Method for decimation of images

Abstract

In the case of printing at high addressability, where the cell size is smaller than the spot size, an image can be decimated in a manner that will limit the large accumulation of printed material. The proper decimation of the image will depend on the spot size, the physics of drop coalescence and the addressability during printing. A simple method of using concentric decimation is disclosed herein to enable this process.

Description

[0001]This is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 644,238, filed Dec. 22, 2006, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND[0002]The exemplary embodiment relates generally to image processing systems and, more particularly, to a method of decimating images.[0003]A printed circuit board, or PCB, is a self-contained module of interconnected electronic components found in devices ranging from common beepers, or pagers, and radios to sophisticated radar and computer systems. The circuits are generally formed by a thin layer of conducting material deposited, or “printed,” on the surface of an insulating board known as the substrate. Individual electronic components are placed on the surface of the substrate and soldered to the interconnecting circuits. Contact fingers along one or more edges of the substrate act as connectors to other PCBs or to external electrical devices such as on-off switches. A printed circuit board may hav...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a method for printing circuits using inkjet printing technology. The method involves depositing a pattern of ink on a substrate using a print head, which then solidifies to form the circuit. The quality of the printed circuit is influenced by the properties of the ink drops, such as their size and the time it takes for them to solidify. The patent text also discusses the use of laser direct imaging for creating circuit masks, which can be cost-effective but has limitations in terms of the resolution of the final circuit. Overall, the patent text provides a technical solution for printing circuits using inkjet printing technology.

Problems solved by technology

Also, there is no suitable method for soldermask patterning using laser.

Photolithography is not an additive process, and so the problem of printed material accumulation may not arise even at high addressability.

However, this will not give an accurate representation of micro-scale features.

Failure to have good spot placement accuracy can result in patterning defects, which can reduce the yield and lead to inconsistent device performance.

When rasterization of the image is done at high addressability and then printed, there is a large three-dimensional accumulation of the material that is printed, which destroys the features that are obtained.

Images