MICROLIGHT: Microsystem based exposure and light control system

• Forschungsstelle: EU FRP
• Projektnummer: 96.0227
• Projekttitel Englisch: MICROLIGHT: Microsystem based exposure and light control system

Schlüsselwörter (Englisch)

Exposure technology; micromechanical shutters; microlenses; UV- light distribution

Alternative Projektnummern (Englisch)

EU project number: EP 23.304

Forschungsprogramme (Englisch)

EU-programme: 4. Frame Research Programme - 1.3 Telematic systems

Kurzbeschreibung (Englisch)

See abstract

Partner und Internationale Organisationen (Englisch)

LMX A/S (DK), Carl Zeiss Jena (D), Drescher Geschäftsdrucke GmbH (D), Greenshires Ltd (UK)

Abstract (Englisch)

In the printing industry, the traditional way of preparing offset printing plates involves two steps: film making followed by plate making. The objective of the project is to develop a new exposure technology to expose printing plates directly from a computer contolled system, thereby eliminating the intermediate film making process.

CSEM develops one of the most innovative components of the exposure system, the so-called LSA (Light Switch Array) modules. These are microsystems, including microshutter arrays operating in transmission mode and corresponding optics, which will create arrays of addressable 20-mm light spots with a resolution of 10 mm. The microshutters are mechanically moving devices made of free-standing polysilicon.

The main results obtained in this second period of the project concern the fabrication and test of large shutter arrrays (600 shutters), and the construction and test of complete LSA modules with operational and addressable shutter arrays. This has allowed us to demonstrate the feasibility of creating a digital image in transmission mode.

A new shutter design has been introduced (called « rolling beam »), which overcomes a number of problems encountered whith the first design, and which has allowed us to demonstrate the main requirements : 34 mm lateral displacement, 40 ms flight time, lifetime of over 6 billion switching cycles. . Extensive testing has been done to identify the failure modes and to identify the design changes needed. It has been proven that the lifetime of the shutter arrays is limited by in-use stiction effects. In order to enhance the lifetime by at least a factor of 5 it will be necessary to apply specific coatings to the shutter arrays or to make a new contactless design.

In parrallel to the shutter array development,18 complete modules have been build and some of them have been used in operation at the Drupa exposition, the biggest worldfair of the press industry. It has been shown that the integration of the modules in the prototype platesetter works perfectly well and 200 demonstrations (printing of an image) have been made during the fair.
These results have demonstrated the technical feasibility of the new computer to plate writing concept. The response from the demonstration of the technology at DRUPA confirmed the interest from the market. The major remaining technical issue is to extend the lifetime of the devices.

Datenbankreferenzen (Englisch)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 96.0227