# US 8,740,334 B2 · Waveform shaping interface

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- Number: US 8,740,334 B2
- Document ID: US8740334B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/532,473
- Filed: 2006-09-15
- Published: 2007-03-15
- Granted: 2014-06-03
- Earliest claimed: 2005-09-15
- Assignees: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
- Applicants: Deane A. Gardner; Paul A. Hoisington; Daniel Cote
- Inventors: Deane A. Gardner; Paul A. Hoisington; Daniel Cote
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8740334B2

## CPC

- G05D 7/0629: {characterised by the type of regulator means}
- B41J 2/0456: {detecting drop size, volume or weight}
- B41J 2/04561: {detecting presence or properties of a drop in flight}
- B41J 2/04586: {controlling heads of a type not covered by groups B41J2/04575 - B41J2/04585, or of an undefined type}
- B41J 2/04588: {using a specific waveform}
- B41J 2/2142: {Detection of malfunctioning nozzles (generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers B41J2/045, B41J2/05; jet deflection sensors B41J2/125; for cleaning purposes B41J2/16579)}
- B41J 29/393: Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine {; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns}
- G01N 35/1016: {Control of the volume dispensed or introduced}
- B01L 3/0268: {using pulse dispensing or spraying, eg. inkjet type, piezo actuated ejection of droplets from capillaries}
- G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE

## Abstract

A method and system of facilitating development of fluids having a variety of elemental compositions are disclosed. A graphical user interface allows user interaction with a lab deposition system to control fluid drop ejection of fluids through multiple nozzles. Fluid drop ejection and drop formation can vary from fluid to fluid, and require adjustments to waveform parameters of a drive pulse applied to the multiple nozzles. The system implements a drop watcher camera system to capture real-time still and video images of fluid drops as they exit the multiple nozzles. The captured drop formation of the fluid drops are displayed to the user, and based on the images the waveform parameters are adjusted and customized specific for individual fluid. In addition to adjusting the drive pulse that effects fluid drop ejection, a tickle pulse can also be adjusted and customize to prevent clogging of the nozzles.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
a computer system configured to control a lab deposition system including a plurality of nozzles;
a graphical user interface to the computer system, the graphical user interface configured to control waveform parameters that affect jetting of at least a first fluid through at least a first nozzle;
a camera communicatively coupled to the lab deposition system, the camera configured to provide real-time feedback information of at least the first fluid ejected through the first nozzle, the graphical user interface enabling a user to adjust waveform parameters of a first drive pulse delivered to the first nozzle based on the real-time feedback information, and
a drop watcher communicatively coupled to the camera and a waveform editor, the drop watcher configured to display real-time still images and video images of the first fluid jetting through the first nozzle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface further comprises:
the waveform editor configured to adjust the waveform parameters.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the waveform parameters comprise at least one of a voltage level, a slew rate, a duration, a plurality of segments, a frequency, and a width of the first drive pulse delivered to the first nozzle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the waveform editor is further configured to adjust the voltage level of the first drive pulse in step-wise increments.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the first drive pulse comprises a jetting waveform and a non-jetting waveform.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the waveform editor is further configured to adjust the non-jetting waveform by applying a low amplitude pulse to the first nozzle to move a meniscus of a fluid drop of the first fluid without ejecting the fluid drop.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the waveform editor is further configured to adjust the waveform parameters to add or subtract waveform segments.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the graphical user interface is further configured to provide the waveform editor and the drop watcher simultaneously to a user.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface further comprises:
a cartridge install interface configured to provide information to execute physical installation of a fluid cartridge;
a print pattern selection interface configured to select a predetermined print pattern;
a substrate load/unload interface configured to load or unload a substrate; and
a print setup interface configured to adjust cartridge settings.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, further comprising a storage unit communicatively coupled to the computer system, the storage unit configured to store a plurality of predetermined drive pulses; and wherein the waveform editor is further configured to select one of the stored predetermined drive pulses.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the substrate load/unload interface is further configured to receive user adjustment of at least one of a platen temperature and a substrate thickness, and to enable or disable a platen vacuum.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the print setup interface is further configured to adjust a cartridge temperature.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the print setup interface is further configured to create and adjust one or more cleaning cycles to perform maintenance of the first nozzle.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the print pattern selection interface further comprises a pattern editor configured to adjust a first predetermined pattern or create a new pattern.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the pattern editor is further configured to adjust at least one of a substrate height, a substrate width, a pattern block starting X-coordinate, a pattern block starting Y-coordinate, a pattern block height, a pattern block width, a pattern block drop position starting X-coordinate, a pattern block drop position Y-coordinate, a pattern block drop position height, and a pattern block drop position width.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

A system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to control jetting of a second fluid through a second nozzle.

### Claim 17

A method comprising:
providing a graphical user interface on a computer system, the graphical user interface configured to control waveform parameters that affect jetting of a first fluid through a plurality of nozzles;
applying a first drive pulse to a first nozzle to effect jetting of the first fluid through the first nozzle;
capturing a real-time visual feedback information of the first fluid being ejected through the first nozzle; and
adjusting a plurality of waveform parameters of the first drive pulse delivered to the first nozzle to control jetting of the first fluid through the first nozzle based on the captured visual feedback information,
wherein capturing the real-time visual feedback information comprises capturing still images and video images of the first fluid jetting through the first nozzle.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein adjusting the plurality waveform parameters comprises adjusting at least one of a voltage level, a slew rate, a duration, a plurality of segments, a frequency, and a width of the first drive pulse applied to the first nozzle.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein adjusting the plurality of waveform parameters further comprises adjusting the voltage level of the first drive pulse applied to the first nozzle in step-wise increments.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein adjusting the waveform parameters further comprises adjusting the waveform parameters of a jetting waveform and a non-jetting waveform.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein adjusting the waveform parameters of the non-jetting waveform further comprises applying a low amplitude pulse to the first nozzle to move a meniscus of a fluid drop of the first fluid without ejecting the fluid drop.

