KATEEVA, INC. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150044802 | Ester-Based Solvent Systems for Printable Organic Light-Emitting Diode Ink Formulations - Ink compositions for forming active layers in an organic light-emitting diode are provided. Also provided are methods of forming active layers of an OLED using the ink compositions. The ink compositions comprise a solvent system in which a substantial majority of the solvent is comprised of one or more ester compounds. | 02-12-2015 |
20140333702 | Printhead Unit Assembly for Use With an Inkjet Printing System - Features for various embodiments of a self-contained printhead unit, including an on-board fluidic system, quick-coupling electrical and pneumatic interfacing, in conjunction with the features of various embodiments of a kinematic mounting and air bearing clamping assembly, as well as contactless integration to a waste assembly, together provide for the ready interchangeability of a plurality of printhead units in a printing system during a printing process, while at the same time preventing cross-contamination of a plurality of end-user selected inks contained in each of a plurality of printhead units. | 11-13-2014 |
20140311405 | GAS ENCLOSURE SYSTEMS AND METHODS UTILIZING AN AUXILIARY ENCLOSURE - The present teachings disclose various embodiments of a gas enclosure system can have a gas enclosure that can include a printing system enclosure and an auxiliary enclosure. In various embodiments of a gas enclosure system of the present teachings, a printing system enclosure can be isolated from an auxiliary enclosure. Various systems and methods of the present teachings can provide for the ongoing management of a printing system by utilizing various embodiments of isolatable enclosures. For example, various measurement and maintenance process steps for the management of a printhead assembly can be performed in an auxiliary enclosure, which can be isolated from a printing system enclosure of a gas enclosure system, thereby preventing or minimizing interruption of a printing process. | 10-23-2014 |
20140290567 | Low Particle Gas Enclosure Systems and Methods - The present teachings relate to various embodiments of a gas enclosure system that can have various components comprising a particle control system that can provide a low-particle zone proximal to a substrate. Various components of a particle control system can include a gas circulation and filtration system, a low-particle-generating motion system for moving a printhead assembly relative to a substrate, a service bundle housing exhaust system, and a printhead assembly exhaust system. In addition to maintaining substantially low levels for each species of various reactive species, including various reactive atmospheric gases, such as water vapor and oxygen, for various embodiments of a gas enclosure system that have a particle control system, an on-substrate particle specification can be readily met. Accordingly, processing of various substrates in an inert, low-particle gas environment according to systems and methods of the present teachings can have substantially lower manufacturing defects. | 10-02-2014 |
20140233843 | SYSTEMS, DEVICES AND METHODS FOR THE QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF OLED STACK FILMS - This disclosure provides techniques for assessing quality of a deposited film layer of an organic light emitting diode (“OLED”) device. An image is captured and filtered to identify a deposited layer that is to be analyzed. Image data representing this layer can be optionally converted to brightness (grayscale) data. A gradient function is then applied to emphasize discontinuities in the deposited layer. Discontinuities are then compared to one or more thresholds and used to ascertain quality of the deposited layer, with optional remedial measures then being applied. The disclosed techniques can be applied in situ, to quickly identify potential defects such as delamination before ensuing manufacturing steps are applied. In optional embodiments, remedial measures can be taken dependent on whether defects are determined to exist. | 08-21-2014 |
20140197396 | High Resolution Organic Light-Emitting Diode Devices, Displays, and Related Method - In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of manufacturing an organic light-emissive display can be provided. A plurality of electrodes can be provided on a substrate. A first hole conducting layer can be deposited via inkjet printing over the plurality of electrodes on the substrate. A liquid affinity property of selected surface portions of the first hole conducting layer can be altered to define emissive layer confinement regions. Each emissive layer confinement region can have a portion that respectively corresponds to each of the plurality of electrodes provided on the substrate. An organic light-emissive layer can be deposited via inkjet printing within each emissive layer confinement region. | 07-17-2014 |
20140197385 | High Resolution Organic Light-Emitting Diode Devices, Displays, and Related Methods - A method of manufacturing an organic-light emitting diode (OLED) display can include providing on a substrate a first electrode associated with a first sub-pixel and a second electrode associated with a second sub-pixel, wherein a gap is formed between the first electrode and the second electrode and wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are positioned in a well having boundaries defined by a confinement structure on the substrate. The method can also include depositing in the well with the electrodes positioned therein, active OLED material to form a substantially continuous layer of active OLED material that spans the boundaries of the well such that a surface of the layer of active OLED material that faces away from the substrate has a non-planar topography. The depositing can be via inkjet printing. | 07-17-2014 |
