18329647. FILM FORMING METHOD, FILM FORMING APPARATUS, AND ARTICLE MANUFACTURING METHOD simplified abstract (CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA)
FILM FORMING METHOD, FILM FORMING APPARATUS, AND ARTICLE MANUFACTURING METHOD
Organization Name
Inventor(s)
HIROYUKI Koide of Tochigi (JP)
FILM FORMING METHOD, FILM FORMING APPARATUS, AND ARTICLE MANUFACTURING METHOD - A simplified explanation of the abstract
This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18329647 titled 'FILM FORMING METHOD, FILM FORMING APPARATUS, AND ARTICLE MANUFACTURING METHOD
Simplified Explanation
The film forming method described in this patent application involves the discrete arrangement of droplets on a substrate, which contain a curable composition consisting of a polymerizable compound and a volatile solvent. The process includes analyzing an image of the droplets connecting to adjacent droplets on the substrate to form a continuous liquid film. The solvent in the liquid film is then volatilized at an enhanced rate compared to the film formation process. Finally, the liquid film is cured to form a solid film. If the analysis confirms that the liquid film has formed adequately, the process proceeds to volatilization and then to film formation.
- The method involves arranging droplets of a curable composition on a substrate.
- An image analysis is performed to ensure proper connection of the droplets, forming a continuous liquid film.
- The solvent in the liquid film is volatilized at an accelerated rate.
- The liquid film is cured to form a solid film.
- The process advances based on the analysis result, ensuring sufficient film formation before proceeding to volatilization and curing.
Potential Applications
This film forming method has potential applications in various industries, including:
- Coating industry: It can be used for the precise and controlled formation of films on different surfaces, such as metals, plastics, and glass.
- Electronics industry: It can be applied in the production of thin films for electronic devices, such as displays, solar cells, and printed circuit boards.
- Biomedical field: The method can be utilized for the fabrication of thin films in medical devices, drug delivery systems, and tissue engineering.
Problems Solved
The film forming method addresses several challenges in traditional film formation processes:
- Precise control: The discrete arrangement of droplets allows for precise control over film formation, ensuring uniformity and desired thickness.
- Enhanced volatilization: The method enhances the volatilization of the solvent, reducing the time required for film formation.
- Analysis-driven process: The analysis of the droplet connection ensures that the film formation is sufficient before proceeding to the next steps, minimizing defects and improving efficiency.
Benefits
The film forming method offers several benefits over conventional techniques:
- Improved efficiency: The enhanced volatilization and analysis-driven process reduce the overall time required for film formation, increasing production efficiency.
- Enhanced control: The method allows for precise control over film formation, resulting in uniform and high-quality films.
- Reduced defects: By ensuring sufficient film formation before proceeding, the method minimizes defects and improves the overall quality of the final film.
- Versatility: The method can be applied to various substrates and is compatible with different curable compositions, making it adaptable to a wide range of applications.
Original Abstract Submitted
A film forming method includes discretely arranging, on a substrate, a plurality of droplets of a curable composition containing a polymerizable compound that is a nonvolatile component, and a solvent that is a volatile component, analyzing an image obtained by capturing a process in which each of the plurality of droplets is connected to an adjacent droplet on the substrate, thereby forming a continuous liquid film on the substrate, volatilizing the solvent contained in the liquid film by enhancing a solvent volatilization effect as compared to the process of forming the liquid film, and forming a cured film by curing the liquid film, wherein if an analysis result obtained in the analyzing satisfies a predetermined condition representing that a forming state of the liquid film is sufficient, a process advances to the volatilizing and then advances to the forming.
