Ink jet printing method, ink jet printing apparatus, and an electronic apparatus formed utilizing the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2026027821-A1
Application number	US-202519251589-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 26, 2025
Priority date	Jul 25, 2024
Publication date	Jan 29, 2026
Grant date	—

Abstract

An inkjet printing method, an inkjet printing apparatus, and an electronic apparatus formed utilizing the same are provided. The inkjet printing method includes generating volume data by measuring a volume of an ink droplet discharged from each of a plurality of nozzles, generating particle number data by measuring a number of solute particles within the ink droplet discharged from each of the plurality of nozzles, forming a first nozzle group by grouping, based on the volume data and the particle number data, nozzles that are to discharge ink into a first region from among the plurality of nozzles, and discharging the ink into the first region by the nozzles of the first nozzle group.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An inkjet printing method comprising:
generating volume data by measuring a volume of an ink droplet discharged from each of a plurality of nozzles; generating particle number data by measuring a number of solute particles within the ink droplet discharged from each of the plurality of nozzles; forming a first nozzle group by grouping, based on the volume data and the particle number data, nozzles that are to discharge ink into a first region from among the plurality of nozzles; and discharging the ink into the first region by the nozzles of the first nozzle group.

2 . The inkjet printing method of claim 1 , wherein the forming of the first nozzle group comprises selecting some of the plurality of nozzles such that a number of solute particles within ink droplets discharged into the first region is close to a target number of particles.

3 . The inkjet printing method of claim 2 , wherein a sum of numbers of solute particles in respective ink droplets discharged by the nozzles of the first nozzle group is same as the target number of particles.

4 . The inkjet printing method of claim 2 , wherein the forming of the first nozzle group further comprises selecting some of the plurality of nozzles such that a volume of the ink droplets discharged into the first region is close to a target volume.

5 . The inkjet printing method of claim 4 , wherein a sum of volumes of respective ink droplets discharged by the nozzles of the first nozzle group is the same as the target volume.

6 . The inkjet printing method of claim 4 , wherein the forming of the first nozzle group further comprises selecting a combination of nozzles adjacent to the first region, from among combinations of nozzles, which satisfy the target number of particles and the target volume.

7 . The inkjet printing method of claim 1 , further comprising forming a second nozzle group by grouping, based on the volume data and the particle number data, nozzles that are to discharge ink to a second region from among the plurality of nozzles.

8 . The inkjet printing method of claim 7 , wherein the forming of the second nozzle group comprises selecting some of the plurality of nozzles such that a number of solute particles within ink droplets discharged into the second region is close to a target number of particles.

9 . The inkjet printing method of claim 8 , wherein the forming of the second nozzle group further comprises selecting some of the plurality of nozzles such that a volume of the ink droplets discharged into the second region is close to a target volume.

10 . The inkjet printing method of claim 1 , wherein the generating of the particle number data comprises measuring a number of particles within each of the ink droplets discharged from the nozzles by using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy.

11 . The inkjet printing method of claim 1 , wherein the generating of the volume data and the generating of the particle number data comprise information about a volume of a droplet according to a discharge waveform of each of the plurality of nozzles and information about a number of solute particles within the droplet.

12 . The inkjet printing method of claim 1 , wherein the generating of the volume data comprises adjusting the volume of the discharged ink droplet by adjusting a voltage applied to each of the plurality of nozzles.

13 . An inkjet printing apparatus comprising:
a stage on which a display substrate is seated; a spray unit that faces the stage and is configured to discharge ink onto the display substrate; and a controller configured to control the spray unit, wherein the spray unit comprises: a head unit comprising a plurality of nozzles; a volume measuring unit that is adjacent to the head unit and is configured to measure volumes of ink droplets discharged by the nozzles; and a particle number measuring unit that is adjacent to the head unit and is configured to measure a number of solute particles within the ink droplets discharged by the nozzles.

14 . The inkjet printing apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the particle number measuring unit is further configured to measure a number of particles within each of the ink droplets discharged from the nozzles by using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy.

15 . The inkjet printing apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the volume measuring unit comprises at least one selected from among a line scan camera and a chromatic confocal sensor.

16 . The inkjet printing apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate volume data by measuring a volume of an ink droplet discharged from each of the plurality of nozzles.

17 . The inkjet printing apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the controller is further configured to select, based on the volume data, some of the plurality of nozzles such that a volume of ink droplets discharged into a first region is close to a target volume.

18 . The inkjet printing apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate particle number data by measuring a number of solute particles within an ink droplet discharged from each of the plurality of nozzles.

19 . The inkjet printing apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the controller is further configured to select, based on the particle number data, some of the plurality of nozzles such that a number of solute particles within ink droplets discharged into a first region is close to a target number of particles.

20 . An electronic apparatus comprising:
a layer formed by an inkjet printing method comprising: generating volume data by measuring a volume of an ink droplet discharged from each of a plurality of nozzles; generating particle number data by measuring a number of solute particles within the ink droplet discharged from each of the plurality of nozzles; forming a first nozzle group by grouping, based on the volume data and the particle number data, nozzles that are to discharge ink into a first region from among the plurality of nozzles; and discharging the ink into the first region by the nozzles of the first nozzle group.

Assignees

• Samsung Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hirato Katsuyuki
• Ko Wooree
• Ko Euna
• Lee Eunbyuel

Classifications

• G06K15/186

  taking account of feedback from an output condition, e.g. available inks, time constraints · CPC title

• G06K15/102 Primary

  using ink jet print heads · CPC title

• G01N15/075

  by optical means · CPC title

• B41J3/407

  for marking on special material · CPC title

• B41J3/28

  for printing downwardly on flat surfaces, e.g. of books, drawings, boxes {, envelopes, e.g. flat-bed ink-jet printers} · CPC title