Dual applicator fluid dispensing methods and systems

Abstract

Systems for dispensing fluid in a first fluid pattern at a first dispense region and in a second fluid pattern at a second dispense region on one or more electronic substrates are disclosed. The system includes a primary positioner, a secondary positioner providing movement in the X axis direction and the Y axis direction relative to the primary positioner, a first applicator for dispensing fluid while being moved by the primary positioner, a second applicator for dispensing fluid while being moved by the primary positioner and/or the secondary positioner, a camera, and a controller. The controller determines a position of the first dispense region and a position of the second dispense region, controls movement of the primary positioner and the secondary positioner, and controls the first and second applicators to simultaneously dispense the first and second fluid patterns onto the respective first and second dispense regions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dispensing system for dispensing fluid in a first fluid pattern at a first dispense region and in a second fluid pattern at a second dispense region, the first dispense region and the second dispense region being on one or more electronic substrates, the dispensing system comprising:
 a primary positioner including a first drive configured to provide movement in an X axis direction, a second drive configured to provide movement in a Y axis direction that is orthogonal to the X axis direction, the second drive including a carriage that is configured to move in the Y axis direction;   a secondary positioner coupled to the carriage of the primary positioner, the secondary positioner including a first drive configured to provide movement in the X axis direction relative to the primary positioner and a second drive configured to provide movement in the Y axis direction relative to the primary positioner;   a first applicator coupled to the carriage, the first applicator being configured to dispense fluid while being moved by the primary positioner;   a second applicator coupled to the carriage by the secondary positioner, the second applicator being configured to dispense fluid while being moved by the primary positioner, the secondary positioner, or by both the primary positioner and the secondary positioner;   a camera that is configured to capture at least one image of the first dispense region and the second dispenser region; and   a controller configured to control operation of the primary positioner, the secondary positioner, the first applicator, the second applicator, and the camera, wherein the controller is configured to:
 determine a position of the first dispense region and a position of the second dispense region based upon the at least one image; 
 control movement of the primary positioner and the secondary positioner based upon the respective positions of the first dispense region and the second dispense region; and 
 control the first and second applicators to simultaneously dispense the first and second fluid patterns onto the respective first and second dispense regions while at least one of the primary positioner and the secondary positioner are moving. 
   
     
     
         2 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine that the position of the first dispense region or the position of the second dispense region is misaligned relative to the other of the position of the first dispense region or the position of the second dispense region. 
     
     
         3 . The dispensing system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine that the position of the first dispense region or the position of the second dispense region is rotated relative to the other of the position of the first dispense region or the position of the second dispense region. 
     
     
         4 . The dispensing system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the first and second applicators to simultaneously dispense the first and second fluid patterns onto the respective first and second dispense regions while the primary positioner and the secondary positioner are moving in response to a determination that the first or the second dispense region of the one or more electronic substrates is misaligned relative to the other of the first or the second dispense region of the one or more electronic substrates. 
     
     
         5 . The dispensing system of  claim 4 , wherein, in response to the determination that the first or the second dispense region of the one or more electronic substrates is misaligned relative to the other of the first or the second dispense region of the one or more electronic substrates, the controller is further configured to move the second applicator relative to the first applicator, using the secondary positioner, in both the X axis direction and the Y axis direction. 
     
     
         6 . The dispensing system of  claim 4 , wherein the determination that the first or the second dispense region of the one or more electronic substrates is misaligned relative to the other of the first or the second dispense region of the one or more electronic substrates is based upon an identification of reference fiducials associated with the first and the second dispense regions of the one or more electronic substrates from the at least one image of the one or more electronic substrates. 
     
     
         7 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine that the position of the first dispense region and the position of the second dispense region are aligned relative to one another. 
     
     
         8 . The dispensing system of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine that the position of the first dispense region and the position of the second dispense region are not rotated relative to one another. 
     
     
         9 . The dispensing system of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the first and the second applicators to simultaneously dispense the first and the second fluid patterns onto the respective first and second dispense regions while the primary positioner is moving in response to a determination that the first or the second dispense region of the one or more electronic substrates are aligned relative one another. 
     
     
         10 . The dispensing system of  claim 9 , wherein, in response to the determination that the first or the second dispense region of the one or more electronic substrates are aligned relative one another, the controller is further configured to control movement of the second applicator together with the first applicator, using the primary positioner, in at least one of the X axis direction and the Y axis direction without providing relative movement between the first applicator and the second applicator, using the secondary positioner, in the X axis direction or the Y axis direction. 
     
     
         11 . The dispensing system of  claim 9 , wherein the determination that the first or the second dispense region of the one or more electronic substrates are aligned relative one another is based upon an identification of reference fiducials associated with the first and the second dispense regions of the one or more electronic substrates from the at least one image of the one or more electronic substrates. 
     
     
         12 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the first dispense region and the second dispense region comprise an outline of respective components on the one or more electronic substrates. 
     
     
         13 . The dispensing system of  claim 12 , wherein the first dispense region and the second dispense region are substantially identical in size and shape. 
     
     
         14 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to assign the first applicator to the first dispense region and the second applicator to the second dispense region prior to control of simultaneous dispensing of the first and second fluid patterns onto the respective first and second dispense regions. 
     
     
         15 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the primary positioner is movable with a first range of motion in the X axis direction and the Y axis direction,   the secondary positioner is movable with a second range of motion in the X axis direction and the Y axis direction, and   the second range of motion is less than the first range of motion.   
     
     
         16 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and the second drives include an electric motor. 
     
     
         17 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the primary positioner includes a support and the carriage is configured to move in the Y axis direction along bearings provided on the support. 
     
     
         18 . The dispensing system of  claim 17 , wherein the support is configured to move in the X axis direction along bearings.