CN103660540B - Electronic device printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a device which can manufacture electronic devices in a direct printing mode. The electronic device printing apparatus includes a controller, an ink cartridge array mechanism, and a substrate carrying mechanism, wherein: the controller is used for controlling the ink box array mechanism and the substrate bearing mechanism; the ink box array mechanism is used for providing electronic printing ink and performing electronic printing by using the electronic printing ink; the substrate bearing mechanism is used for bearing the substrate of the electronic device. The device has low requirement on environment, can obviously reduce the complexity of the preparation process of the electronic device, reduces the material consumption and pollution and improves the manufacturing efficiency.

Description

Electronic device printing device

technical field

The invention relates to the technical field of electronic device manufacturing, in particular to a device capable of directly printing electronic devices.

Background technique

Electronic devices are generally composed of conductors, semiconductors, and insulating materials, and are widely used in a large number of research and industrial technology fields. The design and manufacture of electronic devices has always been the core of research in the field of electronics industry. So far, the processing of electronic devices has been carried out with very complicated manufacturing processes, the procedures are quite complicated, and the energy consumption is high, the pollution is serious, and the cleaning treatment costs are high. The reason is that the conductive, semi-conductive and insulating parts of electronic devices are usually deposited by high temperature or by means of chemical reaction process, which requires relatively high process conditions. For example, an electronic device involves components such as conductors, semiconductors, and insulators. The existing technology is still difficult to ensure that all components can be realized by direct printing; even if some organic semiconductor materials or insulating materials can be printed by spraying, conductors Printing of parts is always a bottleneck. Because the conductor is generally a metal such as copper, aluminum, etc., its melting point is extremely high. To achieve printing, it must first be melted and sprayed at a very high temperature, which will obviously cause damage to the low melting point organic semiconductor material and even the substrate on the device. Destruction, therefore, is less likely to be achieved by this printing route.

It is conceivable that if the entire manufacturing process of electronic devices can be carried out by direct printing, it will be expected to achieve highly efficient manufacturing, thereby greatly changing the status quo of electronics and related industries, until the establishment of efficient and green electronic device production model.

For this reason, people have proposed organic or polymer conductor materials, but the conductivity of such materials is generally poor, and there are certain problems in solubilization and printability; Or add highly conductive nanoparticles to the polymer to achieve printable ink, but the actual manufacturing process needs to be printed first, and then through a high temperature of hundreds of degrees to make this ink undergo a certain chemical reaction and even sintering, in order to finally deposit the desired ink. The conductor parts, so the whole process is still quite complicated. In a word, so far, domestic and foreign industrial circles have not yet established a quick and simple equipment and process that can manufacture all electronic devices by printing.

If the codeable conductive ink, semiconductor ink and insulating ink are printed directly on the substrate in a controllable manner, three-dimensional electronic devices and even combined systems with specific functions can be formed, and complex integrated circuits and systems can also be realized on this basis. The three-dimensional assembly of electronic devices; this three-dimensional electronic device manufacturing technology that simultaneously integrates and uniformly controls a full range of ink devices for electronic device printing is expected to lead to a new advanced electronic production model.

Contents of the invention

(1) Technical problems to be solved

The object of the present invention is to provide a device that can directly print electronic devices to solve the problems of complex manufacturing procedures, large material consumption and high cost of pollution treatment in the existing electronic devices.

(2) Technical solution

In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides an electronic device printing device. The printing device includes a controller, an ink cartridge array mechanism, and a substrate carrier mechanism, wherein:

The controller is used to control the ink cartridge array mechanism and the substrate carrying mechanism;

The ink cartridge array mechanism is used to provide electronic printing ink, and use the electronic printing ink to perform electronic printing;

The substrate carrying mechanism is used for carrying the electronic device substrate.

Optionally, the device further includes a computer connected to the controller, the computer is used to generate a printing control instruction; the controller is used to receive the printing control instruction from the computer, and control the printing according to the printing control instruction The ink cartridge array mechanism and the substrate carrying mechanism.

