KR101111083B1 - Multi-layer printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multi-layer printing method. A multilayer printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of drawing a multilayer CAD (CAD) diagram each showing a reference line; Converting the multilayer CAD drawing into a raster image of each; Determining the presence or absence of a portion of the converted raster image larger than the reference line; And printing each of the converted raster images in sequence using a discharge head having a nozzle for discharging ink.

Description

Multi-layer printing method {MULTI-LAYER PRINTING METHOD}

The present invention relates to a method for discharging a liquid drop for discharging a functional liquid such as ink in a drop state. More particularly, the present invention relates to a multi-layer printing method for printing another material through alignment with an existing printed place using a CAD. It is about.

With the development of Inkjet technology, the range of applications from office use to printed electronics such as electronic parts and display manufacturing is widening. As these inkjets have expanded their range of application as manufacturing processes, unlike office inkjet equipment, there is a need for precise control of the size of ink drops and technology for precisely discharging them within a few micrometers at a desired position. . Unlike conventional semiconductor processes, the inkjet technology can be processed without wasting expensive materials and can be easily enlarged. Therefore, studies are being actively conducted to apply inkjet to mass production processes, especially in the electronic printing field.

Printing other materials again through alignment or alignment to existing printed portions using such inkjet printing equipment has become necessary as inkjet expands the range of applications with electronic printing. In addition, it may be necessary to create an image file or the like for having a desired shape or dimension.

As such, when another printing is required on the previously printed portion, the CAD may be used for a work such as a drawing having several layers of various shapes and dimensions. In general, there is a method of using a CAD file (DXF file, Drawing Exchange file Format file) to obtain the absolute position and dimensions using the CAD. However, in the case of vector printing method (using XY stage at the same time) in order to print DXF file, it is advantageous to print diagonal lines and figures by interlocking stage movement and printing easily. On the other hand, in order to apply the raster printing method for complex printing, it is advantageous to convert the bitmap image file and save it.

Therefore, a process of converting a drawing created by CAD into a raster image is required. In commercial CAD software, it is possible to convert created drawings into bitmap images or BMP files. To convert them into bitmap images, a resolution value must be entered.

You can use pixels per millimeter (pixels / mm) as the input resolution unit. That is, when storing a multi-layer to multi-layer drawing created in the CAD, if the pixel / mm unit is input as the resolution value can be stored in the form of a raster image or BMP file.

However, when a commercially available CAD software stores a raster image or a BMP file, there is a problem that the absolute position of the pixel changes and the size of the stored image also changes. In other words, when converting a multi-layered image into a BMP file, the dimensions are accurately converted through the gaps between pixels, but the absolute position information is lost. Therefore, it is necessary to unify the absolute positions of all layers. Therefore, when a CAD drawing created in a multi-layered layer is stored as a BMP file and an overlapped pattern is printed, there is a problem in that the layers cannot be accurately overlapped.

To solve this problem, when printing using another layer, an alignment mark may be used for alignment of an image. On the other hand, even when the alignment mark is used, the alignment may not be accurate because the absolute position of the alignment mark changes when the BMP file is converted and stored on the CAD.

In addition, a method of checking previously printed portions by using a camera and matching the next portions to be printed with each other has been proposed, but this also causes a difference between the camera position and the nozzle position, so that the existing patterning position cannot be exactly matched. There is a problem.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a multi-layer printing method capable of accurately overlapping and printing a multi-layer using a CAD.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a multi-layer printing method for converting a drawing created on a CAD into a raster image.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a multi-layer printing method capable of matching the absolute positions of the converted raster images on the CAD.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a multi-layer printing method for drawing a reference line in a layer for printing a reference position designation.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a multi-layer printing method of deleting a portion other than a baseline from an image in a process of converting the image into a raster image on a CAD.

Multi-layer printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention for solving the above problems, the method comprising the steps of drawing a multi-layer CAD (CAD) drawings each of the reference line; Converting the multilayer CAD drawing into a raster image of each; Determining the presence or absence of a portion of the converted raster image larger than the reference line; And printing each of the converted raster images one after another using a discharge head having a nozzle for discharging ink, wherein the printing of the image comprises printing one of the raster images and then printing the raster images. The other raster image is printed while the reference line of one raster image is matched with the other reference line of the raster image.

By printing the multi-layers by the above method, even after the raster image conversion, a plurality of layers can be accurately overlapped by a certain criterion.

The converting into the raster image may convert the multilayer CAD drawing into a bitmap image.

