Device and method for fabricating display panel having ink-jet printing applied thereto

Abstract

A device and method for fabricating a display panel having ink-jet printing applied thereto is disclosed, in which it is possible to simplify fabricating process steps and to reduce production cost, and to prevent pattern failure. The device includes a stag having a hole and supporting a substrate; one or more ink-jet heads having nozzles spraying pattern forming solution onto the substrate; and one or more cameras positioned below the stage so as to monitor the nozzles through the holes.

1 - 7 . (canceled)  
     
     
         8 . A method of fabricating a display panel, comprising: 
 setting one or more ink-jet heads on a head supporting device;    rotating the one or more ink-jet heads with respect to the head supporting device to a predetermined angle corresponding to an interval between patterns intended to be formed onto a substrate; and    spraying patterns forming solution onto the substrate through one or more nozzles of the one or more ink-jet heads.    
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein rotating the one or more ink-jet heads with respect to the head supporting device comprises rotating the one or more ink-jet heads with respect to the head supporting device to a greater angle with respect to a length direction of the patterns as the interval between patterns decreases.  
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein a number of ink-jet heads corresponds to a number of patterns intended to be formed on the substrate.  
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the pattern forming solution comprises a solution for forming a pattern corresponding to one of a color filter layer, an alignment film, fluorescent material, electrodes, or a dielectric layer.  
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the substrate comprises one of a transparent glass substrate or a plastic substrate coated with indium tin oxide.  
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 arranging the substrate on a stage.    
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 moving the stage and thus the substrate during the spraying step.    
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 aligning one or more marks provided on the substrate with one or more holes provided on the stage.    
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising monitoring the one or more nozzles of the one or more ink-jet heads through one or more holes provided on the stage using one or more imaging devices.  
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 monitoring positions of the one or more nozzles of the one or more ink-jet heads by monitoring grids having a predetermined interval corresponding to the interval between patterns intended to be formed onto the substrate.    
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 performing a dummy patterning process for testing the one or more nozzles of the one or more ink-jet heads before spraying the pattern forming solution onto the substrate.    
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising performing a heat treatment process for hardening the pattern forming solution after spraying the pattern forming solution onto the substrate.  
     
     
         20 . Apparatus for fabricating a display panel, comprising: 
 a head supporting device;    one or more ink-jet heads configured to be supported by the head supporting device and each having one or more nozzles configured to spray pattern forming solution onto a substrate; and    a head control device interposed between each of the one or more ink-jet heads and the head support device and configured to rotate the respective ink-jet head with respect to the head supporting device.    
     
     
         21 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the head control device rotates the respective ink-jet head to a predetermined angle corresponding to an interval between patterns intended to be formed onto a substrate.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the head control device rotates the respective ink-jet head to a greater angle with respect to a length direction of the patterns as the interval between patterns decreases.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the head supporting device is configured to move in an up/down direction to control a distance between the one or more ink-jet heads and a substrate.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , further comprising a stage for supporting a substrate.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the stage is configured to be movable in a left/right direction.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the stage comprises one or more holes.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the one or more holes are configured to be aligned with align marks on a substrate.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 26 , further comprising one or more imaging devices configured to monitor the one or more nozzles through the one or more holes.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the one or more imaging devices comprise one or more cameras.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 28 , further comprising one or more display devices in communication with the one or more imaging devices.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the pattern forming solution comprises a solution for forming a pattern corresponding to one of a color filter layer, an alignment film, fluorescent material, electrodes, or a dielectric layer.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein a number of ink-jet heads corresponds to a number of patterns intended to be formed on a substrate.