JP4713842B2 - Nozzle head controller, nozzle head driving device, a liquid ejecting apparatus, the ejection timing control method of the production apparatus, the nozzle head of the display device, method of driving the nozzle head, a method of manufacturing a display device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a nozzle head control device that controls liquid discharge timing from each nozzle of a head in which a plurality of liquid discharge nozzles are arranged on a line, a nozzle head drive device including the control device, and a drive device thereof. comprising a liquid ejection apparatus comprising apparatus for manufacturing a display device comprising comprising the liquid ejection apparatus, and a method corresponding to each device (excluding liquid discharge apparatus).

  For example, in order to manufacture a color filter for use in a display device, R (red), G (green), or B (blue) ink is applied in a grid pattern to the substrate of the color filter. The application of these inks, inkjet coating apparatus is used with, for example, head formed by arranging a plurality of ink nozzles on the line (multi-nozzle head). Among head is manufactured as model only the display equipment, ink dots (ink applying position) interval used certain applications.

  However, since the intervals of R, G, and B of the color filters differ depending on the type of display device, there are cases where it is desired to arbitrarily change the interval of ink dots to be printed. In this case, it is conceivable to manufacture a head having an ink dot interval corresponding to each, but since there is various know-how in manufacturing the head, it is difficult to manufacture the head by itself. Further, even if it is outsourced to the head manufacturer, the development period of the head is required as it is, so that it may become a bottleneck when commercializing in a short time, and cost is also required.

As a technique for solving such a problem, for example, as described in Patent Literature, there is a technique in which a head is tilted to adjust an interval between ink dots. According to this technology, even when an existing head is used, the ink dot interval can be adjusted within a range equal to or less than the nozzle pitch of the head, so that the time required for model development of the display device can be shortened.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-101212

However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the head is tilted, the position of each ink nozzle is not arranged in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction (scanning direction) of the head. Cannot be discharged. Therefore, the CPU determines the ink discharge timing according to the initial position of the head and the moving distance of the head, but the control is complicated and the processing load on the CPU becomes heavy.
In particular, when the inclination angle of the nozzle head is adjusted according to the interval between the color filters, the CPU needs to perform an operation so as to determine the discharge timing according to the inclination angle. Therefore, if these processes are collectively performed by the CPU, the processing may be delayed, and the time required for the manufacturing process cannot be shortened.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to easily perform liquid discharge timing control even when a nozzle head having a plurality of nozzles is used inclined with respect to the moving direction. It is an object to provide a nozzle head control device, a nozzle head driving device, a liquid ejection device, a display device manufacturing apparatus, a nozzle head ejection timing control method, a nozzle head driving method, and a display device manufacturing method.

The nozzle head control device according to claim 1 controls the liquid discharge timing at each nozzle for a nozzle head formed by arranging a plurality of liquid discharge nozzles in a line.
A head tilt mechanism for tilting the nozzle head with respect to the moving direction so as to adjust the discharge pitch in the direction in which the nozzle head is moved;
Moving means for performing scanning by relatively moving the nozzle head and a liquid discharge target;
Position detecting means for detecting a moving position by the moving means for each unit position and outputting a position signal; and
A counter that counts the position signal output by the position detection means and outputs count data;
A drive data memory in which the count data is given as a read address and drive data for one scan corresponding to each nozzle of the nozzle head is stored;
In the drive data memory,
As drive data corresponding to the reference nozzle that discharges liquid first,
(1) Non-ejection data is written at an address corresponding to the first unit position before the first ejection point (first movement distance) from the reference position of the nozzle head,
(2) Discharge data is written to the next address,
(3) Non-ejection data is written to an address corresponding to the second address from the next address to one unit position before the next ejection point (second movement distance),
Thereafter, the data is written so as to repeat the data patterns (2) and (3) according to the set ejection area,
And outputs the drive data to be read from the drive data memory to the nozzle head.

  If comprised in this way, a position detection means will detect the movement position for every unit position, if a movement means moves a nozzle head and the discharge target of a liquid relatively, and performs a scan, and will output a position signal. Output. The counter counts the number of output position signals and outputs the count data to the drive data memory. Then, drive data is read from the drive data memory using the count data as an address and output to the nozzle head. That is, the timing for ejecting the liquid to the nozzle head is determined by the drive data written in the drive data memory. Therefore, the timing control can be realized only by hardware without involving the CPU.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nozzle head drive device that drives each nozzle of the nozzle head based on the nozzle head control device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects and the drive data output by the nozzle head control device. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 8 is configured by a nozzle head driving unit that outputs a voltage, and the liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 8 supplies the liquid by the nozzle head driving apparatus according to claim 6 or 7 and the driving voltage output by the nozzle head driving apparatus. And a nozzle head for discharging .

