Electrode Structure Or Material Patents (Class 313/491)
  • Patent number: 6459202
    Abstract: To provide a discharge lamp in which, by a simple procedure, the tip of the electrode support bar can be fitted easily into a concavity formed in the base of the electrode, and can be stably fixed to the electrode with high holding power, the discharge lamp has an electrode (13) supported by an electrode support bar (15) via the tip (15a) of the electrode support bar (15) engaging in a concavity (13a) formed in the base of the electrode, the tip of the electrode support bar (15) being provided with a slit (S) into which a spreader piece (20) is pressed to spread the slit (S). It is preferable that the electrode support bar (15) be made of molybdenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehiro Kira, Shigehisa Hagi
  • Patent number: 6452335
    Abstract: A cold-cathode electron gun includes a cold cathode, a conical Wehnelt electrode, and an undercut. The cold cathode has an emitter formed on a substrate to emit electrons,. a gate electrode formed on the substrate through a first insulating film so as to surround a distal end of the emitter, and a focusing electrode formed on the gate electrode through a second insulating film to correspond to the gate electrode. The conical Wehnelt electrode connects the focusing electrode to a first external power supply. The Wehnelt electrode has an opening, at its conical distal end, that comes into with the cold cathode to surround an emitter region including the emitter, gate electrode, and focusing electrode. The undercut is formed in a portion of the Wehnelt electrode which is to come into contact with the focusing electrode to correspond to the gate electrode, thereby forming a non-contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Shunji Tsuida
  • Patent number: 6452323
    Abstract: A luminous gas discharge display includes two opposing plates hermetically sealed by a layer of material disposed therebetween. A least one of the plates is transparent and at least one of the plates has a channel formed therein which contains an ionizable gas. A pair of electrodes communicate with the channel and are operable to ionize the gas to produce a gas discharge display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Omnion Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard W. Byrum, David M. Levison, Robert E. Carter, II, Carolyn A. Hamman
  • Publication number: 20020125815
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image display comprising: a substrate including a light function layer for displaying an image by emitting or blocking light in accordance with a supplied voltage; and a frame body for surrounding the substrate, wherein a concave portion is provided on a side surface of the substrate, a convex portion is provided on an inner side of a side surface of the frame body, and the convex portion is fitted to the concave portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventor: Naohide Wakita
  • Publication number: 20020121856
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a fluorescent lamp that includes a cathode electrode covered with an electron-emitting layer composed of a nanotube layer. In a preferred embodiment, the nanotube layer in the fluorescent lamp is a carbon nanotube layer. In another preferred embodiment, the fluorescent lamp further includes a positive electrode formed as a thin film layer covering an external tube surface of the fluorescent tube. In another preferred embodiment, the positive electrode for drawing and directing electrons emitted from the nanotube layer is a net electrode with openings for the free electrons to pass through.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2002
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Applicant: DELTA OPTOELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Chun-Hui Tsai
  • Patent number: 6445120
    Abstract: A plasma display panel in which a structure of a discharge electrode and dielectric layer is provided to generate ultraviolet rays in a positive column area includes: a plurality of first and second bus electrodes successively formed on a substrate at a predetermined interval; a plurality of first discharge electrodes formed with a plurality of first branches branched at a first width for each first bus electrode, a plurality of first centers extended from the first branches to a second width greater than the first width, and a plurality of first ends extended from the first centers to a third width smaller than the second width; a plurality of second discharge electrodes successively branched at a predetermined interval for each second bus electrode and spaced apart from the first ends; and a dielectric layer deposited on areas between the first and second discharge electrodes at a first thickness and on some areas on the first and second discharge electrodes at a second thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Sung Kim, Masahiko Tamura
  • Patent number: 6445118
