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 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: A printer includes a substrate support, a printhead assembly, first and second actuators, and a controller. The printhead assembly deposits material on a substrate supported on the substrate support. The first actuator is disposed at a side of the substrate support and coupled to a first linear track disposed along the side of the substrate support and oriented in a first direction. The second actuator is disposed at an end of the substrate support and coupled to a second linear track disposed along the end of the substrate support and oriented in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first and second actuators are positioned to engage with the substrate simultaneously. The controller moves the first and second actuators together to rotate the substrate.

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.

Abstract: A repeatable manufacturing process uses a printer to deposits liquid for each product carried by a substrate to form respective thin films. The liquid is dried, cured or otherwise processed to form from the liquid a permanent layer of each respective product. To perform printing, each newly-introduced substrate is roughly mechanically aligned, with an optical system detecting sub-millimeter misalignment, and with software correcting for misalignment. Rendering of adjusted data is performed such that nozzles are variously assigned dependent on misalignment to deposit droplets in a regulated manner, to ensure precise deposition of liquid for each given area of the substrate. For example, applied to the manufacture of flat panel displays, software ensures that exactly the right amount of liquid is deposited for each “pixel” of the display, to minimize likelihood of visible discrepancies in the resultant display.

Abstract: An ink jet process is used to deposit a material layer to a desired thickness. Layout data is converted to per-cell grayscale values, each representing ink volume to be locally delivered. The grayscale values are used to generate a halftone pattern to deliver variable ink volume (and thickness) to the substrate. The halftoning provides for a relatively continuous layer (e.g., without unintended gaps or holes) while providing for variable volume and, thus, contributes to variable ink/material buildup to achieve desired thickness. The ink is jetted as liquid or aerosol that suspends material used to form the material layer, for example, an organic material used to form an encapsulation layer for a flat panel device. The deposited layer is then cured or otherwise finished to complete the process.

Abstract: A print tile for a printhead assembly in a printer includes a base plate, a printhead, a nozzle plate attached to the printhead, and a plurality of mounting elements. The base plate has an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and a slot extending through the base plate. The printhead has a lower part received in the slot and including a plurality of nozzles from which a print material is to be ejected in a printing operation. The plurality of mounting elements mounts the nozzle plate to the base plate, while permitting adjustment of a position of the printhead relative to the base plate. The base plate includes first and second adjustable lifts correspondingly under first and second end portions of the nozzle plate, to adjust positions of the first and second end portions of the nozzle plate independently one from another.

Abstract: Organic ligand-capped quantum dots and curable ink compositions containing the organic ligand-capped quantum dots are provided. Also provided are thin films formed from the ink compositions.

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: A manufacturing system includes a dispenser unit movably coupled to a support, the dispenser unit comprising a location sensor and a reference detector; a test unit comprising a surface for receiving material from the dispenser unit and an imaging device for imaging the material on the surface; a location reference mounted to a stationary component of the manufacturing system; and a controller configured to control the dispenser unit and the reference detector to detect the location reference; calibrate a position of the dispenser unit based on detecting the location reference; control the test unit to image the material on the surface; control the dispenser unit and the reference detector to detect an aspect of the material on the surface; compare the image of the material captured by the test unit with the aspect of the material detected by the reference detector; and calibrate the test unit based on the comparison.

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: Embodiments of inkjet printers, and methods of operating inkjet printers, are described herein. The inkjet printers include a substrate support a print support comprising a printhead assembly movably coupled to a printhead assembly support disposed across the substrate support, and a printhead management unit comprising a first printhead cleaner having a first areal extent and a second printhead cleaner having a second areal extent different from the first areal extent. The first and second printhead cleaner can be used in cleaning processes to optimize the cleaning process.

Abstract: Light-emitting sub-pixels and pixels for micro-light-emitting diode-based displays are provided. Also provided are methods of fabricating individual sub-pixels, pixels, and arrays of the pixels. The sub-pixels include a double-layered film that includes a coupling layer disposed over a light-emitting diode and a light-emission layer disposed over the coupling layer.

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 printer includes a substrate support, a printhead assembly, first and second actuators, and a controller. The printhead assembly deposits material on a substrate supported on the substrate support. The first actuator is disposed at a side of the substrate support and coupled to a first linear track disposed along the side of the substrate support and oriented in a first direction. The second actuator is disposed at an end of the substrate support and coupled to a second linear track disposed along the end of the substrate support and oriented in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first and second actuators are positioned to engage with the substrate simultaneously. The controller moves the first and second actuators together to rotate the substrate.

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.

Abstract: A drop placement analyzer for an inkjet printer is described herein. The drop placement analyzer comprises a film support that has an opaque, optically non-interfering vacuum surface for immobilizing a film against the optically non-interfering vacuum surface and photographing drops disposed on the film from the same side of the film on which the drops are disposed.

Abstract: The present teachings disclose various embodiments of a printing system for printing substrate, in which the printing system can be housed in a gas enclosure, where the environment within the enclosure can be maintained as a controlled printing environment. A controlled environment of the present teachings can include control of the type of gas environment within the gas enclosure, the size and level particulate matter within the enclosure, control of the temperature within the enclosure and control of lighting. Various embodiments of a printing system of the present teachings can include a Y-axis motion system and a Z-axis moving plate that are configured to substantially decrease excess thermal load within the enclosure by, for example, eliminating or substantially minimizing the use of conventional electric motors.

Abstract: 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.