Patents Examined by Michael Day
  • Patent number: 5773926
    Abstract: This invention relates to electrodeless fluorescent RF lamp which includes bulbous lamp envelope (10, 20) with a top, a bottom and a fill of rare gas and vaporizable amalgam (14) therein. A reentrant cavity (11, 21) is disposed adjacent the bottom of the envelope (10 a, 20a) and at least one tubulation (12, 22) extends from the envelope to hold at least a portion of the vaporizable amalgam. An induction coil (2) is disposed on lead wires and coupled with a radio frequency excitation generator for generation of a plasma to produce radiation. At least the major portion of the cold spot where the amalgam resides is maintained at a temperature between about 60.degree. and 140.degree. C. during operation of the lamp, by utilizing a portion of the induction coil to warm up to amalgam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works Research and Development Laboratory Inc
    Inventors: Jakob Maya, Oleg Popov
  • Patent number: 5770918
    Abstract: Electroconductive frit includes glass (14) having a low melting point and a filler of fine glass particles (12) coated on the surface with metal(13). The electroconductive frit is used for bonding a spacer to an electron source substrate and a face plate in an image-forming apparatus to ensure mechanical securing strength and electrical connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Kawate, Kazuhiro Ohki
  • Patent number: 5767623
    Abstract: An active matrix electroluminescent device includes a plurality of layers including at least a transparent electrode layer, a circuit layer including a plurality of first electrical traces, and at least two layers including an electroluminescent layer and a dielectric layer. The at least two layers are disposed between the circuit layer and the transparent electrode layer so as to emit light upon the application of an electric field. The plurality of layers are supported by a support layer. An elongate cable includes a plurality of second electrical traces supported thereon. In a first aspect of the present invention the cable is supported by the support layer and a plurality of electrical conductors electrically interconnecting respective ones of the first traces with the second traces. The electrical signals transmitted from respective ones of the second traces to the first traces permit selection of individual pixels within the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Planar Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Friedman, Karen Boris, Iranpour Khormaei
  • Patent number: 5764000
    Abstract: An anode (5) for a flat display screen includes at least one group of phosphor strips (7) deposited over corresponding electrode strips (17) separated one from another by an insulating layer (8) etched out in front of the phosphor strips (7), and at least one conductor (21) interconnecting the electrode strips (17) of the group of phosphor strips (7). Each of the electrode strips (17) is formed by a resistive strip (18) for receiving one phosphor strip (7) and at least one biasing strip (19) which is parallel to and joins the interconnecting conductor (21). The biasing strip (19) has a low resistivity with respect to the resistivity of the associated resistive strip (18). The biasing strip (19) is parallel to, laterally borders, and is in contacting engagement with the resistive strip (18). The anode (5) eliminates the risk of electrical arcs between the anode (5) and gate (3) or between adjacent phosphor strips (7) of the anode (5), without impairing the brightness of the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Pixtech S.A.
    Inventors: Stephane Mougin, Francis Courreges, Jean-Marc Sol
  • Patent number: 5763993
    Abstract: An electron gun for a color cathode ray tube is formed with a control electrode, an accelerating electrode, an anode, and a focusing electrode divided into a first and a second focusing electrode. A static focusing voltage predetermined independently of a deflection period is applied to the first focusing electrode and a parabolic waveform dynamic focusing voltage varying according to the deflection period is applied to the second focusing electrode. The first focusing electrode has three electron beam apertures with vertical parallel plates mounted around each aperture in a direction opposite to the direction of the electron beams. The second focusing electrode has three electron beam apertures with horizontal parallel plates mounted around each aperture in a direction opposite to the direction of the electron beams. The centers of the left and right electron beam apertures are offset to the left and right sides of the central axis of the vertical and horizontal parallel plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Display Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: In-kyu Park, Myung-hwan Lee, Duk-ho Kim
  • Patent number: 5763989
    Abstract: Closed-drift ion sources of the magnetic-layer and anode-layer types are shown and described, with both one-stage and two stage versions of the latter included. Specific improvements include the use of a magnetically permeable insert in the closed drift region together with an effectively single source of magnetic field to facilitate the generation of a well-defined and localized magnetic field while, at the same time, permitting the placement of that magnetic field source at a location well removed from the hot discharge region. Such a configuration is also well suited to the use of a permanent magnet as the magnetic field source. In one embodiment a baffle arrangement serves to distribute the ionizable gas uniformly circumferentially and decrease its pressure below the Paschen-law minimum before exposure to the anode potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Front Range Fakel, Inc.
