Announcing NeuralJet™: High-precision inkjet manufacturing technology using AI

NeuralJet™ is a high-precision inkjet manufacturing technology achieved through advanced control techniques and AI. Rather than individually modeling the numerous error factors such as print operation errors, nozzle individuality, head assembly errors, and nozzle state changes, a single AI model absorbs them all. This enables high-precision ejection using general-purpose piezo chips while achieving a technical configuration suitable for mass production and widespread adoption.

Elephantech will start mass production of printed circuit boards (PCBs) using this technology from 2025, and will also expand into applications other than PCBs such as semiconductor post-processes and displays.

Key Feature 1: Ultra-high precision inkjet technology using general-purpose piezo chips

Using a proprietary printer with general-purpose piezo chips, extremely high printing accuracy has been achieved, such as “average drop position error of less than 2µm^*1” and “100% drop landing of 20µm droplets into 40µm grooves and wells^*2“.

Key Feature 2: Integrated proprietary AI model that runs on local computing resources

Rather than modeling and solving individual errors, a proprietary integrated AI model models and absorbs all types of errors. By having AI learn and correct for process and assembly variations in MEMS and more, high accuracy is achieved while building a lightweight model that runs on local computing resources^*3.

Key Feature 3: Fluid control and machine control optimized for easy AI modeling

Unlike the previous paradigm of “achieving absolute accuracy”, fluid control and machine control optimized for “ease of AI modeling” enable high accuracy with a lightweight model.

Key Feature 4: Practical manufacturing system backed by mass production experience

Leveraging the experience of being the only company in the world^*4 to successfully mass-produce PCBs using inkjet printing of metal nanoparticle ink, a practical manufacturing system usable in mass production sites has been built.

*1: Average drop landing error of 1.74µm (validation set not used for learning) for 643 droplets randomly placed within an 80mm square work.
*2: 2596 points of 4.8pL droplets ejected into 40µm wide grooves with no adhesion outside the grooves.
*3: GPU etc. corresponding to equipment scale required.
*4: Elephantech research, as of announcement date.

For more details, please refer to this(PDF).

Company Overview

Name	Elephantech Inc.
Establishment	January 2014
Headquarters	4-3-8 Hatchobori, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0032, Japan
Representative	Shinya Shimizu, Representative Director & CEO
Business Description	Development of printed electronics manufacturing technology and provision of related services