Patent ID: 8227258

Claim:
A method of dispensing a liquid material, comprising the steps of: (a) moving a liquid delivery apparatus having liquid material contained in a cavity toward a predetermined location until a droplet of liquid material formed on a tip of the liquid delivery apparatus contacts the predetermined location; (b) providing light from a light source directed at the liquid material and measuring the intensity of light during step (a); (c) monitoring step (a) in real-time based on the measured light intensity; (d) moving the liquid delivery apparatus away from the predetermined location such that the liquid material elongates and moving the liquid delivery apparatus horizontally along a predetermined area after the liquid material elongates, while the liquid material is continuously dispensed, to generate a line of liquid material; (e) measuring the intensity of light during step (d); and (f) monitoring step (d) in real-time based on the measured light intensity from step (e).