Patents by Inventor Akira Shiokawa

Akira Shiokawa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6935916
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a gas discharge panel according to the invention can reduce the amount of water and gaseous molecules, which are absorbed into the first and the second substrates, to a minimum by keeping the both substrates under a reduced pressure, and therefore can prevent a degradation of a discharge gas filling the finished panel. As a result, problems in the finished panel such as increase in a discharge starting voltage and generation of an abnormal discharge can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Sasaki, Junichi Hibino, Hiroyosi Tanaka, Akira Shiokawa, Masafumi Ookawa
  • Patent number: 6910938
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a gas discharge panel according to the invention can reduce the amount of water and gaseous molecules, which are absorbed into the first and the second substrates, to a minimum by keeping the both substrates under a reduced pressure, and therefore can prevent a degradation of a discharge gas filling the finished panel. As a result, problems in the finished panel such as increase in a discharge starting voltage and generation of an abnormal discharge can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Sasaki, Junichi Hibino, Hiroyosi Tanaka, Akira Shiokawa, Masafumi Ookawa
  • Patent number: 6788004
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to greatly improve PDPs in luminance and luminous efficiency, compared to conventional PDPs. In order to achieve the object, the panel structure is set such that an equivalent field strength of at least 37V/cm·KPa is generated in selected discharge spaces in which the electric charge has been accumulated on their dielectric layer, when a discharge sustaining voltage is applied between a pair of display electrodes. To achieve such a high equivalent field strength as 37V/cm·KPa, adequate setting of the following factors of the panel structure is effective: a gap between a pair of display electrodes, a thickness and a permittivity of a dielectric layer, and an amount of Xe filled in discharge spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Aoki, Akira Shiokawa, Yuusuke Takada, Ryuichi Murai
  • Publication number: 20040150337
    Abstract: A gas discharge panel capable of high-speed driving at a low drive voltage, while suppressing the occurrence of write errors in a write period, and a manufacturing method for the same. To achieve this, in the gas discharge panel of the present invention, a secondary gas formed from at least one of carbon dioxide, water vapor, oxygen and nitrogen is induced into discharge spaces 30 evacuated until the residual gas pressure is 0.02 mPa or less, and an He—Xe or Ne—Xe rare gas (discharge gas) is induced into discharge spaces 30. The amount of the secondary gas included within discharge spaces 30 when, for example, carbon dioxide is included therein, is suitably set in terms of both a discharge starting voltage and an electron emission ability, so that the partial pressure of the carbon dioxide is in a range of 0.05 mPa to 0.5 mPa inclusive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Akira Shiokawa, Koji Akiyama, Tetsuya Imai, Katsutoshi Shindo, Hidetaka Higashino, Koichi Kotera, Kanako Miyashita
  • Patent number: 6761608
    Abstract: A PDP does not suffer from dielectric breakdown even though a dielectric layer is thin, with the problems of conventional PDPs, such as cracks appearing in the glass substrates during the production of the PDP being avoided. To do so, the surface of silver electrodes of the PDP is coated with a 0.1-10 &mgr;m layer of a metallic oxide, on whose surface OH groups exist, such as ZnO, ZrO2, MgO, TiO2, Al2O3, and Cr2O3. The metallic oxide layer is then coated with the dielectric layer. It is preferable to form the metallic oxide layer with the CVD method. The surface of a metallic electrode can be coated with a metallic oxide, which is then coated with a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer can be made of a metallic oxide with a vacuum process method or the plasma thermal spraying method. The dielectric layer formed on electrodes with the CVD method is remarkably thin and flawless.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Tanaka, Ryuichi Murai, Hideaki Yasui, Yoshiki Sasaki, Akira Shiokawa, Masatoshi Kudoh, Koichi Kotera, Masaki Aoki, Mitsuhiro Ohtani, Shigeo Suzuki, Kinzou Nonomura
  • Patent number: 6758714
    Abstract: Plasma display panels of the prior art are prone to cross talk leading to unstable image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Sasaki, Ryuichi Murai, Hiroyoshi Tanaka, Hideaki Yasui, Masatoshi Kudoh, Akira Shiokawa, Junichi Hibino, Hidetaka Higashino, Kinzo Nonomura, Shigeo Suzuki, Masaki Aoki
  • Publication number: 20040106350
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a gas discharge panel according to the invention can reduce the amount of water and gaseous molecules, which are absorbed into the first and the second substrates, to a minimum by keeping the both substrates under a reduced pressure, and therefore can prevent a degradation of a discharge gas filling the finished panel. As a result, problems in the finished panel such as increase in a discharge starting voltage and generation of an abnormal discharge can be suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventors: Yoshiki Sasaki, Junichi Hibino, Hiroyosi Tanaka, Akira Shiokawa, Masafumi Ookawa
  • Publication number: 20040075388
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide plasma display panels having excellent electron emission properties in comparison with the conventional plasma display panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Kanako Miyashita, Koichi Kotera, Akira Shiokawa