    Abstract: A fluorescent lamp of the present invention includes: a first electrode section having a first filament; a second electrode section having a second filament; a fluorescent tube in which a fluorescent substance Is applied on an inner wall of the fluorescent tube; a first structure of a nonconductor provided in the fluorescent tube: and a second structure of a conductor provided in the fluorescent tube. The first structure and the second structure are provided between the first filament and the second filament.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Shimizu, Kazuaki Ohkubo, Takeshi Arakawa, Yoshinori Tanabe, Kenjiro Hashimoto, Yoko Shimomura
  • Patent number: 6441548
    Abstract: A discharging and light emitting device includes a substrate and a transparent substrate. A discharging space is formed between the substrate and the transparent substrate, and a discharging gas is enclosed in the discharging space. The substrate has an inner electrode, and the transparent substrate has an outer electrode. These substrates are placed shifted from one another so that the inner electrode and outer electrode do not overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hironobu Arimoto
  • Publication number: 20020113542
    Abstract: The invention describes a plasma picture screen, in particular an AC plasma picture screen, with enhanced luminance. The front plate (1) comprises a glass plate (3) to which a dielectric layer (4), a UV-reflecting layer (8), and a protective layer (5) are applied. The UV-reflecting layer (8) shows a high reflection in the wavelength range of the plasma emission (>172 nm) and a high transmission in the visible wavelength range. The UV-reflecting layer (8) reflects UV light (12) emitted in the direction of the front plate (1) back towards the phosphors (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: Hans-Helmut Bechtel, Thomas Juestel, Harald Glaeser, Joachim Opitz
  • Publication number: 20020105259
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an area lamp apparatus, and more specifically, a flat light source wherein a plurality of fluorescent lamps are formed within a single glass substrate. The area lamp apparatus includes front and rear substrates facing into each other and at least a portion of the front and rear substrates contacting each other, a plurality of groves in at least one of the front and rear substrates to form a plurality of discharge channels, a fluorescent layer on surfaces of the groves, a pair of side substrates attached to the front and rear substrates for sealing the discharge channels, and a pair of side electrodes on the side substrates. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Applicant: Plasmion Corporation
    Inventor: Daeil Kim
  • Publication number: 20020101151
    Abstract: Described is a plasma switched organic photoluminescent display including lower and upper plates. The lower plate includes a transparent rear substrate, a plurality of address electrodes arranged in a first direction on the transparent rear substrate like stripes in parallel each other, a white back dielectric layer on the transparent rear substrate including the address electrodes, a plurality of barrier ribs arranged in parallel each other on the white back dielectric layer between the address electrodes in the first direction, respectively, a plurality of organic photoluminescent layers on the exposed white back dielectric layer between the barrier ribs, respectively, and a plurality of photoluminescent-layer-protecting layers on the organic photoluminescent layers, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventors: Do-Hyun Choi, Kyung-Hee Choi, Byung-Hyun Byun, Seung-Jun Yi
  • Patent number: 6426590
    Abstract: A planar color lamp powered by field emission nanotube emitters and a method for fabricating such lamp are provided. The planar color lamp is constructed with a lamp chamber having at least three spaced-apart, serpentine-shaped emitter stacks formed on a base plate, and at least three spaced-apart, serpentine-shaped fluorescent coating strips formed on a cover plate wherein each of the fluorescent coating strips emits a primary color of red, green or blue when activated by electrons emitted from the nanotube emitter stacks. The nanotube emitter stacks can be advantageously formed by a low cost, thick film printing technique with a material of a mixture of a polymeric binder and nanometer dimensioned hollow fibers such as carbon, diamond or diamond-like carbon material. The present invention planar field emission color lamp provides the advantages of a backlight and color filters into a single compact package that can be fabricated at low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Feng-Yu Chung, Wen-Chun Wang, Kuang-Lung Tsai
  • Patent number: 6420826
