Plasma Patents (Class 365/116)
  • Patent number: 8934282
    Abstract: A method of forming a circuitry includes providing a substrate comprising a plurality of die. Each die includes a plurality of resistive random access memory (RRAM) storage cells. The method further includes concurrently initializing substantially all of the RRAM storage cells on the same wafer. Initializing can include applying a voltage potential across the RRAM storage cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Kuhn, Feng Zhou
  • Patent number: 7116606
    Abstract: A protection circuit to discharge plasma-induced charges in a semiconductor device or integrated circuit includes a PMOS transistor and a diode. The PMOS transistor includes a substrate, a drain, a source, and a gate, the source being coupled to receive the plasma-induced charges. The diode has a positive terminal coupled to the substrate of the PMOS transistor and a negative terminal coupled the gate of the PMOS transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Hung Chou, Wen-Pin Lu
  • Patent number: 6404412
    Abstract: In a plasma-addressed display device according to the invention, a group (G) of three pixels (16) is constituted out of one common data electrode (18) and a group of plasma channels (20). The colour filters are aligned with the plasma channels (20) of the group. In this way the number of data electrodes (18) and thus the number of connections thereto reduces by a factor equal to the number of pixels (16) in a group (G). The number of plasma channels (20) increases with the same factor, but the total number of connections decreases as the number of rows is lower than the number of groups (G) of pixels (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Cornelis G. M. Van Asma
  • Patent number: 5761111
    Abstract: Sub-micron-scale, micron-scale and greater than micron-scale, crack-free and regularly-shaped structures of high-contrast refractive index are provided in transparent storage media by controllably focusing ultrashort laser pulses in the bulk of virtually any transparent medium respectively during operation in a "low energy," a "high energy", and a "third" operating regime. In any operating regime, the crack-free and regularly-shaped structures of high-contrast refractive index may be controllably patterned in 2-D or 3-D so as to permanently store both digital and non-digital information in the bulk of the transparent storage medium. For digital-type information, greater than one (1) Terabit, and up to one hundred (100) Terabit, digital information storage capacity in a CD-ROM sized disc is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventor: Eli Nathan Glezer
  • Patent number: 5596431
    Abstract: A method for making an electrical device such as a PALC display device, and the electrical device or PALC device so made, in which a channel plate is provided with substantially vertical side walls, and the electrodes are formed by a self-aligning anisotropic plasma etching process which requires no photolithography. A similar process may be used to form a fanout region for individual contacting of channel electrodes. For improved contacting, preferably the fanout region is also channelled and an upstanding structure such as columns provided in the fanout channels so that the spaces between the columns and between the columns and the side walls are filled up with deposited metal that remains following the anisotropic etching process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corp.
    Inventors: Petrus F. G. Bongaerts, Jacob Bruinink, Adrianus L. J. Burgmans, Henri R. J. R. Van Helleputte, Babar A. Khan, Karel E. Kuijk
  • Patent number: 5351144
    Abstract: A plasma addressed electro-optical device comprising a first substrate having a plurality of first electrodes arranged substantially in parallel to each other on a major surface thereof; a second substrate opposed to the first substrate and having a plurality of second electrodes arranged substantially in parallel to each other on a major surface thereof; an electro-optical material layer positioned between the first and second substrates; and a discharge chamber formed between the electro-optical material layer and the second substrate and containing an ionizable gas. The second electrode has a plurality of barrier ribs periodically disposed thereon, and the first and second electrodes are so arranged as to be spaced apart in the vertical and horizontal directions, respectively. And each of the barrier ribs is substantially the same in width as the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shoichi Tanamachi
  • Patent number: 5214521
    Abstract: A plasma addressed liquid crystal display in which the structure of the plasma address portion is improved is disclosed. In the plasma address portion of the present liquid crystal display, a plurality of independent parallel discharge spaces are formed by the grooves formed on a middle plate, and each pair of second electrodes formed by a screen printing are formed to be opposed on the groove. The liquid crystal display has advantages of easy manufacturing of a low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Samsung Electron Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki-duck Kwon, Seung-woo Lee
  • Patent number: 4896149
    Abstract: An addressing structure uses an ionizable gas to address data storage elements (16) defined by the overlapping areas of multiple column electrodes (18) on a first substrate (48) and multiple channels (20) on a second substrate (54). A layer of dielectric material (46) separates the first and second substrates. Each of the channels is filled with the ionizable gas and includes a reference potential electrode that receives a data drive signal and a row electrode that receives a data strobe signal. For each storage element, the ionizable gas functions as an electrical switch that changes between a conducting or plasma state and a nonconducting or de-ionized state in response to an applied data strobe signal. The ionizable gas functions to either store data in or read data out of the storage element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas S. Buzak, Paul C. Martin, H. Wayne Olmstead, John J. Horn
