A laser irradiation apparatus (1) according to one embodiment includes a laser generating device (14) that generates a laser beam, a flotation unit (10) that causes a workpiece (16) that is to be irradiated with the laser beam to float, and a conveying unit (11) that conveys the floating workpiece (16). The conveying unit (11) conveys the workpiece (16) with the conveying unit (11) holding the workpiece (16) at a position where the conveying unit (11) does not overlap an irradiation position (15) of the laser beam. The laser irradiation apparatus (1) according to one embodiment makes it possible to suppress uneven irradiation with a laser beam.

A method of forming a material layer on a substrate comprises loading a substrate into a printing zone of a coating system using a substrate handler, printing an organic ink material on a substrate while the substrate is located in the printing zone, transferring the substrate from the printing zone to a treatment zone of the coating system, treating the organic ink material deposited on the substrate in the treatment zone to form a film layer on the substrate, and removing the substrate from the treatment zone using the substrate handler.

Provided is a coating apparatus including: a stage unit which floats the substrate to a predetermined height by using wind pressure of gas; a droplet discharge unit which drops the droplet of the functional liquid on the substrate floated to the predetermined height from the stage unit; a main scanning direction moving unit which moves the substrate, which is floated to the predetermined height from the stage unit, in the main scanning direction while holding the substrate; and a sub-scanning direction moving unit which moves the droplet discharge unit in the sub-scanning direction with respect to the substrate floated to the predetermined height from the stage unit. The sub-scanning direction moving unit moves the droplet discharge unit in the sub-scanning direction while the main scanning direction moving unit repeatedly moves the substrate in the main scanning direction and the droplet discharge unit repeatedly drops the droplet.

A coating can be provided on a substrate. Fabrication of the coating can include forming a solid layer in a specified region of the substrate while supporting the substrate in a coating system using a gas cushion. For example, a liquid coating can be printed over the specified region while the substrate is supported by the gas cushion. The substrate can be held for a specified duration after the printing the patterned liquid. The substrate can be conveyed to a treatment zone while supported using the gas cushion. The liquid coating can be treated to provide the solid layer including continuing to support the substrate using the gas cushion.

A method of forming a material layer on a substrate comprises loading a substrate into a printing zone of a coating system using a substrate handler, printing an organic ink material on a substrate while the substrate is located in the printing zone, transferring the substrate from the printing zone to a treatment zone of the coating system, treating the organic ink material deposited on the substrate in the treatment zone to form a film layer on the substrate, and removing the substrate from the treatment zone using the substrate handler.

A substrate supporting and transferring apparatus and associated methods, the apparatus including a shuttle configured to move in a x-direction and a y-direction, the y-direction being perpendicular to the x-direction; a lower wedge block on the shuttle, the lower wedge block including a lower surface that is parallel with an upper surface of the shuttle and an upper surface that is inclined with respect to the lower surface of the lower wedge block; an upper wedge block on the lower wedge block, the upper wedge block including a lower surface that is parallel with the upper surface of the lower wedge block and an upper surface that is parallel with the upper surface of the shuttle; and a chuck on the upper wedge block, the chuck being configured to support a substrate.

A laser irradiation apparatus (1) according to one embodiment includes a laser generating device (14) that generates a laser beam, a flotation unit (10) that causes a workpiece (16) that is to be irradiated with the laser beam to float, and a conveying unit (11) that conveys the floating workpiece (16). The conveying unit (11) conveys the workpiece (16) with the conveying unit (11) holding the workpiece (16) at a position where the conveying unit (11) does not overlap an irradiation position (15) of the laser beam. The laser irradiation apparatus (1) according to one embodiment makes it possible to suppress uneven irradiation with a laser beam.

A substrate supporting and transferring apparatus and associated methods, the apparatus including a shuttle configured to move in a x-direction and a y-direction, the y-direction being perpendicular to the x-direction; a lower wedge block on the shuttle, the lower wedge block including a lower surface that is parallel with an upper surface of the shuttle and an upper surface that is inclined with respect to the lower surface of the lower wedge block; an upper wedge block on the lower wedge block, the upper wedge block including a lower surface that is parallel with the upper surface of the lower wedge block and an upper surface that is parallel with the upper surface of the shuttle; and a chuck on the upper wedge block, the chuck being configured to support a substrate.

A substrate transfer apparatus includes at least one levitation plate extending in a first direction, a first suction mover configured to be moved in the first direction along a side of the at least one levitation plate, and including a first suction pad configured to selectively suction a first part of a lower surface of a substrate, and a first rotation driving portion configured to rotate the first suction pad about a first central axis, and a second suction mover disposed to be spaced apart from the first suction mover, and configured to be moved in the first direction along the side of the at least one levitation plate, and including a second suction pad configured to selectively suction a second part of the lower surface of the substrate, and a second rotation driving portion configured to rotate the second suction pad about a second central axis.

Provided is a coating apparatus including: a stage unit which floats the substrate to a predetermined height by using wind pressure of gas; a droplet discharge unit which drops the droplet of the functional liquid on the substrate floated to the predetermined height from the stage unit; a main scanning direction moving unit which moves the substrate, which is floated to the predetermined height from the stage unit, in the main scanning direction while holding the substrate; and a sub-scanning direction moving unit which moves the droplet discharge unit in the sub-scanning direction with respect to the substrate floated to the predetermined height from the stage unit. The sub-scanning direction moving unit moves the droplet discharge unit in the sub-scanning direction while the main scanning direction moving unit repeatedly moves the substrate in the main scanning direction and the droplet discharge unit repeatedly drops the droplet.