METHODS AND SYSTEMS RELATING TO LIGHT SOURCES FOR USE IN INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES

• US 20090233003A1
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phoseon Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Phoseon Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Anderson, Duwayne R., Owen, Mark D., Jasmin, Roland
• Granted Patent: US 9,281,001 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 427/509
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/26 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

System and methods are disclosed in connection with a reaction at or below the surface of a work object, in the context of a fluid flow fostering the reaction. In some example embodiments, the reaction is fostered by (1) creating fluid flow of an inerting fluid over a surface during exposure of the surface to a predetermined type of light, (2) creating fluid flow comprising a reactive species that reacts with another species at or below the work surface in a predetermined manner and/or (3) creating a fluid flow comprising a catalytic species that catalyzes a reaction in a predetermined manner, e.g., during exposure of the surface to a predetermined type of light. In some example embodiments, a light source is employed that comprises a solid-state light source, e.g., a dense array of solid-state light sources. In at least one of such example embodiments, the reaction is a photoreaction associated with the light source.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a fluid flow of a fluid over at least one surface of a work piece; and

exposing the work piece to a light that fosters a reaction in association with the at least one surface of the work piece.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises an inerting species, and

wherein the reaction would be in an undesirable environment, but for the fluid flow.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the inerting species comprises one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon and helium.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reaction is a polymerization reaction.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reaction is a photoreaction.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises a reactive species.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises a catalytic species.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises a combination of one or more species, such species in the combination taken from one or more of inerting species, reactive species and catalytic species.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the light is generated by a light source comprising a solid-state light source.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the light source comprises a dense array of solid-state light sources.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the work piece comprises one of a CD-type device, a DVD-type device, a Blue Ray DVD-type device and an HD-DVD-type device and the at least one surface comprises at least one circumferential edge of the work piece.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reaction is for at least one of setting and curing an ink formation.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reaction is for curing a coating.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid flow is characterized by laminar flow.

15. A device, comprising:

an outlet providing a fluid flow of a fluid in association with at least one surface of a work piece; and

a light source that exposes the work piece to a light that fosters a reaction in association with the at least one surface of the work piece.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the fluid comprises an inerting species, and

wherein the reaction would be in an undesirable environment, but for the fluid flow.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the inerting species comprises one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon and helium.

18. The device according to claim 15, wherein the reaction comprises a polymerization reaction.

19. The device according to claim 15, wherein reaction is a photoreaction.

20. The device according to claim 15, wherein the fluid comprises a reactive species.

21. The device according to claim 15, wherein the fluid comprises a catalytic species.

22. The device according to claim 15, wherein the fluid comprises a combination of one or more species, such species in the combination taken from one or more of inerting species, reactive species and catalytic species.

23. The device according to claim 15, wherein the light source comprises a solid-state light source.

24. The device according to claim 22, wherein the light source comprises a dense array of solid-state light sources.

25. The device according to claim 15, wherein the work piece comprises a precursor for optical storage media.

26. The device according to claim 25, wherein the optical storage media is one of a CD-type device, a DVD-type device, a Blue Ray DVD-type device and an HD-DVD-type device and the at least one surface comprises at least one circumferential edge of the work piece.

27. The device according to claim 15, wherein the reaction is for at least one of setting and curing an ink formation.

28. The device according to claim 15, wherein the fluid flow is characterized by laminar flow.

29. The device according to claim 15, wherein the reaction is for curing a coating.

30. The device according to claim 15, wherein the work piece includes first and second layers of material, and a third layer of material between the first and second layers, and

wherein the reaction enables the third layer of material to bond the first and second layers of material together.

31. The device according to claim 30, wherein the light source comprises a solid-state light source that emits UV light that comprises one or more wavelengths, or one or more bands of wavelengths, of between about 250 nm and 450 nm and wherein the fluid flow is disposed between the light source and the work piece.