Patent · US Expired

Printhead for liquid metals and method of use

US5772106A · kind A · utility

57Cited by
16References
31Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 29, 1995
Grant dateJun 30, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 29, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L2924/3025
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A compact printhead assembly is designed for employment in a soldering operation without the need for fluxes and without conducting the operation in a confined chamber. A self-contained printhead assembly has an internal reservoir and internal heating elements for raising the temperature above the melting temperature of solder or other liquid to be dispensed in microdroplets from a working surface at one end of the printhead housing. A jetting device containing an electro-mechanical transducer is pulsed to produced droplets at an exit orifice located at the working surface. Inert gas is preheated by the housing and delivered to the working surface to establish an oxygen-free atmosphere around the exit orifice and between the working surface and a substrate located a working distance away, whereby microdrops can be formed and deposited without harmful oxidation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.