Patents by Inventor Donald E. Kephart

Donald E. Kephart 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: 5948228
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a channel structure for a PALC display panel comprises providing a channel member having channels formed in its upper surface and two electrodes in each channel, masking one electrode in each channel while leaving the other electrode unmasked, depositing material on the unmasked electrode in each channel, and removing the mask from masked electrode in each channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Hinchliffe, Mark W. Roberson, Dorothy L. Blazo, Donald E. Kephart
  • Patent number: 5917284
    Abstract: A conductive refractory compound coating for electrodes is sputter resistant, very resistant to oxidation, and easy to apply by way of electrophoresis or screen printing. This structure is further enhanced by the presence of surface particles of electrically nonconductive ceramic material. When the cathode electrode is energized, electrically nonconductive material is penetrated by the electric field, which attracts secondary electrons out of the cathode electrode, thereby increasing the cathode's efficiency as an emitter of secondary electrons. More specifically, cathode electrodes are used in a plasma addressing structure. The coating is formed by approximately 5 nm particles, each comprised of a fused matrix of conductive and nonconductive particles co-deposited with frit particles by either electrophoresis or "silk" screening. The coating is subsequently baked to fuse the frit and bond the electrophoretically deposited particles to the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: John S. Moore, William W. Stein, Donald E. Kephart
  • Patent number: 5783906
    Abstract: A refractory compound coating (188) for electrodes is sputter resistant, has a low work function so that it is a good emitter of secondary electrons, is very resistant to oxidation, and is easy to apply by way of electrophoresis. More specifically, cathode electrodes (162) are used in a plasma addressing structure (10). The coating is preferably formed by electrophoretic deposition of particles (184) of at least one refractory compound along with a frit. The coating is subsequently baked to fuse the frit and bond the electrophoretically deposited particles to the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: John S. Moore, William W. Stein, Donald E. Kephart