Fluid-dispensing apparatus with controlled tear-off
AssigneeCree, Inc.
InventorPeter Andrews
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Fluid-dispensing apparatus include a fluid-dispensing needle. A gas discharge member is positioned proximate a dispensing end of the needle that is configured to direct a gas towards a fluid tear-off position below the dispensing end of the needle. A controller controls discharge of the gas by the gas discharge member to control dispensing of fluid from the needle. The dispensing control may control an amount of fluid dispensed from the needle and/or tailing off of fluid dispensed from the needle. The amount of fluid dispensed from the needle may be a microliter range volume of a viscous fluid.
Claims24
A fluid-dispensing apparatus, comprising:
- a fluid-dispensing needle that is configured to eject fluid from within the fluid-dispensing needle in a first direction at a dispensing end;
- a gas discharge member positioned proximate a dispensing end of the needle and configured to direct a gas in a second direction that is not parallel to the first direction and that is towards a fluid tear-off position below the dispensing end of the needle after the fluid is ejected from the needle;
- and
- a controller that controls discharge of the gas by the gas discharge member to control dispensing of fluid from the needle to provide sub-microliter control of dispensing of a microliter range volume of the fluid using the gas discharge member.
A fluid-dispensing apparatus, comprising:
- a fluid-dispensing needle that is configured to eject fluid from within the fluid-dispensing needle at a dispensing end;
- a gas discharge member positioned proximate the dispensing end of the needle and configured to direct a gas towards a fluid tear-off position below the dispensing end of the needle after the fluid is ejected from the needle;
- and
- a controller that controls discharge of the gas by the gas discharge member to control dispensing of fluid from the needle,
- wherein the controller is configured to control tailing off of fluid dispensed from the needle,
- wherein the amount of fluid dispensed from the needle comprises a microliter range volume of a viscous fluid, and
- wherein the controller is configured to provide sub-microliter control of dispensing of the microliter range volume of the viscous fluid using the gas discharge member.
A microliter dispensing apparatus for dispensing a viscous encapsulant material into a semiconductor light-emitting device reflector cup with a semiconductor light-emitting device therein, the apparatus comprising:
- a movable needle mount member configured to move between a lower dispense position proximate the reflector cup and an upper retracted position;
- an encapsulant dispensing needle that is configured to eject the viscous encapsulant material at a dispensing end of the needle and from within the encapsulant dispensing needle that is mounted to the needle mount member;
- a gas discharge nozzle positioned proximate the dispensing end of the needle and configured to direct a gas towards a fluid tear-off position below the dispensing end of the needle after the viscous encapsulant material is ejected from the needle;
- and
- a controller configured to activate flow of the gas after a microliter amount of the encapsulant material has been dispensed in the reflector cup from the needle to control tear-off of the microliter amount of the encapsulant material from the needle.
A fluid-dispensing apparatus, comprising:
- a fluid-dispensing needle that is configured to eject fluid from within the fluid-dispensing needle in a first direction at a dispensing end;
- a gas discharge member positioned proximate the dispensing end of the needle and configured to direct a gas in a second direction that is not parallel to the first direction and that is towards a fluid tear-off position below the dispensing end of the needle after the fluid is ejected from the needle;
- and
- a controller that controls discharge of the gas by the gas discharge member to control dispensing of fluid from the needle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.