    Abstract: Thin films of Ti—Cr—Al—O are used as a resistor material. The films are rf sputter deposited from ceramic targets using a reactive working gas mixture of Ar and O2. Resistivity values from 104 to 1010 Ohm-cm have been measured for Ti—Cr—Al—O film <1 &mgr;m thick. The film resistivity can be discretely selected through control of the target composition and the deposition parameters. The application of Ti—Cr—Al—O as a thin film resistor has been found to be thermodynamically stable, unlike other metal-oxide films. The Ti—Cr—Al—O film can be used as a vertical or lateral resistor, for example, as a layer beneath a field emission cathode in a flat panel display; or used to control surface emissivity, for example, as a coating on an insulating material such as vertical wall supports in flat panel displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Alan F. Jankowski, Anthony P. Schmid
  • Patent number: 6417621
    Abstract: A gas discharge lamp has electrodes of Ba(Ti1−xZrx)O3 with donor/acceptor dopants. Specific donor/acceptor combinations, an optimized content of zirconium and an optimized atomic ratio between the cations leads to ferroelectric ceramic exhibiting high values of the remnant polarization Pr and the dielectric constant &ggr;r, as well as rectangular hysteresis loop and low coercive field strengths Ec. When an alternating voltage is applied to the ferroelectric electrodes, the non-linear properties of the electrodes bring about the ignition of the lamp as well as the continuous operation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Detlev Hennings, Oliver Steigelmann
  • Publication number: 20020079828
    Abstract: A flat type fluorescent lamp that serves as an illuminating unit and a back light of a large sized liquid crystal panel. The flat type fluorescent lamp includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first electrode formed on the first substrate, the first electrode including a plurality of protrusions, a phosphor layer formed on the second substrate, a second electrode formed on the phosphor layer, and supports selectively formed between the first substrate and the second substrate. A method for manufacturing a flat type fluorescent lamp comprising the steps of forming a first electrode with protrusions at different intervals on a first substrate, forming a barrier layer over an entire surface of the first substrate including the first electrode, forming a phosphor layer on a second substrate, forming a second electrode on the phosphor layer, selectively forming supports between the first substrate and the second substrate and bonding the first substrate to the second substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventor: Sa Kyun Rha
  • Patent number: 6411039
    Abstract: This application relates to a discharge lamp for producing dielectric impediments which has a new electrode configuration with a meandering shape. In this case, either the anode(s) or both the anode(s) and the cathode(s) are of meandering shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen mbH
    Inventors: Frank Vollkommer, Lothar Hitzschke, Simon Jerebic
  • Publication number: 20020070643
    Abstract: A lamp is constructed to include a base adapted for connecting to an electric socket to obtain electricity, a shell fastened to the base and defining with the base an air-tight space, the shell having an inside wall coated with a layer of phosphorescent coating, an electronic ballast installed in the base and adapted to convert AC power supply into DC power supply, and at least one ultraviolet light emitting diode suspended in the air-tight space and connected to the electronic ballast and adapted to produce ultraviolet light to strike the phosphorescent coating in producing visible light upon connection of the base upon connection of the electronic ballast to power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventor: Chao-Chin Yeh
  • Patent number: 6404114
    Abstract: An imaging system module comprising: a pair of high density avalanche chamber converters (11, 12) each including alternate layers (15, 16) of conducting and non-conducting material and an array of holes (17) extending through the alternate layers (15, 16), the first converter (11) having conducting elements (18) extending parallel to each other to form a first cathode on or adjacent to a face of the converter (11) and the second converter (11) having conducting elements (19) extending parallel to each other in a direction orthogonal to the conducting elements (18) to form a second cathode on or adjacent to a face of the second converter (12), and an anode (21) formed by parallel conducting elements between the first and second cathodes (18, 19). Radiation incident upon either converter (11, 12) produces an avalanche of charged particles which are attracted towards the anode (21) and the incidence of a charged particle on the anode (21) causes a current pulse in both the first and second cathodes (18, 19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Oxford Positron Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Alan Paul Jeavons
  • Patent number: 6400097
    Abstract: A low-wattage mercury vapor discharge fluorescent lamp is provided for use with existing 110V high frequency electronic ballasts. The lamp has a discharge sustaining fill gas of mercury vapor and an inert gas that does not require a starting aid. The inert gas has 40-100 vol. % krypton, balance argon, and the fill gas has a total pressure of 0.5-3 torr. The phosphor layer has a coating weight of 2.3-4.3 mg/cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Feng Jin, Thomas F. Soules, David Kachmarick