Optionally, the ink cartridge array mechanism includes an ink cartridge holder, an electronic printing ink cartridge and a printing ink head, wherein:

The ink cartridge frame is used to support the electronic printing ink cartridge;

The electronic printing ink cartridge is used to provide the electronic printing ink;

The printing ink head is used for electronic printing with the electronic printing ink in the electronic printing ink box.

Optionally, the electronic printing ink includes: one or more of conductive metal ink, P-type or N-type semiconductor ink, insulating ink, or nanoparticle-doped liquid of the three.

Optionally, the ink cartridge array mechanism includes three rows of the electronic printing ink cartridges respectively containing conductive metal ink, semiconductor ink and insulating ink, and each row has one or more electronic printing ink cartridges.

Optionally, a heating wire and a thermocouple are arranged on the inner wall of the electronic printing ink box for regulating the internal temperature of the electronic printing ink box to keep the electronic printing ink in a liquid state.

Optionally, the device further includes an air pressure bottle connected to the controller, the air pressure bottle is used to provide pressurized gas for the controller; the controller is connected to the electronic printing ink box through an air inlet pipe , and provide pressure gas for the electronic printing ink cartridge.

Optionally, the device further includes a solenoid valve, which is located at the connection between the air intake pipe and the electronic printing ink box, and is used to control the on-off of the pressurized gas in the air intake pipe.

Optionally, the substrate carrying mechanism further includes a substrate carrying platform and a three-dimensional transmission component, wherein:

The substrate carrying platform is used to carry the electronic device substrate;

The three-dimensional transmission component is used to generate power to make the base carrying platform perform three-dimensional movements of up and down, front and back, and left and right.

Optionally, the ink cartridge array mechanism further includes a mechanical arm connected to the controller, and the mechanical arm is used to control the electronic printing ink cartridge to perform electronic printing.

(3) Beneficial effects

The electronic device printing device proposed by the present invention, due to the introduction of electronic printing ink, enables the entire electronic device to be directly manufactured in a printing manner, and the preparation process can be completed under normal temperature and conventional conditions, with low environmental requirements and ineffective materials Low loss can significantly reduce the complexity and cost of electronic devices and their integrated preparation process, and greatly improve their production efficiency. The electronic device obtained by using the method can be widely used in various industries, especially in the development of flexible electronic technology. This technique can also be extended for direct printing of other types of optoelectronic devices.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of an electronic device printing device in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an array of ink cartridges in one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a schematic structural view of an electronic printing ink cartridge in an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic structural view of a printing ink head in an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a substrate carrying platform in one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a schematic structural view of an electronic device printing device in another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a sliding rod mechanism in another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a schematic structural view of an electronic device printing device in another embodiment of the present invention.

detailed description

The invention provides an electronic device printing device. The printing device includes a controller, an ink cartridge array mechanism, and a substrate carrier mechanism, wherein:

The controller is used to control the ink cartridge array mechanism and the substrate carrying mechanism;

The ink cartridge array mechanism is used to provide electronic printing ink, and use the electronic printing ink to perform electronic printing;

The substrate carrying mechanism is used for carrying the electronic device substrate.

The above-mentioned electronic device substrate can be fixed on the substrate carrying mechanism by means of adhesive glue, lock buckle or negative pressure; the substrate can be selected from plastic, rubber, silicon, glass, silk fabric, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) , at least one of ceramics and paper.

Optionally, the device further includes a computer connected to the controller, the computer is used to generate a printing control instruction; the controller is used to receive the printing control instruction from the computer, and control the printing according to the printing control instruction The ink cartridge array mechanism and the substrate carrying mechanism.

Further, the above-mentioned computer has a built-in printing control program and has electronic design automation functions. The printing control program further includes a circuit diagram drawing module and a printing process control module; the circuit diagram drawing module is used to draw the circuit diagram of the electronic device to be printed, and the printing process control module generates a printing control instruction according to the circuit diagram, and sends the printing control instruction to the controller . Its specific functions are described as follows:

Circuit diagram drawing module: the software has pre-stored the common electronic component module database, and the user can call the database in the graphical interface, and can also directly draw various complex two-dimensional or three-dimensional structures composed of points, lines, and surfaces according to requirements. circuit components module. The user must determine the size (such as line width and line length, etc.) and material properties (such as conductive metal ink or insulating ink, etc.) of each electronic component. Users combine various component modules to form the required circuit diagram.

