IR Temperature Sensing in Dispensers for Precise Substrate Heating
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current dispensing systems for electronic substrates lack precise temperature feedback, leading to inefficient heating processes as they rely on a single sensor to measure the temperature of large pre-heat zones, potentially wasting time by overheating and not ensuring critical locations are at the proper temperature for deposition.
Innovation Solution
A non-contact infrared temperature sensor is positioned above the electronic substrate on pre-heat, dispense, and post-heat stations, allowing for precise temperature measurement at specific locations and adjustable sensing areas, ensuring accurate temperature control and optimization of heating times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single sensor is used to measure the temperature of large pre-heat zones, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision is insufficient to ensure critical locations are at the proper temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large pre-heat zone into multiple smaller zones, each monitored by its own temperature sensor. This segmentation allows precise temperature measurement at critical locations without requiring a single complex sensor to cover the entire area, thus improving measurement precision while keeping individual sensor units simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements different temperature monitoring strategies for different locations within the pre-heat zone. Critical areas that require precise temperature control are monitored by dedicated sensors, while less critical areas may use different monitoring approaches. This local quality approach ensures proper temperature at critical locations without uniformly complexifying the entire system.
2Temperature
If heating continues until the entire zone reaches maximum temperature, then temperature uniformity is improved, but the loss of time increases due to overheating non-critical areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses temperature sensors to detect when critical locations have reached the required temperature before initiating or completing the heating process. This preliminary detection allows the system to stop heating at the optimal moment, preventing unnecessary overheating of non-critical areas and reducing heating time while maintaining adequate temperature uniformity where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control system where temperature sensors continuously monitor the pre-heat zone and provide real-time temperature data to the control system. Based on this feedback, the heating system dynamically adjusts its operation to maintain proper temperature at critical locations without unnecessarily heating other areas, thus reducing heating time while maintaining temperature uniformity where required.
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 enables efficient temperature monitoring and regulation, ensuring that both the material and substrate are at the desired temperature for deposition, reducing unnecessary heating time and improving process efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A non-contact infrared temperature sensor is positioned above the electronic substrate on pre-heat, dispense, and post-heat stations, allowing for precise temperature measurement at specific locations
Data Source
AI summary
A dispensing system includes an optional pre-heat station configured to receive an electronic substrate, a dispense station configured to dispense material on the electronic substrate received from the optional pre-heat station, an optional post-heat station configured to receive the electronic substrate from the dispense station, and a non-contact sensor positioned above the electronic substrate on at least one of the optional pre-heat station, the dispense station, and the optional post-heat station.