  • Publication number: 20020063512
    Abstract: A fluorescent display device capable of minimizing a variation in pitches between lead terminals and deformation thereof and attaining mounting of the device on a circuit board without soldering. The lead terminals each are bent at a distal end thereof so that the distal end is held in each of terminal holding holes of a mounting holder to hold the mounting holder therein, so that the fluorescent display device is mounted on the circuit board while keeping the mounting holder and circuit board fixed to each other through a fixing structure and keeping the lead terminals pressedly contacted with connections on the circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Applicant: Futaba Corporation
    Inventors: Soichi Shinya, Toshio Suzuki, Kazuhiko Tojo, Klaus Heynen
  • Patent number: 6388374
    Abstract: Flat radiator with dielectrically impeded discharge with an areally inhomogeneous electrode geometry for local modulation of the surface luminance, primarily for application in the field of indicating devices, for instance in motorized means of transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fuer elektrische Gluehlampen mbH
    Inventors: Frank Vollkommer, Lothar Hitzschke
  • Publication number: 20020050781
    Abstract: A flat lamp for emitting light to a surface area of a liquid crystal display device includes a bottom having a channel uniformly crossing an entire surface of the bottom, an arc-discharging gas is disposed within the channel, a cover disposed upon an upper junction surface of the bottom, the cover is coated with a fluorescent material, and an electric field generating means for generating an electric field, wherein the electric field generating means is placed along opposing lateral sides of the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Applicant: LG. Philips LCD CO., Ltd
    Inventor: Sun Kwan Eom
  • Publication number: 20020047511
    Abstract: A planar fluorescent lamp having a first panel, a second panel, a glass rim, a venting tube, and a set of electrodes. Fluorescent layers are formed on both the first panel and the second panel. The glass rim is mounted on edges of the first and second panels. A recess and a gap are formed in the glass rim; the recess is used for placing the electrodes while the gap is reserved for installing the venting tube. The first panel, the second panel, and the glass rim are so arranged so that a cavity is formed thereby. The cavity is vacuumed via the venting tube and mercury vapor and inert gas are then introduced into the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventors: Ruey-Feng Jean, Chih-Fang Chen, Kuang-Lung Tsai, Lai-Cheng Chen, Shih-Hsien Lin, Shien-Tsung Chiang, Chun-Chien Chen, Cheng-Yi Chang
  • Patent number: 6373185
    Abstract: A flat panel lamp has internal walls forming a serpentine discharge path between two internal electrodes. Two glow mode electrodes in the form of interdigitated combs are laid on the outside of the front panel of the lamp, on top of the walls. The internal electrodes are connected to a first drive circuit; the glow mode electrodes are connected to a second drive circuit, which drives them at a frequency of about 10 MHz. At high brightness, only the internal electrodes are operative; at low brightness, only the glow mode electrodes are operative; and at intermediate brightness the two sets of electrodes are alternately energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Peter Michael Tyler
  • Patent number: 6362570
    Abstract: An electrodeless fluorescent lamp employs a glass envelope made from a single linear tube filled with inert gas and mercury vapor. Phosphor and protective coatings are disposed on the inner surface of the envelope walls. An induction coil of few turns made from silver coated copper or Litz wire is wrapped around the linear tube in its axial direction. The inductively-coupled axially uniform plasma is generated inside the linear tube. The discharge electric field and current form a closed-loop path inside a tube in its axial direction. The lamp is operated at frequencies from 100 KHz to 100 MHz and RF power from 10 W to 2000 W (dependent on lamp size and number of turns). The lamp power efficiency and efficacy are comparable to those in electrodeless lamps of closed-loop shape operated with and without ferrite core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works Research and Development Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Oleg Popov, Robert Chandler
  • Patent number: 6359376
    Abstract: A fluorescent lamp 1 for exterior lighting having a discharge tube 2 of less than or equal to 26 mm outside diameter. Starting from a fluorescent lamp for interior use having a discharge tube 2 of less than or equal to 26 mm, it is possible to achieve optimum operation of the fluorescent lamp 1 in the case of exterior use by applying a thermally conducting material in the form of a coating of foil 15, 16 outside on the discharge tube 2 in the region of one or both electrodes 3, 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fuer elektrische Gluehlampen mbH
