Micro-droplet spraying state real-time observation system and observation method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a micro-droplet jetting state real-time observation system and an observation method thereof. The micro-droplet jetting state real-time observation system comprises an image capturing assembly, a liquid conveying assembly and a control module. The image capturing assembly comprises a view field light source, a lens, an industrial camera, a mechanical focusing module and a motion driving unit. The liquid conveying assembly comprises a liquid supply assembly, a spray head and a liquid storage unit; and the control module controls the mechanical module to move the microscope lens to realize focusing and photographing while controlling the nozzle to ignite and eject liquid drops, and transmits an obtained liquid drop state image back to the control module to complete observation and analysis of the liquid drop ejection state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of real-time monitoring of fluid state during micro-droplet ejection, and in particular to a real-time observation system and method for micro-droplet ejection state. Background Art

[0002] Microdroplet jetting is primarily implemented through inkjet printing, electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing, electrospraying, and dispensers. During the jetting process, the liquid is subjected to thermal, acoustic, piezoelectric, or EHD (electrohydrodynamic) forces, enabling contactless, layered, and maskless patterning. Because each droplet can be precisely deposited in a pattern with microscopic resolution, resulting in minimal material loss and high precision, the microdroplet jetting process has found widespread application in academia and in fields such as thin-film transistors, light-emitting diodes, solar cells, sensors, biology, pharmaceuticals, and OLED displays.

[0003] As a traditional micro-droplet implementation process, inkjet printing technology has a wide range of uses. However, the dimensional tolerances and resonant frequencies of each nozzle and piezoelectric actuator in the inkjet process may be different, and microfluids of different compositions may also have different resonant frequencies. Due to this inherent complexity, it is difficult to predict the occurrence of errors and correct them before fluid ejection.

[0004] Therefore, in the field of inkjet printing technology, in order to ensure the reliability of droplet ejection, the ejection state needs to be monitored in real time. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention is intended to provide a real-time observation system and method for observing the state of micro-droplets ejection, so as to solve the problems raised in the above-mentioned background technology.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0007] A real-time observation system for micro-droplet ejection status includes an image capture component, a liquid delivery component, and a control module;

[0008] The image capture assembly includes a field of view light source, a lens, an industrial camera, a mechanical focus module and a motion drive device;

[0009] The liquid delivery assembly includes a liquid supply assembly, a nozzle and a liquid storage unit;

[0010] The control module controls the nozzle to ignite and spray droplets while controlling the movement of the lens to achieve focusing and taking pictures, and transmits the obtained droplet state image back to the control module to complete the observation and analysis of the micro-droplet state.

[0011] Preferably, the liquid storage unit includes an air path interface, a liquid inlet and outlet interface, and a liquid level sensor.

[0012] Preferably, the liquid supply component includes a negative pressure liquid supply component.

[0013] Preferably, the mechanical focus module includes a component for adjusting the linear reciprocating motion of the microscope lens and the industrial camera in the x-axis direction.

[0014] An observation method for a real-time observation system of a micro-droplet ejection state, comprising the following steps:

[0015] S1. Adjust the nozzle height and calibrate the lens: Adjust the nozzle to a suitable height and align the nozzle observation position with the microscope camera lens.

[0016] S2. The liquid supply system supplies ink to the printhead: The liquid level in the storage device is determined based on the signal from the liquid level sensor. If the liquid level has not reached the "high" position, the liquid supply component delivers ink to the liquid storage unit based on the signal until the liquid level reaches the "high" position, completing the inking process.

[0017] S3. Establishing a reference focal plane for ink droplet observation: The nozzle sprays droplets at a specified frequency, the light source flashes and the camera takes pictures synchronously, and the camera lens position is adjusted along the optical axis of the imaging system until a clear ink droplet image is obtained, thereby defining the current focal plane as the reference focal plane;

[0018] S4. Imaging acquisition: The nozzle sprays droplets at a specified frequency, adjusts the frequency of light source flash and camera synchronization, and collects a series of instantaneous images of droplets at different flight times.

[0019] S5. Obtaining the final result: The droplet photo data is uploaded to the control module for data processing and analysis to obtain the final result.

[0020] Preferably, steps S4 and S5 are performed in a loop, and a series of operations of adjusting the camera are performed to obtain a large amount of data, thereby realizing batch acquisition, comparison and analysis of data.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0022] The present invention builds a real-time monitoring system for micro-droplet ejection status to realize image acquisition and extraction of micro-droplets during inkjet printing, and obtains characteristic parameters such as droplet size, ejection velocity, ejection shape and motion trajectory in real time, providing an important basis for detecting droplet ejection quality and adjusting nozzle parameters. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 This is an architectural diagram of a real-time observation system for micro-droplet ejection status;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a flow chart of an observation method for a real-time observation system of micro-droplet ejection state;

[0025] Figure 3 This is an example diagram of the observation results of a real-time observation system for micro-droplet injection status.

[0026] The reference numerals in the drawings of the specification include:

[0027] 100. Image capture component; 101. Industrial camera; 102. Lens; 103. Light source; 104. Mechanical focus module; 105. Motion drive unit; 200. Liquid delivery component; 201. Liquid storage unit; 202. Liquid level sensor; 203. Liquid supply component; 204. Nozzle; 300. Control module. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments:

[0029] like Figure 1-3 As shown, a real-time observation system for micro-droplet ejection status includes an image capture component 100, a liquid delivery component 200, and a control module 300.

