Abstract: A method comprises processing a substrate in a gas enclosure to form a film on one or more portions of the substrate. The method further comprises, while processing the substrate, circulating gas along a circulation path through the gas enclosure. Circulating the gas may comprise flowing gas through an exhaust housing enclosing a printhead assembly housed in the gas enclosure and filtering the gas flowing downstream of the printhead assembly from the exhaust housing.

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: 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: 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 is described. The inkjet printer has a substrate holder assembly that includes a base member having a long axis in a first direction and a short axis in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a contact member coupled to the base member, the contact member having a long axis in the first direction and a short axis in the second direction; a holder carriage coupled to the base member; a linear extender coupled between the base member and the contact member and extending in a third direction intersecting with the first direction and the second direction from the base member toward the contact member; and a flex member coupled to the base member, extending in the second direction between the linear extender and the contact member, and having a flex direction in a direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method for maintenance of a printing system includes maintaining an inert gas environment in a printing system enclosure housing the printing system, and placing an auxiliary enclosure in flow communication with the printing system enclosure through a sealable opening. While the auxiliary enclosure and the printing system enclosure are in flow communication, the method further includes moving a part between the printing system enclosure and the auxiliary enclosure using a handler positioned proximate the sealable opening, the part being related to maintenance of the printing system. During the moving, the auxiliary enclosure is maintained to have an inert gas environment.

Abstract: A drying chamber for drying a substrate patterned with display areas wetted by OLED materials dissolved or suspended in a volatile carrier liquid and separated from one another by dry boundary regions. A mask adjusts drying rate of the carrier liquid during vacuum extraction using vapor-transmissive areas opposite the wet areas and vapor-barrier regions opposite the dry boundary regions, or by confining the wet areas collectively in a chamber volume small enough to quickly saturate with the carrier liquid before vacuum extraction.

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 printhead/substrate scan offsets, offsets between printheads, the use of different nozzle drive waveforms, and/or other techniques. These combinations can be based on repeated, rapid droplet measurements that develop understandings for each nozzle of means and spreads for expected droplet volume, velocity and trajectory, with combinations of droplets being planned based on these statistical parameters. Optionally, random fill variation can be introduced so as to mitigate Mura effects in a finished display device. The disclosed techniques have many possible applications.

Abstract: A printing system includes a printhead carriage supporting a printhead and mounted to translate along a beam extending in an x-axis direction of an x-axis, y-axis, z-axis Cartesian coordinate system. A method of controlling the printing system includes sensing one or more of a rotational orientation of the printhead about the x-axis, y-axis, and the z-axis and a position of the printhead along the y-axis and z-axis. Based on the sensed one or more of the rotational orientation and the position, a position of one or more bearings arranged to support the printhead carriage on the beam is adjusted. Adjusting the position of the one or more bearings adjusts one or both of the rotational orientation of the printhead and the position of the printhead. Systems and methods relate to control of printing systems.

Abstract: A coating can be provided on a substrate. Fabrication of the coating can include forming a solid layer in a specified region of the substrate while supporting the substrate in a coating system using a gas cushion. For example, a liquid coating can be printed over the specified region while the substrate is supported by the gas cushion. The substrate can be held for a specified duration after the printing the patterned liquid. The substrate can be conveyed to a treatment zone while supported using the gas cushion. The liquid coating can be treated to provide the solid layer including continuing to support the substrate using the gas cushion.

Abstract: A method for providing a substrate coating comprises transferring a substrate to an enclosed ink jet printing system; printing organic material in a deposition region of the substrate using the enclosed ink jet printing system, the deposition region comprising at least a portion of an active region of a light-emitting device on the substrate; loading the substrate with the organic material deposited thereon to an enclosed curing module; supporting the substrate in the enclosed curing module, the supporting the substrate comprising floating the substrate on a gas cushion established by a floatation support apparatus; and while supporting the substrate in the enclosed curing module, curing the organic material deposited on the substrate to form an organic film layer.

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 method for printing a substrate may comprise positioning a substrate within an enclosure enclosing a printing system, wherein the printing system comprises a printhead device assembly comprising at least one printhead, and performing a printing process on the substrate. and.

Abstract: A method of forming a material layer on a substrate comprises loading a substrate into a printing zone of a coating system using a substrate handler, printing an organic ink material on a substrate while the substrate is located in the printing zone, transferring the substrate from the printing zone to a treatment zone of the coating system, treating the organic ink material deposited on the substrate in the treatment zone to form a film layer on the substrate, and removing the substrate from the treatment zone using the substrate handler.

Abstract: For various embodiments of a printhead assembly or ink stick assembly of the present teachings, each an ink stick assembly can be a self-contained assembly, of which a plurality of self-contained ink stick assemblies can be readily interchanged into a printing system during a printing process. Various embodiments of a self-contained ink stick assembly can have a fluidic system that can include a local ink reservoir, which can be in fluid communication with a bulk ink reservoir. Filling of a bulk ink reservoir can be done in a manual or automated mode. According to the present teachings, a bulk ink reservoir can have a volume sufficient to provide a continuous supply of ink to a local ink reservoir over the course of a printing process.

Abstract: Apparatus and techniques for use in manufacturing a light emitting device, such as an organic light emitting diode (OLED) device can include using one or more modules having a controlled environment. The controlled environment can be maintained at a pressure at about atmospheric pressure or above atmospheric pressure. The modules can be arranged to provide various processing regions and to facilitate printing or otherwise depositing one or more patterned organic layers of an OLED device, such as an organic encapsulation layer (OEL) of an OLED device. In an example, uniform support for a substrate can be provided at least in part using a gas cushion, such as during one or more of a printing, holding, or curing operation comprising an OEL fabrication process. In another example, uniform support for the substrate can be provided using a distributed vacuum region, such as provided by a porous medium.

Abstract: What is disclosed herein are embodiments of an enclosed manufacturing system configured to provide a controlled process environment for various articles of manufacture requiring a controlled process environment, and additionally to contain a process environment within the enclosure during periods of external access to the interior of the enclosed manufacturing system. Various embodiments of manufacturing systems of the present teaching can contain the environment within a manufacturing enclosure so as to minimize the interaction of an environment external to a manufacturing enclosure with the internal enclosure environment.

Abstract: 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.