Printing process control module: the software reads the circuit diagram drawn by the user, and generates printing sequence control instructions for each component according to the mutual position and spatial structure of the electronic components; generates ink cartridge selection and action according to the material properties and dimensions of the electronic components Control instructions (such as ink head travel speed control, etc.). In addition, the software can also monitor the printing process in real time, respond to alarms issued by the printing device in a timely manner, and feed back corresponding control instructions. For example, when the printing device issues a warning of "ink" running out, the software can suspend printing in time and wait for the user to replace the ink cartridge.

Optionally, the ink cartridge array mechanism includes an ink cartridge holder, an electronic printing ink cartridge and a printing ink head, wherein:

The ink cartridge frame is used to support the electronic printing ink cartridge;

The electronic printing ink cartridge is used to provide the electronic printing ink;

The printing ink head is used for electronic printing with the electronic printing ink in the electronic printing ink box.

The shape of the above-mentioned printing ink head generally adopts a pinhole type or a brush type.

Optionally, the electronic printing ink includes: one or more of conductive metal ink, P-type or N-type semiconductor ink, insulating ink, or nanoparticle-doped liquid of the three.

The above conductive metal ink includes one or more of gallium, gallium indium alloy, gallium tin alloy, indium tin alloy, gallium indium tin alloy, gallium indium tin zinc alloy, gallium indium tin zinc bismuth alloy; P type or N type Semiconducting ink includes one of rubrene, pentacene, poly 3-hexylthiophene P3HT, poly 3,3'-dialkyltetrathiophene PQT, poly 3 arylamine PTAA, ladder polymer BBL or more; the insulating ink includes one or more of polystyrene, polyimide, polyvinyl alcohol, polymethyl methacrylate, and polyvinyl phenol.

The nanoparticles in the above-mentioned doping liquid can be platinum, gold, silver, copper, iron, aluminum, antimony, bismuth, cadmium, germanium, nickel, rhodium, tantalum, lead, tungsten, rhenium, constantan with a particle size of 1nm to 900nm. , tungsten-rhenium alloy, nickel-cadmium alloy, carbon nanotube or graphene; or choose germanium sulfide particles, germanium selenide particles, germanium telluride particles, bismuth indium particles, indium arsenide particles, indium antimonide particles, indium oxide particles Particles, indium phosphide particles, gallium arsenide particles, gallium phosphide particles, indium sulfide particles, indium selenide particles, indium tin oxide particles, indium telluride particles, lead oxide particles, lead sulfide particles, lead selenide particles, tellurium Lead oxide particles, magnesium silicide particles, tin oxide particles, tin chloride particles, tin sulfide particles, tin selenide particles, tin telluride particles, silver sulfide particles, silver selenide particles, silver telluride particles, tellurium oxide particles, oxide Zinc particles, zinc arsenide particles, zinc antimonide particles, zinc phosphide particles, zinc sulfide particles, cadmium sulfide particles, boron oxide particles, zinc selenide particles or zinc telluride particles, etc.

Optionally, the ink cartridge array mechanism includes three rows of the electronic printing ink cartridges respectively containing conductive metal ink, semiconductor ink and insulating ink, and each row has one or more electronic printing ink cartridges.

Preferably, a heating wire and a thermocouple are arranged on the inner wall of the electronic printing ink box for regulating the internal temperature of the electronic printing ink box to keep the electronic printing ink in a liquid state.

The driving mode of the electronic printing ink in the present invention can be selected from one of gas pressure boosting, piezoelectric/electrostatic driving, motor/electromagnetic driving, and thermal bubble driving.

Optionally, when the ink driving mode boosted by gas pressure is adopted, the device further includes an air pressure bottle connected to the controller, and the air pressure bottle is used to provide pressurized gas for the controller; the controller It is connected with the electronic printing ink box through an air inlet pipe, and provides pressure gas for the electronic printing ink box.

Preferably, the device further includes a solenoid valve, the solenoid valve is located at the connection between the air inlet pipe and the electronic printing ink box, and is used to control the on-off of the pressurized gas in the air inlet pipe.

