Inkjet Nozzle Grading for Display Printing Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printing technologies face challenges in accurately discharging ink droplets onto densely packed pixels on display device substrates due to variations in nozzle discharge performance, leading to reduced display quality and increased printing time.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet printing method and apparatus that grades nozzles based on discharge performance, selects high-grade nozzles for printing, and optionally converts low-grade nozzles to high-grade status if they meet specific quality criteria, ensuring precise ink placement and improved printing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If all nozzles are used for printing, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to discharge performance deviation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the nozzles into different grades (first grade, second grade, third grade) based on their discharge performance. This segmentation allows the system to selectively use only high-grade nozzles for printing, ensuring precise ink droplet placement while maintaining productivity by utilizing multiple qualified nozzles rather than all nozzles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different grades to different nozzles based on their individual discharge characteristics. Each nozzle is evaluated and classified locally, allowing the system to optimize printing quality by selecting nozzles with appropriate discharge performance for specific printing tasks, rather than treating all nozzles uniformly.
2Manufacturing precision
If nozzles are graded and selected, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by performing nozzle grading and classification before the actual printing process. The controller pre-evaluates each nozzle's discharge performance and assigns grades in advance, storing this information for subsequent printing operations. This preliminary classification simplifies the printing process by eliminating the need for real-time nozzle evaluation during printing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating a virtual model of nozzle performance through grading data. Instead of physically inspecting or testing nozzles during printing, the system copies the essential discharge characteristics into a graded classification system that guides nozzle selection, simplifying the control mechanism while maintaining precision.
3Manufacturing precision
If low-grade nozzles are converted to high-grade, then manufacturing precision can be maintained, but time for printing process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by selectively converting only certain low-grade nozzles to high-grade status based on specific conditions, rather than attempting to convert all low-grade nozzles. The controller evaluates whether conversion is necessary and beneficial, converting only those nozzles that meet predetermined criteria, thus avoiding unnecessary time consumption while maintaining required printing precision.
Data Source
AI summary
The inventive concept provides an inkjet printing method. The inkjet printing method for discharging an ink on a substrate using a head having a plurality of nozzles formed thereon includes determining a grade of nozzles by measuring a discharge performance of the nozzles, which is a grading step; selecting a use nozzle that can participate in printing the substrate among the nozzles based on the grade determined at the grading step, which is a nozzle selecting step; and discharging the ink on the substrate using at least one nozzle among use nozzles, which is a printing step.