The converting into the raster image may be performed by converting the bitmap image by inputting a resolution of pixel / mm or pixel / length or length / pixel unit.

The converting to the raster image may be performed such that the raster image has the same length value before and after the conversion.

The converting into the raster image may be performed such that the length of the reference line drawn in the multilayer CAD drawing is the same as the length of the reference line drawn on the raster image.

The printing of the image may include printing a baseline on each of the converted raster images, and printing each of the raster images by matching each printed baseline.

In the determining of the presence or absence of the converted portion of the converted raster image larger than the reference line, an image processing technique may delete the converted image larger than the reference line.

At least three reference points may be used instead of the reference line to match the multilayer image.

As described above, the multilayer printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention can easily overlap each image when printing a plurality of images.

In the multi-layer printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention, since the respective layers overlap by using a reference line whose absolute position does not change, accurate patterning can be printed.

The multilayer printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention can easily print a complex image.

The multi-layer printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention can compensate for the fact that the information on the absolute position is lost when the multilayer image created in the CAD is replaced with a BMP file or a raster image.

The multilayer printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention may unify absolute positions of all layers.

The multi-layer printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention is simple because the image is directly stored than the conventional method using the DXF file.

In the multi-layer printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention, since the reference line as the alignment mark for the alignment of the various layers can be used, the existing alignment mark is not necessary separately.

In the multi-layer printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the size of the entire image can be known using the size of the baseline, and the printing position can be easily known by using a pattern camera at the end point of the baseline. You can easily check the location of.

1 is a perspective view showing a discharge system of a liquid drop according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows a schematic plan view of the system according to FIG. 1.
3 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the system according to FIG. 1.
4 and 5 show an example of the multilayers printed by the ejection system according to FIG. 1.
6 is a flowchart illustrating a multilayer printing method using the discharge system according to FIG. 1.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited or limited by the embodiments. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements.

1 is a perspective view showing a system for discharging a liquid drop according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing the system according to FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a block showing a control configuration of the system according to FIG. 1. It is also.

Hereinafter, a discharge system and a discharge method for discharging fine ink droplets to functional liquid droplets in a dot shape with good accuracy will be described.

1 to 3, a liquid drop ejection system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a discharge head 110 having a plurality of nozzles N through which a liquid drop is discharged, and a discharge head ( The head drive unit 120 moving the 110, the nozzle N (N) and the discharge object driving unit 140 for moving the discharged object 130, the liquid droplets discharged from the nozzle N is laminated or printed (printed) , One of the image capturing unit 150 and the nozzle N which are provided at one side of the discharge head 110 and move in the same direction together with the discharge head 110 to capture an image of the object to be discharged 130. And an error range setting unit 160 for setting the discharge determination error range EB based on (N) and a controller 170 for controlling whether or not the nozzle N is discharged.

The discharge system 100 of the liquid drop may have two moving parts moving in the direction crossing each other. That is, the discharge head 110 moving in the X-axis direction (see FIG. 2) and the discharged object 130 moving in the Y-axis direction (see FIG. 2) crossing or perpendicular thereto may be provided. A head driver 120 is provided to move the discharge head 110 in the X-axis direction, and the head driver 120 moves the discharge head 120 along the X-axis slider 121 and the X-axis slider 121. It may include a drive motor 123 to. Here, the drive motor 123 may use a linear motor, the X-axis slider 121 functions as a guide rail, one side of the power cable for supplying power to the drive motor 123 (not shown) ) And a cable protector (not shown) for protecting the power cable. Meanwhile, the drive motor 123 and the X-axis slider 121 may be formed of a motor generating a rotational driving force and a ball screw rotating by the motor.

The discharged object 130 moving in the direction crossing or perpendicular to the moving direction of the discharge head 110 may be driven by the discharged object driver 140. The object to be discharged 130 may be provided with a substrate on which a discharge pattern is to be formed. The target object driver 140 includes a set table 147 on which the target object 130 is mounted, and a Y axis table 145 for guiding movement of the set table 147 in the Y-axis direction, and the Y axis table 145. May include a drive motor 143 constituting a drive system in the Y-axis direction and a Y-axis slider 141 driven thereby. Here, a linear motor may be used as the drive motor 141.

