Patents Examined by Kenneth J. Ramsey
  • Patent number: 6290564
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an electron-emissive film (100) includes the steps of providing a powder (124), which has a plurality of carbon nanotubes (104); providing a substrate (102), a surface (103) of which defines a plurality of interstices (107); and dry spraying powder (124) onto surface (103) of substrate (102). The adjustable parameters of the dry spraying step include a separation distance of a spray nozzle (120) from surface (103), a spray angle between a spray (121) and surface (103), and a nozzle pressure at an opening (123) of spray nozzle (120). The separation distance, spray angle, and nozzle pressure are selected to achieve, for example, uniformity of electron-emissive film (100) and adhesion of carbon nanotubes (104) to substrate (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Alec Talin, Bernard F. Coll, Kenneth A. Dean, James E. Jaskie, Emmett Howard
  • Patent number: 6290562
    Abstract: A method for creating emitters of a field emission device is provided. First, a hardmask layer is deposited on a substrate used to form emitters. On the hardmask layer, a photoresist layer is deposited. Islands of photoresist are exposed by an exposing energy through holes in a mask layer. The mask layer is removed and the substrate soft-baked in an oven having an atmosphere of basic gas. Following the soft-bake, the substrate is flood exposed, and then developed using conventional means, leaving behind hardened islands of exposed and baked photoresist. The hardmask layer is etched using the hardened islands as an etching barrier, and the substrate etched with a chemical etchant using the etched hardmask layer as an etching barrier. The etching continues until the substrate material below the etched hardmask layer is formed into an array of points of substrate. Once these emitter sites are formed, a field emission display having uniform emitters can be created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. Wells, David A. Cathey
  • Patent number: 6287163
    Abstract: A greensheet comprising an inorganic pigment and an inorganic matrix component is applied to a surface of a glass substrate and fired for fixing. The formed shading film has a portion whose thickness is 90% or more of the maximum thickness of the shading film within the range of 0.5 mm from an edge of the shading film. Thus, a shading film that has distinct end faces and has an excellent thickness uniformity can be formed with a good positional accuracy. Therefore, a lamp having a highly precise light distribution property can be obtained. In addition, a lamp having such a property can be obtained with a few steps and at a low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Tanaka, Takeshi Saitoh, Masaru Ikeda, Tomoyuki Seki
  • Patent number: 6287164
    Abstract: A method and system for fabricating molded components which include a molded body and a plurality of electrically conductive leads protruding therefrom. These components are made by overlaying an anode lead frame having anode leads, on a cathode lead frame having cathode leads, and then depositing molding material on intersected anode and cathode leads. The molded components are manufactured in an assembly line process which includes a feeder to feed the anode and cathode lead frames and a molder to deposit the molding material. Preferably, these molded components are lamp tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Handy & Harman
    Inventor: Robert Peter Radloff
  • Patent number: 6283812
    Abstract: The emission properties of aligned nanotube arrays are improved by truncating the ends of the nanotubes. Truncation provides nanotubes having a height within, for example, 30% of the average truncated nanotube height, as well as ends substantially free of end caps. The cap-free ends provide desirable field concentration, and the height uniformity increases the number of participating nanotubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Agere Systems Guardian Corp.
