Abstract: An apparatus for removing contaminants from a display device is disclosed. In one embodiment, an auxiliary chamber is adapted to be coupled to a surface of a display device such that contaminants within the display device can travel from the display device into the auxiliary chamber. A getter is disposed in the auxiliary chamber. The getter is adapted to capture the contaminants once the contaminants travel from the display device into the auxiliary chamber. In other embodiments, the getter is disposed in the border region surrounding the active area of the display.

Abstract: A light-emitting device (42, 68, 80, 90, or 100) suitable for a flat-panel CRT display contains a plate (54), a light-emissive region (56), and a light-reflective layer (60 or 70). The light-emitting device achieves one or more of the following characteristics by suitably implementing the light-reflective layer or/and providing one or more layers (72, 82, 92, and 100) along the light-reflective layer: (a) reduced electron energy loss as electrons pass through the light-reflective layer, (b) gettering along the light-reflective layer, (c) reduced secondary electron emission along the light-reflective layer, (d) reduced electron backscattering along the light-reflective layer, and (e) reduced chemical reactivity along the light-reflective layer.

Abstract: A spacer (140) suitable for use in a flat panel display is formed with ceramic, transition metal, and oxygen. At least part of the oxygen is bonded to the transition metal or/and constituents of the ceramic to form a uniform electrically resistive material having a resistivity of 105-1010 ohm-cm and a secondary electron emission coefficient of less than 2 at 2 kilovolts.

Abstract: A light-emitting device (52, 80, 110, 128, or 130) suitable for a flat-panel cathode-ray tube display contains a light-emissive region (66) formed over a plate (64). The light-emissive region contains a plurality of light-emissive particles (72). Part of the outer surface of each light-emissive particle is conformally covered with one or more coatings (74, 82, 84, 112, and 114). The coatings variously provide light-reflection, gettering, intensity-enhancement, and contrast-enhancement functions.

Abstract: A pair of plate structures (40 and 44), such as a baseplate structure and a faceplate structure of a flat-panel display, are sealed to each other by first attaching the plate structures to each other, typically at multiple attachment locations, in a non-vacuum environment. The plate structures are then hermetically sealed to each other, typically through an outer wall (44) or/and typically by gap jumping, in a vacuum environment.

Abstract: A flat panel display that has internal components that are cleaned using a dry cleaning treatment. The cleaned internal components include a matrix structure, a focus structure and a support structure. The dry cleaning treatment removes contaminants from the surfaces of the internal components. By cleaning the internal components, contaminants are removed that can deleteriously affect the performance of the display. The cleaned support structure has uniform resistance and does not produce spatially nonuniform resistivity over time. This prevents regions of the visible display that are not properly illuminated and minimizes the possibility of arcing.

Abstract: An encapsulated matrix structure and formation method for preventing contamination caused by thermally induced outgassing and electron stimulated desorption of contaminants. In one embodiment, the present invention is comprised of a matrix structure which is adapted to be coupled to a faceplate of a flat panel display. The matrix structure is located on the faceplate so as to separate adjacent sub-pixel regions. The present embodiment further includes a contaminant prevention structure which covers the matrix structure. The contaminant prevention structure of the present embodiment has a physical structure such that contaminants originating within the matrix structure are confined therein. The contaminant prevention structure can also be designed to prevent electrons from impinging on the black matrix and desorbing contaminants. In so doing, the present invention prevents deleterious thermally induced outgassing and electron stimulated desorption of contaminants by the matrix structure.

Abstract: A flat panel display and a method for forming a flat panel display. In one embodiment, the flat panel display includes a wall which is held in place by a structure formed either on the faceplate or on the backplate. In one embodiment the supporting structure is formed by two adjacent walls that form a slot which mechanically restrains the wall. In another embodiment a slot is formed within the faceplate and the walls of the slot mechanically restrain the wall. In one embodiment wall segments are inserted into supporting structures that mechanically restrain each wall segment. In another embodiment a UV curable or a heat curable adhesive is used to maintain walls in their proper alignment and position. In yet another embodiment a conductive material is melted so as to bond conductive lines located on the wall and conductive lines located on the faceplate.