  • Patent number: 4546289
    Abstract: This invention concerns a process for establishing control signals for an alternating plasma panel which consists in applying simultaneously:a "selection" voltage to one of the electrodes in one of the networks;a "non-selection" voltage to the other electrodes in the same network;a "setting" or "clearing" voltage to each electrode in the other network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventor: Louis Delgrange
  • Patent number: 4525707
    Abstract: A gas panel can provide optical data readout in an essentially serial manner for copying, communication, interaction and indication. This is accomplished by using substitute sustain cycles for reading particular addresses. A complement sustain signal obtained through the address selection circuitry is superimposed on a partial sustain signal to produce the substitute sustain signal. This provides a complete sustain cycle for the selected address(es) only. Flashes of light at the addressed positions indicate storage of logical "1s" at such addresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1985
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Harry S. Hoffman, Jr., Donald R. Thompson, Luther L. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 4471469
    Abstract: Disclosed is a memory or display device which includes a shift register having a bubble generator, a bubble propagator, and a bubble annihilator. Front and back glass plates are provided with dielectric-covered, transparent electrodes with the plates being positioned in spaced, parallel alignment. A suitable medium having a bilaterally symmetric V-J characteristic with a current controlled negative resistance region is provided between the plates and in contact with the dielectric covering the transparent electrodes. Bubbles are moved along an asymmetric track in the propagator by modulating voltage on two electrodes on opposing sides of the asymmetric track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventor: David G. Boyers
  • Patent number: 4205392
    Abstract: There is disclosed a gas discharge device containing at least two electrodes, at least one of the electrodes being insulated from the gas by a dielectric member. There is particularly disclosed a multiple gaseous discharge display/memory panel having an electrical memory and capable of producing a visual display, the panel being characterized by an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric material charge storage members, each of which is respectively backed by an array of electrodes, the electrodes behind each dielectric material member being oriented with respect to the electrodes behind the opposing dielectric material member so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge units.At least one dielectric insulating member contains a predetermined beneficial amount of a source of at least one transition element selected from V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Tc, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Pd, and Pt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1980
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard W. Byrum, Jr., Roger E. Ernsthausen, Michael E. Fein
  • Patent number: 4176297
    Abstract: A large area visual display matrix of ultra-violet initiated individual small gas discharge elements. Each element remains in a discharge condition until the voltage applied to a common anode is turned off and for this reason the matrix requires no associated memory or storage property to remain on as long as information is to be displayed. The matrix generally comprises, in order, an electrically conductive cathode with a low work function material photo-emissive coated thereon which emits electrons when irradiated by U.V. light, an insulating medium with apertures therein, individual anodes with holes therein the holes being axially aligned with the apertures in the insulating medium, a voltage supply for each anode, the foregoing elements being sandwiched between a base and a U.V. permeable cover, and a suitable gas filling for the apertures. A source of U.V. light is directed at the portion of the visual display it is desired to illuminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1979
    Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of National Defence
    Inventors: William G. Thistle, Joseph G. G. Dionne
  • Patent number: 4149111
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for modulating the perceptible intensity of the presentation of a light emitting display which light emitting display emits light by gas discharge and recombination of ions and free electrons of a display medium; includes a system clock, the interruption of which causes the interruption of the presentation of the light emitting display; and is capable of retaining display information upon the interruption of a light sustaining signal or the electrical power as a result of an accumulation and retention of electrical charge across the display medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1979
    Assignee: Science Applications, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Coates, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4099096
    Abstract: A method and circuit for operating a gaseous discharge device which, in one form, comprises a plurality of discrete gas cells, each having its own cathode and anode electrodes arrayed in a matrix such that the cells can be activated and sustained in different groupings to represent different characters. The gas cells may be small-area light sources arrayed in rows and columns, with each row of cells having a common cathode electrode, and each column of cells having a common anode electrode. Each cell can be turned on, and caused to strike a glow discharge, by having the required firing potential applied between its anode and cathode electrodes. Cells which have been thus turned on can be kept on, so as to impart a storage or memory characteristic to the matrix, by means of sustaining pulses applied directly to their anodes and cathodes, with no intervening current-limiting impedances being required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1978