  That is, for each nozzle, the size of the liquid ejection port and the liquid ejection characteristics may be slightly different, and therefore, when the same drive voltage is applied, the spread of the liquid ejected to the target may not be uniform. Therefore, if the driving voltage waveform output to each nozzle is individually set in the nozzle head driving unit, it is possible to set the liquid discharge state to be uniform by absorbing these variations.

An apparatus for manufacturing a display device according to claim 9 includes the liquid ejection device according to claim 8 ,
The liquid ejecting apparatus ejects a liquid necessary for creating a light emitting unit of a display device. That is, a display device includes a color filter for emitting light of three primary colors as a pixel using a light source such as a light emitting element, and a light emitting element in which a substance having a property of emitting light when a voltage is applied is sealed. Some of them constitute a light emitting part. In the former case, it is necessary to discharge the three primary color paints, and in the latter case, a liquid luminescent material corresponding to each pixel position.

  Therefore, when a display device manufacturing apparatus is configured by applying the present invention, even if the display device has a different pixel arrangement pitch, the tilt angle of the nozzle head is adjusted in accordance with the pitch, and the tilt angle is adjusted to the tilt angle. If the corresponding drive data is written in the memory, it is possible to easily manufacture corresponding to each display device.

  According to the present invention, even when using tilting the nozzle head to the moving direction, it is possible to perform the ejection timing control of the liquid easier. Since the CPU does not need to be involved in the process of outputting the drive data, the CPU generates drive data corresponding to at least the tilt angle even when the tilt angle of the nozzle head is changed according to the liquid discharge target. Only processing is required. Therefore, if multiple consecutive scans such as to eject the liquid, it is possible to shorten the overall processing time.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a display device manufacturing apparatus will be described below with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, using a nozzle head 1 in which a plurality of ink nozzles n _{0 to} n _n are arranged on a line at a nozzle interval of about 1000 μm, for example, ink of about 150 μm is used. A case will be described in which, for example, R (red), G (green), or B (blue) ink is applied in a dot pattern to an ink application target such as a color filter used in a display device at a dot interval. For the ink nozzles n _{0 to} n _n , n ₀ is called the 0th ink nozzle, n ₁ is called the 1st ink nozzle,..., N _n is called the nth ink nozzle.

Head 1, the piezoelectric element, respectively (PZT) to the respective ink flow paths of each ink nozzle n ₀ ~n _n provided, each ink from the ink nozzles n ₀ ~n _n by applying a voltage to the piezoelectric element It is a head composed of a so-called ink jet type nozzle n that operates so as to discharge. The number of ink nozzles of the head 1 is, for example, 32.
To apply the ink in the ink dot spacing of 150 [mu] m, to the head 1 is tilted 150 [mu] m approximately the spacing (pixel pitch) of the ink nozzles n ₀ ~n _n in the drawing Y direction as shown in FIG. Accordingly, if the head 1 is moved in the X direction as shown in FIG. 2 with the head 1 tilted, the ink dot interval in the Y direction becomes 150 μm.

On the other hand, in order to set the ink dot interval in the X direction to 150 μm, first, the head 1 starts moving from the reference position (standby position) in the X direction, and then the ink dot position d ₁ for discharging ink _{first is set} to No. 0. When the ink nozzle n ₀ arrives, ink is ejected from the ink nozzle n ₀ . At this time, the distance from the reference position to the ink dot position d ₁ is A. Further, the interval between the ink dots in the X direction in each of the ink nozzles n _{0 to} n _n is 150 μm, and the distance between the ink dots is a distance B.

The first ink nozzle n ₁ ejects ink when the head 1 moves in the X direction by a predetermined distance B after the _0th ink nozzle n ₀ starts ejecting ink. The distance B is an ink nozzles n ₀ ~n _n nozzle spacing (nozzle arrangement pitch P) of example 1000μm approximately as shown in FIG. 2, the ink dot interval in the Y direction by inclining the head 1 to about 150μm Since it is set
Distance B = 1000 μm × cos (sin ⁻¹ (150 μm / 1000 μm))
It is calculated by. Further, if the inclination angle of the head 1 with respect to the Y direction as a reference toward the X direction is defined as θ,
Distance B = 1000 μm × sin θ
It is.

For each of the ink nozzles n _{2 to} n _n , if the ink nozzle has ejected ink one before its own ink nozzle, for example, the third ink nozzle n ₃ , the second ink nozzle n ₂ After ink ejection, the head 1 moves in the X direction by a certain distance B, and then ink is ejected. If the ink ejection timing in the X direction is controlled in this way, the ink dot interval in the X direction is also 150 μm.