Abstract: A flat panel display and a method for forming a flat panel display. In one embodiment, the flat panel display includes a wall which is held in place by a structure formed either on the faceplate or on the backplate. In one embodiment the supporting structure is formed by two adjacent walls that form a slot which mechanically restrains the wall. In another embodiment a slot is formed within the faceplate and the walls of the slot mechanically restrain the wall. In one embodiment wall segments are inserted into supporting structures that mechanically restrain each wall segment. In another embodiment a UV curable or a heat curable adhesive is used to maintain walls in their proper alignment and position. In yet another embodiment a conductive material is melted so as to bond conductive lines located on the wall and conductive lines located on the faceplate.

Abstract: Methods and structures are provided which support spacer walls in a position which facilitates installation of the spacer walls between a faceplate structure and a backplate structure of a flat panel display. In one embodiment, spacer feet are formed at opposing ends of the spacer wall. These spacer feet can be formed of materials such as ceramic, glass and/or glass frit. The spacer feet support the corresponding spacer wall on the faceplate (or backplate) structure. Tacking electrodes can be provided on the faceplate (or backplate) structure to assert an electrostatic force on the spacer feet, thereby holding the spacer feet in place during installation of the spacer wall. The spacer wall can be mechanically and/or thermally expanded prior to attaching both ends of the spacer wall to the faceplate (or backplate) structure. The spacer wall is then allowed to contract, thereby introducing tension into the spacer wall which tends to straighten any inherent waviness in the spacer wall.

Abstract: A spacer (100 or 600/1000A/1000B) situated between a faceplate structure (301) and a backplate structure (302) of a flat panel display is configured to be self standing. In one implementation, a pair of spacer feet (111 or 113 and 112 or 114) are located over the same face surface, or over opposite face surfaces, of a spacer wall (101) near opposite ends of the wall. An edge electrode (121 or 122) is located over an edge surface of the spacer adjacent to the faceplate structure or the backplate structure. In another implementation, a spacer clip (1000A or 1000B) clamps opposite face surfaces of a spacer wall (600) largely at one end of the wall.

Abstract: A flat panel display and a method for forming a flat panel display. In one embodiment, the flat panel display includes a wall which is held in place by a structure formed either on the faceplate or on the backplate. In one embodiment the supporting structure is formed by two adjacent walls that form a slot which mechanically restrains the wall. In another embodiment a slot is formed within the faceplate and the walls of the slot mechanically restrain the wall. In one embodiment wall segments are inserted into supporting structures that mechanically restrain each wall segment. In another embodiment a UV curable or a heat curable adhesive is used to maintain walls in their proper alignment and position. In yet another embodiment a conductive material is melted so as to bond conductive lines located on the wall and conductive lines located on the faceplate.

Abstract: Encapsulated matrix structures for flat panel displays are disclosed. In one embodiment, a field emission display includes a focusing structure disposed between a faceplate and a backplate, and a contamination prevention structure covering the focusing structure thereby preventing thermal outgassing and electron desorption of contaminants from the focusing structure. In another embodiment, a flat panel display includes a faceplate (100), a matrix structure (102), a porous material layer (702), a non-porous material layer (704), and a conductive coating (706).

Abstract: Walls for a flat panel display and a method for forming walls for a flat panel display that have improved thermal conductivity and decreased thermal coefficient of resistivity. In one embodiment, walls are fabricated using alumina, molybdenum, and titania. These oxide materials (alumina and titania) are mixed with the a metal oxide and cast so as to form thin sheets of material that are then heated. The heating process reduces the metal oxides to their metallic state. The resulting thin sheets of material are then cut to form walls. This produces walls having a higher thermal conductivity than prior art walls. In addition, the thermal coefficient of resistivity of the resulting material is significantly lower than that of prior art materials used for making walls. A flat panel display having the walls of the present invention does not exhibit non-illuminated regions of the visible display due to wall-related thermal effects.

