Evaporation Equipment Zone Temperature Control for Film Uniformity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional evaporation equipment struggles to achieve uniformity and evenness in film coating thickness, particularly for larger areas, due to limitations in evaporation sources and materials, which affects the performance and lifespan of OLED devices.

Innovation Solution

The evaporation equipment features a support with multiple zones and a zone temperature controlling device comprising temperature controlling parts and devices that measure and adjust temperatures to control deposition rates, ensuring uniform film thickness through precise temperature management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional evaporation equipment is used for film coating, then the manufacturing process can be completed, but the uniformity and evenness of film coating thickness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniformity and evenness of film coating thicknessVSAvoidevaporation equipment structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support is divided into multiple zones (first zone, second zone, third zone, etc.) corresponding to different evaporation regions of the substrate. Each zone has its own temperature controlling part that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows different regions to be heated or cooled independently, enabling precise control of deposition rates across the substrate surface and achieving uniform film thickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different zones of the support are equipped with independent temperature controlling parts that can provide different temperatures according to local requirements. The temperature controlling device adjusts temperatures of different zones differently based on measured film thickness in each region, implementing local quality control to achieve overall uniformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If temperature controlling parts are added to each zone, then film coating uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilm coating thickness uniformityVSAvoidtemperature controlling system
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature controlling device serves multiple functions: it controls temperatures of all temperature controlling parts, receives thickness information from the measuring device, determines which zones need adjustment, and sends control signals to adjust temperatures. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate control systems for each zone and simplifies the overall device architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback loop where the film thickness measuring device measures the thickness of film coating in different evaporation regions, provides this information to the temperature controlling device, which then determines whether temperature adjustment is needed and controls the temperature controlling parts accordingly. This closed-loop feedback ensures uniform film thickness while allowing adaptive control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Manufacturing precision

If zone temperature control is implemented, then deposition rate control is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeposition rate controlVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of controlling temperatures uniformly across all zones, the system applies temperature control only to the specific zones that require it based on measured film thickness. The temperature controlling device determines which zones need temperature adjustment and controls only those zones, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption in zones that are already within the desired thickness range.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution allows for the measurement and adjustment of film thickness on each region of the substrate, ensuring that subsequent substrates are coated with uniform and even film thickness, thereby improving the performance and lifespan of OLED devices.

Implementation Method 1

a heating part, which is connected with the liquid accommodation chamber and is configured to heat liquid inside the liquid accommodation chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

a cooling part, which is connected with the liquid accommodation chamber and is configured to cool the liquid inside the liquid accommodation chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCooling: Cooling

Implementation Method 3

film coating by evaporation is one of the most critical steps

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 4

The evaporation equipment may include... a support, which is arranged for loading a substrate to be coated by evaporation process

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical Vapour Deposition: Physical Vapour Deposition

Data Source

PatentEP3187620B1Evaporation equipment and evaporation method
Publication Date: 2020.12.16 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD
  • EP3187620B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3187620B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3187620B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The disclosed in the present disclosure is an evaporation equipment and an evaporating method. The evaporation equipment may include: a support, which is arranged for loading a substrate to be evaporated; and a zone temperature controlling device, which includes at least two temperature controlling parts and at least one temperature controlling device. A loading surface of the support may include a plurality of zones, and each of the plurality of zones may correspond to an evaporation region of the substrate to be evaporated. And each of the plurality of zones may be arranged with a temperature controlling part, and the temperature controlling device may be configured to control temperatures provided by the temperature controlling parts, so as to control corresponding deposition rates of film coating on the evaporation regions.