  Next, a display device manufacturing apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described. FIG. 3 schematically shows a configuration of a display device manufacturing apparatus. Table 2 (as illustrated by separating the two in FIG. 3) movably rests fixed to the configured slider 3 in the Y direction. On the table 2, a glass substrate 4 for a color filter to be applied with ink is placed. The slider 4 can be moved in the X direction by the rotational driving force of the motor (moving means) 5 and can also be moved in the Y direction by a driving mechanism (not shown).

  The motor 5, for example, a rotary encoder (position detection means) 6 that the motor 5 outputs a pulse signal (position signal) per rotation is attached. The interval at which the encoder 6 outputs the pulse signal indicates the unit position of the X direction movement amount of the table 2. For example, it is assumed that the encoder 6 outputs a pulse signal every X direction movement amount of 1 μm. The pulse signal is given to the controller 7 of the head 1. A head controller (nozzle head controller) 7 controls the ink ejection timing for each nozzle n (0 to n) of the head 1 based on the pulse signal.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the drive control system centered on the head controller 7. The pulse signal output from the encoder 6 is given to a counter 11 that counts the pulse signal. The count data of the counter 11 is output to the drive data memory 12 as a read address.
The pattern data memory 13 stores ink application pattern data by the nozzle head 1. The CPU 14 supervises the overall control related to the ink application process in accordance with a start / stop signal given from the outside, and outputs a start command to the motor controller 18 or gives a control signal to the head actuator 15. The tilt angle of the head 1 is controlled. Then, according to the inclination angle, the application pattern data read from the pattern data memory 13 is subjected to arithmetic processing, and written and stored in a work area (not shown) (for example, it may be set in a different area of the pattern data memory 13). Let Further, the CPU 14 activates the DMA controller 16 to transfer the drive data written in the work area to the drive data memory 12.

The drive data read from the drive data memory 12 is output to the nozzle driver (nozzle head drive unit) 17. The nozzle driver 17 outputs a drive voltage waveform to each of the nozzles n ₀ to _n of the head 1 at a timing when drive data is given. In FIG. 3, it is assumed that the nozzle driver 17 is built in either the head controller 7 side or the nozzle head 1 side.

  The motor controller 18 controls the drive of the motor 5. When a start command is given by the CPU 14, the motor controller 18 drives the motor 5 to reciprocate the table 2 in the X direction. Then, the table 2 when the origin position in the X direction, and outputs a reset pulse to the counter 11 and the CPU 14. The table 2 may be reciprocally moved in the X direction, the table 2 is also sequentially moved in the Y direction from the Y-direction moving mechanism (not shown).

FIG. 5 shows an example of drive data stored in the drive data memory 12 in a memory map image. For simplicity, four nozzles n ₀ to ₃ are shown as an example. The horizontal axis corresponds to the read address of the memory 12, the vertical axis represents the respective corresponding data bits to the four nozzles n ₀ ~ _3. The data value “0” corresponds to non-ejection of ink, and the data value “1” corresponds to ink ejection.

That is, since the counter 11 counts the pulse signal output from the encoder 6 and gives a read address, the read address of the drive data memory 12 is incremented every time the table 2 moves 1 μm from the reference position in the X direction. As shown in FIG. 1, if the distance from the reference position of the head 1 to the first ink dot position d ₁ is A μm, the data corresponding to the nozzle n _{0 in the} drive data memory 12 is from address 0 to (A−1). Data “0” is set up to the address corresponding to. Then, data “1” is set to the next address ad1.

Next, it is the nozzle n ₁ that applies ink to the ink dot position d ₁₁ , but the corresponding data is set to “0” from address 0 to address ad 1, and further, the ink dot interval (discharge pitch) is set. “0” is set up to the address obtained by adding (B−1) obtained by subtracting “1” from the corresponding distance B. Then, data “1” is set to the next address ad2. If B = 150, the address between ad1 and ad2 is “149”.

Next, nozzle n ₂ applies ink to ink dot position d ₂₁ , but the corresponding data sets “0” from address 0 to address ad 2, and further sets “1” from distance B. “0” is set up to the address to which the subtracted (B-1) is added. Then, data “1” is set to the next address ad3. The nozzle n ₀ is then to apply the ink, since ink dot position d ₂ apart distance B from the ink dot position d _1, sets a 149 address content data from the address ad1 "0". Then, data “1” is set to the next address ad5. The above arrangement is repeated according to the size of ink and non-region. As a result, ink is applied onto lattice points having a lattice interval of 150 μm.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the head driver 17. The driver 17 includes a data reading unit 21, a waveform data storage unit 22, and an amplifier 23. The waveform data storage unit 22 is a memory in which voltage waveform data corresponding to the nozzles n ₀ to _n is stored.
The data read unit 21 is activated when the drive data “1” read from the drive data memory 12 is given, reads the voltage waveform data stored in the waveform data storage unit 22 at a constant speed, and sends it to the amplifier 23. Output. The amplifier 23 amplifies the voltage waveform data read from the waveform data storage unit 22 into a waveform having an appropriate amplitude and outputs the waveform to the nozzle head 1. The above configuration is provided independently for each nozzle n ₀ ~ _n. Therefore, a different drive voltage waveform can be applied to each of the nozzles n ₀ to _n .