  • Publication number: 20040056595
    Abstract: A discharge panel capable of high-quality display by preventing erroneous discharge between adjacent lines in a sustaining electrode or the like. A sectional shape in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal directions of both a first display electrode (101a) and a second display electrode (101b) has a stepped shape, a film thickness of a discharge gap (Gap1) side portion is greater than that on a non-discharge gap side, the film thickness of the respective steps being specified as L1, L2, L3 (L1>L2>L3). Accordingly, a discharge start voltage on the discharge gap side is lower than that on the non-discharge gap side even when the discharge gap and the non-discharge gap have the same width geometrically, thereby reducing erroneous discharge between adjacent cells positioned on an adjacent lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Akira Shiokawa, Ryuichi Murai, Yuusuke Takada, Katutoshi Shindo
  • Publication number: 20040053555
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a gas discharge panel according to the invention can reduce the amount of water and gaseous molecules, which are absorbed into the first and the second substrates, to a minimum by keeping the both substrates under a reduced pressure, and therefore can prevent a degradation of a discharge gas filling the finished panel. As a result, problems in the finished panel such as increase in a discharge starting voltage and generation of an abnormal discharge can be suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Yoshiki Sasaki, Junichi Hibino, Hiroyoshi Tanaka, Akira Shiokawa, Masafumi Ookawa
  • Patent number: 6670754
    Abstract: A gas discharge display apparatus, in which a plurality of cells filled with a discharge gas are arranged in a matrix pattern in a space between first and second substrates placed in opposition to each other, and at least one pair of display electrodes are arranged on a surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate so as to span the plurality of cells. Here, each pair of display electrodes includes two extension parts that extend lengthwise along the matrix. A plurality of inner projections are electrically connected to each extension part, and protrude toward the other extension part. At least two connectors are arranged, with a fixed interval therebetween, between the two extension parts, each connector electrically connecting at least two inner projections provided for a same extension part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuichi Murai, Yuusuke Takada, Akira Shiokawa, Katutoshi Shindo, Hidetaka Higashino, Nobuaki Nagao, Toru Ando, Masaki Nishimura
  • Patent number: 6650053
    Abstract: A surface-discharge type display device is provided that can reduce power consumption during sustain discharge and suppress the occurrence of illumination failures. A display electrode and a display scan electrode are aligned on a substrate, and a dielectric layer is formed on the substrate so as to cover the display electrode and the display scan electrode. An area having a lower relative permittivity than the dielectric layer is formed in an area surrounded on three sides by the display electrode, the display scan electrode, and the substrate. The dielectric layer allows sufficient wall charges for surface discharge to be accumulated, whereas the lower relative permittivity area allows the capacitance between the display electrode and the display scan electrode to be decreased. Accordingly, the power consumption during sustain discharge is reduced without causing illumination failures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuusuke Takada, Ryuichi Murai, Akira Shiokawa, Katsutoshi Shindo
  • Publication number: 20030077972
    Abstract: A manufacturing apparatus for a PDP includes a unit for forming a protective layer protecting a dielectric layer on a first plate, a unit for baking a phosphor layer applied on a second plate, a unit for sealing the first and second plates arranged so that the protective layer faces the phosphor layer, and a unit for baking the first and second plates while exhausting a space between them. The four units are placed in one or more closed chamber. When the apparatus is driven, spaces in and between the closed chambers each contain a gas atmosphere with vapor partial pressure of 10 mPa or lower, or with a pressure of 1 Pa or lower, where the protective layer and the phosphor layer exhibit less water-absorbing property, preventing degradation of the PDP performances. The protective layer does not contact with atmospheric carbonic acid gas, preventing alteration thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Akira Shiokawa, Hiroyosi Tanaka, Yoshiki Sasaki, Masafumi Ookawa, Junichi Hibino
  • Patent number: 6548962
    Abstract: A gas discharge panel in which cell filled with a discharge gas are arranged as a matrix between a pair of opposed plates, and in which a pair of display electrodes on a surface of one of the pair of opposed plates extend across a plurality of cells in the direction of rows, where a gap between the pair of display electrodes has two discharge gap widths one of which is larger than the other. The voltage is lowered and the power consumption is properly restricted by starting the discharge at the discharge gap at a space having the smaller gap width. An excellent discharge efficiency is secured by sustaining the discharge at a space having the larger gap width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Shiokawa, Ryuichi Murai, Hiroyoshi Tanaka, Yoshiki Sasaki, Masatoshi Kudoh, Masaki Aoki, Hidetaka Higashino, Kinzou Nonomura
