Methods and systems for inkjet drop positioning

• US 20070070107A1
• Filed: 09/29/2005
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Applied Materials Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Applied Materials Incorporated
• Inventors: White, John, Kurita, Shinichi, Shang, Quanyuan, Shamoun, Bassam, Mirro, Eugene, Jozwiak, Janusz
• Granted Patent: US 7,611,217 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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; and

,

depositing an ink drop to an 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:

detecting variations of a substrate;

depositing an ink drop on the substrate using an inkjet printing system;

detecting an actual deposition location of the deposited ink drop on the substrate relative to an intended deposition location;

calculating a correction factor based on the actual deposition location and the detected variations of the substrate;

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

,

depositing a ink drop to a deposition location after adjusting the at least one print parameter.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein detecting variations of the substrate comprises constructing a multi-dimensional map of the substrate.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein variations of the substrate are detected before the substrate enters the inkjet printing system.

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

13. 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.

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

15. The method of claim 9 wherein adjusting at least one parameter of the inkjet printing system comprises adjusting a firing pulse timing of ink drops dispensed by the inkjet printing system.

16. 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.

17. A system for use in inkjet printing comprising:

at least one inkjet print nozzle adapted to deposit ink to a substrate;

a first imaging system adapted to detect a location of the ink deposited by the inkjet print nozzle on the substrate;

a second imaging system adapted to detect variations in print parameters of an inkjet printing system; and

,

a controller adapted to receive a signal transmitted from the first and second imaging systems, compare the location of the ink deposited on the substrate to an intended deposition location, determine a difference between the location of the ink deposited on the substrate and the intended deposition location, and compensate for the difference between the location of the ink deposited on the substrate and the intended deposition location by adjusting at least one print parameter of the inkjet printing system.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising a driver adapted to control the at least one inkjet print nozzle.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the first imaging system and the second imaging system are the same imaging system.

20. A system for use in inkjet printing comprising:

at least one inkjet print head adapted to deposit ink to a substrate; and

,

a controller adapted to determine an intended deposition location of the ink on the substrate, control deposition of the ink on the substrate using the at least one inkjet print head, detect a deposited location of the deposited ink on the substrate, compare the deposited location to the intended location, determine a difference between the deposited location and the intended location, and compensate for the difference between the deposited location and the intended location by adjusting a parameter of an inkjet printing system.