Method of forming structures using drop-on-demand printing
First Claim
1. An apparatus for forming a structure on a substrate, the apparatus comprising:
- a computer arranged to select a digital specification for a structure and to identify at least one region in the digital specification;
a drop-on-demand printer coupled to the computer and configured to print the at least one identified region by depositing at least one material on the substrate according to the digital specification; and
at least one electromagnetic radiation source coupled to the computer and configured to cure the at least one identified region according to the digital specification by irradiating the deposited material with electromagnetic radiation according to an irradiation intensity and a location of an irradiation point in the at least one identified region specified by the digital specification.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are described for forming a structure on a substrate. The structure may be a circuit element. The method uses a digital specification 910 for forming the structure, including specifications for printing and curing. The structure is printed (step 112) using a drop-on-demand printer 400, wherein the printing dispenses at least one material on the substrate 420 according to the digital specification 910. The structure is cured (step 130) by irradiating the dispensed material from one or more electromagnetic radiation sources 520, 525 in the printer 400, wherein curing parameters are specified by the digital specification 910 to obtain a desired electrical property when the structure is a circuit element. The curing specification may specify the intensity of the irradiation and the location of irradiation points in the print region.
16 Citations
6 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for forming a structure on a substrate, the apparatus comprising:
-
a computer arranged to select a digital specification for a structure and to identify at least one region in the digital specification; a drop-on-demand printer coupled to the computer and configured to print the at least one identified region by depositing at least one material on the substrate according to the digital specification; and at least one electromagnetic radiation source coupled to the computer and configured to cure the at least one identified region according to the digital specification by irradiating the deposited material with electromagnetic radiation according to an irradiation intensity and a location of an irradiation point in the at least one identified region specified by the digital specification. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A system for forming a structure on a substrate, the system comprising:
-
a data storage unit that includes one or more digital specifications for structures; and a drop-on-demand printer in communication with the data storage units for forming a selected structure, the printer including; one or more cartridges for dispensing material to thereby deposit the material onto a substrate using a drop-on-demand technique according to a digital specification for the selected structure, and one or more sources of electromagnetic radiation for curing the deposited material by irradiating the deposited material with electromagnetic radiation according to an irradiation intensity and a location of an irradiation point on the substrate specified by the digital specification for the selected structure. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
-
Specification