20140184683 | Techniques for Print Ink Volume Control to Deposit Fluids Within Precise Tolerances - An ink printing process employs per-nozzle droplet volume measurement and processing software that plans droplet combinations to reach specific aggregate ink fills per target region, guaranteeing compliance with minimum and maximum ink fills set by specification. In various embodiments, different droplet combinations are produced through different print head/substrate scan offsets, offsets between print heads, the use of different nozzle drive waveforms, and/or other techniques. Optionally, patterns of fill variation can be introduced so as to mitigate observable line effects in a finished display device. The disclosed techniques have many other possible applications. | 07-03-2014 |
20140087507 | Polythiophene-Containing Ink Compositions For Inkjet Printing - Ink compositions comprising polythiophenes and methicone that are formulated for inkjet printing the hole injecting layer (HIL) of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) are provided. Also provided are methods of inkjet printing the HILs using the ink compositions. | 03-27-2014 |
20140057373 | Modular Printhead for OLED Printing - The disclosure generally relates to a modular printhead configured for ease of access and quick replacement of the printhead. In one embodiment, the disclosure is directed to an integrated printhead which includes: a printhead die supporting a plurality of micropores thereon; a support structure for supporting the printhead die; a heater interposed between the printhead die and the support structure; and an electrical trace connecting the heater to a supply source. The support structure accommodates the electrical trace through a via formed within it so as to form a solid state printhead containing all of the connections within and providing easily replaceable printhead. | 02-27-2014 |
20140024149 | Low-Profile MEMS Thermal Printhead Die Having Backside Electrical Connections - A thermal printhead die is formed from an SOI structure as a MEMS device. The die has a printing surface, a buried oxide layer, and a mounting surface opposite the printing surface. A plurality of ink delivery sites are formed on the printing surface, each site having an ink-receiving and ink-dispensing structure. An ohmic heater is formed adjacent to each structure, and an under-bump metallization (UBM) pad is formed on the mounting surface and is electrically connected to the ohmic heater, so that ink received by the ink-delivery site and electrically heated by the ohmic heater may be delivered to a substrate by sublimation. A through-silicon-via (TSV) plug may be formed through the thickness of the die and electrically coupled through the buried oxide layer from the ohmic heater to the UBM pad. Layers of interconnect metal may connect the ohmic heater to the UBM pad and to the TSV plug. | 01-23-2014 |
20130321535 | PRINTHEAD UNIT ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH AN INKJET PRINTING SYSTEM - Features for various embodiments of a self-contained printhead unit, including an on-board fluidic system, quick-coupling electrical and pneumatic interfacing, in conjunction with the features of various embodiments of a kinematic mounting and air bearing clamping assembly, as well as contactless integration to a waste assembly, together provide for the ready interchangeability of a plurality of printhead units in a printing system during a printing process, while at the same time preventing cross-contamination of a plurality of end-user selected inks contained in each of a plurality of printhead units. | 12-05-2013 |
20130307898 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOAD-LOCKED PRINTING - The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for preventing oxidation or contamination during a circuit printing operation. The circuit printing operation can be directed to OLED-type printing. In an exemplary embodiment, the printing process is conducted at a load-locked printer housing having one or more of chambers. Each chamber is partitioned from the other chambers by physical gates or fluidic curtains. A controller coordinates transportation of a substrate through the system and purges the system by timely opening appropriate gates. The controller may also control the printing operation by energizing the print-head at a time when the substrate is positioned substantially thereunder. | 11-21-2013 |
20130252533 | Gas Enclosure Assembly and System - The present teachings relate to various embodiments of an hermetically-sealed gas enclosure assembly and system that can be readily transportable and assemblable and provide for maintaining a minimum inert gas volume and maximal access to various devices and apparatuses enclosed therein. Various embodiments of an hermetically-sealed gas enclosure assembly and system of the present teachings can have a gas enclosure assembly constructed in a fashion that minimizes the internal volume of a gas enclosure assembly, and at the same time optimizes the working space to accommodate a variety of footprints of various OLED printing systems. Various embodiments of a gas enclosure assembly so constructed additionally provide ready access to the interior of a gas enclosure assembly from the exterior during processing and readily access to the interior for maintenance, while minimizing downtime. | 09-26-2013 |