  In the above configuration, the controller 7 plus the nozzle driver 17 constitutes the nozzle head driving device 24, and the nozzle head driving device 24 plus the head 1 constitutes the liquid ejection device 25. Yes.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing contents executed by the CPU 14 of the head controller 7. First, when the CPU 14 reads the tilt angle θ of the head 1 set by the user's input operation (step S1), the CPU 14 outputs a control signal to the head actuator 15 to set the tilt angle of the head 1 (step S2).

  Next, when reading the application pattern data stored in the pattern data memory 13 (step S3), the CPU 14 performs an operation so as to generate drive data corresponding to the set inclination angle θ based on the application pattern data. Processing is performed (step S4). That is, since the distance B corresponding to the lattice spacing is determined by 1000 μm × sin θ, the address is adjusted so that a memory map image corresponding to the lattice spacing is obtained. Then, the calculation result of data corresponding to one scan is written in the work area (step S5).

Then, the CPU 14 activates the DMA controller 16 to transfer the drive data written in the work area to the drive data memory 12 (step S6). Then, the process waits until the transfer is completed (step S7). When the transfer is completed ("YES"), a start command is output to the motor controller 18 (step S8).
When the DMA transfer is completed, drive data for one scan is written in the drive data memory 12. When a start command is given, the motor controller 18 drives the motor 5 to move the table 2 from the reference position in the X direction. Then, since the encoder 6 outputs a pulse signal every time the table 2 moves 1 μm in the X direction, the counter 11 of the head controller 7 increments the count data from “0”.

Since the drive data shown in FIG. 5 is written in the drive data memory 12 as described above, the drive data memory 12 is 4 bits before the distance A from the reference position of the head 1 to the first ink dot position d ₁ . Since the data value is “0000”, no ink is ejected. When reaching the distance A, the data value of the corresponding address ad1 "0001" is read out, the nozzle n ₀ ejects ink.
From that point up to 1 μm before the lattice spacing B, the 4-bit data value is “0000”, so ink is not ejected. When the distance B is reached, the data value “0010” of the corresponding address ad2 is read. The nozzle n ₁ ejects ink. As described above, as shown in FIG. 1, the ink is applied onto the lattice points having a lattice interval of 150 μm.

  Again referring to FIG. CPU14, when the DMA transfer is complete, waiting until the motor 5 by one cycle of scanning (scan) is completed (step S9). When the scanning is completed, the motor controller 18 outputs an end signal to the CPU 14. Then, the CPU 14 determines whether or not all pattern data has been processed (step S10). If the processing of all data has not been completed (“NO”), the process returns to step S3 and the above processing is repeated. If the processing of all data has been completed (“YES”), the processing is terminated.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the motor 5 moves the table 2 in the X direction and performs scanning, the encoder 6 detects the moving position for each unit position (1 μm) and outputs a position signal. The counter 11 outputs the data obtained by counting the number of output position signals to the drive data memory 12 as a read address. Then, drive data corresponding to each nozzle n ₀ to _n is read from the drive data memory 12 and output to the nozzle head 1 via the nozzle driver 17. Therefore, processing for outputting drive data to the nozzle head 1 can be realized only by hardware.

The drive data memory 12 stores a distance A from the reference position (for example, “0”) from the reference position of the nozzle head 1 to the first discharge point as drive data corresponding to the reference nozzle n ₀ that discharges ink first. Non-ejection data “0” is written to the address corresponding to 1 μm before, ejection data “1” is written to the next address, and one unit position of distance B from the next address to the next ejection point The non-ejection data “0” is written in the address corresponding to the previous one, and the above data pattern is repeated according to the set ejection area. Accordingly, it is possible to set drive data corresponding to the ink discharge interval by the nozzle n ₀ .

Also, the drive data memory 12, as the drive data corresponding to the nozzles n ₁ ~ _n other than the reference nozzle n _0, the nozzle comprising an n-th counted from the reference nozzle n ₀ is the distance A, (P × sinθ Xn), the non-ejection data “0” is written to the address corresponding to 1 μm before adding the distance corresponding to x), and the ejection data “1” is written to the next address,
From the next address, the non-ejection data “0” is written to an address corresponding to (distance B−1 μm), and the above data pattern is repeated in accordance with the set ejection area. Accordingly, drive data corresponding to each ink discharge interval can be set for the nozzles n ₁ to _n .

