APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING SUBSTRATE ALIGNMENT DURING A PRINTING PROCESS
First Claim
1. A printer apparatus comprising:
- a print assembly comprising at least one conductive alignment sensor having a plurality of inductive coils configured to generate an electromagnetic field;
wherein the print assembly is configured to receive at least one substrate comprising at least one conductive portion printed thereon and align the at least one substrate such that the plurality of inductive coils and the at least one conductive portion substantially overlap with each other to form an electromagnetic field having a direction from the at least one conductive alignment sensor to the at least one conductive portion, wherein the direction of the electromagnetic field with respect to the at least one conductive alignment sensor forms an angle; and
wherein the at least one conductive alignment sensor is configured to detect a movement of the at least one conductive portion when a change to the angle causes a change in a current through the plurality of inductive coils.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Printing apparatuses for detection of substrate alignment, methods for manufacture and use thereof, and substrates are disclosed. One printing apparatus may include a printing assembly having at least one conductive alignment sensor with a plurality of inductive coils configured to generate an electromagnetic field. The printing assembly may receive at least one substrate having at least one conductive portion and align the substrate such that the plurality of inductive coils and the conductive portion substantially overlap with each other to form an electromagnetic field having a direction from the at least one conductive alignment sensor to the at least one conductive portion. The direction of the electromagnetic field with respect to the conductive alignment sensor may form an angle. The conductive alignment sensor may be configured to detect a movement of the conductive portion when a change to the angle causes a current change through the plurality of inductive coils.
-
Citations
86 Claims
-
1. A printer apparatus comprising:
-
a print assembly comprising at least one conductive alignment sensor having a plurality of inductive coils configured to generate an electromagnetic field; wherein the print assembly is configured to receive at least one substrate comprising at least one conductive portion printed thereon and align the at least one substrate such that the plurality of inductive coils and the at least one conductive portion substantially overlap with each other to form an electromagnetic field having a direction from the at least one conductive alignment sensor to the at least one conductive portion, wherein the direction of the electromagnetic field with respect to the at least one conductive alignment sensor forms an angle; and wherein the at least one conductive alignment sensor is configured to detect a movement of the at least one conductive portion when a change to the angle causes a change in a current through the plurality of inductive coils. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 13, 17, 18, 19, 21)
-
-
6-7. -7. (canceled)
-
9. (canceled)
-
12. (canceled)
-
14-16. -16. (canceled)
-
20. (canceled)
-
22-31. -31. (canceled)
-
32. A method to detect substrate alignment during a printing process, the method comprising:
-
providing a print assembly comprising at least one conductive alignment sensor having a plurality of inductive coils configured to generate an electromagnetic field; providing at least one substrate comprising at least one conductive portion printed thereon; aligning the at least one substrate on the print assembly by substantially overlapping the at least one conductive alignment sensor and the at least one conductive portion to form an electromagnetic field having a direction from the at least one conductive alignment sensor to the at least one conductive portion, wherein the direction of the electromagnetic field with respect to the at least one conductive alignment sensor forms an angle; generating an electromagnetic field by applying a current across the plurality of inductive coils; and printing at least one pattern on the at least one substrate. - View Dependent Claims (33, 36, 37, 38, 39, 43)
-
-
34-35. -35. (canceled)
-
40-42. -42. (canceled)
-
44-81. -81. (canceled)
-
82. A substrate for a printer apparatus configured to detect substrate alignment during a printing process, the substrate comprising:
-
at least one substrate material configured to receive a printed pattern thereon by the printer apparatus; and at least one conductive portion printed on the at least one substrate material; wherein the at least one substrate material is arranged in the printer apparatus by substantially overlapping the at least one conductive portion with a plurality of inductive coils of the printer apparatus to form an electromagnetic field having a direction from at least one conductive alignment sensor to the at least one conductive portion, wherein the direction of the electromagnetic field with respect to the at least one conductive alignment sensor forms an angle. - View Dependent Claims (83, 85)
-
-
84. (canceled)
-
86-87. -87. (canceled)
Specification