20130252351 | FILM-FORMING FORMULATIONS FOR SUBSTRATE PRINTING - Film-forming formulations are provided that satisfy a plurality of criteria for inkjet printing, thermal printing, or both. Criteria for film-forming formulations are also provided for selecting vehicles, combinations of vehicles, and film-forming materials, based upon viscosity, surface tension, solubility, and properties of printed films formed by such formulations. Film-forming formulations useful in the fabrication of organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) are provided including formulations useful for the fabrication of OLED hole transport layers, hole injection layers, electron transport layers, electron injection layers, and emissive layers, of an OLED. Methods of evaluating formulations for suitability in inkjet printing, thermal printing, or both, are also provided. | 09-26-2013 |
20130209671 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOAD-LOCKED PRINTING - The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for preventing oxidation or contamination during a circuit printing operation. The circuit printing operation can be directed to OLED-type printing. In an exemplary embodiment, the printing process is conducted at a load-locked printer housing having one or more of chambers. Each chamber is partitioned from the other chambers by physical gates or fluidic curtains. A controller coordinates transportation of a substrate through the system and purges the system by timely opening appropriate gates. The controller may also control the printing operation by energizing the print-head at a time when the substrate is positioned substantially thereunder. | 08-15-2013 |
20130209670 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOAD-LOCKED PRINTING - The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for preventing oxidation or contamination during a circuit printing operation. The circuit printing operation can be directed to OLED-type printing. In an exemplary embodiment, the printing process is conducted at a load-locked printer housing having one or more of chambers. Each chamber is partitioned from the other chambers by physical gates or fluidic curtains. A controller coordinates transportation of a substrate through the system and purges the system by timely opening appropriate gates. The controller may also control the printing operation by energizing the print-head at a time when the substrate is positioned substantially thereunder. | 08-15-2013 |
20130209669 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOAD-LOCKED PRINTING - The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for preventing oxidation or contamination during a circuit printing operation. The circuit printing operation can be directed to OLED-type printing. In an exemplary embodiment, the printing process is conducted at a load-locked printer housing having one or more of chambers. Each chamber is partitioned from the other chambers by physical gates or fluidic curtains. A controller coordinates transportation of a substrate through the system and purges the system by timely opening appropriate gates. The controller may also control the printing operation by energizing the print-head at a time when the substrate is positioned substantially thereunder. | 08-15-2013 |
20130206058 | GAS ENCLOSURE ASSEMBLY AND SYSTEM - The present teachings relate to various embodiments of an hermetically-sealed gas enclosure assembly and system that can be readily transportable and assemblable and provide for maintaining a minimum inert gas volume and maximal access to various devices and apparatuses enclosed therein. Various embodiments of an hermetically-sealed gas enclosure assembly and system of the present teachings can have a gas enclosure assembly constructed in a fashion that minimizes the internal volume of a gas enclosure assembly, and at the same time optimizes the working space to accommodate a variety of footprints of various OLED printing systems. Various embodiments of a gas enclosure assembly so constructed additionally provide ready access to the interior of a gas enclosure assembly from the exterior during processing and readily access to the interior for maintenance, while minimizing downtime. | 08-15-2013 |
20130164439 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOAD-LOCKED PRINTING - The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for preventing oxidation or contamination during a circuit printing operation. The circuit printing operation can be directed to OLED-type printing. In an exemplary embodiment, the printing process is conducted at a load-locked printer housing having one or more of chambers. Each chamber is partitioned from the other chambers by physical gates or fluidic curtains. A controller coordinates transportation of a substrate through the system and purges the system by timely opening appropriate gates. The controller may also control the printing operation by energizing the print-head at a time when the substrate is positioned substantially thereunder. | 06-27-2013 |
20130164438 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOAD-LOCKED PRINTING - The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for preventing oxidation or contamination during a circuit printing operation. The circuit printing operation can be directed to OLED-type printing. In an exemplary embodiment, the printing process is conducted at a load-locked printer housing having one or more of chambers. Each chamber is partitioned from the other chambers by physical gates or fluidic curtains. A controller coordinates transportation of a substrate through the system and purges the system by timely opening appropriate gates. The controller may also control the printing operation by energizing the print-head at a time when the substrate is positioned substantially thereunder. | 06-27-2013 |