In addition, a nozzle head driving device 24 is configured by the head controller 7 and the nozzle driver 17 that outputs a driving voltage to each of the nozzles n ₀ to _n of the nozzle head 1 based on the driving data output by the controller 7. Further, the liquid ejection device 25 was configured by adding the head 1. Then, the nozzle driver 17, even if since the driving voltage waveform to be output to each nozzle n ₀ ~ _n to be set individually, which include manufacturing variations such as the opening diameter of the nozzles n ₀ ~ _n occurring The ink discharge state can be adjusted to be uniform.

  Further, since the manufacturing apparatus of the display device that discharges the ink for creating the color filter by the liquid discharge device 25 is configured, the ink discharge control in the manufacturing device that requires fine accuracy is transferred to the drive data memory 12. It can be easily executed by writing

(Second embodiment)
8 and 9 show a second embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted, and only different parts will be described below. In the second embodiment, two drive data memories 12 (1) and 12 (2) are prepared, and the two memories 12 are switched so that one is for writing and the other is for reading. It is the structure to perform.

The write address output by the DMA controller 16 to the drive data memories 12 (1) and 12 (2) is output via the address demultiplexer (DPX, address switching means) 31 and output by the counter 11. The read address is output via an address DPX (address switching means) 32.
Data written by the DMA controller 16 is output to the memories 12 (1) and 12 (2) via the data DPX 33, and is read and output from the memories 12 (1) and 12 (2). Data is output to the nozzle driver 17 via the data multiplexer (MPX) 34. The switching control of DPX 31 to 33 and MPX 34 is performed by the motor controller 18.

  Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The CPU 14 activates the DMA controller 16 and sequentially transfers drive data for one scan to the drive data memory 12 (1) (see FIG. 9A). During this transfer, CPU 14 is such that is written in the work area by processing the driving data for the next scanning operation. When the transfer to the memory 12 (1) is completed, the motor controller 18 is activated, and the counter 11 reads data from the memory 12 (1) (see FIG. 9B). Then, the CPU 14 causes the DMA controller 16 to transfer drive data for the next scan to the memory 12 (2). In this case as well, the CPU 14 calculates and writes drive data for the next scan in the work area in the same manner as described above.

  When the transfer to the memory 12 (2) is completed, the CPU 14 waits until the reading process on the memory 12 (1) side is completed (see FIG. 9C). When the reading is finished, the memory 12 (1) to transfer drive data to the side overwrite (see FIG. 9 (d)). The counter 11 reads data from the memory 12 (2) this time. When the transfer to the memory 12 (1) is completed, the CPU 14 also waits until the reading process by the counter 11 is completed on the memory 12 (2) side. When the reading is completed, the CPU 14 returns to the memory 12 (2) side. Transfer drive data and overwrite. The above processes are repeatedly executed sequentially.

  That is, when the DMA controller 16 performs data transfer to the memory 12 (1), the write address is given from the CPU address bus to the memory 12 (1) via the address DPX31, and the write data is sent from the CPU data bus. The data is provided to the memory 12 (1) via the data DPX33. At this time, data reading by the counter 11 is performed in parallel on the memory 12 (2) side. The read address is given from the counter address bus to the memory 12 (2) via the address DPX32, and the read data is given from the memory 12 (2) to the nozzle driver 17 via the data DPX34.

On the other hand, when the DMA controller 16 performs data transfer to the memory 12 (2), the write address is given from the CPU address bus to the memory 12 (2) via the address DPX31, and the write data is sent from the CPU data bus. The data is provided to the memory 12 (2) via the data DPX33. At this time, the read address output by the counter 11 is given from the counter address bus to the memory 12 (1) via the address DPX32, and the read data is sent from the memory 12 (1) to the nozzle driver 17 via the data DPX34. Given.
The motor controller 18 outputs a switching control signal every time the operation in the X direction is completed, and performs bus selection switching of the DPXs 31 to 33 and the MPX 34.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, two drive data memories 12 (1) and (2) are prepared, and the CPU 14 stores the drive data memories 12 (1) and (2) via the DMA controller 16. Drive data for one scan is sequentially transferred. When the data transfer to the memory 12 (1) is completed, the counter 11 reads data from the memory 12 (1). When the data reading from the memory 12 (1) is completed, the memory 12 (1) is read. Te transfers driving data to be used in the next scan, a similar transfer the memory 12 (2), and to perform the reading process. Therefore, writing and reading of drive data can be performed in parallel by using a bus separated on the CPU side and the counter side, and the processing time is reduced by eliminating the overhead time due to the data writing process. It becomes possible to do.