### Claim 22 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein adjusting the waveform parameters further comprises adding or subtracting waveform segments to the first drive pulse.

### Claim 23 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein providing the graphical user interface further comprises:
providing a guide for physically installing a fluid cartridge through a cartridge install interface;
selecting a predetermined print pattern using a print pattern selection interface;
loading or unloading a substrate using a substrate load/unload interface; and
adjusting cartridge settings using a print setup interface.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, wherein loading or unloading a substrate further comprises adjusting a platen temperature and a substrate thickness and enabling or disabling a platen vacuum.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, wherein adjusting the cartridge settings further comprises adjusting a cartridge temperature.

### Claim 26 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, wherein adjusting the cartridge settings further comprises creating or adjusting one or more cleaning cycles to perform maintenance of the first nozzle.

### Claim 27 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, wherein adjusting the cartridge settings further comprises editing a predetermined print pattern or creating a new print pattern.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, wherein editing the predetermined print pattern or creating the new print pattern further comprises adjusting at least one of a substrate height, a substrate width, a pattern block starting X-coordinate, a pattern block starting Y-coordinate, a pattern block height, a pattern block width, a pattern block drop position starting X-coordinate, a pattern block drop position Y-coordinate, a pattern block drop position height, and a pattern block drop position width.

### Claim 29 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprises providing a storage unit for storing a plurality of predetermined drive pulses; and wherein adjusting the plurality of waveform parameters further comprises selecting the first drive pulse from the predetermined drive pulses stored in the storage unit.

### Claim 30 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising:
applying a second drive pulse to a second nozzle to effect jetting of a second fluid through the second nozzle;
capturing real-time visual feedback information of the second fluid being ejected through the second nozzle; and
adjusting a plurality of waveform parameters of the second drive pulse delivered to the second nozzle to control jetting of the second fluid through the second nozzle based on the captured visual feedback information.

### Claim 31

A computer-readable medium containing instructions to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
executing a graphical user interface on a computer system, the graphical user interface configured to control waveform parameters that affect jetting of a plurality of fluids through a plurality of nozzles;
applying a first drive pulse to a first nozzle to effect jetting of a first fluid through the first nozzle;
capturing real-time visual feedback information of the first fluid being ejected through the first nozzle; and
adjusting a plurality of waveform parameters of the first drive pulse delivered to the first nozzle to control jetting of the first fluid through the first nozzle based on the captured real-time visual feedback information, wherein capturing the real-time visual feedback information comprises capturing still images and video images of the first fluid jetting through the first nozzle.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The medium of claim 31, in which the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising adjusting at least one of a voltage level, a slew rate, a duration, a plurality of segments, a frequency, and a width of the first drive pulse applied to the first nozzle.

### Claim 33 (depends on 31)

The medium of claim 31, in which the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising adjusting the voltage level of the first drive pulse applied to the first nozzle in step-wise increments.

### Claim 34 (depends on 31)

The medium of claim 31, in which the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising adjusting the waveform parameters of a jetting waveform and a non-jetting waveform of the first drive pulse.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The medium of claim 34, in which the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising adjusting the waveform parameters of the non-jetting waveform by applying a low amplitude pulse to the first nozzle to move a meniscus of a fluid drop of the first fluid without ejecting the fluid drop.

### Claim 36 (depends on 31)

The medium of claim 31, in which the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising adding or subtracting waveform segments to the first drive pulse.

### Claim 37 (depends on 32)

The medium of claim 32, in which the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
providing a guide for physically installing a fluid cartridge through a cartridge install interface;
selecting a predetermined print pattern using a print pattern selection interface;
loading or unloading a substrate using a substrate load/unload interface; and
adjusting cartridge settings using a print setup interface.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The medium of claim 37, in which the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising loading or unloading a substrate including adjusting a platen temperature and a substrate thickness and enabling or disabling a platen vacuum.

### Claim 39 (depends on 37)

The medium of claim 37, in which the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising adjusting the cartridge settings including adjusting a cartridge temperature.

### Claim 40 (depends on 37)

The medium of claim 37, in which the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising adjusting the cartridge settings including creating or adjusting one or more cleaning cycles to perform maintenance of the first nozzle.

### Claim 41 (depends on 37)

The medium of claim 37, in which the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising adjusting the cartridge settings including editing a predetermined print pattern or creating a new print pattern.

### Claim 42 (depends on 31)

The medium of claim 31, in which the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising storing a plurality of predetermined drive pulses; and selecting the first drive pulse from the predetermined drive pulses stored in a storage unit.

### Claim 43 (depends on 42)

The medium of claim 42, in which the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising editing the predetermined print pattern or creating the new print pattern including adjusting at least one of a substrate height, a substrate width, a pattern block starting X-coordinate, a pattern block starting Y-coordinate, a pattern block height, a pattern block width, a pattern block drop position starting X-coordinate, a pattern block drop position Y-coordinate, a pattern block drop position height, and a pattern block drop position width.

### Claim 44 (depends on 31)

The medium of claim 31, in which the instructions cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
applying a second drive pulse to a second nozzle to effect jetting of a second fluid through the second nozzle;
capturing real-time visual feedback information of the second fluid being ejected through the second nozzle; and
adjusting a plurality of waveform parameters of the second drive pulse delivered to the second nozzle to control jetting of the second fluid through the second nozzle based on the captured visual feedback information.