Abstract: A printhead includes a jetting module that forms liquid drops travelling along a first path. A deflection mechanism causes selected liquid drops formed by the jetting module to deviate from the first path and begin travelling along a second path. A moving liquid curtain is positioned relative to the first path such that the liquid drops travelling along one of the first path and the second path contact the liquid curtain in a drop interception region of the liquid curtain. A liquid collection device is positioned to collect the liquid curtain downstream from the drop interception region.

Abstract: A method of printing is includes providing liquid drops travelling along a first path using a jetting module. A moving liquid curtain is provided using a liquid source. Selected liquid drops are caused to deviate from the first path and begin travelling along a second path using a deflection mechanism such that the liquid drops travelling along one of the first path and the second path contact the liquid curtain in a drop interception region of the liquid curtain. The liquid curtain is collected downstream from the drop interception region using a liquid collection device.

Abstract: A method of treating a printer component, a printhead, and a printer are provided. The method includes providing an electrode proximate to the printer component to be treated; introducing a plasma treatment gas in an area proximate to the printer component to be treated; and treating the printer component by applying power to the electrode thereby producing a micro-scale plasma at near atmospheric pressure, the micro-scale plasma acting on the printer component.

Abstract: A method for controlling the deposition of vaporized organic material onto a substrate surface, includes providing a manifold having at least one aperture through which vaporized organic material passes for deposition onto the substrate surface; and providing a volume of organic material and maintaining the temperature of such organic material in a first condition so that its vapor pressure is below that needed to effectively form a layer on the substrate, and in a second condition heating a volume percentage of the initial volume of such organic material so that the vapor pressure of the heated organic material is sufficient to effectively form a layer.

Abstract: A method for evaporating a plurality of purified organic materials in a thermal physical vapor deposition system, comprising the steps of: mixing predetermined amounts of first and second organic materials to form a mixture of materials at a predetermined ratio; processing at least one of the organic materials at less than the sublimation temperature of the at least one of the organic materials before or after mixing to remove a first contaminant, wherein if processing is after mixing, the processing temperature is lower than the sublimation temperature of each of the organic materials; providing a thermal physical vapor deposition source; transferring the purified mixture of organic materials into the thermal physical vapor deposition source while maintaining the purified mixture of organic materials in a controlled, contaminant-free environment; and using the source to evaporate the purified mixture of organic materials.

Abstract: A method for controlling the deposition of vaporized organic material onto a substrate surface, includes providing a manifold having at least one aperture through which vaporized organic material passes for deposition onto the substrate surface; and providing a volume of organic material and maintaining the temperature of such organic material in a first condition so that its vapor pressure is below that needed to effectively form a layer on the substrate, and in a second condition heating a volume percentage of the initial volume of such organic material so that the vapor pressure of the heated organic material is sufficient to effectively form a layer.

Abstract: A device vaporizes organic materials onto a substrate surface to form a film.

Abstract: A method for vaporizing organic materials onto a substrate surface to form a film including providing a quantity of organic material into a vaporization apparatus and actively maintaining the organic material in a first heating region in the vaporization apparatus to be below the vaporization temperature. The method also includes heating a second heating region of the vaporization apparatus above the vaporization temperature of the organic material and metering, at a controlled rate, organic material from the first heating region into the second heating region so that a thin cross section of the organic material is heated at a desired rate-dependent vaporization temperature, whereby organic material vaporizes and forms a film on the substrate surface.

Abstract: A method for forming a layer on a surface in making a device, including providing a distribution member for receiving vaporized material, the distribution member having one or more walls defining a polygonal two-dimensional pattern of apertures is formed in a wall, which deliver vaporized material in a molecular flow onto the surface; providing the polygonal two-dimensional pattern of apertures to have at least four vertices, with a first set of apertures disposed at the vertices, a second set of edge apertures disposed between the apertures of the first set and defining the edges of the polygonal two-dimensional pattern, and a third set of interior apertures disposed within the periphery of the polygonal two-dimensional pattern defined by the first and second sets of apertures; and dimensioning the apertures to obtain a desired flow rate.

Abstract: A microfluidic device comprising a monolithic superstructure, wherein the superstructure contains fluid channels, and in at least one of the fluid channels, in an area where the channel changes direction or intersects another channel, the channel is greater in cross-section than in other areas of said channel. A microfluidic device superstructure comprising fluid channels wherein said channels comprise projections into at least part of the channel to aid in laminar flow of fluid.

Abstract: A method of treating a printer component, a printhead, and a printer are provided. The method includes providing an electrode proximate to the printer component to be treated; introducing a plasma treatment gas in an area proximate to the printer component to be treated; and treating the printer component by applying power to the electrode thereby producing a micro-scale plasma at near atmospheric pressure, the micro-scale plasma acting on the printer component.