  In addition, when the motor controller 18 performs the bus selection switching of the DPX 31 to 33 and the MPX 34, the CPU 14 generates the data immediately after all the data output is completed with respect to the drive data memory 12 to which the drive data was output in the previous scan. Since the drive data thus written is written, the processing time can be further shortened. Since the CPU 14 and the counter 11 do not need to switch the output address for switching between writing and reading to the memories 12 (1) and 12 (2), the control can be easily performed.

(Third embodiment)
10 to 12 show a third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment shows a case where the present invention is applied to the manufacture of an EL display as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-1438. As shown in FIG. 10, in the EL device manufacturing apparatus, the nozzle head driving device in the first or second embodiment is provided for each of the heads 1R, 1G, and 1B. The heads 1R, 1G, and 1B correspond to the three primary colors, and discharge materials (for example, Zn: Mn, ZnS: Tb, etc.) that constitute EL light-emitting layers that emit light of RGB colors. A color filter may be used in combination in order to obtain a necessary emission color.

  In the configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-1438, the heads 1R, 1G, and 1B are reciprocated in the X direction. The distance between the heads is W, the first movement distance in the forward path of the head 1B shown in FIG. 10 is (Aa-1) μm, and the first movement distance in the return path of the head 1B shown in FIG. 11 is (Ab-1) μm. if it may be set driving data so that the first moving distance in the backward path of the head 1B is (Ab + 2W-1) μm.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of a display device manufacturing apparatus that injects R, G, and B luminescent materials into each pixel region in the glass substrate 60. An X stage 62 is provided on the stage base 61. The X stage 62 can reciprocate on the stage base 61 in the X direction and the −X direction. A θ stage 63 is provided above the X stage 62. Below the θ stage 63, three heads 1R, 1G, and 1B are provided. θ stage 63, the heads 1R, 1G, 1B respectively inclined so with the ink nozzles n ₀ ~n interval _n (pixel pitch) of any ink dot spacing in the Y direction is set to, for example, 150 [mu] m. The θ stage 63 is provided so that the distance between the glass substrate 60 on the X stage 62 and each of the heads 1R, 1G, and 1B is set to 0.3 to 0.5 mm, for example.

  The control device (nozzle head control device) 64 stores the drive data memory 12 corresponding to each head 1R, 1G, 1B from each reference position on the forward return path of the head 1B to each first light emitting substance discharge point Ha, Hb. Corresponding to each first movement distance data corresponding to the distances Aa and Ab and to each distance (Aa + W) and (Ab + W) from each reference position on the forward return path of the head 1G to each of the first luminescent material discharge points Ha, Hb. Data of each first movement distance and data of each first movement distance corresponding to each distance (Aa + 2W) and (Ab + 2W) from each reference position on the forward return path of the head 1R to each of the first light emitting material discharge points Ha, Hb And set.

Then, the control device 64 moves the X stage 62 in the X direction or the −X direction, relatively moves the inclined heads 1R, 1G, and 1B and the glass substrate 60, and in each head 1R, 1G, and 1B. Each of the ink nozzles n _{0 to} n _n has a preset luminescent substance discharge start position (d1 shown in FIG. 1, first luminescent substance discharge point Ha shown in FIG. 10, first luminescent substance discharge point Hb shown in FIG. 11). After each of the heads 1R, 1G, 1B and the glass substrate 60 reaches 150 μm, light is repeatedly emitted from the ink nozzles n _{0 to} n _{n of the} heads 1R, 1G, 1B. Discharge substance. Thereby, an EL display device can be manufactured by injecting R, G, and B light-emitting substances into each pixel region of the glass substrate 60.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, and the following modifications or expansions are possible.
In the nozzle head 1, when a positional deviation occurs in the arrangement pitch of each nozzle n, the drive data may be corrected to reflect the positional deviation data. In this case, the displacement of the nozzle n can be absorbed by the drive data.

For example, in the internal configuration of the head driver 17 shown in FIG. 6, when the nozzles n ₀ to _n do not plan to eject ink at the same time, the waveform data storage unit 22 uses the voltages corresponding to the nozzles n ₀ to _n. Waveform data is stored serially, and drive data corresponding to each of the nozzles n ₀ to _n is output to the data reading unit 21 via an OR gate. The data reading unit 21 sequentially reads the voltage waveform data corresponding to each of the nozzles n ₀ to _n stored in the waveform data storage unit 22 every time drive data “1” is given through the OR gate. Constitute. Further, a demultiplexer is disposed on the output side of the amplifier 23, and the output destination of the voltage waveform data is switched every time the drive data “1” is output, so that a different drive voltage waveform is generated for each nozzle n ₀ to _n. It is good also as a structure to apply. If comprised in this way, the data read-out part 21, the waveform data storage part 22, and the amplifier 23 can be integrated into one.