    Inventors: Andreas Hollstein, Martin Beck
  • Publication number: 20020032118
    Abstract: A light-transmitting (fluorescent) sintered body formed of specific substances different from the prior art materials, solving problems that the performance or efficiency, uses and manufacturing methods are limited which have not been solved with the prior art light-transmitting sintered body and which provides a light-emitting tube and an electric discharge lamp using a light-transmitting (fluorescent) sintered body formed of the specific substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventor: Shozo Oshio
  • Patent number: 6356019
    Abstract: A fluorescent lamp comprises a glass tubular body defining a discharge space, and first and second electrode assemblies mounted in the discharge space in opposition to each other, each of the electrode assemblies comprising a first electrode and a second electrode. Each of the first electrodes comprises a metal lead wire with an electron-emitting material disposed on a free end thereof, and each of the second electrodes comprises a cup-shaped tube coaxially surrounding one of the first electrodes and the electron-emitting material disposed on the first electrode. The second electrode tube and the electron emitting material therein form an annular gap therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: R. Kenneth Hutcherson, James A. Gotay, Joseph V. Lima, Louise D. Cleary, Philip E. Moskowitz
  • Publication number: 20020027413
    Abstract: A plasma display device having first and second substrates and a discharge gas filled therebetween includes first and second electrodes extending parallel to each other on a first substrate, and first and second discharge electrode parts extending from the first and second electrodes, respectively, so as to oppose each other. A discharge gap of a substantially constant width is formed between one of the first discharge electrode parts and one of the second discharge electrode parts, the ones opposing each other, the discharge gap being defined by first and second edge parts of the ones of the first and second discharge electrode parts, respectively. The first and second edge parts have lengths longer than widths of the ones of the first and second discharge electrode parts, the widths being measured in directions in which the first and second electrodes extend, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Applicant: FUJITSU HITACHI PLASMA DISPLAY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Kanazawa, Seiki Kuroki
  • Patent number: 6353292
    Abstract: A plasma display panel comprising plural kinds of phosphors, each of which emits a light having a different kind of color, separators which separate the plural kinds of phosphors and discharge cells having sustain electrode pairs which create discharges to create the light emissions from the phosphors. In the plasma display panel, a sustain discharge current through each sustain electrode pair in the discharge cells is set a different value according to a brightness of each light emitted from the plural kinds of phosphors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Takahiro Takamori, Tadatsugu Hirose, Shigeki Kameyama, Tomokatsu Kishi
  • Publication number: 20020024294
    Abstract: A flat fluorescent lamp has a vessel or housing including first and second substrates opposed to each other at a small distance, and having discharge gas enclosed therein. A first planar electrode layer being transparent is disposed on an inner surface of the first substrate. A second planar electrode layer is disposed on an inner surface of the second substrate, for electrical discharge in cooperation with the first planar electrode layer. First and second dielectric layers are disposed on respectively the inner surfaces of the first and second substrates to cover the first and second planar electrode layers. First and second fluorescent layers are overlaid on respectively inner surfaces of the first and second dielectric layers, for emitting electromagnetic rays upon the electrical discharge between the first and second planar electrode layers. A pattern of plural projections is formed with the inner surface of the second dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Matsukawa, Nobuo Katsuma, Yoshihiro Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Fukuda, Satoru Ikeya, Akihiko Machida
  • Patent number: 6351064
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric connection between the internal space of a flat screen and the outside by means of a conductive line of small thickness underlying a substantially thicker peripheral seal, and including an open-worked structure making its expansion easier, said open-worked structure being such that the electric connection has no rectilinear conductive section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Pixtech S.A.
