Digital Dispense System Fluid Volume Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid dispensing technologies, such as inkjet printers, lack the ability to accurately control and specify the volume of fluid dispensed per unit area, which is critical for applications like medical sample analysis and micro-manufacturing, where precise fluid deposition is essential.
Innovation Solution
A digital dispense system that processes and formats fluid volume data (FVF format) to accurately dispense predetermined volumes of fluid onto or into substrates, allowing for precise control of fluid volume per unit area, with features like multiple fluid channels, scalable data representation, and layer separation for complex applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional inkjet printing technology is used for fluid dispensing, then the device complexity is low and ease of operation is good, but the manufacturing precision and control over fluid volume per unit area are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fluid dispensing system into multiple independent fluid ejectors, each capable of being controlled individually. This segmentation allows precise control over the number of droplets dispensed per ejector while maintaining the simplicity of inkjet technology. The system divides the dispensing task across multiple ejectors rather than requiring one complex high-precision ejector.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of control by specifying the number of droplets per fluid ejector in addition to the traditional position and volume control. This adds a discrete count dimension to the continuous control parameters, enabling precise specification of fluid volume through controlled droplet counting while using standard inkjet hardware.
2Productivity
If manual pipetting or high-end automated devices are used for accurate fluid dispensing, then the manufacturing precision is high, but the productivity is low and device complexity is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical pipetting operations with an automated digital dispense system that uses software-controlled fluid ejectors. This substitution automates the fluid dispensing process, dramatically increasing productivity from manual operation to automated high-throughput processing while maintaining precise control over fluid volume through digital specification of droplet counts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from continuous volume control (as in traditional inkjet) to discrete droplet counting. By specifying the exact number of droplets to be dispensed by each ejector, the system achieves precise fluid volume control suitable for medical and laboratory applications while maintaining the speed and automation capabilities of digital dispensing systems.
3Manufacturing precision
If the number of droplets per fluid ejector is specified and controlled, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional control requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service control where the system automatically calculates and determines the optimal number of droplets per ejector based on user-specified total fluid volume and ejector characteristics. The control system serves itself by autonomously translating high-level volume specifications into discrete droplet counts for each ejector, eliminating the need for complex manual programming or intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary calculations and setup to determine the droplet distribution across ejectors before actual dispensing begins. The system pre-calculates the number of droplets each ejector should dispense based on the specified volume requirements and ejector capabilities, storing this information in a data structure that guides the dispensing operation without requiring real-time complex decision-making.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for ejecting one or more fluids from a digital dispense device. The method includes a) inputting to a memory a volume per unit area for each of the one or more fluids to be ejected from the digital dispense device; b) matching the volume per unit area to a device resolution for the digital dispense device; c) formatting fluid ejectors for the digital dispense device for the device resolution; and d) ejecting fluid from the digital dispense device to provide the volume per area for each of the one or more fluids.