Abstract: A flat panel display and a method for forming a flat panel display. In one embodiment, the flat panel display includes a wall which is held in place by a structure formed either on the faceplate or on the backplate. In one embodiment the supporting structure is formed by two adjacent walls that form a slot which mechanically restrains the wall. In another embodiment a slot is formed within the faceplate and the walls of the slot mechanically restrain the wall. In one embodiment wall segments are inserted into supporting structures that mechanically restrain each wall segment. In another embodiment a UV curable or a heat curable adhesive is used to maintain walls in their proper alignment and position. In yet another embodiment a conductive material is melted so as to bond conductive lines located on the wall and conductive lines located on the faceplate.

Abstract: A flat panel display contains a faceplate structure (174 or 350), a backplate structure (175 or 351), and a spacer (140, 340, 0r 341). A light-emitting structure (171 or 306) is located along a faceplate (170 or 302) in the faceplate structure. An electron-emitting structure (172 or 305) is located along a backplate (173 or 303) in the backplate structure. The spacer is situated between the light-emitting and electron-emitting structures. Transition metal oxide or transition metal in oxide state is present in a ceramic core (401, 501, 0r 601) or/and a resistive skin (402, 403, 502, 503, 602, or 603) of the spacer.

Abstract: A flat panel display that has internal components that are cleaned using a dry cleaning treatment. The cleaned internal. components include a matrix structure, a focus structure and a support structure. The dry cleaning treatment removes contaminants from the surfaces of the internal components. By cleaning the internal components, contaminants are removed that can deleteriously affect the performance of the display. The cleaned support structure has uniform resistance and does not produce spatially nonuniform resistivity over time. This prevents regions of the visible display that are not properly illuminated and minimizes the possibility of arcing.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing contaminants from a display device using an auxiliary chamber, and a method for attaching the auxiliary chamber to the display device. In one embodiment, an auxiliary chamber is adapted to be coupled to a surface of a display device. The auxiliary chamber is adapted to be coupled to the surface of the display device such that contaminants within the display device can travel from the display device into the auxiliary chamber. The auxiliary chamber further includes a getter which is disposed therein. The getter is adapted to capture the contaminants once the contaminants travel from the display device into the auxiliary chamber. In so doing, the present invention eliminates the need for getter material to be placed within the active area of the display device. As a result, the present invention increases the usable amount of space available within the display device. This extra space can then be utilized by features such as, for example, additional field emitters.

Abstract: A flat panel display and a method for forming a flat panel display. In one embodiment, the flat panel display includes a wall which is held in place by a structure formed either on the faceplate or on the backplate. In one embodiment the supporting structure is formed by two adjacent walls that form a slot which mechanically restrains the wall. In another embodiment a slot is formed within the faceplate and the walls of the slot mechanically restrain the wall. In one embodiment wall segments are inserted into supporting structures that mechanically restrain each wall segment. In another embodiment a UV curable or a heat curable adhesive is used to maintain walls in their proper alignment and position. In yet another embodiment a conductive material is melted so as to bond conductive lines located on the wall and conductive lines located on the faceplate.

Abstract: A composite sealing frame structure and a method for forming a composite sealing frame structure. In one embodiment, a rigid backbone component is provided with a first surface and a second surface. A first sealing material is disposed on the first surface of the rigid backbone component. A second sealing material is disposed on the second surface of the rigid backbone component. The first sealing material is adapted to seal the rigid backbone component to a first portion of a flat panel display. The second sealing material is adapted to seal the rigid backbone component to a second portion of a flat panel display such that the first portion and the second portion of the flat panel display are secured together by the rigid backbone component and the first and the second sealing material.