    Inventor: Thierry Frayssinet
  • Publication number: 20020017853
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a plasma display panel comprising transparent electrodes and a dielectric layer covering said transparent electrodes on at least one substrate of a pair of substrates facing each other with a discharge space therebetween, the main constituent of the transparent electrodes is included in the dielectric layer. Further, the main constituent of the transparent electrode is indium oxide and indium oxide is included in the dielectric layer. By including the main constituent of the transparent electrodes in the dielectric layer, it is believed that the drop in conductivity caused by diffusion of the dielectric substance in the transparent electrodes during high-temperature processing is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventors: Noriyuki Awaji, Keiichi Betsui, Shinji Tadaki
  • Patent number: 6346770
    Abstract: A discharge device for operation in a gas at a prescribed pressure includes a cathode having a plurality of micro hollows therein, and an anode spaced from the cathode. Each of the micro hollows has dimensions selected to produce a micro hollow discharge at the prescribed pressure. Preferably, each of the micro hollows has a cross-sectional dimension that is on the order of the mean free path of electrons in the gas. Electrical energy is coupled to the cathode and the anode at a voltage and current for producing micro hollow discharges in each of the micro hollows in the cathode. The discharge device may include a discharge chamber for maintaining the prescribed pressure. A dielectric layer may be disposed on the cathode when the spacing between the cathode and the anode is greater than about the mean free path of electrons in the gas. Applications of the discharge device include fluorescent lamps, excimer lamps, flat fluorescent light sources, miniature gas lasers, electron sources and ion sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignees: Osram Sylvania, Inc., Old Dominion University
    Inventors: Karl H. Schoenbach, Wojciech W. Byszewski, Frank E. Peterkin, Amin N. Dharamsi
  • Publication number: 20020014843
    Abstract: A discharge lamp for dielectrically impeded discharge has a discharge vessel substantially in the form of a hollow cylinder whose discharge chamber is separated from at least one electrode by a dielectric; on the outer surface of the discharge chamber a spiral-shaped electrode in the form of a ribbon is disposed, which permits rays to pass through it, while on the outer surface of the discharge vessel facing inward toward the cylinder axis a second electrode is provided which is at least partially surrounded by the hollow-cylindrical surface. The surface covered by the first electrode corresponds to no more than 10% of the external surface of the discharge chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventor: Silke Reber
  • Patent number: 6342761
    Abstract: A discharge lamp having a discharge space is bounded by an external tube formed of dielectric material and by an internal tube formed of dielectric material. An external electrode is arranged proximate the external tube, and an internal electrode rests against the internal tube. The internal electrode is formed from an elastic spiral band having an external diameter that is greater than the internal diameter of the internal tube when the elastic spiral band is not compressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Heraeus Noblelight GmbH
    Inventor: Silke Reber
  • Patent number: 6340862
    Abstract: A fluorescent lamp, in particular for the backlighting of liquid crystal display screens, having a discharge vessel with a gas filling, the discharge vessel having a fluorescent layer and an electrode structure for a dielectric impeded discharge, the electrode structure fixing a geometric distribution of partial discharges and the fluorescent layer having a thickness variation in accordance to the geometrical distribution of the partial discharges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhend-Gesellschaft fuer Elektrische Glüehlampen mbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Lecheler, Hermann Schweizer, Michael Seibold
  • Patent number: 6329749
    Abstract: In a planar type plasma discharge display device including first and second electrode groups to display a desired image by plasma discharge produced between the first and second electrode groups, its accuracy may be increased, and its manufacturing may be simplified. A pair of discharge electrode groups comprising a first electrode group and a second electrode group, each formed by arraying a plurality of electrode elements, are arrayed on a common substrate in a two-dimensional fashion. Then, a desired image is displayed by plasma discharge produced between selected electrode elements of the first and second electrode groups. To solve a problem of an ordinary matrix type high-definition display device which is not reliable because an area of a terminal disposed portion is increased by the enormous number of terminals concerning the horizontal direction scanning, a terminal width is reduced or terminals are disposed very close to each other. The display device includes first and second electrode groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mori, Suehiro Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20010033134