20130153866 | MATERIALS AND METHODS FOR ORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE MICROCAVITY - The present teachings provide methods for forming organic layers for an organic light-emitting device (OLED) using an inkjet printing or thermal printing process. The method can further use one or more additional processes, such as vacuum thermal evaporation (VTE), to create an OLED stack. OLED stack structures are also provided wherein at least one of the charge injection or charge transport layers is formed by an inkjet printing or thermal printing method at a high deposition rate. The structure of the organic layer can be amorphous, crystalline, porous, dense, smooth, rough, or a combination thereof, depending on deposition parameters and post-treatment conditions. An OLED microcavity is also provided and can be formed by one of more of the methods. | 06-20-2013 |
20130040061 | FACE-DOWN PRINTING APPARATUS AND METHOD - Film-forming apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided. The apparatus can include a substrate positioning system and a printing array that includes an inkjet printing array and/or a thermal printing array. The positioning system can be a gas-bearing plate system. The positioning system can be configured to move a substrate between a first position, away from the printing array, and a second position, above the printing array. The apparatuses, systems, and methods can be used to manufacture organic light emitting devices (OLEDs), for example, flat panel displays. | 02-14-2013 |
20130038649 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROL OF PRINT GAP - Gas bearing systems, print gap control systems, and methods of print gap control are provided. The gas bearing systems can accommodate one or more print module packages. The systems and methods can be used for inkjet and/or thermal printing applications such as manufacturing organic light emitting devices (OLEDs). Gas bearing systems can employ one or more of pressurized gas and vacuum. For oxygen-sensitive applications, an inert gas, such as nitrogen gas, can be employed as the pressurized gas. Fluid channels and apertures of the gas bearing systems can be varied in terms of size and relative position to one another. Fluid channels and apertures can be grouped and paired with one or more manifolds and ultimately a pressurized gas and/or vacuum source. | 02-14-2013 |
20130005076 | THERMAL JET PRINTHEAD - Various aspects of the present teachings relate to film-forming apparatus and techniques wherein OLED film layers are deposited onto a substrate by thermal vaporization of substantially dry film-forming material from a thermal printhead. Embodiments are disclosed of a thermal printhead configured for operation very close to a substrate with reduced heating of the substrate. | 01-03-2013 |
20130004656 | APPARATUS AND METHOD TO SEPARATE CARRIER LIQUID VAPOR FROM INK - Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided that include or use a chuck, an inkjet printhead, and a gas knife to form film layers on a substrate, which have uniform feature dimensions and which avoid pile-up of inkjet ink. In some systems, a gas movement device is used instead of a gas knife. The systems, apparatus, and methods can be used to print layers on a substrate, which are used in an organic light-emitting device. | 01-03-2013 |
20120326192 | Materials and Methods for Organic Light-Emitting Device Microcavity - The present teachings provide methods for forming organic layers for an organic light-emitting device (OLED) using a thermal printing process. The method can further use one or more additional processes, such as vacuum thermal evaporation (VTE), to create an OLED stack. OLED stack structures are also provided wherein at least one of the charge injection or charge transport layers is formed by a thermal printing method at a high deposition rate. The organic layer can be subject to post-deposition treatment such as baking. The structure of the organic layer can be amorphous, crystalline, porous, dense, smooth, rough, or a combination thereof, depending on deposition parameters and post-treatment conditions. The organic layer can improve light out-coupling efficiency of an OLED, increase conductivity, decrease index of refraction, and/or modify the emission chromaticity of an OLED. An OLED microcavity is also provided and can be formed by one of more of these methods. | 12-27-2012 |
20120326139 | MATERIALS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING PROPERTIES OF ORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE - The present teachings provide methods for forming organic layers for an organic light-emitting device (OLED) using an inkjet printing or thermal printing process. The method can further use one or more additional processes, such as vacuum thermal evaporation (VTE), to create an OLED stack. OLED stack structures are also provided wherein at least one of the charge injection or charge transport layers is formed by an inkjet printing or thermal printing method at a high deposition rate. The structure of the organic layer can be amorphous, crystalline, porous, dense, smooth, rough, or a combination thereof, depending on deposition parameters and post-treatment conditions. An OLED microcavity is also provided and can be formed by one of more of the methods. | 12-27-2012 |