[0030] The image capture assembly 100 includes an industrial camera 101, a lens 102, a light source 103, a mechanical focus module 104, and a motion drive unit 105. The camera and lens 102 are assembled and mounted on the mechanical focus module 104. The motion drive unit 105 drives the mechanical focus module 104 to reciprocate to achieve focusing of the lens 102 and the camera.

[0031] The liquid delivery assembly 200 includes a liquid storage unit 201 and its liquid level sensor 202, a liquid supply assembly 203, and a nozzle 204. The liquid level sensor 202 monitors the liquid level inside the liquid storage unit. The control module 300 controls the liquid supply assembly 203 to deliver liquid to the liquid storage unit based on the signal.

[0032] The control module 300 controls the nozzle 204 to ignite and eject ink droplets and the mechanical focus module 104 to reciprocate, thereby focusing the lens 102 and the camera, and receives and processes visual inspection data to provide inspection results.

[0033] The light source 103 is used to illuminate the ink drop image capturing field of view to meet the photographing brightness requirements of the industrial camera 101 .

[0034] The specific implementation process is as follows:

[0035] (1) Adjust the nozzle 204 to a suitable height and align the nozzle to be observed with the industrial microscope head 102.

[0036] (2) The liquid level in the storage device is determined based on the signal from the liquid level sensor 202. When the liquid level has not reached the "high" position, the liquid supply component 203 fills the liquid storage unit with ink according to the signal until the liquid level reaches the "high" position, thereby completing the inking.

[0037] (3) The camera needs to focus before formally collecting data; the nozzle 204 sprays droplets, the light source 103 illuminates synchronously, the camera takes pictures synchronously, and the linear module drives the camera and lens 102 to move; when a clear ink drop photo is obtained, the linear module stops moving, and the focus of the industrial camera 101 is completed.

[0038] (4) Formal data collection: the nozzle 204 sprays droplets, the light source 103 illuminates the droplets synchronously, and the camera takes pictures synchronously to obtain pictures of the droplets.

[0039] (5) The droplet photo data is uploaded to the control module 300 for data processing and analysis to obtain the final result.

[0040] The above process is a work cycle in the formal workflow of this system. Steps (4) and (5) can be looped as needed, and operations such as adjusting the camera exposure delay can be performed to obtain a large amount of data and realize batch acquisition, comparison and analysis of data.

[0041] The above is only an embodiment of the present invention, and the common knowledge such as the specific technical solutions and / or characteristics in the solution are not described in detail here. It should be pointed out that for those skilled in the art, without departing from the technical solution of the present invention, several variations and improvements can be made, which should also be regarded as the scope of protection of the present invention, and these will not affect the effect of the implementation of the present invention and the practicality of the patent. The scope of protection required by this application shall be based on the content of its claims, and the specific implementation methods and other records in the description can be used to interpret the content of the claims.

Claims

1. A real-time observation system for micro-droplet ejection state, characterized by: It includes an image capturing component (100), a liquid delivery component (200) and a control module (300); The image capture component (100) includes a field of view light source (103), a lens (102), an industrial camera (101), a mechanical focus module (104) and a motion drive unit (105); The liquid delivery assembly (200) includes a liquid supply assembly (203), a nozzle (204) and a liquid storage unit (201); The control module (300) controls the nozzle (204) to ignite and spray droplets, and controls the movement of the lens (102) to achieve focusing and taking pictures, and transmits the obtained droplet state image back to the control module (300) to complete the observation and analysis of the micro-droplet state.

2. A real-time observation system for micro-droplet ejection state according to claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid storage unit (201) comprises an air path interface, a liquid inlet and outlet interface, and a liquid level sensor (202).

3. The real-time observation system for micro-droplet ejection state according to claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid supply component (203) includes a negative pressure liquid supply component (203).

4. The real-time observation system for micro-droplet ejection state according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mechanical focus module (104) includes a component for adjusting the linear reciprocating motion of the microscope lens (102) and the industrial camera (101) in the x-axis direction.

5. An observation method for a real-time observation system of a micro-droplet ejection state, characterized in that: The process steps of the method include: S1. Adjust the height of the nozzle (204) and calibrate the lens (102): adjust the nozzle (204) to a suitable height and align the nozzle observation position with the microscope camera lens (102). S2. The liquid supply system supplies ink to the nozzle (204): the liquid level in the storage device is determined according to the signal of the liquid level sensor (202). When the liquid level has not reached the "high" position, the liquid supply component (203) transports ink to the liquid storage unit according to the signal until the liquid level reaches the "high" position, thereby completing the inking process; S3, establishing a reference focal plane for ink droplet observation: the nozzle (204) sprays droplets at a specified frequency, the light source (103) flashes and the camera takes pictures synchronously, and the position of the camera lens (102) is adjusted along the optical axis of the imaging system until a clear ink droplet image is obtained, thereby defining the current focal plane as the reference focal plane; S4, imaging acquisition: the nozzle (204) sprays droplets at a specified frequency, adjusts the frequency of the light source (103) flashing and the camera taking pictures synchronously, and acquires a series of instantaneous images of the droplets at different flight moments. S5. Obtaining the final result: The droplet photo data is uploaded to the control module (300) for processing and analysis to obtain the final result.

6. The observation method of a real-time observation system for micro-droplet ejection state according to claim 5, characterized in that: The steps S4 and S5 are performed in a loop, and a series of operations of adjusting the camera are performed to obtain a large amount of data, thereby realizing batch acquisition, comparison and analysis of data.

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