    Inventors: Sungho Jin, Gregory Peter Kochanski, Wei Zhu
  • Patent number: 6283815
    Abstract: An electron source comprises one or more electron-emitting devices, especially of surface conduction type, and is provided with means for supplying an activating substance to device(s). The means comprises preferably a substance source and a heater or electron beam generator for gasifying the substance source. The electron source can be combined with an image-forming member (e.g. fluorecent body) to constitute an image-forming apparatus. The means is used for in situ activation or re-activation of the electron-emitting device(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuya Iwasaki, Toshikazu Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 6283813
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, according to the present invention, comprises a first substrate whereon are provided a functional element and electric wiring that is connected to the functional element, and a second substrate whereon is an area where an image is to be formed, and wherein, with the first substrate and the second substrate being located opposite to each other, space between the first substrate and the second substrate is kept in a pressure-reduced state so as to form an image in the area on the second substrate, and wherein the electric wiring is formed of a laminated conductive material by a process that plates a printed pattern, which is initially deposited by a printing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kaneko, Mitsutoshi Hasegawa, Yoshihiro Yanagisawa, Miki Tamura, Kazuhiro Sando, Noriaki Ohguri, Toru Sugeno, Osamu Takamatsu
  • Patent number: 6285118
    Abstract: A field emission type electron source 10 is provided with an n-type silicon substrate 1, a strong field drift layer 6 formed on the n-type silicon substrate 1 directly or inserting a polycrystalline silicon layer 3 therebetween, and an electrically conductive thin film 7, which is a thin gold film, formed on the strong field drift layer 6. Further, an ohmic electrode 2 is provided on the back surface of the n-type silicon substrate 1. Hereupon, electrons, which are injected from the n-type silicon substrate 1 into the strong field drift layer 6, drift in the strong field drift layer 6 toward the surface of the layer, and then pass through the electrically conductive thin film 7 to be emitted outward. The strong field drift layer 6 is formed by making the polycrystalline silicon 3 formed on the n-type silicon substrate 1 porous by means of an anodic oxidation, and further oxidizing it using dilute nitric acid or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Hatai, Takuya Komoda, Yoshiaki Honda, Koichi Aizawa, Yoshifumi Watabe, Tsutomu Ichihara, Yukihiro Kondo, Nobuyoshi Koshida
  • Patent number: 6280276
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of attaching a tension mask to a frame to achieve desired tensions at a plurality of locations across the mask, wherein the frame has two opposite sides between which the mask is to be attached. Specific forces are applied from each of a plurality of separate actuators at positions, along each of the two opposite sides of the frame, that affect the mask tensions respectively at the plurality of locations across the mask. Each of the actuators is individually controlled to apply a specific force to a frame side that is directly related to the desired mask tension required at a particular mask location. While the specific forces are applied by the actuators, the mask is attached to the two opposite sides of the frame. Thereafter, the forces on the sides are released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventors: Alan Weir Bucher, Frank Rowland Ragland, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6280273
    Abstract: The invention provides an organic EL display device comprising a plurality of organic EL elements each having at least a first electrode, one or more organic layers participating in light emission capability, and a second electrode, the elements being able to be independently electrically operated to emit light, and a groove structure at the boundary between adjacent organic EL elements for isolating at least one of the electrodes between the adjacent organic EL elements. The organic EL display device featuring a greater proportion of light emitting region, higher reliability, a large size of substrate, a more number of elements arrayed in one substrate, and a reduced cost of manufacture is obtained as well as a method for the manufacture thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsufumi Codama
  • Patent number: 6280274
    Abstract: A process for fabricating high-aspect ratio support structures comprising: creating a rectangular fiber bundle by stacking selectively etchable glass strands having rectangular cross-sections; slicing the fiber bundle into rectangular tiles; adhering the tiles to an electrode plate of an evacuated display; and selectively removing glass strands, thereby creating support structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Hofmann, Jason B. Elledge
  • Patent number: 6280275
    Abstract: Method for welding a mask in a flat cathode ray tube, including applying an initial tensile force to a shadow mask to prevent deformation, and fastening the shadow mask to a rail by welding, wherein fastening the shadow mask includes performing a primary spot welding having relatively long primary welding spot intervals between primary welding spots, and a secondary spot welding having secondary welding spot intervals between secondary welding spots shorter than the primary welding spot intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sung Yeun Kim
  • Patent number: 6276983
