Impact Piezo-Driven Micro Dispenser and Precise MiniatureXYStage

Abstract

<div class=""abs_img""> <img src=""[disp_template_path]/JRM/abst-image/00270003/05.jpg"" width=""340"" />Micro dispense mechanism</div> Recently, micro-droplet dispensation has been required in printed-electronics (PE) technology. Devices with micro dispensing mechanism are of key importance in achieving a higher performance with these products. In fact, it is very difficult for the conventional dispenser to squeeze highly viscous liquid with picoliter resolution. This paper describes the development of a dispensing mechanism comprising a dispensing device andXYstage, both driven by the piezo impulsive force. The dispensing device is mainly composed of a pipette and a taper needle that is driven by a piezoelectric element. When the needle passes through the pipette, a droplet of the liquid adheres to the needle-tip end. A micro droplet can be transcribed to a target surface by bringing the droplet at the needle-tip end in contact with the target surface. On the contrary, in theXYstage, the small tables on the V-shaped grooves can be driven by the impulsive force generated by the mass connected to the piezoelectric element. TheXstage is stacked on theYstage, which allows fine positioning in the plane. In the experiment, an array of a small amount of 0.2-picoliter droplets was successfully developed on the glass plate.