    Abstract: A portable battery powered high intensity lighting system that produces solar quality illumination at four to six times the efficiency of comparable incandescent lighting systems includes a light head and a power source. The light head contains an HID (high intensity discharge) arc lamp. A sealed enclosure containing a ballast is attached immediately adjacent to the lamp assembly. The ballast enclosure is preferably potted with a thermally conductive epoxy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventor: Carl Saieva
  • Patent number: 6304028
    Abstract: A discharge lamp (1) having an electrically conducting screen (12, 13) which at least partially surrounds the discharge vessel (2). The electrodes (3-5) are separated from the interior of the discharge vessel (2) by a dielectric barrier (6-8). Moreover, this screen (12, 13) is electrically separated from the electrodes (3-5) by a dielectric (2). In order largely to prevent the electric power fed to the lamp electrodes (3-5) during operation from being capacitatively coupled to the electrically conducting screen (12, 13), the thickness dB and the dielectric constant ∈D of the dielectric (2), as well as the thickness dB and the dielectric constant ∈D of the barrier (6-8), which separates the electrodes (3-5) from the gas filling, are specifically mutually coordinated such that the following relationship is fulfilled: d D ϵ D ≥ 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fuer Elektrishe Gluehlampen mbH
    Inventors: Frank Vollkommer, Lothar Hitzschke
  • Publication number: 20010028214
    Abstract: There is provided a cold cathode fluorescent lamp including a transparent tube including first and second light-emitting areas defined by partitioning an inner space of the transparent tube, a first terminal electrode positioned in the first light-emitting area and at a longitudinal end of the first light-emitting area located closer to an end of the tube, a second terminal electrode positioned in the second light-emitting area and at a longitudinal end of the second light-emitting area located closer to the other end of the tube, a first intermediate electrode positioned in the first light-emitting area and at the other longitudinal end of the first light-emitting area, a second intermediate electrode positioned in the second light-emitting area and at the other longitudinal end of the second light-emitting area, a first lead-in wire connected to the first terminal electrode through the longitudinal end of the first light-emitting area, a second lead-in wire connected to the second terminal electrode through
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazushi Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 6300716
    Abstract: An enhanced high-intensity discharge lamp and enhanced lighting device using the lamp, wherein feed-conductor is coupled being without off-centered and/or a discharge lamp light-transmissive ceramic enclosure and the feed-conductor is sealed at a high-reliability, are provided. The coil portion in formed on the sealable portion of the feed-conductor, to which the refractory portion and the outer protrusion of the sealable portion are inserted to be coupled. The feed-conductor is inserted into the light-discharge lamp light-transmissive ceramic enclosure from the small diameter cylinder portion, then the gap between the sealable portion and the inner surface of the small diameter cylinder portion is sealed by the sealant of the ceramic sealing compound. When the ceramic sealing compound which has melted in the sealing operation enters into the interior of the mid-portion of the coil portion and then it is solidified therein, a thick sealant film is formed inside the coil portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Hisashi Honda
  • Patent number: 6281626
    Abstract: An yttrium film is formed on the surface of a substrate made of an Ni—Cr-based material by deposition or sputtering using resistance heating or an electron beam. The yttrium film is heated in an inert gas atmosphere containing a very small amount of hydrogen to hydrogenate yttrium. The resultant yttrium hydride is excellent as a cold emission material for a cold emission electrode and can be used for a cold emission discharge fluorescent tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignees: Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Nakamura, Shigemi Suzuki, Yuichi Mori, Hironori Hirama
  • Patent number: 6278230
    Abstract: An electron emission device exhibits a high electron emission efficiency. The device includes an electron-supply layer of metal or semiconductor, an insulator layer formed on the electron-supply layer, and a thin-film metal electrode formed on the insulator layer. The insulator layer has a film thickness of 50 nm or greater. The electron-supply layer has a film thickness of 2.5 &mgr;m or greater. When an electric field is applied between the electron-supply layer and the thin-film metal electrode, the electron emission device emits electrons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Yoshizawa, Kiyohide Ogasawara, Takamasa Yoshikawa, Takashi Chuman, Nobuyasu Negishi, Shingo Iwasaki, Hiroshi Ito, Takashi Yamada, Shuuichi Yanagisawa, Kazuto Sakemura
  • Publication number: 20010011872
