Abstract: A system may include a support surface for supporting a substrate, a plurality of first passages arranged to distribute flows of a first gas to establish a gas bearing to float the substrate above the support surface, and a plurality of second passages arranged to distribute flows of a second gas to convey the substrate along the support surface. A method may include floating a substrate above a support surface of a substrate support apparatus via a gas bearing; and while floating the substrate, conveying the substrate along the support surface by flowing gas toward a surface of the substrate and in a nonperpendicular direction relative to the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus and techniques are described herein for use in manufacturing electronic devices. such as can include organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices. Such apparatus and techniques can include using one or more modules having a controlled environment. For example, a substrate can be received from a printing system located in a first processing environment, and the substrate can be provided a second processing environment, such as to an enclosed thermal treatment module comprising a controlled second processing environment. The second processing environment can include a purified gas environment having a different composition than the first processing environment.

Abstract: A printer deposits material onto a substrate as part of a manufacturing process for an electronic product; at least one transported component experiences error, which affects the deposition. This error is mitigated using transducers that equalize position of the component, e.g., to provide an “ideal” conveyance path, thereby permitting precise droplet placement notwithstanding the error. In one embodiment, an optical guide (e.g., using a laser) is used to define a desired path; sensors mounted to the component dynamically detect deviation from this path, with this deviation then being used to drive the transducers to immediately counteract the deviation. This error correction scheme can be applied to correct for more than type of transport error, for example, to correct for error in a substrate transport path, a printhead transport path and/or split-axis transport non-orthogonality.

Abstract: The present teachings relate to various embodiments of a 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 a 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.

Abstract: Liquid ink compositions containing quantum dots for optoelectronic display applications are provided. Also provided are solid films formed by drying the ink compositions, optical elements incorporating the solid films, display devices incorporating the optical elements, and methods of forming the solid films, optical elements, and the devices. Liquid ink compositions and solid films made by drying the liquid ink compositions include one or more blue light-absorbing materials in combination with red light-emitting QDs or green light-emitting QDs.

Abstract: In a printing method, at least one image of a substrate supported in a printing system is acquired. An actual position of a first alignment feature on the substrate in a frame of reference of the printing system is determined based on the at least one image. Expected positions of second alignment features on the substrate are determined based on the actual position of the first alignment feature. Actual positions of the second alignment features in the frame of reference of the printing system are determined based on the at least one image and the expected positions of the second alignment features. Target positions of print regions on the substrate are determined based on the actual positions of the second alignment features. Ejection of print material onto the substrate in the print regions is controlled based on the target positions of the print regions.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A system may include a support surface for supporting a substrate, a plurality of first passages arranged to distribute flows of a first gas to establish a gas bearing to float the substrate above the support surface, and a plurality of second passages arranged to distribute flows of a second gas to convey the substrate along the support surface. A method may include floating a substrate above a support surface of a substrate support apparatus via a gas bearing; and while floating the substrate, conveying the substrate along the support surface by flowing gas toward a surface of the substrate and in a nonperpendicular direction relative to the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: In a printing method, at least one image of a substrate supported in a printing system is acquired. An actual position of a first alignment feature on the substrate in a frame of reference of the printing system is determined based on the at least one image. Expected positions of second alignment features on the substrate are determined based on the actual position of the first alignment feature. Actual positions of the second alignment features in the frame of reference of the printing system are determined based on the at least one image and the expected positions of the second alignment features. Target positions of print regions on the substrate are determined based on the actual positions of the second alignment features. Ejection of print material onto the substrate in the print regions is controlled based on the target positions of the print regions.

Abstract: A print material includes a vinylic molecule, a vinylic cross-linker molecule having a plurality of vinyl groups, a quantum dot, a light-scattering particle having a surface composition, and a dispersant having a chemical affinity matched to the surface composition. Methods of making and using such print materials are also described.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described herein for measurement of droplets dispensed from a printhead of an inkjet printer onto a substrate. An inkjet printer described herein comprises a printhead assembly comprising a printhead and an imaging system, the imaging system comprising a camera and a strobed LED source; and a deposition unit for positioning a substrate to receive droplets dispensed from the printhead and for imaging the droplets using the imaging system and the strobed LED source. Methods described herein comprise dispensing droplets of a liquid from a printhead of a printhead assembly of an inkjet printer onto a substrate; positioning the substrate with respect to an imaging system coupled to the printhead assembly, the imaging system comprising a camera and an LED light source; and imaging the droplets on the substrate by relatively scanning the substrate and the imaging system and strobing the LED light source.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is described. The inkjet printer has a gas cushion substrate support having a metal support surface; a print assembly with a dispenser having ejection nozzles facing the support surface; a gas source fluidly coupled to the gas cushion substrate support by a gas conduit; and a thermal control system coupled to the gas conduit.

Abstract: An inkjet printer has a print assembly and a print material feed system comprising a first circulation circuit and a second circulation circuit, the first circulation circuit fluidly coupled between the second circulation circuit and the print assembly.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The present teachings relate to various embodiments of a curable ink composition, which once printed and cured form high glass transition temperature polymeric films on a substrate such as, but not limited by, an OLED device substrate. Various embodiments of the curable ink compositions comprise di(meth)acrylate monomers, as well as multifunctional crosslinking agents.

Abstract: Liquid ink compositions containing quantum dots for optoelectronic display applications are provided. Also provided are solid films formed by drying the ink compositions, optical elements incorporating the solid films, display devices incorporating the optical elements, and methods of forming the solid films, optical elements, and the devices. Liquid ink compositions and solid films made by drying the liquid ink compositions include one or more blue light-absorbing materials in combination with red light-emitting QDs or green light-emitting QDs.

Abstract: Print materials described herein include a first polymerization initiator comprising an initiator material having a thermal decomposition rate and a peak photo-initiated decomposition rate, wherein the thermal dissociation rate is higher than the peak photo-initiated decomposition rate; a vinylic monomer; a polyfunctional monomer; scattering particles; and quantum dots. Methods of making a quantum dot material using such print materials, and of incorporating into light emitting devices, are also described.

Abstract: A method of forming a metallic pattern on a substrate is provided. The method includes applying onto a metallic surface, a chemically surface-activating solution having an activating agent that chemically activates the metallic surface; non-impact printing an etch-resist ink on the activated surface to produce an etch resist mask according to a predetermined pattern, wherein at least one ink component within the etch-resist ink undergoes a chemical reaction with the activated metallic surface to immobilize droplets of the etch-resist ink when hitting the activated surface; performing an etching process to remove unmasked metallic portions that are not covered with the etch resist mask; and removing the etch-resist mask.