20120326136 | MATERIALS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING PROPERTIES OF ORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE - The present teachings provide methods for depositing and patterning organic light-emitting device (OLED) buffer layers. The method can use a thermal printing process and one or more additional processes, such as vacuum thermal evaporation (VTE), to create an OLED stack. OLED stack structures are also provided wherein which at least one of the charge injection or charge transport layers is formed by a thermal printing method at a high deposition rate. The organic layer can be subject to post-deposition treatment such as baking. The structure of the organic layer can be amorphous, crystalline, porous, dense, smooth, rough, or a combination thereof, depending on deposition parameters and post-treatment conditions. The organic layer can improve light out-coupling efficiency of an OLED, increase conductivity, decrease index of refraction, and/or modify the emission chromaticity of an OLED. | 12-27-2012 |
20120306951 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOAD-LOCKED PRINTING - The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for preventing oxidation or contamination during a circuit printing operation. The circuit printing operation can be directed to OLED-type printing. In an exemplary embodiment, the printing process is conducted at a load-locked printer housing having one or more of chambers. Each chamber is partitioned from the other chambers by physical gates or fluidic curtains. A controller coordinates transportation of a substrate through the system and purges the system by timely opening appropriate gates. The controller may also control the printing operation by energizing the print-head at a time when the substrate is positioned substantially thereunder. | 12-06-2012 |
20120282840 | RAPID INK-CHARGING OF A DRY INK DISCHARGE NOZZLE - The present teachings relate to methods and apparatus for depositing one or more materials (e.g., one or more films, such as one or more solids) on one or more substrates, which may form part of an OLED or other type(s) of display. In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to apparatus and methods for depositing ink on one or more substrates. The apparatus can include, for example, one or more chambers for receiving ink, and plural orifices configured for ejecting droplets of the ink. The ejected droplets of ink can be received at unique, spaced-apart locations. In some embodiments, a single liquid ink-holding chamber, which includes plural orifices (e.g., three), receives ink in liquid form having a plurality of dissolved or suspended particles, and droplets of the ink are ejected substantially simultaneously to respective, spaced-apart locations on one or more substrates. | 11-08-2012 |
20120237679 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR DEPOSITING ONE OR MORE ORGANIC MATERIALS ON A SUBSTRATE - Embodiments are disclosed of apparatus and methods for depositing one or more organic materials onto a substrate. One or more thin films can thereby be formed. The organic materials can be those employed in organic LED (OLED) technologies. | 09-20-2012 |
20120200640 | LOW-PROFILE MEMS THERMAL PRINTHEAD DIE HAVING BACKSIDE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS - A thermal printhead die is formed from an SOI structure as a MEMS device. The die has a printing surface, a buried oxide layer, and a mounting surface opposite the printing surface. A plurality of ink delivery sites are formed on the printing surface, each site having an ink-receiving and ink-dispensing structure. An ohmic heater is formed adjacent to each structure, and an under-bump metallization (UBM) pad is formed on the mounting surface and is electrically connected to the ohmic heater, so that ink received by the ink-delivery site and electrically heated by the ohmic heater may be delivered to a substrate by sublimation. A through-silicon-via (TSV) plug may be formed through the thickness of the die and electrically coupled through the buried oxide layer from the ohmic heater to the UBM pad. Layers of interconnect metal may connect the ohmic heater to the UBM pad and to the TSV plug. | 08-09-2012 |
20120086764 | MODULAR PRINTHEAD FOR OLED PRINTING - The disclosure generally relates to a modular printhead configured for ease of access and quick replacement of the printhead. In one embodiment, the disclosure is directed to an integrated printhead which includes: a printhead die supporting a plurality of micropores thereon; a support structure for supporting the printhead die; a heater interposed between the printhead die and the support structure; and an electrical trace connecting the heater to a supply source. The support structure accommodates the electrical trace through a via formed within it so as to form a solid state printhead containing all of the connections within and providing easily replaceable printhead. | 04-12-2012 |
20120056923 | CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR THERMAL-JET PRINTING - Embodiments of methods and apparatus for micro-printing films are disclosed. According to various embodiments, the printing apparatus includes printheads with ink-jets for dispensing droplets of ink formed from a carrier liquid and a print material. The printheads also include thermal-jets for depositing the print material onto a substrate from the droplets of ink dispensed by ink-jets. The droplets of ink dispensed by ink-jets flow into micro-structures on the thermal-jets and the thermal-jets are heated to evaporate the carrier liquid and to vaporize and direct the print material onto a substrate. The printing apparatus further includes a control unit that is configured to automatically adjust an output from one or more printheads based on one or more measured quantities. | 03-08-2012 |
