METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THERMAL JET PRINTING
The disclosure relates to a method for depositing films on a substrate which may form part of an LED or other types of display. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to an apparatus for depositing ink on a substrate. The apparatus includes a chamber for receiving ink; a discharge nozzle having an inlet port and an outlet port, the discharge nozzle receiving a quantity of ink from the chamber at the inlet port and dispensing the quantity of ink from the outlet port; and a dispenser for metering the quantity of ink from the chamber to the inlet port of the discharge nozzle; wherein the chamber receives ink in liquid form having a plurality of suspended particles and the quantity of ink is pulsatingly metered from the chamber to the discharge nozzle; and the discharge nozzle evaporates the carrier liquid and deposits the solid particles on the substrate.
1 . A system for controlling a printing device, the system comprising:
a first controller having a first processor circuit in communication with a first memory circuit, the first memory circuit containing instructions for directing the first processor to:
identify a plurality of chambers, each chamber receiving liquid ink having a plurality of dissolved or suspended particles in a carrier liquid, engage each of the plurality of chambers to meter a quantity of liquid ink for dispensing
a second controller having a second processor circuit in communication with a second memory circuit, the second memory circuit containing instructions for directing the second processor to:
identify a plurality of discharge nozzles, each of the plurality of discharge nozzles receiving the quantity of liquid from a corresponding one of the plurality of chambers,
activate each of the plurality of the discharge nozzles to evaporate at least a part of the carrier liquid,
direct each of the plurality of discharge nozzles to deposit substantially solid ink particles onto a substrate.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first processor identifies the plurality of chambers from a group of available chambers.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first processor engages each chamber to meter substantially the same quantity of liquid ink for dispensing.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first processor engages a first chamber of the plurality of chambers to meter relatively more liquid ink than a second chamber of the plurality of chambers.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first processor engages each of the plurality of chambers to meter the quantity of ink by activating one or more of a heater, a piezoelectric element or a valve associated with each chamber.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second processor directs each of the plurality of discharge nozzles to deposit solid ink particles by rotating a surface of the discharge nozzle relative to the substrate.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor directs each of the plurality of discharge nozzles to deposit solid ink particles by engaging a plurality of piezoelectric elements corresponding to each of the discharge nozzles.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second processor directs each of the plurality of discharge nozzles to deposit solid particles of ink onto a substrate by plurality of heaters corresponding to each of the discharge nozzles.
9 . A method for printing an OLED composition on a substrate, the method comprising:
(a) receiving a first quantity of OLED material having a plurality of dissolved or suspended particles in a carrier liquid at a discharge nozzle;
(b) heating the discharge nozzle to substantially remove the carrier liquid;
(c) rotating the discharge nozzle;
(d) heating the discharge nozzle to vaporize the suspended particles; and
(e) condensing the vaporized OLED particles on the substrate to form the OLED composition on the substrate.
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising heating the discharge nozzle to a first temperature to substantially remove the carrier liquid and heating the discharge nozzle to a second temperature to vaporize the suspended particles.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the first temperature and the second temperature are substantially the same.
12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of heating the discharge nozzle to substantially remove the carrier liquid further comprises leaving substantially solid particles at the discharge nozzle.
13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein step (c) is performed simultaneously with or prior to step (b).
14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of rotating the discharge nozzle further comprise rotating the discharge nozzle to face the substrate.
15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein step (d) further comprises discharging the vaporized particles from the discharge nozzle onto the substrate.
16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the discharge nozzle further comprises a plurality of micropores.
17 . A method for printing an OLED composition on a substrate, the method comprising:
positioning a discharge nozzle to receive a quantity of OLED material having a plurality of dissolved or suspended particles in a carrier liquid;
receiving the quantity of OLED material at a micropore associated with the discharge nozzle;
evaporating the carrier liquid and the dissolved or suspended particles at the micropore;
aligning the discharge nozzle with a deposition location on the substrate; and
dispensing the vaporized OLED material from the discharge nozzle onto the substrate.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of positioning the discharge nozzle further comprises aligning the discharge nozzle with a chamber for receiving the OLED material.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of receiving the quantity of OLED material at a micropore further comprises receiving the quantity of the OLED material at a plurality of micropores.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of micropores extend to, but not through, the discharge nozzle.
21 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising maintaining the substrate at a temperature below the vaporized OLED material.
22 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising heating the discharge nozzle to a first temperature to substantially remove the carrier liquid and heating the discharge nozzle to a second temperature to vaporize the suspended particles.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the first and the second temperatures are substantially the same.
24 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the evaporating step and the aligning steps are performed simultaneously.
25 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the aligning step precedes the evaporating step.
26 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the at least two of the steps of evaporating, aligning and dispensing is performed substantially simultaneously or sequentially.