n 1 is an integer greater than 0;
n 2 and n 3 are the same or different and are odd integers, such that n 2 +n 3 =2n 1 ;
q is an integer from 1-3; and
r is an integer, such that q+r=3.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein q=3.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein n 1 is at least 2.
4. The process of claim 1 , wherein n 1 is from 3-9.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein n 1 is odd and n 1 =n 2 =n 3 .
6. The process of claim 1 , wherein each printing ink comprises an electroluminescent material and a liquid medium.
7. The process of claim 1 , wherein r is at least one and the non-printing method is selected from the group consisting of vapor deposition, thermal transfer, spin coating, gravure coating, curtain coating, dip coating, slot-die coating, and spray coating.