For example, in the first embodiment, the nozzle interval of the head 1 is set to about 1000 μm and the ink dot interval is set to about 150 μm. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and implementation is possible with any nozzle interval and ink dot interval.
In addition, when the distance is fractional than the unit of 1 μm, for example, when the ink dot interval is 150.5 μm, the ink can be ejected without a large error by setting 150 μm for the first time and 151 μm for the second time. .

Further, instead of moving the table 2 side, the head 1 side may be moved. In short, the head 1 and the ink application target may be relatively moved.
The target to be ejected by the nozzle is not limited to ink or light-emitting substance, but may be any liquid that can be ejected by the nozzle.
Further, the ejection method is not limited to the ink jet method, and any method may be used.

In the first embodiment, a linear actuator may be used as the moving means instead of the motor 5, and in this case, a linear encoder may be used as the position detecting means.
In the flowchart of FIG. 7, the CPU 14 may calculate the next drive data while waiting for the completion of the DMA transfer. If constituted in this way, processing time can further be shortened. Also, the DMA controller 16 may be provided as necessary by individual design.

Furthermore, since the ink is not necessarily applied in the form of grid dots, the format of the drive data stored in the drive data memory 12 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 5 and can be set as appropriate according to the required application pattern. It ’s fine.
In the second embodiment, three or more drive data memories may be provided.
In the second embodiment, it is not necessary to separate the buses on the CPU side and the counter side, and the bus use right may be arbitrated by sharing the buses.
In addition, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-1438, a strobe LED for observing the ink ejection state or an idle nozzle ejection may be provided as necessary. .

A first embodiment of the application of the manufacturing apparatus of a display device of the present invention, a diagram illustrating a state in which ink is applied to the lattice points The figure explaining the moving distance of the head in the case of moving the nozzle after n1 to the first ink discharge point. The figure which shows the structure of the display equipment manufacturing device roughly Functional block diagram showing the configuration of the drive control system centered on the head controller The figure which shows an example of the drive data memorize | stored in drive data memory with a memory map image Functional block diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the head driver The flowchart which shows the processing content performed by CPU of a head controller FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing a bus configuration around a drive data memory according to a second embodiment of the present invention The figure which shows the state of the writing and reading of data with respect to two drive data memories FIG. 1 equivalent view showing the third embodiment of the present invention (No. 1) Figure 1 equivalent (part 2) 3 equivalent figure

Explanation of symbols

In the drawings, 1 is a nozzle head, n ₀ ~n _n the nozzle, the motor 5 (moving means), 6 rotary encoder (position detection means), 7 head controller (nozzle head controller), 11 is a counter, 12 Is a drive data memory, 14 is a CPU, 17 is a nozzle driver (nozzle head drive unit), 24 is a nozzle head drive device, 25 is a liquid ejection device, 31 and 32 are address demultiplexers (DPX, address switching means), and 64 is A control device (nozzle head control device) is shown.

Claims (17)