  • Patent number: 6419540
    Abstract: A PDP does not suffer from dielectric breakdown though a dielectric layer is thin, with the problems of conventional PDPs, such as cracks appearing in the glass substrates during the production of the PDP being avoided. To do so, the surface of silver electrodes of the PDP is coated with a 0.1-10 &mgr;m layer of a metallic oxide, on whose surface OH groups exist, such as ZnO, ZrO2, MgO, TiO2, Al2O3, and Cr2O3. The metallic oxide layer is then coated with the dielectric layer. It is preferable to form the metallic oxide layer with the CVD method. The surface of a metallic electrode can be coated with a metallic oxide, which is then coated with a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer can be made of a metallic oxide with a vacuum process method or the plasma thermal spraying method. The dielectric layer formed on electrodes with the CVD method is remarkably thin and flawless.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Mastushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Tanaka, Ryuichi Murai, Hideaki Yasui, Yoshiki Sasaki, Akira Shiokawa, Masatoshi Kudoh, Koichi Kotera, Masaki Aoki, Mitsuhiro Ohtani, Shigeo Suzuki, Kinzou Nonomura
  • Publication number: 20020036466
    Abstract: A PDP does not suffer from dielectric breakdown even though a dielectric layer is thin, with the problems of conventional PDPs, such as cracks appearing in the glass substrates during the production of the PDP being avoided. To do so, the surface of silver electrodes of the PDP is coated with a 0.1-10 &mgr;m layer of a metallic oxide, on whose surface OH groups exist, such as ZnO, ZrO2, MgO, TiO2, Al2O3, and Cr2O3. The metallic oxide layer is then coated with the dielectric layer. It is preferable to form the metallic oxide layer with the CVD method. The surface of a metallic electrode can be coated with a metallic oxide, which is then coated with a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer can be made of a metallic oxide with a vacuum process method or the plasma thermal spraying method. The dielectric layer formed on electrodes with the CVD method is remarkably thin and flawless.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Tanaka, Ryuichi Murai, Hideaki Yasui, Yoshiki Sasaki, Akira Shiokawa, Masatoshi Kudoh, Koichi Kotera, Masaki Aoki, Mitsuhiro Ohtani, Shigeo Suzuki, Kinzou Nonomura
  • Publication number: 20020034917
    Abstract: A PDP does not suffer from dielectric breakdown even though a dielectric layer is thin, with the problems of conventional PDPs, such as cracks appearing in the glass substrates during the production of the PDP being avoided. To do so, the surface of silver electrodes of the PDP is coated with a 0.1-10 &mgr;m layer of a metallic oxide, on whose surface OH groups exist, such as ZnO, ZrO2, MgO, TiO2, Al2O3, and Cr2O3. The metallic oxide layer is then coated with the dielectric layer. It is preferable to form the metallic oxide layer with the CVD method. The surface of a metallic electrode can be coated with a metallic oxide, which is then coated with a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer can be made of a metallic oxide with a vacuum process method or the plasma thermal spraying method. The dielectric layer formed on electrodes with the CVD method is remarkably thin and flawless.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Tanaka, Ryuichi Murai, Hideaki Yasui, Yoshiki Sasaki, Akira Shiokawa, Masatoshi Kudoh, Koichi Kotera, Masaki Aoki, Mitsuhiro Ohtani, Shigeo Suzuki, Kinzou Nonomura
  • Patent number: 6353287
    Abstract: Plasma display panels of the prior art are prone to cross talk leading to unstable image. The present invention provides a gas discharge panel comprising a first panel substrate 104 having first electrodes 24, a second panel substrate 108 having second electrodes 23 opposing the first panel substrate 104, a sealing portion provided between peripheries of the two substrates for forming a gas discharge space 112 between the first and second panel substrates 104, 108 and division walls 30 provided on the second panel substrate 108 for dividing the gas discharge space 112, wherein ridges of the division walls 30 are bonded onto the inner surface of the first panel substrate 104 by a frit glass 31.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Sasaki, Ryuichi Murai, Hiroyoshi Tanaka, Hideaki Yasui, Masatoshi Kudoh, Akira Shiokawa, Junichi Hibino, Hidetaka Higashino, Kinzo Nonomura, Shigeo Suzuki, Masaki Aoki
  • Publication number: 20020017862
    Abstract: Plasma display panels of the prior art are prone to cross talk leading to unstable image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventors: Yoshiki Sasaki, Ryuichi Murai, Hiroyoshi Tanaka, Hideaki Yasui, Masatoshi Kudoh, Akira Shiokawa, Junichi Hibino, Hidetaka Higashino, Kinzo Nonomura, Shigeo Suzuki, Masaki Aoki
  • Publication number: 20010030632
    Abstract: When applying sustain pulses to each discharge cell in a gas discharge panel, a pulse of the opposite polarity is briefly applied immediately before the leading edge of each sustain pulse. Or, the absolute voltage of each sustain pulse is set higher during a certain period from the leading edge of the sustain pulse than during a period from the lapse of the certain period to the trailing edge of the sustain pulse, and a pulse of the opposite polarity is briefly applied immediately after the trailing edge of the sustain pulse. As a result, discharge delays during a discharge sustain period are suppressed to improve image quality, and reactive currents are reduced to improve luminous efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventors: Akira Shiokawa, Ryuichi Murai, Yusuke Takada