Printed electronics matures in medical electronics field to show (1)

Printed electronics printed electronics) application areas is increasing, this technology can be combined with liquid functional materials and advanced printing equipment to create Semiconductor components and circuits.

Use this method to make it out of the device is functionally similar to traditional silicon-based technology of similar products, but costs less, and has a large number of unique characteristics, from micro "smart tags" to life-size medical imaging equipment, such as a large number of newly created opportunities for electronic applications.

Printing technology

Printing semiconductor technology built on a variety of mature, similar printing technology that can greatly increase productivity.

Traditional graphic arts can only be fully dependent on Visual judgement, and electronic products it requires precise electrical, mechanical and optical properties. Regardless of the choice of printing technology, printed electronics companies need advanced equipment and processes.

In fact, any printing technologies are applied to semiconductor manufacturing, however some process may be more suitable for a specific material or application.

Each technology has its own advantages and drawbacks. In the production of a single device, you can combine a variety of printing technology.

Inkjet printing

Printed electronics in one of the most common technique is ink-jet printing.

Typical inkjet printing several printing head (are used in different colors or inks), each with dozens of micro-nozzles, ink-jet to the substrate. Since this is a fully digital technology, it does not require any processing. An electronic design can be directly converted to a printed document. It is ideal for rapid prototyping and customized batch production, can also be used for high-volume environments.

Ink-jet printing has many advantages, for example, the resolution is very high (80-I1/4m to 100-I1/4m line), flexibility, lower cost, and with almost all types of substrate compatible.

Printed electronics promotes the further development of equipment, the latest inkjet head can handle 20-I1/4m feature dimensions, which greatly extends the inkjet technology in the electronics field.

Screen printing

Another commonly used printing electronic technology is screen printing (screen printing).

Screen usually consists of fine woven porous fabric or metal plate shelf stretch of metal mesh. There is a template at the top of the screen (stencil) sealed ink should not be crossed in the mesh. Screen placed at the top of the substrate, and then use the ink. Use a rubber blade in the permeability of screen area of the screen scraping and hanging off the screen.

Screen printing can be used in conjunction with a variety of substrates.

It can be single deposition thickness film, but cannot be used to thin-film deposition positively. Screen printing was once considered a resolution very low technology, State-of-the-art screen to achieve small to 40 I1/4m feature dimensions, edge sharpness than inkjet technology.

Nano imprint lithography

Nano imprint lithography (nanoimprint lithography) is a new technology for printed electronics.

Nano imprint lithography is based on traditional printing in lithography, starting from the 3-d imprint.

First of all in the substrate rotating coating or trickle a layer of liquid photoresist materials.

Then the print template (stamp) on the photoresist (Figure 1A), and then use heat baking or ultraviolet radiation hardened for materials (Figure 1B). And then remove the template (figure 1c), then the hardened photoresist on the template pattern shapes. Resist the residual part can then be etched away (figure 1d)