Substrate Positioning Device Center Alignment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional substrate positioning technologies face challenges in accurately positioning glass substrates for thin-film solar batteries, as they often result in electrode position errors due to substrate width errors, especially when the center of the substrate is used as a reference, leading to inadequate electrode formation accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A substrate positioning device with first and second positioning mechanisms and a controller, which includes extendible and retractable parts to adjust the substrate's position along one direction, allowing for precise center positioning without the need for dedicated sensors, by recognizing and controlling the extension and retraction states of these parts to align the substrate's center with the placing table's center.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If substrate positioning is performed considering maximum substrate width error, then positioning covers all possible substrate width variations, but electrode position accuracy deteriorates due to inevitable position shift
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate width is measured in advance before the electrode formation process. Based on the measured width, the positioning system performs preliminary adjustment to compensate for width variations, ensuring that the substrate center aligns with the electrode center. This preliminary measurement and adjustment action eliminates the position shift problem that would otherwise occur when using maximum error margins.
2Manufacturing precision
If substrate center is used as reference for electrode disposition, then electrode positioning accuracy is improved, but substrate width dimensional accuracy directly affects center position accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate width is measured in advance before electrode formation. The measurement result is used to calculate the actual substrate center position, and the positioning system adjusts accordingly. This preliminary measurement compensates for substrate width variations and ensures accurate center alignment even when width dimensional accuracy varies.
3Device complexity
If simple positioning mechanism is used, then device complexity is reduced, but positioning accuracy for substrate center deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A width measurement function is performed in advance to determine the actual substrate width. Based on this measurement, the positioning system calculates the required adjustment to align the substrate center with the electrode center. This preliminary measurement approach enables accurate center positioning using a relatively simple positioning mechanism without requiring complex sensor systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention has an object to provide a substrate positioning device capable of implementing positioning of a substrate at a center position with a relatively simple configuration. In the present invention, a reference-side positioning mechanism (10) and a pressing positioning mechanism (20) are arranged to face each other along a Y direction (position adjustment direction) with respect to a substrate (1) placed on a placing table (2), and to be located on both sides of the substrate (1). A controller (5) recognizes first and second extension and retraction states of extendible and retractable parts (12) and (22), and simultaneously causes the extendible and retractable parts (12) and (22) to execute first and second extension and retraction operations. The controller (5) thereby executes positioning control operation so that a substrate center line (CL1) matches a placing table center line (CL2), in the Y direction.