DE102009020191A1 - Method for applying electrically-luminescent luminous layer system on support body, involves applying individual layers of luminous layer system by printing process on support body - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves applying the individual layers of the luminous layer system by a printing process on a support body (7). The printing process takes place by a relative movement of a print head opposite to the support body. The print head is a piezo-electric print head.

Description

The Realization of self-illuminating body surfaces has been hitherto by gluing plane, electrically luminescent Achieved slides. These are largely inflexible and allow only one Occupation of flat and simply curved surfaces. The films are produced by a screen printing process.

newer Developments also show electrically luminescent films that are limited elastically deformable. However, when applied to a body to be coated a form-specific deformation process (In-mold method).

In the WO 2007/112715 A1 describes a spraying method which allows the application of an electrically luminescent layer system both on flat as well as arbitrarily shaped three-dimensional surfaces (3D freeform surfaces). Here, the usual methods of spray technology can be used (eg wet paint and powder paint spraying with or without electrostatic fields).

such Spray processes produce paint and solvent residues, which must be disposed of or collected. In addition is an exact masking of the surface areas to be illuminated necessary.

Of the Invention is based on the object, a method for applying an electrically luminescent luminescent layer system on a To create carrier body that overcomes the disadvantages mentioned.

These The object is achieved by the method according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of dependent claims.

According to the invention by a, usually computer-controlled, multi-layer printing process the layers of the electrically luminescent phosphor layer system on the arbitrarily shaped surface (even or arbitrary curved) of a carrier body applied.

Of the Printing process is advantageously carried out by a surface conform moving printhead, the printhead advantageous after the piezoelectric Pressure principle works.

The Object-compliant movement of the printhead may be due to stored Three-dimensional contour data done. In a further embodiment However, it is also possible the relative location of printhead and carrier simultaneously to the printing process measure and control the printhead movement accordingly.

• – Roboter bewegt den Druckkopf, während der Trägerkörper fixiert ist,
• – Roboter bewegt den Trägerkörper, während der Druckkopf fixiert ist,
• – Sowohl Trägerkörper als auch Druckkopf werden von einem Roboter bewegt.

The relative movement of the print head and the carrier body can be realized with a robot, the following options basically exist:

• Robot moves the print head while the carrier body is fixed,
• Robot moves the carrier body while the printhead is fixed,
• - Both carrier body and printhead are moved by a robot.

Simultaneously For the printing process, a drying of the printed material can take place. These can z. B. on the printhead corresponding heating elements or radiant heater may be provided.

• – Funktionsschichten im Zusammenhang mit dem elektrisch lumineszierenden Leuchtschichtsystem, z. B. eine äußere transparente Schutzschicht oder eine Isolationsschicht zwischen Trägerkörper und elektrisch lumineszierenden Leuchtschichtsystem;
• – Farbschichten, um für den Beobachter eine Farbänderung der elektrisch lumineszierenden Flächenleuchte zu erzielen;
• – Sensorschichten (z. B. temperatur- oder druckempfindliche Farbschichten), wenn die elektrisch lumineszierende Flächenleuchte als leuchtende Unterlage für diese Sensorschicht vorgesehen ist; eine Anwendung hierfür ist z. B. die Beleuchtung einer druckempfindlichen Sensorschicht für Windkanalmessungen;
• – Halbleiterschichten.

In addition to the electrically luminescent luminescent layer system, further layers can be applied by the method according to the invention:

• - Functional layers in connection with the electrically luminescent phosphor layer system, for. B. an outer transparent protective layer or an insulating layer between the carrier body and electrically luminescent phosphor layer system;
• - Color layers to achieve a color change of the electrically luminescent surface light for the observer;
• Sensor layers (eg temperature- or pressure-sensitive ink layers) if the electrically luminescent area light is provided as a luminous support for this sensor layer; an application for this is z. B. the illumination of a pressure-sensitive sensor layer for wind tunnel measurements;
• - Semiconductor layers.

• – exakte Anordnung einer elektrisch lumineszierenden Flächenleuchte inklusive ihrer elektrischen Kontaktierung ohne Körpermaskierung;
• – Vermeidung von Leuchtmittelverlusten, wie sie beim Spritzen typischerweise auftreten (Querspray); stattdessen erfolgt der Auftrag nur dort, wo er benötigt wird; somit wird der Verlust von teuren Leuchtmitteln vermieden; außerdem fällt eine Entsorgung von Leucht- und Lösemitteln gar nicht erst an;
• – Belegung von ebenen und freiförmigen Flächen mit elektrisch lumineszierenden Flächenleuchten;
• – Qualitätssteigerung der elektrisch lumineszierenden Schichten durch erhöhte Spezifikationstreue hinsichtlich Oberfläche, Schichtdicke und Leuchtdichteverteilung.