In the pattern formation process, the discharge head 110 and the discharged object 130 may be moved alternately or simultaneously. For example, after the discharge head 110 moves in the X-axis direction to position the liquid, the discharged object 130 moves in the Y-axis direction, and the liquid is discharged through the nozzle N while the discharged object 130 moves. As the droplet is discharged, a pattern may be formed. When the to-be-exported object 130 moves and the image pixels arranged along the Y-axis direction are printed, the ejection head 110 moves to the next ejection position, and in this state, the to-be-exposed object 130 moves to the next printing process. This can be done. Here, the movement of the discharge head 110 to the next discharge position is called a swath.

A manual stage (not shown) or a motorized stage (not shown) may be applied to adjust the perpendicularity and the vertical height of the discharge head 110 and the horizontal level from the object 130. On the other hand, when a substrate is used as the object to be printed 130 for pattern printing, the size of the substrate is preferably determined according to the application example.

As the discharge head 110 for discharging a liquid such as ink, a single nozzle head or multiple nozzle heads may be used. In the discharge system 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, hardware may be formed such that a single nozzle head and a multi nozzle are easily compatible with each other. In order to control and drive the discharge head 110, a driver and a pattern generator can be used, and the program can be programmed to convert the waveform and printing algorithm optimized for each head. The optimization software algorithm for the head can be applied immediately.

A plurality of nozzles N may be formed on the lower surface of the discharge head 110, and the nozzles N may be arranged in a line. In order to supply the liquid discharged through the nozzles N, the discharge head 110 may be connected to the liquid supply mechanism 190. The liquid supply mechanism 190 may include a liquid storage unit 192 in which a liquid such as ink is stored. Here, the liquid reservoir 192 may be formed in a single or plural number and may be provided to enable long detachable.

On the other hand, on one side of the discharge head 110 is moved along the X-axis direction with the discharge head 110, the image capturing unit 150 for pattern inspection for photographing the state in which the discharged liquid droplets are printed on the discharged object (130) Can be formed. The image capturing unit 150 may be used not only to observe the printing state of the liquid droplet printed on the object 130 using a camera, but also to confirm the position of the object 130. To this end, the image capturing unit 150 is preferably aligned exactly with the position of each nozzle (N).

In addition, a drop watcher 180 may be provided at one side of the object to be discharged 130. The liquid drop photographing unit 180 may include a CCD camera (not shown) for photographing a liquid drop discharged from the discharge head 110, an LED (not shown) for supplying illumination at the moment when the CCD camera photographs a liquid drop, and a discharge head. 110 and a controller (not shown) for controlling the operating time of the LED or to adjust the back pressure (pressure) applied to the discharge head (110).

By configuring as described above, the discharge system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention can observe not only the discharge of the liquid droplets but also the behavior of the liquid droplets as one system.

Reference numeral “185” shown in FIG. 1 denotes a pneumatic / vacuum control unit.

Meanwhile, the discharge head 110 and the driving motors 123 and 143 may be connected to the controller 170. The control unit 170 may include a controller 171 connected to the error setting unit 160 at the same time as the overall control of the liquid discharge system 100, the X-axis slider by controlling the X-axis drive motor 123 The Y-axis slider 141 may be driven by driving the 121 and controlling the Y-axis driving motor 143. In addition, the clock signal CLK, the discharge signal SI, the latch signal LAT, and the driving signal COM are inputted to the discharge head 110 through the second interface 173 (see FIG. 3). Nozzle (N) can be controlled.

Here, the error setting unit 160 is a device capable of adjusting the discharge determination error range EB by the user, and may be referred to as a kind of host computer.

In addition, although not shown, the discharge system 100 may include cleaning means for sucking and storing liquid droplets of the discharge head 110, or wiping means for wiping the nozzle N surface of the discharge head 110. It may include.

The control structure of the discharge system 100 is demonstrated with reference to FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the controller 170 may include a first interface 172 for acquiring various commands (commands) from the error setting unit 160, driving waveform data, and a discharge pattern image, and a work area for control processing. RAM 174, which is used as a controller, a ROM 175 for storing control data including control programs or various tables for control processing, an oscillation circuit 176 for generating a clock signal CLK, and a discharge head 110. A drive signal generator 178 for generating a drive signal to drive, a second interface 173 for sending data signals or drive signals to the drive motors 123 and 143 and the discharge head 110, and an internal bus. It may include a central processing unit (177, CPU) for controlling each part connected by.

The control configuration of the discharge system 100 is only one example, and may be changed according to required electronic printing performance.