20120038705 | Method and Apparatus for Delivering Ink Material from a Discharge Nozzle - The disclosure relates to a method for loading ink material into discharge nozzle having a non-discharge surface and a plurality of micropores. The, method includes the steps of providing a quantity of liquid ink material defined by a carrier fluid containing dissolved or suspended film material; delivering the quantity of liquid ink onto the discharge nozzle and directing a portion of the delivered ink into at least one micropore; flowing a pressurized gas over the surface to drive the delivered ink material into the least one nozzle; evaporating the carrier fluid from the delivered ink to form a substantially carrier-free ink material at the micropore; and dispensing the substantially carrier-free ink material from the nozzle. The surface can be configured to reject the ink and the plurality of nozzles are configured to receive the ink. | 02-16-2012 |
20120001967 | Method and Apparatus for Printing Using A Facetted Drum - The disclosure generally relates to a method and apparatus for printing from a rotating source. In an exemplary embodiment, the disclosure relates to a facetted drum for simultaneously printing multiple pixels. The facetted drum includes a support structure and a plurality of printheads affixed to the support structure, each printhead having at least one microporous structure for receiving a first quantity of liquid ink having dissolved or suspended film material in a carrier fluid and dispensing a second quantity of ink material substantially free of the carrier fluid. The plurality of printheads are positioned proximal to a substrate to simultaneously print a plurality of spatially-discrete and image-resolved pixels on the substrate. | 01-05-2012 |
20110293818 | Method and Apparatus for Depositing A Film Using A Rotating Source - The disclosure generally relates to a method and apparatus for depositing a substantially solid film onto a substrate. The solid film can be an Organic Light-Emitting Diode (“OLED”). In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to using a material supply, a rotating or moving mechanism having at least one transfer surface which is supplied with film material in one orientation and delivers film material to the substrate at a second orientation such that film material delivered to the substrate deposits in substantially solid form. The delivery to the substrate can be performed without the transfer surface materially contacting the substrate. The film material can be deposited on the transfer surface in either solid form or in liquid form (e.g., as a mixture of carrier liquid and dissolved or suspended film material). | 12-01-2011 |
20110008541 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ORGANIC VAPOR PRINTING - In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to providing a first gas stream carrying vaporized material and depositing the vaporized material onto a substrate by directing a plurality of gas streams containing the vaporized material to a substrate, forming an gas curtain around the streams to prevent its dissemination beyond a target print area, and allowing the vaporized material to condense on the target print area. In another embodiment, heat is used to regulate the flow of the material and the thickness of the deposited layer. | 01-13-2011 |
20100201749 | Method And Apparatus for Load-Locked Printing - The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for preventing oxidation or contamination during a circuit printing operation. The circuit printing operation can be directed to OLED-type printing. In an exemplary embodiment, the printing process is conducted at a load-locked printer housing having one or more of chambers. Each chamber is partitioned from the other chambers by physical gates or fluidic curtains. A controller coordinates transportation of a substrate through the system and purges the system by timely opening appropriate gates. The controller may also control the printing operation by energizing the print-head at a time when the substrate is positioned substantially thereunder. | 08-12-2010 |
20100171780 | Rapid Ink-Charging Of A Dry Ink Discharge Nozzle - The present teachings relate to methods and apparatus for depositing one or more materials (e.g., one or more films, such as one or more solids) on one or more substrates, which may form part of an OLED or other type(s) of display. In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to apparatus and methods for depositing ink on one or more substrates. The apparatus can include, for example, one or more chambers for receiving ink, and plural orifices configured in the one or more chambers which are adapted for ejecting droplets of the ink; a discharge nozzle comprising an array of micro-pores (e.g., configured in a rectangular array), with each micro-pore having an inlet port and an outlet port, and the discharge nozzle receiving plural quantities (e.g., droplets) of ink from the chamber(s) via the orifices at the inlet ports and dispensing the ink from the outlet ports. The droplets of ink can be received at unique, spaced-apart locations on the inlet ports of the discharge nozzle. In some embodiments, a single liquid ink-holding chamber, which includes plural orifices (e.g., three), receives ink in liquid form having a plurality of suspended particles, and droplets of the ink are ejected substantially simultaneously from the chamber to respective, spaced-apart locations on the discharge nozzle; and the discharge nozzle evaporates the carrier liquid and deposits the solid particles on one or more substrates. | 07-08-2010 |