Methods and systems for inkjet drop positioning

• US 7,611,217 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2005
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Applied Materials Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Applied Materials Incorporated
• Inventors: Mirro, Eugene, Kurita, Shinichi, Shang, Quanyuan, White, John M., Shamoun, Bassam, Jozwiak, Janusz
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Thinh H
• Application Number:
  US11/238,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20070070107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: 347/14, 347/15, 347/19, 347/105
• US Class Current: 347/14
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/393 Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine ; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for inkjet inkjet drop positioning are provided. A first method includes determining an intended deposition location of an ink drop on a substrate, depositing the ink drop on the substrate using an inkjet printing system, detecting a deposited location of the deposited ink drop on the substrate, comparing the deposited location to the intended location, determining a difference between the deposited location and the intended location, and compensating for the difference between the deposited location and the intended location by adjusting a parameter of an inkjet printing system. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Claims

1. A method of inkjet printing comprising:

imaging a substrate;

detecting variations in print parameters of an inkjet printing system;

calculating a correction factor based on the imaged substrate and detected variations in print parameters;

adjusting at least one print parameter of the inkjet printing system based on the correction factor;

determining an intended deposition location on the substrate; and

depositing an ink drop to the intended deposition location using the inkjet printing system after adjusting the at least one print parameter.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein imaging the substrate comprises constructing a multi-dimensional map of the substrate.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein imaging the substrate occurs before the substrate enters the inkjet printing system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting at least one parameter of the inkjet printing system comprises adjusting a velocity of ink drops dispensed by the inkjet printing system.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting at least one parameter of the inkjet printing system comprises adjusting a mass of ink drops dispensed by the inkjet printing system.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting at least one parameter of the inkjet printing system comprises adjusting a trajectory of ink drops dispensed by the inkjet printing system.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting at least one parameter of the inkjet printing system comprises adjusting a firing pulse timing of the ink drop.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein calculating a correction factor based on the imaged substrate and detected variations in print parameters and adjusting at least one print parameter of the inkjet printing system comprises adjusting the timing of an inkjet print head independent of a thickness of the substrate.

9. A method of inkjet printing comprising:

imaging a substrate, wherein imaging the substrate comprises constructing a multi-dimensional map of the substrate;

detecting variations in print parameters of an inkjet printing system;

calculating a correction factor based on the imaged substrate and detected variations in print parameters;

adjusting at least one print parameter of the inkjet printing system based on the correction factor;

determining an intended deposition location; and

depositing an ink drop to the intended deposition location using the inkjet printing system after adjusting the at least one print parameter.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein imaging the substrate occurs before the substrate enters the inkjet printing system.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein adjusting at least one parameter of the inkjet printing system comprises adjusting a mass of ink drops dispensed by the inkjet printing system.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein calculating a correction factor based on the imaged substrate and detected variations in print parameters and adjusting at least one print parameter of the inkjet printing system comprises adjusting the timing of an inkjet print head independent of a thickness of the substrate.