The following advantages are achieved with the present invention:

• - Exact arrangement of an electrically luminescent surface light including their electrical contact without body masking;
• - Avoidance of bulbs, as they typically occur during spraying (cross spray); instead, the order will only be made where it is needed; thus the loss of expensive bulbs is avoided; In addition, a disposal of lighting and solvents is not even on;
• - Occupancy of flat and free-form surfaces with electrically luminescent surface lights;
• - Increasing the quality of the electrically luminescent layers by increased specification fidelity in terms of surface, layer thickness and luminance distribution.

The printed electroluminesce the area lights can z. B. used to illuminate the interior of aircraft cabins or to camouflage the surfaces of missiles.

The The invention will be described with reference to exemplary embodiments explained on figures. Show it:

1 the basic structure of an applied electroluminescent layer system (schematic representation - in reality, there are no gaps between the individual layers);

2 the concrete embodiment of an inventively applied electroluminescent layer system on a three-dimensional freeform surface.

1 shows the basic structure of a on a support body 7 applied electroluminescent layer system. It comprises two electrically conductive electrode layers 2 respectively. 5 to which an AC voltage is applied to control the emission. In this case, the outer, the observer facing front electrode layer 2 transparent and consists for example of ATO (antimony-tin-oxide) or of self-conductive polymer layers (ICPs = intrinsic conductive polymers). The carrier body 7 facing back electrode layer 5 may be opaque and consist for example of silver. Adjacent to the electrode layer 5 lies the dielectric layer 4 , Between dielectric 4 and the front electrode layer 2 lies the light-emitting layer 3 (Pigment layer) with the substances to be excited, ie pigments or phosphorus. If the alternating voltage is now applied to the electrodes E1 and E2, the excited light-emitting layer lights up 3 according to the components contained therein. In order to achieve a uniform luminance, the layer structure must be correspondingly homogeneous.

If the carrier body 7 is transparent, the order of dielectric layer 4 and photoconductive layer 3 just be turned over so that the photoconductive layer 3 closer to the carrier body 7 is arranged. That of the shift 3 escaping light is then (with transparently selected electrode layer 5 ) through the carrier body 7 through to the observer.

Another variant is also the dielectric layer 4 to choose transparent. In this case, a two-sided luminous element is generated.

2 shows a printing process according to the invention on a shaped body 7 printed layer system. The surface of the carrier body 7 represents a three-dimensional freeform surface. On the possibly metallic or conductive carrier body 7 there is an insulation layer 6 , On this the actual electrically electroluminescent layer system was after 1 robot-controlled printed layer by layer: back electrode layer 5 , on it the dielectric 4 , on it the pigment layer 3 and then the transparent front electrode layer 2 , An outer protective layer 1 closes the system against unwanted external influences.

The Pigment sizes of the material to be printed are in the order of about 15-30 microns. The gap between print head and surface is in the range less mm. The nozzle assembly of the printhead turns during the printing process always largely perpendicular to Surface at the current printing location. The geometric Model of the surface is the printing robot in the form of numerical Data available or can be simultaneous to the printing process measured and adjusted (in particular distance, alignment of the printhead).

Also protective layer 1 and insulation layer 6 (both made of PE, for example) can advantageously be applied using the printing method according to the invention.

printheads for industrial applications are often very large and therefore can make the surface contour more complex Freeforming does not follow without restriction. To remedy this situation To create the printhead can be advantageously constructed of individual segments be individually z. As static, electric, pneumatic, hydraulic or are piezotechnisch deformable. This allows the printhead to optimally the surface contour (relative distance) of the to be coated Component be adapted.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• - WO 2007/112715 A1 [0003]

Claims (12)

Method for applying an electrically luminescent luminescent layer system to a carrier body, characterized in that the individual layers of the luminescent layer system are applied to the carrier body by a printing process. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that that the printing process by a relative movement of a printhead takes place opposite the carrier body. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the printhead is a piezoelectric printhead. Method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized that simultaneously with the printing process a drying of the printed layers he follows. Method according to one of the preceding claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the relative movement of printhead and carrier body due to stored three-dimensional Contour data of the carrier body takes place. Method according to one of the preceding claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the relative movement of printhead and carrier body due to a simultaneous printing process carried out relative position measurement. Method according to one of the preceding claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the relative movement of printhead and carrier body is generated by means of robots. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that that the relative movement through a robot-guided movement the printhead is done with a fixed carrier body. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that that the relative movement through a robot-guided movement of the carrier body takes place with a fixed printhead. Method according to 7, characterized in that the Relative movement by a robot-guided movement of Carrier body and printhead done. Method according to one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that the print head, which in individual Segments is divided, to adapt to the surface contour the support body by individual deformation the segments is deformed in itself. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that with the printing process in addition to the electrical applied luminescent phosphor layer system more layers such as functional layers, color layers, sensor layers, Semiconductor layers.