Patents Examined by Kenneth J. Ramsey
  • Patent number: 6165034
    Abstract: This invention relates to an electron source and an image forming apparatus each of which particularly comprises a surface conduction type electron emitting element as an electron emitting element, a method of manufacturing an electron source and an image forming apparatus, in which the energization forming treatment step of the surface conduction type electron emitting element is performed by applying a voltage to an electron emitting portion formation thin film via a nonlinear element connected in series with the thin film and having nonlinear voltage/current characteristics, an electron source and an image forming apparatus in each of which the nonlinear element is connected in series with the surface conduction type electron emitting element, and a method of driving the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Aoji Isono, Yoshiyuki Osada, Hidetoshi Suzuki, Eiji Yamaguchi, Toshihiko Takeda, Hiroaki Toshima, Noritake Suzuki, Yasuyuki Todokoro
  • Patent number: 6162107
    Abstract: A process of fabricating a front substrate in a color display panel that is adapted to form transparent electrodes and transparent conductive films in a plasma display panel. In the process, a liquid-state transparent conductive material is entirely formed on both the front side and the rear side of the substrate. Next, any one of the transparent conductive material films formed on the front side and rear side thereof is patterned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Sung Ho Woo
  • Patent number: 6159066
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to prevent deterioration of a transparent electrically-conductive film which forms display electrodes, so as to enhance the reliability of display electrodes. In an AC type plasma display panel including a plurality of display electrodes X & Y formed of a transparent electrically-conductive film or a multiple layer of a transparent electrically-conductive film plus a metal film a width of which is narrower therethan, and a dielectric layer to cover the display electrodes from the discharge space, the dielectric layer is formed by the use of a ZnO-containing glass material containing substantially none of lead. Moreover, the display electrodes are protected by coating the dielectric layer so far as the ends of display electrodes; and the coating is removed afterwards by etching, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Masashi Amatsu, Shinji Kanagu, Masaaki Sasaka, Noriyuki Awaji, Kazumi Ebihara
  • Patent number: 6160347
    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 the 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. fluorescent 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: October 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuya Iwasaki, Toshikazu Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 6159065
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a spacer used in a flat panel display. At the first printing process, a printing mask produces a primary spacer on a substrate. After removing the printing mask, a supporting plate having a hole to excess the primary spacer is placed on the substrate and then the printing mask is rearranged on the supporting plate. A subsequent printing process is applied repeatedly to the printing mask with the supporting plate to extend the height of the primary spacer to the amount of the thickness of the supporting plate, thereby producing an elongated finished spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Orion Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Jae Jung, Kwang Je Woo, Kwan Soo Kim, Gwon Jin Moon
  • Patent number: 6155900
    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: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Hofmann, Jason B. Elledge
  • Patent number: 6152796
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an image forming apparatus, which is provided with a container structured by a member including a pair of substrates with a gap between each other, an image forming member arranged in the interior of the container, and the spacers to hold the gap therebetween. The method includes the steps of pressing the spacers to the first substrate through a bonding agent, and bonding the first substrate to the second substrate through an outer frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kohei Nakata
  • Patent number: 6149481
    Abstract: An oximetry sensor comprising a foam wrap member including a fastener, back film mounting member, LED assembly and photodiode connected to a cable, support rings for the LED assembly and photodiode, window film for the LED assembly and photodiode, and a top liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: NTC Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Huisun Wang, David R. Rich, Barry J. Feldman
  • Patent number: 6149480
    Abstract: There are provided a highly reliable fabrication method and apparatus for an image forming device which can avoid element deterioration along with elimination of gas molecules from panel constituents.An image forming device having an electron source substrate with a large number of electron sources each having an electron-emitting element and a luminescent display plate facing the electron source substrate via a vacuum portion is fabricated by performing the aging step of aging the interior of the vacuum portion while exhausting or maintaining with a getter the vacuum state of the vacuum portion. This aging step is performed by drive duty control of gradually increasing the drive duty of the image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuya Iwasaki, Izumi Tabata
  • Patent number: 6149483
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Candescent Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence S. Pan, Colin D. Stanners, Theodore S. Fahlen
  • Patent number: 6149482
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing plasma display unit substrates having bulkheads by applying a mixture of ceramic powder or glass powder and a binder to a back face plate made of ceramics or glass. Bulkheads are formed on the back face plate by rolling a roll, having a plurality of grooves on its surface, over the mixture-applied surface of the back face plate while applying pressure to the surface with the roll. Alternatively, the grooves on the surface of the roll may be pre-filled with the moisture and rolled over the surface of a back face plate, thereby forming bulkheads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporatin
    Inventors: Kiyohiro Sakasegawa, Makoto Yoshida, Masashi Katoh, Kenichi Yoneyama, Yasuhiko Nishioka
  • Patent number: 6149484
    Abstract: A field emission display (400) includes a cathode plate (410), an anode plate (430), and a mechanical support/getter assembly (300) being disposed between the cathode plate (410) and the anode plate (430). The mechanical support/getter assembly (300) includes a unitary spacer/frame assembly (310) made from a photosensitive glass. A method for fabricating the mechanical support/getter assembly (300) includes the steps of: selectively exposing inter-spacer regions (110) and a getter frame region (120) of a layer (100) of the photosensitive glass to UV radiation, heating the layer (100) to crystallize the UV-exposed regions, and removing the crystallized inter-spacer regions (110) and partially removing the crystallized getter frame regions by contacting the layer (100) with an acid, thereby forming spacer ribs (314) and a getter land (322). The method further includes providing a getter frame (320) on the spacer land (322).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Amrine, Clifford L. Anderson, Ronald O. Petersen
