Abstract: A flat display device, preferably of the PALC type, in which the plasma channels are formed by etching in a substrate laterally-spaced channels and bonding a thin dielectric sheet over the etched substrate. Adjoining each of the channels are shallow ledges, also formed by etching, which serve as recessed areas to receive enlarged ends serving as contact pads for each of the electrodes. Holes are formed in the thin dielectric sheet and contact material deposited on the bonded thin dielectric sheet such that the deposited material makes electrical contact with the underlying electrode contact pads and seals off the holes, which allows a plasma-forming atmosphere to be provided in the channels. This arrangement results in a glass-to-glass interface between the substrate and the thin dielectric sheet, which allows anodic bonding to be employed to assemble the two elements and thus eliminates the frit glass sealing process required in other constructions.

Abstract: A plasma-addressed electro-optic display device having a layer of electro-optic material, data electrodes coupled to the electro-optic layer and adapted to receive data voltages for activating portions of the electro-optic layer, and a plurality of plasma channels extending generally transverse to the data electrodes for selectively switching on the electro-optic portions. The plasma channels each contain spaced elongated cathode and anode plasma electrodes and an ionizable gas filling. To improve performance, reliability and lifetime of the device, at least the cathode electrodes have surface portions of a negative electron affinity material. Preferably, the negative electron affinity material is a film of conductive or semiconductive diamond, diamond-like carbon, or aluminum nitride.

Abstract: A plasma-addressed electro-optic display device comprising a layer of electro-optic material, data electrodes coupled to the electro-optic layer and adapted to receive data voltages for activating portions of the electro-optic layer, and a plurality of plasma channels extending generally transverse to the data electrodes for selectively switching on said electro-optic portions. The plasma channels each comprise spaced elongated cathode and anode plasma electrodes and an ionizable gas filling. To improve performance and increase the effective aperture and provide a stable discharge, the channels are configured with a substantially flat bottom surface portion and curved side wall surface portions on which the electrodes are deposited such that the spacing between the electrodes is increased and the electrode surfaces form an angle of the order of 90.degree..

Abstract: A flat display device preferably of the PALC type in which a fragile micro-sheet covering the plasma channels is replaced by a more robust plate having etched spaced elongated cavities configured in such a way that the top portions of the plate between side walls of each cavity defining a channel and facing the bottom plate are substantially flat. Preferably, the thickness of the glass top plate separating each plasma discharge from an electro-optic pixel is made substantially uniformly thin while the side walls reinforce and greatly increase the strength of the plate making it less prone to breakage during assembly of a display panel. Preferably, the glass plate is etched by means of a plasma etching process.

Abstract: A method for making an electrical device such as a PALC display device, and the electrical device or PALC device so made, in which a channel plate is provided with substantially vertical side walls, and the electrodes are formed by a self-aligning anisotropic plasma etching process which requires no photolithography. A similar process may be used to form a fanout region for individual contacting of channel electrodes. For improved contacting, preferably the fanout region is also channelled and an upstanding structure such as columns provided in the fanout channels so that the spaces between the columns and between the columns and the side walls are filled up with deposited metal that remains following the anisotropic etching process.

Abstract: The time it takes for a liquid crystal display device picture to become homogeneous can be reduced to an acceptable extent by a suitable choice of the resistance and the capacitance of the orienting layers with respect to those of the liquid crystal layer. Possible DC voltages, which may occur in the case of a reset drive mode, can thus be rapidly eliminated.

Abstract: An electroscopic fluid display comprises substrates (1, 2) having fixed electrodes (12, 22), and movable electrodes (3) between the substrates, the electrodes (12, 22, 3) being provided on the free main surfaces with an insulating layer (13, 23, 31, 32) respectively, and asymmetry of the alternating voltage drive for the electrodes being adapted to the difference in surface properties as regards charge delivery and charge adsorption of facing insulating layers (13, 31; 32, 23), or the alternating voltage drive is symmetrical, and facing insulating layers (13, 31; 32, 23) have substantially the same surface properties as regards charge delivery and charge adsorption. The insulating layer (31, 32) consists preferably, on at least one main surface of the movalbe electrode (3) of anodized electrode material and continuing along (33) the outer peripheral and inner peripheral portions of the perforated movable electrode.

Abstract: An electroscopic fluid display comprises substrates (1, 2) having fixed electrodes (12, 22), and movable electrodes (3) between the substrates, the electrodes (12, 22, 3) being provided on the free main surfaces with an insulating layer (13, 23, 31, 32) respectively, and the asymmetry of the alternating voltage drive for the electrodes being adapted to the difference in surface properties as regards charge delivery and charge adsorption of facing insulating layers (13, 31; 32, 23), or the alternating voltage drive is symmetrical, and facing insulating layers (13, 31; 32, 23) have substantially the same surface properties as regards charge delivery and charge adsorption. The insulating layer (31, 32) consists, preferably, on at least one main surface of the movable electrode (3) of anodized electrode material and continuing along (33) the outer peripheral and inner peripheral portions of the perforated movable electrode 3.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image display cell in which a 4,4'-bipyridinium compound is used as a reduceable redox material. According to the invention said redox material is dissolved in a cell medium which contains a mixture of water and an electrochemically inert organic solvent. A suitable organic solvent is, for example, dimethyl sulfoxide. As a result crystallization of the solution takes place only at temperatures far below 0.degree. C so that the picture display cell can also be used at lower temperatures. The 4,4'-bipyridinium compound may be so chosen that the resulting picture can be erased directly electrochemically without the use of an auxiliary couple.