Optionally, the substrate carrying mechanism further includes a substrate carrying platform and a three-dimensional transmission component, wherein:

The substrate carrying platform is used to carry the electronic device substrate;

The three-dimensional transmission component is used to generate power to make the base carrying platform perform three-dimensional movements of up and down, front and back, and left and right.

Optionally, the ink cartridge array mechanism further includes a mechanical arm connected to the controller, and the mechanical arm is used to control the electronic printing ink cartridge to perform electronic printing.

The specific implementation manner of the present invention will be further illustrated below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the printing device adopts a structure in which the printing ink head only moves up and down in one dimension, while the substrate can move up and down, back and forth, and left and right for three-dimensional printing. As shown in FIG. 1 , the electronic device printing device includes: a computer 1 with a built-in printing control program, an air pressure bottle 2 , a controller 3 , an ink cartridge array mechanism, and a substrate carrying mechanism. Wherein, the controller 3 is used to receive the printing control instruction from the computer 1, and control the movement and operation of the ink cartridge array mechanism and the substrate carrying mechanism according to the printing control instruction; the ink cartridge array mechanism includes an ink cartridge holder 41, an electronic printing ink cartridge 42 and The properties and addresses of the printing ink head 43 and the ink cartridge 42 can be coded; the substrate carrying mechanism includes a substrate carrying platform 51 and a base 52 , and the base 52 is used to carry the substrate carrying platform 51 .

As shown in FIG. 1 , the ink cartridge array mechanism includes an ink cartridge holder 41 , an electronic printing ink cartridge 42 and a printing ink head 43 . As shown in FIG. 2 , the ink cartridge holder 41 is used to carry the ink cartridge array; the ink cartridge array consists of three rows of a plurality of cylindrical ink cartridges 42 filled with conductive metal ink, semiconductor ink and insulating ink. As shown in FIG. 3 , a heating wire 44 and a thermocouple 45 are arranged on the inner wall of each ink tank 42 to control the temperature inside the ink tank and keep the electronic printing ink in a liquid state at room temperature. The bottom end of the ink tank 42 is connected with the printing ink head 43 . As shown in Figure 4, the printing ink head 43 can have various forms, including pen-type pen-type devices, ball-point pen-type devices, printing equipment or nozzle-type pen-type devices, and brushes such as writing brushes, oil paint brushes or paint brushes. The printing ink head 43 can move up and down one-dimensionally along the vertical Z direction. When a certain ink cartridge 42 is selected to perform the printing action, the printing ink head 43 connected to it will move down a certain distance (set by the user's needs), so that it contacts with the substrate of the electronic device or maintains a small distance (depending on the properties of the ink) setting); when the ink tank 42 suspends the printing action, the printing ink head 43 moves up to the original position. The top of the ink cartridge is threadedly attached to the ink cartridge cap. The air inlet on the ink cartridge cover is connected with the pressure gas, and the shut-off and open states are controlled by the solenoid valve. The controller 3 adjusts the pressure of the gas from the air bottle 2, and sends the pressure gas to the ink tank 42 through the air inlet pipe, so that the ink is extruded from the printing ink head 43 and adhered to the substrate.

In addition to the substrate carrying platform 51 and the base 52, the above-mentioned substrate carrying mechanism also includes a three-dimensional transmission component. The three-dimensional transmission component can generate power to make the substrate carrying platform 51 translate accurately along three directions of X, Y and Z. The Z direction is the vertical up and down direction, and the movement in the Z direction can control the distance between the ink head and the substrate for printing; the X direction is the horizontal left and right direction, and the Y direction is the horizontal front and rear direction, and the movement in the X and Y directions The corresponding ink head can be made to print corresponding electronic components on the substrate according to the set procedure. As shown in FIG. 5 , the electronic device substrate can be fixed on the substrate carrying platform 51 by means of adhesive glue, buckle or negative pressure. The mutual position of the ink cartridge array mechanism and the substrate carrying mechanism is that the former is located above the latter, and are connected by connecting rods to form a whole.

