Method for electric field assisted, non-contact printing and printed sensors
AssigneesUniversity of South Florida, The Regents of the University of California
InventorsYing Zhong, Long Wang, Rui Kou
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a non-contact printing method and system as well as to a printed sensor. The method includes the steps of disposing a substrate (130) between a discharge electrode (110) and a printing material (140) such that the substrate (130) is spaced apart from the printing material (140); and activating the discharge electrode (110) to generate an electric field between the substrate (130) and the printing material (140), wherein the printing material (140) moves onto a surface (132) of the substrate (130) when the electric field attracts the printing material (140) to the surface (132) of the substrate (130). A corresponding printing system and printed sensor are also provided.
Claims20
A method of printing, comprising:
- disposing a substrate between a discharge electrode and a printing material, the substrate being spaced apart from the printing material;
- and
- activating the discharge electrode to generate an electric field between the substrate and the printing material, wherein the printing material moves onto a surface of the substrate when the electric field attracts the printing material to the surface of the substrate.
A system for non-contact printing, the system comprising:
- a substrate,
- a discharge electrode coupled to a power source, the discharge electrode configured to apply an electrical discharge to the substrate located in a zone;
- a source comprising a printing material, the source positioned adjacent to the substrate;
- and
- a conveyer configured for transporting the substrate;
- wherein, when the substrate is placed in the zone, the system is configured to generate an electric field between the substrate and the printing material such that the printing material moves from the source to a portion of the substrate to from a printed substrate;
- and
- wherein the system continuously transports the printed substrate away from the zone while placing a new substrate in the zone.
A sensor, comprising:
- a substrate;
- one or more electrodes electrically coupled to the substrate;
- and
- a plurality of particles disposed on a surface of the substrate, wherein the sensor is substantially free of a binder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.