    Inventor: Harold R. Kaufman
  • Patent number: 5757127
    Abstract: A transparent thin-film EL display apparatus has a transparent thin-film EL element formed on a glass substrate. A rear substrate consisting of photochromic glass and the glass substrate on which the EL element is formed are disposed facing each other with the EL element located in between. A light-transmitting insulation material is inserted in a space between the two substrates and hermetically sealed. When the display on the EL element becomes hard to see due to light entering from the rear of the display apparatus, the photochromic glass reacts in response to the light and darkens the rear of the EL element, thereby blocking the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Inoguchi, Tomoya Uchida, Nobuei Ito, Tadashi Hattori
  • Patent number: 5757111
    Abstract: A night light includes: a light bulb (10) that produces light when excited by an electric power supply; a phosphorescent element (18) disposed near the light bulb (10) for storing light from the light bulb (10) and re-emitting the light when the light bulb (10) is turned off; and a transparent cover case (15) containing the light bulb (10) and having a face plate (16) disposed on one side of the cover case (15) wherein the phosphorescent element (18) is disposed at least on the opposite side of the cover case (15) from the face plate (16) so that light emitted from the phosphorescent element (18) illuminates the transparent cover case (15). The phosphorescent element (18) is capable of absorbing and storing light and re-emitting the light in an emergency event when the electricity is cut off so as to provide illumination for emergency evacuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Inventor: Giichiro Sato
  • Patent number: 5757133
    Abstract: An arc lamp having a sealed lamp tube with electrodes to either side of a septum. The septum extends through the length of the arc chamber. An emissions chamber extends from the end of the arc chamber without the septum. A window at the end of the emissions chamber is displaced from the end of the septum and from the arc chamber itself by a sufficient distance so that magnesium diffusing from the electrodes does not darken the surface. The magnesium electrodes are slugs encased within high temperature cells open at one end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: UVP, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald A. Meyer, Michael P. Duffey, Robert A. Foss
  • Patent number: 5757117
    Abstract: In a cathode ray tube having an antistatic film 6 stuck to the front surface of a panel section 1 and a conductive tape 7 for grounding the end portion of the antistatic film 6 to the earth, a silicone adhesive 8 containing a conductive filler having an excellent close contact adhesion to silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2) is interposed in at least a part of an close contact adhesion portion where the conductive tape 7 is stuck to the antistatic film 6. Thanks to the interposition of the conductive filler containing silicone adhesive 8, the resistances between the antistatic film 6 and the conductive tape 7 and between the silicone adhesive 8 and the conductive tape 7 can be lowered and sputtering which may be caused by the high voltage induced in the antistatic film 6 is prevented, so that the breakage of the antistatic film 6 can be prevented at the close contact adhesion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Device Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigemi Hirasawa, Norikazu Uchiyama, Toshio Tojo, Toshio Uyama, Hisashi Nose, Toshikazu Igarashi, Zenjiro Kanzaki
  • Patent number: 5757128
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an addressable electroluminescent display which can minimize and in some cases eliminate ghost images resulting from leads used to energize the display. The addressable display has a polymer film substrate with a first electrode deposited onto the polymer film. A group electrode is provided which is spaced apart from the first electrode. The group electrode has segments so arranged that, when projected onto the first electrode, the segments form a substantially continuous group electrode footprint. A phosphor layer is interposed between the first electrode and the group electrode. Preferably, a dielectric layer is also interposed between the phosphor layer and the group electrode. A group electrode insulating layer overlies the group electrode and has group electrode lead passages therethrough. Group electrode leads overlay the group electrode insulating layer and are positioned such that their projection onto the first electrode lies within the group electrode footprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Inventor: Mark Topp
  • Patent number: 5754004
    Abstract: A gas discharge type display device for displaying characters and pictures by utilizing a gas discharge, and a method of producing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Matsushita Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Utaro Miyagawa, Shinya Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 5753996
    Abstract: A gas discharge lamp has opposed end caps for enclosing the sealed end of the glass envelope. One of the end caps is provided with contact pins, and the other end cap is provided with a handle portion. The electrode adjacent the handled end cap is provided with an extended end portion that is mechanically connected to the handle end cap. In the event the handle end cap is loosened or becomes unbonded from the glass envelope, the handled end cap remains mechanically linked to the lamp so that removal or replacement of the lamp can be facilitated by applying a pulling force on the handled end cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Light Sources, Inc.