The controller 170 controls the plurality of discharge heads 110 formed on the discharge head 110 according to whether the image pixel P of the object 130 obtained by the image capturing unit 150 is within an emission determination error range EB. It may be determined whether one of the nozzles N is discharged. In other words, if the integer multiple relationship does not hold between the interval between the nozzles N and the interval between the image pixels, the next swath without discharging all the nozzles is not discharged to the image pixels not within the discharge determination error range EB. (swath) can be discharged. As such, by setting the discharge determination error range EB and determining whether to discharge the nozzle, the image precision according to the moving direction of the discharge head 110 may be increased.

The discharging system 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may print a complex pattern using a multi-layer or multi-layer drawing made on a CAD, and in this process, each layer is sequentially printed when each layer is printed. Can be exactly overlapped.

Hereinafter, a multilayer printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

4 and 5 show an example of a multilayer printed by the ejection system according to FIG. 1, and FIGS. 6 and 7 show another example of a multilayer printed by the ejection system according to FIG. 1. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a multilayer printing method using the discharge system according to FIG. 1.

Referring first to FIGS. 4 and 5, the illustrated pattern to be printed includes three different images. That is, the first image I1 disposed at the vertex of the square, the second image I2 disposed at the vertex of the rhombus, and the third image I3 disposed at the center of the first and second images.

The pattern image PI shown in FIG. 4 is a pattern to be finally printed. Instead, the pattern image PI is not written in one layer, but each image is created in three multi-layers using a CAD.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first image I1 is drawn in the first layer L1, the second image I2 in the second layer L2, and the third image I3 is the third layer. Draw on (L3). Drawing the first to third images on the first to third layers, respectively, is done via CAD.

At this time, when drawing an image on the first to third layers L1 to L3 on the CAD, a reference line BL is also drawn. Here, the reference line BL is drawn at the same position in the first to third layers L1 to L3. That is, referring to FIG. 4, the reference line BL is drawn in a rectangular shape having four vertices of (1, b), (10, b), (1, i), and (10, i) coordinates. As shown in Fig. 5, the same positions are drawn for each of the three layers. Thus, when three layers overlap, the baseline can match exactly.

After drawing each layer of the pattern image shown in FIG. 4 using CAD, it converts into a raster image. Image conversion can use commercial CAD software. In most commercial software, CAD drawing is converted into raster image or BMP image when inputting resolution of pixel / mm as input value for saving CAD drawing as image file. In addition, the resolution in units of pixel / length or length / pixel may be input as well as the resolution in unit of pixel / mm.

Here, after being stored as a BMP (bitmap) image, the coordinate values of the first to third images change, but the length information of the reference line BL does not change. Since the pixel / mm unit is entered as the resolution value to store as a raster image, the length information of the baseline can be known. If the length of the baseline BL is known before conversion to the raster image, the length information can be easily known even after conversion to the raster image. For example, if the length of the reference line BL is 5 mm and the input resolution value is 50 pixels / mm before conversion to the raster image, 250 pixels will exist at 5 mm after conversion to the raster image. Therefore, the same length information can be obtained by counting the number of pixels after being converted into a raster image.

In FIG. 4, the distance between four vertices of the reference line may be known, and the distance from each vertex to the first to third images may be known. Since this distance information is the same even after being converted to a raster image, after matching the four vertices of the baselines BL of the first to third layers after matching the raster images, each baseline is matched with each other and the first from four vertices. Distance information can be obtained from the number of pixels up to the third image, and printing can be performed at a corresponding position of the image. Through this process, the image shown in the multi-layer can be converted into a raster image or a BMP image, and then printed or printed in a precisely overlapped state.

When the CAD software saves the drawing as a bitmap image, it is impossible to know the absolute position of the pattern converted to the bitmap because the image is stored larger or larger than the drawn drawing and the width of the image is inconsistent. Because of this, the reference point and the absolute position for multi-layer printing cannot be known exactly, and eventually, multi-layer printing is difficult. In order to solve this problem, in the present invention, in the process of converting to a raster image, it is determined whether the converted raster image is larger than the baseline BL, and the raster image converted to the baseline BL is image processed. It was deleted using the Image Processing technique. Therefore, by using the method of obtaining the absolute position by using the reference line BL and the image processing technique, the problem of not knowing the absolute position of the converted bitmap image can be solved. In addition, it is possible to designate the beginning of the baseline at the same position by deleting the bitmap image which is converted larger than the baseline using image processing.

