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US 9,211,695 B2Granted
Low-cost measurement system for photopolymer film polymerization monitoring
AssigneePalo Alto Research Center Incorporated
InventorChristopher Paulson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A monitoring device includes a light source, an optical filter, and an optical detector. The monitoring device may monitor curing processes, such as ultraviolet (UV) curing processes to determine the progression of the level of cure of a light-activated material to a substrate. The light source emits light toward a light-activated material, such as a film, and/or a substrate. The optical filter is positioned so that a wavelength of the light is transmitted through the optical filter after the light is reflected off of the substrate and/or the film. The optical detector is positioned to detect the light that is transmitted through the optical filter.
Claims22
A sensor, comprising:
- a light source that is configured to emit infrared light towards an ultraviolet light-activated film during a curing process to cure the ultraviolet-activated film to a substrate, the ultraviolet light-activated film forming a continuous layer on the substrate;
- an optical filter positioned so that a wavelength of the light is transmitted through the optical filter after the infrared light is reflected off of the substrate at an ultraviolet light activated film-substrate boundary and the ultraviolet light-activated film at an air-ultraviolet light activated film boundary during the curing process;
- and
- an optical detector positioned to detect the infrared light reflected off of the ultraviolet light activated film-substrate boundary and the air-ultraviolet light-activated film boundary that is transmitted through the optical filter;
- wherein the sensor is configured to determine a level of cure of the ultraviolet light-activated film to the substrate, the level of cure determined in real-time during the curing process, the level of cure based on the detected infrared light reflected off of the ultraviolet light activated film-substrate boundary and the air-ultraviolet light activated film boundary.
2 more elements
A method, comprising:
- emitting infrared light from a light source toward an ultraviolet light-activated film layered on a substrate at an angle between 0° and 20° with respect to an axis normal to the ultraviolet light-activated film and the substrate, the infrared light emitted during a curing process of curing the ultraviolet light-activated film to the substrate;
- detecting, during the curing process, reflected infrared light reflected off of the substrate at an ultraviolet light-activated film-substrate boundary and the ultraviolet light-activated film at the air-ultraviolet light-activated film boundary;
- measuring, in real-time during the curing process, the intensity of the light reflected off of the substrate at the ultraviolet light-activated film-substrate boundary and the light reflected off of the ultraviolet light-activated film at the air-ultraviolet light-activated film boundary;
- and
- determining, in real-time during the curing process, a level of cure of the ultraviolet light-activated film based at least in part on the measured intensity of the light reflected off of the substrate at the ultraviolet light-activated film-substrate boundary and the light reflected off of the ultraviolet light-activated film at the air-ultraviolet light-activated film boundary.
2 more elements
A sensor, comprising:
- an infrared light source that is configured to emit infrared light towards an ultraviolet light-activated resin film during a curing process to cure the ultraviolet-activated film to a substrate, the ultraviolet light-activated film forming a continuous layer on the substrate, the ultraviolet light-activated resin positioned to receive the infrared light at an angle with respect to an axis that is normal to the substrate and that reflects infrared light off of the substrate at an ultraviolet light-activated resin film-substrate boundary and off of the ultraviolet light-activated resin film at an air-ultraviolet light-activated resin film boundary;
- an optical filter positioned to receive the infrared light reflected off of the substrate at the ultraviolet light-activated resin film-substrate boundary and off of the ultraviolet light-activated resin film at the air-ultraviolet light-activated resin film boundary;
- and
- an optical detector positioned such that the infrared light reflected off of the substrate and off of the ultraviolet light-activated resin film is received by the optical filter and is detected by the optical detector;
- wherein the sensor is configured to determine a level of cure of the ultraviolet light-activated resin film based on the detected infrared light reflected off of the substrate and off of the ultraviolet light-activated resin film.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.