The printing process of the electronic device printing device mainly includes the following steps:

S1. The computer 1 generates a printing control instruction according to the circuit diagram of the electronic device to be printed drawn by the user;

S2. The controller 3 controls the movement and positioning of the ink cartridge array mechanism and the substrate carrying mechanism according to the printing control instruction;

S3 , the electronic printing ink is pushed out of the printing ink head 43 by the gas pressure boost, and adheres to the substrate of the electronic device.

In step S1, the user draws the circuit diagram he needs in the software through the computer printing control program with electronic design automation function, and generates corresponding printing control instructions.

In step S2, the user connects the circuit, adjusts the position between the substrate carrying platform and the printing ink head through the software, and then calls the printing control command to start the printing process. During the printing process, the working ink head is controlled to move up and down by instructions, and at the same time, the substrate carrying platform moves continuously according to the instructions to realize the positioning between the substrate and the working ink head, so as to print out the corresponding electronic components, thus forming the set circuit diagram.

The above-mentioned electronic components can be combined as required to form an integrated circuit with specific functions.

After the printing is completed, the user closes the printing program through the software, and then cuts off the power of the device.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the printing device adopts a structure in which the printing ink head can move three-dimensionally. As shown in FIG. 6 , the electronic device printing device includes: a computer 1 , an air cylinder 2 , a controller 3 , an ink cartridge array mechanism 4 , a substrate carrying mechanism and a sliding rod mechanism. Wherein, the ink cartridge array mechanism 4 includes an ink cartridge frame, an electronic printing ink cartridge, and a printing ink head; the substrate carrying mechanism includes a substrate carrying platform 51 and a base 52 .

The ink cartridge cover of the above-mentioned electronic printing ink cartridge has an iron concave platform. There is an electromagnet boss at the Z sliding rod 64 end of the sliding rod mechanism. Through the mutual cooperation of the iron concave platform and the electromagnet convex platform, actions such as movement and positioning of the ink cartridge are realized. The air inlet on the ink cartridge cover is connected with the pressure gas, and the shut-off and open states are controlled by the solenoid valve. The controller 3 adjusts the pressure of the gas from the air bottle 2, and sends the pressure gas to the ink tank through the air inlet pipe, so that the ink is squeezed out of the printing ink head and adheres to the substrate.

The sliding rod mechanism is shown in Figures 6 and 7, which includes a sliding rod frame 61, three sliding rods (respectively referred to as X sliding rod 62, Y sliding rod 63 and Z sliding rod 64) that can move along the X, Y and Z directions respectively, and Slider 65. The function of the sliding rod holder 61 is to fix the position of the sliding rod. Three sliders can be controlled for translational movement. When the X slider 62 and the Y slider 63 are driven by the slider 65 to move along the X and Y directions respectively, they will drive the Z slider 64 to move along the corresponding direction. The Z sliding rod 64 itself has the function of moving along the vertical Z direction. The end of the Z sliding rod 64 is equipped with an electromagnet boss, which generates magnetism when it is energized, and loses its magnetism when it is powered off. When the printing action is performed, the three sliding rods move according to the specified route, so that the electromagnet boss completes a series of actions such as grasping the ink cartridge (with the help of magnetism), moving the ink cartridge, performing the printing action, and returning the ink cartridge.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the electronic device printing device adopts a structure controlled by a robot arm. As shown in FIG. 8 , the printing device includes: a computer 1 , an air cylinder 2 , a controller 3 , an ink cartridge array mechanism 4 , a substrate carrying mechanism and a mechanical arm. Wherein, the ink cartridge array mechanism 4 includes an ink cartridge frame, an electronic printing ink cartridge, and a printing ink head; the substrate carrying mechanism includes a substrate carrying platform 51 and a base 52 ; the mechanical arm includes a telescopic link 71 and a universal joint 72 .

The ink cartridge cover of the above-mentioned electronic printing ink cartridge has an iron concave platform. Actions such as the movement and positioning of the ink cartridge are realized through the mutual cooperation of the iron concave platform and the electromagnet boss at the end of the telescopic connecting rod 71 .