    Abstract: A high-pressure metal halide discharge lamp includes a sealed light-transmitting discharge vessel, first and second electrodes disposed in the discharge space, and a pair of conductive wires connected to the respective electrodes. The sealed light-transmitting discharge vessel has a pair of seals and envelops a discharge space, which has a gas filling comprising rare gas and metal halides. A first electrode with an emitter disposed in the discharge space at an one side is made of a metal having a high melting point. A second electrode without an emitter disposed in the discharge space at the other side is made of a metal having a high melting point. The pair of conductive wires, which are connected to the respective electrodes, are located in the respective seals and extend from the discharge vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Inventors: Naoya Matsumoto, Hiroyuki Ogata, Shinji Inukai, Hisanori Sano, Satoshi Iwasawa
  • Patent number: 6268694
    Abstract: There is provided a cold cathode fluorescent lamp including a transparent tube including first and second light-emitting areas defined by partitioning an inner space of the transparent tube, a first terminal electrode positioned in the first light-emitting area and at a longitudinal end of the first light-emitting area located closer to an end of the tube, a second terminal electrode positioned in the second light-emitting area and at a longitudinal end of the second light-emitting area located closer to the other end of the tube, a first intermediate electrode positioned in the first light-emitting area and at the other longitudinal end of the first light-emitting area, a second intermediate electrode positioned in the second light-emitting area and at the other longitudinal end of the second light-emitting area, a first lead-in wire connected to the first terminal electrode through the longitudinal end of the first light-emitting area, a second lead-in wire connected to the second terminal electrode through
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Kazushi Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20010008361
    Abstract: In a simple and slim double-faced vacuum fluorescent display device having no grid with low power consumption and low fabrication cost, in order to turn on fluorescent layers P111 to P141 of segments D11 to D14 in an anode electrode set D1 on a back plate S2, 12V, 0V, 0V and −12V are applied to the segments D11 to D14 in the anode electrode set D1 on the back plate S2, the other segments on the back plate S1, segments C11 to C15 in an anode electrode set C1 on a front plate S2 and the other segments on the front plate S1, respectively. In order to turn on segments C12 and C16 in the anode electrode set C1 on the front plate S1, 12V, 0V, 0V and −12V are applied to the segments C12 and C16 in the anode electrode set C1 on the front plate S1, the other segments on the front plate S1, the segments D1 to D14 on the back S2 and the other segments on the back plate S2, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Publication date: July 19, 2001
    Applicant: Futaba Denshi Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukio Ogawa, Kazuyoshi Ishikawa, Katsutoshi Kougo, Yoshikazu Iidaka, Hiroaki Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 6255779
    Abstract: Provided with an electrode of a color plasma display panel including a plurality of sustain discharge electrodes forming pairs of electrodes for causing a mutual discharge on the one of two substrates being bonded together and spaced form each other at a predetermined distance, in which each of the sustain discharge electrodes is composed of transparent electrodes adjacent to each other; and metal electrodes formed on the outer side of and spaced at a predetermined distance from the transparent electrodes, the metal electrodes partly being in contact with the transparent electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hong-Ju Ha, Hun-Gun Park
  • Patent number: 6252352
    Abstract: A flat radiator having dielectrically impeded, strip-like cathodes (12;15) and anodes (8;9a) which are arranged alternately next to one another on the wall of the discharge vessel (14) has in each case an additional anode (9b) between neighbouring cathodes (12;12,15), that is to say an anode pair (9) is arranged in each case between the cathodes (12;12,15). The cathodes (15) have nose-like extensions (28) which face the respectively neighbouring anodes (8) and are arranged more densely in a spatially increasing fashion in the direction of the edges (26,27) of the flat radiator (13). As an alternative or in addition thereto, the two anode strips (9a,9b) of each anode pair (9) are widened in the direction of the edges (26,27) of the flat radiator (13) at one end in the direction of the respective partner strip (9b or 9b). Owing to these measures, the surface luminous density of the flat radiator (13) is largely constant towards the edges (26,27,29,30) in pulsed operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen mbH
    Inventors: Frank Vollkommer, Lothar Hitzschke, Simon Jerebic
  • Patent number: 6246171
    Abstract: A gas discharge lamp having a discharge vessel (202) which is at least partially transparent and filled with a gas filling, a number of essentially strip-shaped anodes (205, 206) and cathodes (203, 204) which extend on the walls of the discharge vessel and essentially parallel to each other, and a dielectric layer (215) between at least the anodes and the gas filling for a dielectrically impeded discharge in the discharge vessel between neighboring anodes and cathodes, characterized in that at least one anode pair (205) is arranged between two cathodes (203, 204) respectively adjacent to one anode pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fuer elektrische Gluehlampen mbH
    Inventors: Frank Vollkommer, Lothar Hitzschke, Jens Muecke, Rolf Siebauer, Simon Jerebic