For a nozzle head formed by arranging a plurality of liquid discharge nozzles in a line, in a nozzle head control device that controls liquid discharge timing at each nozzle,
A head tilt mechanism for tilting the nozzle head with respect to the moving direction so as to adjust the discharge pitch in the direction in which the nozzle head is moved;
Moving means for performing scanning by relatively moving the nozzle head and a liquid discharge target;
Position detecting means for detecting a moving position by the moving means for each unit position and outputting a position signal; and
A counter that counts the position signal output by the position detection means and outputs count data;
A drive data memory in which the count data is given as a read address and drive data for one scan corresponding to each nozzle of the nozzle head is stored;
In the drive data memory,
As drive data corresponding to the reference nozzle that discharges liquid first,
(1) Non-ejection data is written at an address corresponding to the first unit position before the first ejection point (first movement distance) from the reference position of the nozzle head,
(2) Discharge data is written to the next address,
(3) Non-ejection data is written to an address corresponding to the second address from the next address to one unit position before the next ejection point (second movement distance),
Thereafter, the data is written so as to repeat the data patterns (2) and (3) according to the set ejection area,
Nozzle head control device and outputs a drive data which is read from the drive data memory to the nozzle head. In the drive data memory,
As drive data corresponding to nozzles other than the reference nozzle ,
Assuming that the nozzle arrangement pitch in the nozzle head is P and the inclination angle of the nozzle head with respect to the direction of movement relative to the direction perpendicular to the direction of movement is θ, For the nozzle
(1) Non-ejection data is written at addresses corresponding to one unit position before adding the distance corresponding to (P × sin θ × n) to the first movement distance ,
(2) Discharge data is written to the next address,
(3) From the next address, non-ejection data is written to an address corresponding to the second movement distance ,
2. The nozzle head control device according to claim 1, wherein the data is written so as to repeat the data patterns (2) and (3) according to the set ejection area. 3. The nozzle according to claim 2 , wherein the drive data is corrected to reflect the positional deviation data when the positional deviation of the nozzles in the head is individually shifted. 4. Head control device. A storage device for storing ejection pattern data for a plurality of scans;
CPU that generates drive data by performing arithmetic processing on the data read from the storage device and writes the drive data to the drive data memory;
Multiple drive data memories;
Address switching means for switching the address output by the counter to output to any of the plurality of drive data memories,
4. The nozzle head according to claim 1, wherein the CPU writes the generated drive data in a drive data memory other than the address data output by the address switching unit. 5. Control device. 5. The nozzle head control device according to claim 4, wherein the CPU writes the drive data generated immediately after all the data output is completed into the drive data memory to which the drive data was output in the previous scan. . A nozzle head control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A nozzle head drive device comprising: a nozzle head drive unit that outputs a drive voltage to each nozzle of the nozzle head based on the drive data output by the nozzle head control device. The nozzle head driving device according to claim 6, wherein the nozzle head driving unit is configured to individually set a driving voltage waveform to be output to each nozzle . A nozzle head driving device according to claim 6 or 7,
A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: a nozzle head that ejects liquid by a driving voltage output by the nozzle head driving apparatus. A liquid ejection device according to claim 8,
An apparatus for manufacturing a display device, wherein the liquid discharge device discharges a liquid necessary for creating a light emitting portion of the display device. In a method of controlling the liquid discharge timing in each nozzle while adjusting the discharge pitch in the moving direction by tilting a nozzle head formed by arranging a plurality of liquid discharge nozzles in a line shape with respect to the moving direction,
Detecting a movement position by a moving means for performing scanning by relatively moving the nozzle head and a liquid discharge target, and outputting a position signal;
Count the position signal and output count data,
The count data is given as a read address to a drive data memory in which drive data for one scan corresponding to each nozzle of the nozzle head is stored,
In the drive data memory,
As drive data corresponding to the reference nozzle that discharges the liquid first,
(1) Non-ejection data is written at an address corresponding to the first unit position before the first ejection point (first movement distance) from the reference position of the nozzle head,
(2) Discharge data is written to the next address,
(3) Non-ejection data is written to an address corresponding to the second address from the next address to one unit position before the next ejection point (second movement distance),
Thereafter, the data is written so as to repeat the data patterns (2) and (3) according to the set ejection area,
A nozzle head ejection timing control method, wherein drive data read from the drive data memory is output to the nozzle head . In the drive data memory,
As drive data corresponding to nozzles other than the reference nozzle,
Assuming that the nozzle arrangement pitch in the nozzle head is P and the inclination angle of the nozzle head with respect to the direction of movement relative to the direction perpendicular to the direction of movement is θ, For the nozzle
(1) Non-ejection data is written at addresses corresponding to one unit position before adding the distance corresponding to (P × sin θ × n) to the first movement distance,
(2) Discharge data is written to the next address,
(3) From the next address, non-ejection data is written to an address corresponding to the second movement distance,
11. The nozzle head ejection timing control method according to claim 10, wherein data is written so as to repeat data patterns (2) and (3) in accordance with the set ejection area . 12. The ejection timing of a nozzle head according to claim 11 , wherein when the positional deviation of each nozzle in the head is individually misaligned, correction is performed by reflecting the misalignment data in the drive data. Control method. A storage device for storing ejection pattern data for a plurality of scans;
CPU that generates drive data by performing arithmetic processing on the data read from the storage device and writes the drive data to the drive data memory;
Multiple drive data memories;
When provided with an address switching means for switching the address output by the counter to output to any of the plurality of drive data memories,
The nozzle head according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the CPU writes the generated drive data to a drive data memory other than the one to which the address is output by the address switching unit. Discharge timing control method. 14. The nozzle head ejection according to claim 13 , wherein the CPU writes the drive data generated immediately after all the data output is completed to the drive data memory to which the drive data was output in the previous scan. Timing control method. 15. A nozzle head driving method, wherein a driving voltage is output to each nozzle of the nozzle head based on driving data output by the nozzle head ejection timing control method according to claim 10 . 16. The method for driving a nozzle head according to claim 15, wherein the drive voltage waveform output to each nozzle is made individual . 17. A method for manufacturing a display device, comprising: discharging a liquid necessary for creating a light emitting portion of the display device by a drive voltage output by the nozzle head driving method according to claim 15 .

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