Tokyo –
announced today the development of an inkjet print head capable of printing electronic devices.
Konica Minolta has developed proprietary Micro-Electro-Mechanical
Systems (MEMS) technology to produce a print head capable of delivering a
1-picoliter size droplet. The MEMS technology is similar to what is used to
create microprocessors.
Konica Minolta said the print head will be able to literally
print out OLED display patterning, OLED lighting thin layer coating and
displays for smartphones and other devices that require extremely high
accuracy.
Future applications include the next generation of flexible
displays, a market that the company expects to grow to 2 trillion yen by 2020.
The printheads are currently available in sample quantities.
The technologies major features are:
- Utilizes silicon MEMS technology used in
semiconductor processing - First print head for printed electronics applications
to achieve a 1-picoliter drop size - High-accuracy printhead structure: 38mm wide; 128
nozzles in one row - Stable, highly accurate operation with accuracy drive
control on a per-nozzle basis - High ink resistance and optimization for low
viscosity inks for industrial applications - Provides highly uniform thin layer coating (at the
100nm level) - Optimized for display manufacturing technology, such
as for OLED displays - Proprietary DPN (Drive Per Nozzle) drive board and
evaluation equipment are available.
