Abstract:
A method of fabricating color filters on the surface of a substrate involves ejecting fluid droplets onto a transfer surface and transferring the fluid droplets from the transfer surface to the substrate by bringing the fluid droplets on the transfer surface into contact with the substrate. While on the transfer surface the fluid droplets may have their spatial registration adjusted by interaction between the fluid droplets and a periodic pattern on the transfer surface. The fluid droplets may be subjected to various types of post-expulsion treatments on the transfer surface and may be cured on the substrate. Multiple passes may be made to eject the fluid droplets onto the transfer surface and/or to transfer the fluid droplets to the substrate.
Abstract:
A method for the image-wise transfer of fluid droplets from at least one fluid droplet source onto a substrate comprises ejecting fluid droplets from the at least one fluid droplet source onto a transfer surface. The fluid droplets may be water-based or oil based. The transfer surface repels the fluid droplets. For water-based fluid droplets, the transfer surface comprises a spatially periodic arrangement of less-strongly hydrophobic regions and more-strongly hydrophobic regions. The method includes adjusting a spatial registration of the fluid droplets on the transfer surface; and transferring the fluid droplets from the transfer surface to the substrate by bringing the fluid droplets on the transfer surface into contact with the substrate.
Abstract:
A stepper for imaging integrated circuit and flat panel displays uses a thermoresist instead of photoresist and separates the mask into multiple masks, each one containing only part of the features which need to be imaged. The fmal image is generated by combining the images from all the masks on a single die taking advantage of the fact that thermal resists do not follow the reciprocity law. For maximum resolution each one of the multiple masks contains features of only one size.
Abstract:
A stepper for imaging integrated circuit and flat panel displays uses a thermoresist instead of photoresist and separates the mask into multiple masks, each one containing only part of the features which need to be imaged. The final image is generated by combining the images from all the masks on a single die taking advantage of the fact that thermal resists do not follow the reciprocity law. For maximum resolution each one of the multiple masks contains features of only one size.
Abstract:
In accordance with the present invention a gravure cylinder is engraved by means of an electron beam which is modulated to create upon the surface of the gravure cylinder the desired gravure cells, the required vacuum being maintained only in a limited volume around the electron gun by the use of a conformal high vacuum ferrofluid seal that is substantially free of mechanical friction.
Abstract:
A method is presented for aligning the nozzles of a number of individual inkjet cartridges that are combined to create a multiple inkjet head array for an inkjet printer. The method includes fabricating spatially referenced inkjet cartridge sub-assemblies by permanently attaching an intermediate fixture member to pre-made inkjet cartridges whilst referencing the intermediate fixture members to the inkjet nozzle arrays of the inkjet cartridges. The method further includes removably combining a number of such spatially referenced inkjet cartridge sub-assemblies in mutual spatial registration on a common fixture such that the inkjet nozzles of the different inkjet cartridges are all in spatial registration with one another. By this method an array of inkjet heads, of which all the nozzles are in the desired relative positions with respect to one another, is created. This method allows an array head to be maintained or repaired through the removal and substitution of an individual pre-registered inkjet cartridge sub-assembly.
Abstract:
Imaging resolution can be increased by separating image data into a plurality of overlapping subsets and imaging each subset independently on an imaging material responsive only to the instantaneous intensity of the light an not to the accumulated exposure. The method is particularly suitable for thermal recording as thermal materials respond to the instantaneous temperature. The preferred separation is when an image subset contains only image features of a single size.
Abstract:
A mask for exposing flexographic plates contains, besides the standard binary image, areas shaded with a partially light absorbing layer. This partial light absorbance changes the exposure in certain areas and optimizes exposure separately for each different part of the image. The mask can be a separate film or integral to the plate. The required absorbance can be automatically computed when the mask is being generated. The invention is particularly useful with thermal films, as thermal films do not have to trade off edge sharpness and gray levels.
Abstract:
A microlens for a multiple emitter laser diode consists of narrow slices cut out from molded aspheric lenses. Each slice is mounted in front of one emitter and the slice position is adjusted in the cross-emitter direction to have all emitter images aligned in a straight line, thus compensating for any lack of straightness in the multiple emitter diode.
Abstract:
A direct-to-press system using a seamless cylinder coated on the press with a curable polymer. After curing, the surface of the polymer is modified by selective laser radiation to change its affinity to printing ink. The cylinder is used in place of a plate cylinder in an offset press, either conventional or waterless. Since only the surface is selectively modified by the laser, coating thickness and uniformity are of little concern. After printing, the cylinder is cleaned on the press using a cleaning station similar to blanket washers used on presses. Cleaning does not have to be complete since the surface of the cylinder is never exposed to the ink. The system is compatible with existing press designs as it can be mounted in the space currently used to access the plate cylinder for plate changing.