The mechanical arm includes a telescopic link 71 and a universal joint 72 . The telescopic link 71 can move axially along the link, and the universal joint 72 can adjust the direction of the telescopic link. The robotic arm can be controlled to achieve precise positioning in three-dimensional space. The end of the telescopic link at the bottom of the mechanical arm is equipped with an electromagnet boss, which generates magnetism when it is powered on, and loses its magnetism when it is powered off. When performing the printing action, the mechanical arm moves according to the specified route, so that the electromagnet boss completes a series of actions such as grasping the ink cartridge (with the aid of magnetism), moving the ink cartridge, performing the printing action, and returning the ink cartridge.

The above-mentioned embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, but not to limit the present invention. It should be pointed out that those skilled in the art can make some improvements and substitutions without departing from the technical principle of the present invention, and these improvements and substitutions should also be regarded as the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims (7)

1. an electronic device printing equipment, it is characterised in that described device include controller, Print cartridge array mechanism and substrate-loading mechanism, wherein:

Described controller, is used for controlling described print cartridge array mechanism and described substrate-loading mechanism；

Described print cartridge array mechanism, is used for providing electronic printing ink, and utilizes described electronic seal Brush ink carries out electronic printing；

Described substrate-loading mechanism, is used for carrying electronic substrate；

Described print cartridge array mechanism includes ink carriage, electronic printing ink cartridge and printer's ink head, Wherein:

Described ink carriage, is used for supporting described electronic printing ink cartridge；

Described electronic printing ink cartridge, is used for providing described electronic printing ink；

Described printer's ink head, for utilizing the electronic printing ink in described electronic printing ink cartridge Carry out electronic printing；Described electronic printing ink includes: conductive metal ink, p-type or N Type semiconductive ink, insulating properties ink or three nano-particle doping liquid in one or Multiple；

Described conductive metal ink include gallium, gallium-indium alloy, gallium ashbury metal, indium stannum alloy, One or more in gallium-indium-tin alloy, gallium indium tin kirsite, the secret alloy of gallium indium tin zinc；

Described device also includes the computer being connected with described controller, and described computer is used for reading Take the circuit diagram that family is drawn, according to the mutual alignment between electronic devices and components, Spatial infrastructure, Generate each electronic devices and components print order control instruction；Material properties according to electronic devices and components and Size, generates electronic printing ink cartridge and selects and action directive；By described print order control System instruction and printing ink box select and action directive sends to controller；

Described controller is used for receiving the printing control instruction of described computer, and according to described print Brush control instruction controls described print cartridge array mechanism and described substrate-loading mechanism；

Described printing control instruction includes described print order control instruction and described printing ink box Select and action directive.

Printing equipment the most according to claim 1, it is characterised in that described print cartridge array Mechanism includes that three rows are respectively provided with conductive metal ink, semiconductive ink and insulating properties ink Described electronic printing ink cartridge, and often row have one or more described electronic printing ink cartridge.

Printing equipment the most according to claim 1, it is characterised in that described electronic printing The inwall of ink cartridge is disposed with heating wire and thermocouple, is used for regulating and controlling described electronic printing ink cartridge Internal temperature, make described electronic printing ink keep liquid.

Printing equipment the most according to claim 1, it is characterised in that described device enters one Step includes the air-pot being connected with described controller, and described air-pot is for carrying for described controller For pressed gas；

Described controller is connected with described electronic printing ink cartridge by air inlet pipe, and is described Electronic printing ink cartridge provides pressed gas.

Printing equipment the most according to claim 4, it is characterised in that described device enters one Step includes that electromagnetic valve, described electromagnetic valve are positioned at described air inlet pipe and described electronic printing ink cartridge Junction, for controlling the break-make of pressed gas in described air inlet pipe.

Printing equipment the most according to claim 1, it is characterised in that described substrate-loading Mechanism farther includes substrate-loading platform and three-dimensional drive disk assembly, wherein:

Described substrate-loading platform, is used for carrying described electronic substrate；

Described three-dimensional drive disk assembly, is used for producing power and promotes described substrate-loading platform to carry out Under, front and back with the three-dimensional motion of left and right.

Printing equipment the most according to claim 1, it is characterised in that described print cartridge array Mechanism farther includes the mechanical arm being connected with described controller, and described mechanical arm is used for controlling institute State electronic printing ink cartridge and carry out electronic printing.