Referring again to the multi-layer printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention with reference to Figure 6, the step (S110), drawing a multi-layer (L1 ~ L3) CAD (CAD) diagram showing the reference line (BL), respectively Converting the layer CAD drawing to each raster image (S120), determining whether the converted raster image is larger than the reference line BL (S130), and discharging the liquid nozzle ( It is possible to provide a multilayer printing method comprising the step (S140) of sequentially printing each raster image converted using the discharge head 110 having N).

Here, the printing of the raster image (S140) may be performed by printing a raster image on any one layer of the raster image and then placing the reference line BL of the raster image on one layer and the other layer of the raster image. Another raster image is printed while the reference line BL is aligned.

By printing the multi-layers by the above method, even after the raster image conversion, a plurality of layers can be accurately overlapped by a certain criterion.

In the step S120 of converting to a raster image, the multilayer CAD drawing may be converted into a bitmap image.

In operation S120, the CAD drawing may be converted into a bitmap image (BMP image) by inputting a resolution having units such as pixel / mm, pixel / length, or length / pixel.

The step S120 of converting the raster image may be performed such that the raster image has the same length value before and after the conversion. In addition, the step S120 of converting to a raster image may be performed such that the length of the reference line BL drawn in the multilayer CAD drawing is the same as the length of the reference line drawn on the raster image. That is, even when converted into a raster image, the length information drawn in the CAD does not change.

On the other hand, the step of printing the raster image (S140) may print a reference line on each converted raster image, and may print each raster image by matching each printed baseline.

At this time, if there is a raster image converted larger than the reference line BL in the step S130 of determining whether the converted raster image is larger than the reference line BL, the raster image converted using the image processing technique The converted image larger than the reference line BL may be deleted (S150).

The reference line BL may match the multilayer image using at least three reference points (not shown) having not only a straight line shape but also constant position information and length information therebetween. Here, the reference point may use four outer reference points or center points. If the alignment mark is also printed and the above method is applied, the absolute position of the alignment mark can be known accurately from the existing CAD position. In addition, since the baseline is printed and used for the alignment of several layers, the alignment mark does not need to be printed separately. To this end, multi-layer alignment may be performed while printing the edge of the layer and observing the four outer reference points and the center point using a camera for alignment.

A method of printing multiple layers using a DXF file generated from a commercially available CAD (eg, Auto CAD, etc.). Since the printing method uses a directly saved image, it is easy to print a multi-layer.

In addition, in the present invention, since a reference line can be used as an alignment mark for alignment of various layers, there is no need to separately display an existing alignment mark.

In addition, in the present invention, the size of the entire image can be known using the size or length of the baseline, and the pattern camera captures the end of the baseline so that the printing position of the multilayer can be easily known. It is possible to easily check the position of the object to be discharged, such as a substrate, before printing each layer.

As described above, the present invention has been described by specific embodiments such as specific components and the like. For those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, various modifications and variations are possible. Therefore, the spirit of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, and all of the equivalents or equivalents of the claims as well as the claims to be described later will belong to the scope of the present invention. .

100: discharge system of the liquid drop 110: discharge head
120: head drive unit 130: discharged object
140: discharge object driving unit 170: control unit
N: Nozzle PI: Pattern Image
P: image pixel BL: baseline

Claims (8)

Drawing a multilayer CAD (CAD) diagram each showing a reference line;
Converting the multilayer CAD drawing into a raster image of each;
Determining the presence or absence of a portion of the converted raster image larger than the reference line; And
Printing each of the converted raster images one after another using a discharge head having a nozzle for discharging ink;
The printing of the image may include:
And printing the other raster image after printing any one of the raster images while matching a baseline of the one raster image with another reference line of the raster image.
The method of claim 1,
The converting into the raster image is a multilayer printing method, characterized in that for converting the multilayer CAD drawing into a bitmap image (bitmap image).
The method of claim 2,
The converting into the raster image may include converting the bitmap image by inputting a resolution of pixel / mm or pixel / length or length / pixel unit.
The method of claim 2,
And converting the raster image into the raster image, wherein the raster image has the same length value before and after the conversion.
The method of claim 4, wherein
In the converting into the raster image, the length of the reference line drawn in the multilayer CAD drawing is the same as the length of the reference line drawn on the raster image.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The printing of the image may include:
Printing a baseline on each of the converted raster images, and printing the respective raster images by matching the printed respective baselines.
The method of claim 6,
The determining of the presence or absence of the portion of the converted raster image larger than the reference line may include deleting an image larger than the reference line of the converted raster image by using an image processing technique. Way.
The method of claim 6,
And at least three reference points instead of the reference line to match the multilayer image.

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