Miniature aerosol jet and aerosol jet array
US8132744B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 15, 2010 |
| Grant date | Mar 13, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 17, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB05B7/0884
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A miniaturized aerosol jet, or an array of miniaturized aerosol jets for direct printing of various aerosolized materials. In the most commonly used embodiment, an aerosol stream is focused and deposited onto a planar or non-planar target, forming a pattern that is thermally or photochemically processed to achieve physical, optical, and/or electrical properties near that of the corresponding bulk material. The apparatus uses an aerosol jet deposition head to form an annularly propagating jet composed of an outer sheath flow and an inner aerosol-laden carrier flow. Miniaturization of the deposition head facilitates the fabrication and operation of arrayed deposition heads, enabling construction and operation of arrays of aerosol jets capable of independent motion and deposition. Arrayed aerosol jets provide an increased deposition rate, arrayed deposition, and multi-material deposition.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.