IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,709,133
Granted Patent B2
US 11,709,133 · App. 17/243,468 · Granted Jul 25, 2023

Solid surface wettability determination method

Inventors: Jen-You Chu (Hsinchu, TW); Yun-Hsin Wang (Kaohsiung, TW); Feng-Sheng Kao (Hsinchu, TW); Siou-Cheng Lou (Zhubei, TW)
Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
G01N21/55G01N1/28G01N2201/06113
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,709,133
App. No.
17/243,468
Granted
Jul 25, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A solid surface wettability determination method is disclosed. A liquid is sprayed on a surface of an object. A light beam is projected toward the surface, wherein the light beam is reflected by the liquid on the surface to generate a reflected light. The reflected light is received by an optical detector, and the optical detector outputs a determining signal related to a wettability of the surface according to the reflected light. A corresponding signal-angle relation is selected from a database according to type of the liquid and material of the object. The contact angle of the liquid on the surface is obtained by applying the determining signal to the corresponding signal-angle relation.

Claims (24)

1. A solid surface wettability determination method, comprising:

spraying a liquid on a solid surface of an object;

projecting a light beam toward the solid surface, wherein the light beam is reflected by the liquid on the solid surface to generate a reflected light;

receiving the reflected light by an optical detector, and outputting a determining signal related to a wettability of the solid surface according to the reflected light;

selecting a corresponding signal-angle relation from a database according to type of the liquid and material of the object; and

obtaining a contact angle of the liquid on the solid surface by applying the determining signal to the corresponding signal-angle relation.

2. The solid surface wettability determination method of claim 1 , wherein the light beam approaches the solid surface at an angle of incidence less than 90.0 degrees.

3. The solid surface wettability determination method of claim 2 , wherein the light beam approaches the solid surface at the angle of incidence of 30.0 degrees to 85.0 degrees.

4. The solid surface wettability determination method of claim 1 , wherein the corresponding signal-angle relation comprises a relationship between a plurality of reference signals in the database and a plurality of known contact angles of the liquid on the solid surface.

5. The solid surface wettability determination method of claim 1 , further comprising:

scanning the solid surface by the light beam, such that the optical detector outputs plurality of the determining signals corresponding to different positions on the solid surface;

obtaining at least one surface wettability result according to the determining signals corresponding to different positions on the solid surface; and

generating a surface wettability distribution according to the at least one surface wettability result.

6. The solid surface wettability determination method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid covers the solid surface when the light beam approaches the solid surface.

7. The solid surface wettability determination method of claim 1 , wherein the determining signal is in a form of voltage.

8. The solid surface wettability determination method of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the light beam is a, an average diameter of a droplet of the liquid formed on the surface is d, and the following condition is satisfied:

d/a> 0.25.

9. The solid surface wettability determination method of claim 1 , wherein type of the liquid is water, and material of the object is selected from Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyurethane, rubber, glass and silicon.

10. The solid surface wettability determination method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing a solid surface wettability determination system, comprising:

a sprayer provided to spray the liquid on the solid surface of the object;

a light emission device provided to emit the light beam and project the light beam toward the solid surface; and

the optical detector provided to receive the reflected light;

wherein the optical detector and the light emission device are disposed opposite to each other with respect to a normal line of the solid surface, and angle between the optical detector and the normal line of the solid surface is equal to angle between the light emission device and the normal line of the solid surface.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 29, 2021
From: CHU, JEN-YOU; WANG, YUN-HSIN; KAO, FENG-SHENG; LOU, SIOU-CHENG
To: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Reel/Frame 056105/0469 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part 16586490 · Sep 27, 2019
Provisional Application 62738266 · Sep 28, 2018
Related Publication 20210247310A1 · Aug 12, 2021