    Inventor: George Csoknyai
  • Patent number: 5751107
    Abstract: A fluorescent display apparatus performs a desired display by, in a vacuum state, irradiating its fluorescent layer with electrons discharged from electric-field electron discharge devices. The fluorescent layer is formed by a fluorescent substance and low-fusing-point glass, serves as an adhesive agent for the fluorescent substance. Paste obtained by mixing, for example, fluorescent substance powder, low-fusing-point glass powder and a binder is applied to a substrate or the like, followed by sintering at a temperature higher than the fusing point of the low-fusing-point glass. Solder is used to seal the space in the apparatus. An exhaust port is placed on a frame in a vacuum chamber while making the exhaust port face downwards. Then, spherical solder disposed between the frame and the foregoing exhaust port is heated and melted to be injected into the exhaust port. In order to raise the degree of vacuum, getter material is formed on the inner surface of the foregoing space to have a thin film shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Komatsu
  • Patent number: 5747932
    Abstract: To suppress the discharge current in a plasma cell incorporated in a display device, thereby extending the useful service life of the plasma cell and stabilizing the operation characteristics of the plasma cell, the display device includes a plasma cell 2, which includes a pair of substrates 3 and 8 bonded together with a space defined therebetween, discharge electrodes 9 and 9a formed on at least the substrate 8, and an ionizable gas sealed in this space. The discharge electrodes 9 and 9a are grouped into plural pairs of anodes A and cathodes K parallel to each other, thus forming a plurality of discharge channels 12 extending in lines. At least each cathode K is partially covered with insulators 13 periodically arranged, thereby limiting the effective area of each discharge electrode 9a to suppress the discharge current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masatake Hayashi, Shigeki Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 5747920
    Abstract: A lamp capsule with lug connectors, having a lamp bulb, a holder, and a lug is disclosed. The lamp capsule lead extends through the holder passage to fit closely with the lug foot. The lug foot is then rotary swaged to the lamp lead. The swaging mechanically and electrically seals the lead and the lug. An interference coupling is exactly formed along the lead by the swaging, so the lead and lug are precisely located and cannot move with reference to one another. The lug and lead are then tightly held and located with reference to the holder. The mechanical interference fit also forms an electrical connection that cannot separate like a cold weld. The swaging may additionally remove any excess exterior extension of the lead. As a result, the lug is quickly, accurately, and permanently coupled to the lamp lead, and holder preventing subsequent loosening or displacement that may effect lamp positioning or connection durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel D. Devir, Charles M. Coushaine
  • Patent number: 5744903
    Abstract: Color cathode ray tube (1) device having an electron gun (6) of the in-line type for generating three electron beams (7,8,9), a display screen (10) and deflection coils (11) for scanning the electron beams over the display screen. The electron gun includes a main lens part for focusing the electron beams on the display screen, the main lens part comprising main lens electrodes (26, 27) having apertures for passing of the electron beams, at least one of said main lens electrodes comprising two sub-electrodes (26a, 26b) adjacent to each other, each of the sub-electrodes having a central (311, 321) and two outer apertures (312, 322, 313, 323), whereby in operation between the adjacent sub-electrodes an astigmatic quadrupole field is generated. For the central apertures of the sub-electrodes it holds:xQa.ltoreq.xQband for the two outer apertures of the sub-electrodes it holds:yQa.ltoreq.yQb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Willibrordus A.J.A. Van Der Poel, Antonius W.F. Van De Heijden
  • Patent number: 5743777
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a spark plug electrode (14) of a first material having good thermal conductivity having a core (24) of a second material having good corrosion resistance. The first material may be copper, or a copper alloy, and the second material may be nickel, a nickel alloy, silver, or a silver alloy. The electrode (14) may be produced by a method comprising the steps of: providing a tubular cup (28) formed of the first material; positioning a billet (34) of the second material within the cup (28); and extruding the assembled cup and billet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Andre Demeuter
  • Patent number: 5742125
    Abstract: The high pressure discharge lamp has refractory electrodes each having a top and a winding of refractory metal wire, which has turns and is, in an area thereof remote from the top, secured to the electrode. The turns of the winding are made to have torsion. Thereby an accurately defined position with respect to the top of the electrode is obtained. The direction of the torsion is opposite to the direction of the turns, which causes neighbouring turns to press one against the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Jacobus L. J. Ruigrok
  • Patent number: 5731662
    Abstract: A metal halide discharge lamp includes an outer evacuated sealed glass envelope having a domed end and a socket end spaced from the domed end along a longitudinal axis. The socket end is subject to high temperature sealing fires during the lamp manufacturing process. A getter material is contained in the envelope for removing gaseous materials therefrom, the getter material being positioned in the envelope in an area of the lamp remote from the socket end. A pair of electrical conductors extend into the interior of the glass envelope and an arc tube containing an arc sustaining chemical fill and including a pair of spaced electrodes is electrically connected to the electrical conductors for creating an electric arc during operation of the lamp. The getter material comprises about 70 weight percent zirconium, about 24.6 weight percent vanadium, and about 5.4 weight percent iron. The activation temperature of the getter is in the range of 400.degree.-500.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Parrott, John A. Scholz, David Goodman