    Assignee: Burroughs Corporation
    Inventors: George E. Holz, James A. Ogle
  • Patent number: 4087807
    Abstract: A gas discharge device having at least one dielectric charge storage member the gaseous medium contacting surface of which consists of a low operating voltage material. The material is used in an amount sufficient to increase the operating life span of the device and/or stabilize the operating voltages of the device. An interface and addressing means is connected to a pair of opposed electrode arrays to energize a plurality of discharge cells, each cell including proximate electrode portions of at least one electrode in each opposed array, said dielectric charge storage member insulating at least one of said proximate electrode portions from said gas. A cell and associated circuitry present a capacitive impedance to a voltage pulse applied by the interface and addressing means to the electrode portions to generate a relatively slow rise time leading edge on said voltage pulse for improved addressing of said cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1978
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph L. Miavecz
  • Patent number: 4087805
    Abstract: A gas discharge device having at least one dielectric charge storage member the gaseous medium contacting surface of which consists of a low operating voltage material. The material is used in an amount sufficient to increase the operating life span of the device and/or stabilize the operating voltages of the device. An interface and addressing means is connected to a pair of opposed electrode arrays to energize a plurality of discharge cells, each cell including proximate electrode portions of at least one electrode in each opposed array, said dielectric charge storage member insulating at least one of said proximate electrode portions from said gas. A write voltage pulse having a relatively fast rise time is superimposed on a sloped pedestal to generate a relatively slow rise time portion of said voltage pulse for improved addressing of a cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1978
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. V. Miller
  • Patent number: 4072937
    Abstract: Driver circuits for plasma panels and similar matrix display devices are disclosed. Each driver circuit includes a single MOS transistor for coupling sustain signals to an associated row or column conductor of the panel. The drain of the transistor is connected to the associated conductor. For a first polarity of sustain signal, the transistor is operated in a conventional manner. For the second polarity of sustain signal, the transistor is operated in an unconventional manner in which the junction between the drain and the semiconductor layer in which the transistor is disposed is forward-biased. The second polarity of sustain signal is thereby extended through the transistor by way of a forward-biased diode path rather than by way of its channel. Write and erase signal waveforms are continuously applied to each driver circuit. Additional MOS circuitry in each driver circuit is responsive to an applied address signal to couple the write and erase signals through to the associated conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1978
    Assignee: Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated
    Inventor: William W. Chu
  • Patent number: 4066929
    Abstract: A flat display panel uses a DC gas-discharge and has flat discharge display elements, which elements have three electrodes composed of a cathode, a grid and an anode and a discharge stabilizing resistor. An auxiliary discharge is formed by using the discharge stabilizing resistor, the cathode and the grid in an auxiliary discharge space defined between the grid and the cathode. A main gas discharge is formed in a main discharge space defined between the anode and the grid by mainly using electrons in a plasma, produced in the auxiliary discharge space, which are diffused and accelerated into the main discharge space. The flat discharge panel, in order to provide a memory function in the main discharge is driven by the use of pulse voltage applied between the anode and the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1978
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Okamoto, Masashi Mizushima
  • Patent number: 4063131
    Abstract: A gas discharge device having at least one dielectric charge storage member the gaseous medium contacting surface of which consists of a low operating voltage material. The material is used in an amount sufficient to increase the operating life span of the device and/or stabilize the operating voltages of the device. An interface and addressing means is connected to a pair of opposed electrode arrays to energize a plurality of discharge cells, each cell including proximate electrode portions of at least one electrode in each opposed array, said dielectric charge storage member insulating at least one of said proximate electrode portions from said gas. A cell presents a capacitive impedance to a voltage pulse applied by the interface and addressing means to the electrode portions to generate a relatively slow rise time leading edge on said voltage pulse for improved addressing of said cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1977
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. V. Miller
  • Patent number: 4063223
    Abstract: A nondestructive, transparent cursor for AC plasma displays may be superimposed electronically over a displayed image without regenerating the original image each time the cursor is moved. The cursor is displayed by means of a special cursor drive waveform which discharges both previously "on" and "off" cells which form the cursor but permits reversion of the cells to their original state when the cursor drive waveform is removed and the normal sustaining waveform is restored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1977
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eugene Stewart Schlig, George Raymond Stilwell, Jr.