    Abstract: The present invention involves a method for simultaneously applying an activation layer on the photoemissive layers of a plurality of photocathodes such as those used in image intensifier devices. The method includes the steps of diffusing a flux of activating chemicals over the plurality of photocathodes, wherein the flux is substantially spatially uniform with respect to the plurality of photocathodes; monitoring the sum photoresponse of the plurality of photocathodes; and terminating the flux of activating chemicals when a desired sum photoresponse is attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Peckman, Donald H. Stanley, Roger M. Voss, Joseph Herman Reich, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6276981
    Abstract: The invention involves the making of a group of apertures spaced in a precise manner on a structure and including, for example, a first aperture made in a first layer and a second aperture made in a second layer which covers the first layer, the first aperture being located within the second aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Aimé Perrin, Brigitte Montmayeul, Régis Blanc
  • Patent number: 6276982
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a field emission array that employs a single mask to define the emitter tips thereof and their corresponding resistors. A layer of conductive material is disposed over a substrate of the field emission array. A plurality of substantially mutually parallel conductive lines is defined from the layer of conductive material. At least one layer of semiconductive material or conductive material is disposed over the conductive lines and over the regions of the substrate exposed between adjacent conductive lines. A mask material is disposed over the layer of semiconductive material or conductive material, substantially above each of the conductive lines. Portions of the layer of semiconductive material or conductive material exposed through the mask material may be removed to expose substantially longitudinal center portions of the conductive lines. Other portions of the layer of semiconductive material or conductive material may remain over peripheral lateral edges of the conductive lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Ammar Derraa
  • Patent number: 6276980
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a discharge sustaining electrode formed of a transparent electrode and a non-transparent electrode for a plasma display panel (PDP), and it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for an electrode which is well applicable to forming a non-transparent electrode using an Ag material and providing a good productivity and a certain contrast characteristic. The method for forming a bus electrode according to the present invention includes a first step for coating Ag paste including some black powder having different specific gravity particles and some Ag white powder on the transparent electrode, a second step for level-separating the black and white powders contained in the coated Ag paste based on a specific gravity difference for a certain time, and a third step for burning out a binder from the coated Ag paste to thereby implementing a firing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sang-Tae Kim
  • Patent number: 6273776
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing electrodes of an electron gun for a cathode ray tube and electrodes manufactured thereby are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Samsung Display Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yung-bae Cha, Yong-hwan Kim, Song-hark Lee
  • Patent number: 6273775
    Abstract: A method of designing an illuminated grid sign designed to be viewed at a maximum viewing angle (&agr;) from a horizontal line of sight of an observer. The method comprises selecting the maximum viewing angle (&agr;), selecting the illuminated tubing with inside radius (r), determining the minimum distance (d) between the tubing and the reflective channel, and designing the substantially semi-cylindrical reflective channels to have a radius (R) approximately equal to 80% to 120% of r×(1+1/(sin &agr;))+d and an angle of wrap (&bgr;) no greater than about 180°. The design method provides a sign that minimizes visible streaks of brighter and less-bright illuminated regions in the sign when viewed from an angle less than or equal to the maximum viewing angle (&agr;).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventors: Lance Mueller, Patrick F. Gleeson
  • Patent number: 6274982
    Abstract: A method of producing a ceramic-metal-halide (CMH) discharge lamp having a monolithic seal between a sapphire (single crystal alumina) arc tube and a polycrystalline alumina end cap. The method includes the steps of providing an arc tube of fully dense sapphire and providing an end cap made of unsintered compressed polycrystalline alumina powder. The end cap is heated until it is presintered to remove organic binder material at a low temperature relative to the sintering temperature. The presintered end cap is placed on an end portion of the arc tube to form an interface therebetween. The assembled presintered end cap and arc tube are then heated to the sintering temperature wherein the end cap is fully sintered onto the arc tube and the sapphire tube grows into the end cap. A monolithic seal is formed at the previous interface between the end cap and the arc tube as the sapphire tube grows into the polycrystalline alumina end cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Curtis E. Scott, Mary Sue Kaliszewski
  • Patent number: 6270388
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a partition of a plasma display panel includes the steps of spraying and coating a powdered partition material onto a substrate on which address electrodes and a dielectric layer are formed, melting the partition material by a laser beam, and solidifying the melted partition material to complete the partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Samsung Display Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byung-hak Lee