Abstract: A method for vaporizing particulate material and condensing it onto a surface to form a layer provides a quantity of first particulate material in a first container and a quantity of second particulate material in a second container spaced apart from the first container, the first and second containers respectively having first and second openings. The first particulate material is transferred through the first opening in the first container into a manifold and vaporized in the manifold. The second particulate material is transferred through the second opening in the second container into the manifold and vaporized in the manifold, whereby the first and second vaporized particulate materials are mixed. The mixed vaporized materials are delivered from the manifold to the surface to form the layer.

Abstract: A method for vaporizing particulate materials and condensing them onto a surface to form a layer provides a quantity of particulate material in a first container having an opening, dimensioned to allow free flow of the particulate material through the opening. The particulate material is transferred through the opening to an auger. At least a portion of the auger is rotated to transfer the particulate material from the first container along a feeding path to a vaporization zone where at least a component portion of the particulate material is vaporized and delivered to the surface to form the layer. The auger size is selected to facilitate the free flow of the particulate material through the opening.

Abstract: A method for controlling the deposition of vaporized organic material onto a substrate surface, includes providing a heating device to produce vaporized organic material; providing a manifold having at least one aperture through which vaporized organic material passes for deposition onto the substrate surface; providing a controller operating independently of the heating device and effective in a first condition for limiting the passage of vaporized organic material through the aperture, and effective in a second condition for facilitating the passage of vaporized organic material through the aperture; and wherein the heating device, or the controller, or both are contiguous to the manifold.

Abstract: A method of depositing organic material onto an OLED substrate, comprising: providing a manifold for receiving vaporized organic material, the manifold including an aperture plate having openings, the aperture plate openings being selected to provide beams of vaporized organic material directed to the substrate, such beams having off-axis components; and providing a mask spaced between the OLED substrate and the manifold, the mask having openings that respectively correspond to the aperture plate openings, the mask openings being selected to skim off at least a portion of the off-axis components of the beams.

Abstract: A vapor deposition source for use in vacuum chamber for coating an organic layer on a substrate of an OLED device, includes a manifold including side and bottom walls defining a chamber for receiving organic material, and an aperture plate disposed between the side walls, the aperture plate having a plurality of spaced apart apertures for emitting vaporized organic material; the aperture plate including conductive material which in response to an electrical current produces heat; means for heating the organic material to a temperature which causes its vaporization, and heating the side walls of the manifold; and an electrical insulator coupling the aperture plate to the side walls for concentrating heat in the unsupported region of the aperture plate adjacent to the apertures, whereby the distance between the aperture plate and the substrate can be reduced to provide high coating thickness uniformity on the substrate.

Abstract: A method for vaporizing organic materials and condensing them onto a surface to form a layer, comprising: providing a quantity of organic material in a powdered form in a first container; fluidizing the organic material in the first container and transferring such fluidized material to an auger structure; and rotating at least a portion of the auger structure to transfer fluidized powder from the first container along a feeding path to a vaporization zone where such powder is vaporized and delivered to the substrate to form the layer.

Abstract: A method for vaporizing organic material and condensing it onto a surface to form a layer, comprising: providing a quantity of first organic material in a powdered form in a first container and a quantity of second organic material in a second container spaced from the first container; fluidizing the first organic material in the first container, transferring the fluidized first organic material from the first container into a manifold, and vaporizing the first organic material in the manifold; fluidizing the second organic material in the second container, transferring the fluidized second organic material from the second container into the manifold, and vaporizing the second organic material in the manifold where the first and second vaporized organic materials are mixed; and delivering from the manifold the mixed vaporized materials to the substrate surface to form the layer.

Abstract: A method for vaporizing organic materials onto a surface, to form a film includes providing a quantity of organic material in a fluidized powdered form; metering the powdered organic material and directing a stream of such fluidized powder onto a first member; heating the first member so that as the stream of fluidized powder is vaporized; collecting the vaporized organic material in a manifold; and providing a second member formed with at least one aperture in communication with the manifold that permits the vaporized organic material to be directed onto the surface to form a film.

Abstract: A method for vaporizing organic materials onto a substrate surface to form a film including providing a quantity of organic material into a vaporization apparatus and actively maintaining the organic material in a first heating region in the vaporization apparatus to be below the vaporization temperature. The method also includes heating a second heating region of the vaporization apparatus above the vaporization temperature of the organic material and metering, at a controlled rate, organic material from the first heating region into the second heating region so that a thin cross section of the organic material is heated at a desired rate-dependent vaporization temperature, whereby organic material vaporizes and forms a film on the substrate surface.