  • Patent number: 6146229
    Abstract: A photocathode device for use in an image intensifier, fabricated with a photoemissive semiconductor wafer having an active cathode layer which includes a central region of a first predetermined height surrounded by a peripheral region of a second predetermined height. The first predetermined height of the central region is configured to be greater than the second predetermined height of the peripheral region in order to create a recessed contact structure which is less likely to have unwanted emission points. A layer of conductive material covers the peripheral region to provide an electrical contact to the photocathode device. A layer of insulating material covers the layer of conductive material in order to protect the contact layer from being damage during handling operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: ITT Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Arlynn W. Smith, Warren David Vrescak
  • Patent number: 6146225
    Abstract: A barrier for preventing water or oxygen from a source thereof from reaching a device that is sensitive to water or oxygen. The barrier is constructed by depositing a first polymer layer between the device and the source. An inorganic layer is deposited on the first polymer layer of the device by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition utilizing an electron cyclotron resonance source ECR-PECVD. A second polymer layer is then deposited on the inorganic layer. The inorganic layer is preferably an oxide or nitride. A second barrier layer having a compound that absorbs oxygen or water can be placed between the inorganic layer and the device to further retard the passage of oxygen or water. The present invention is particularly useful in encapsulating electroluminescent displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Sheats, Mark R. Hueschen, Karen L. Seaward, Daniel B. Roitman, George Andrew Davidson Briggs
  • Patent number: 6146230
    Abstract: An electron emitter composition comprising electron emitting materials, dispersion agent, binder, and pure water is provided.An electron emitter of an FED is produced by the steps of forming a photoresist layer by coating and drying a photoresist composition on an electrode formed on a back plate (cathode plate); exposing and developing the photoresist layer into a predetermined pattern using a mask; forming an electron emitting layer by coating and drying an electron emitter composition consisting of electron emitting materials, a binder, a dispersion agent, and pure water on the developed photoresist layer; exposing the photoresist layer by etching the electron emitting layer; and washing and drying it after stripping the exposed photoresist layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Display Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Wook Kim, Kwi-Seok Choi, Sang-Jin Lee, Jae-Myung Kim, Joong-Woo Nam
  • Patent number: 6146226
    Abstract: An electron-emitting device utilizes an emitter electrode (12) shaped like a ladder in which a line of emitter openings (18) extend through the electrode. In fabricating the device, the emitter openings can be utilized to self-align certain edges, such as edges (38C) of a focusing system (37), to other edges, such as edges (28C) of control electrodes (28), to obtain desired lateral spacings. The self-alignment is typically achieved with the assistance of a backside photolithographic exposure operation. The ladder shape of the emitter electrode also facilitates the removal of short-circuit defects involving the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Candescent Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Spindt, Stephanie J. Oberg, Duane A. Haven, Roger W. Barton, Arthur J. Learn, Victoria A. Bascom
  • Patent number: 6146227
    Abstract: A system and method for manufacturing carbon nanotubes as functional elements of MEMS devices. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of preparing a MEMS substrate for synthesis of a carbon nanotube. A nanosize hole or catalyst retaining structure is fabricated on the MEMS substrate in which a nanotube catalyst is deposited. A nanotube is then synthesized within the nanosize hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Xidex Corporation
    Inventor: Vladimir Mancevski
  • Patent number: 6139384
    Abstract: A microdischarge lamp formed in a one piece integral substrate, preferably a silicon wafer, via micromachining techniques commonly used in integrated circuit manufacture. The lamp is formed by defining an anode separated from a semiconductor cathode, and then micromachining a hollow cavity penetrating the anode, dielectric and cathode. The hollow cathode is formed in the semiconductor and is filled with a discharge medium and sealed to complete the formation process. The lamp includes a micromachined cavity area for enclosing discharge filler, such as mercury vapor. The one piece substrate includes one or more semiconductor regions which act as electrodes for the lamp. A light transmissive cap seals the cavity area. Selection of particular aperture to length ratios for the cavity area permits the lamp to be operated either as a positive column or hollow cathode discharge. Hollow cathode discharge has been demonstrated at pressures of up to about 200 Torr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Thomas A. DeTemple, James Frame, David J. Wheeler, J. Gary Eden
  • Patent number: 6139385
    Abstract: A field emission device having a gate electrode structure in which a nanocrystalline or microcrystalline silicon layer is positioned over a silicon dioxide dielectric layer. Also disclosed are methods for forming the field emission device. The nanocrystalline or microcrystalline silicon layer forms a bond with the dielectric layer that is sufficiently strong to prevent delamination during a chemical-mechanical planarization operation that is conducted during formation of the field emission device. The nanocrystalline or microcrystalline silicon layer is deposited by PECVD in an atmosphere that contains silane and hydrogen at a ratio in a range from about 1:15 to about 1:40. Multiple field emission devices may be formed and included in a flat panel display for computer monitors, telecommunications devices, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Micron Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Kanwal K. Raina
  • Patent number: 6139387
    Abstract: Welding is conducted by rolling a roller electrode of a roller-type resistance welder while contacting an electrode surface of the roller electrode against an outer edge of the mask frame via the shadow mask. This method eliminates the need for complex control, and allows smooth and reliable welding at predetermined positions with a simple configuration. By forming the weld nugget on the side of the edge, a flat portion remains when the shadow mask is torn off the mask frame in case of a failure of the shadow mask. Thus, a second welding with a flat portion of the original height is possible, and the mask frame can be reused with the same precision for the welding position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Masamichi Kimura, Tsutomu Utsumi, Takashi Kinoshita