Abstract: A method for providing thermal protection for a pre-charge unit (PRC) in an electric power conversion system, such as a medium-voltage adjustable-speed drive with a step-up transformer and DC link. The method includes identifying the electrical and thermal parameters of the PRC, estimating the current through the step-up transformer of the PRC based on input voltage, and estimating the thermal level of the transformer from the current. A protection logic then compares the estimated thermal level to a pre-determined trip threshold and outputs a trip signal if the threshold is exceeded. The disclosure also covers an electric power conversion system configured to perform this thermal protection method.

Abstract: A method for providing thermal protection to a pre-charge unit (PRC) of an electric power conversion system, such as a medium-voltage adjustable-speed drive, with a step-up transformer and a DC link includes the steps of executing a parameter identification block identifying the electrical and thermal parameters of the PRC; of an electric power conversion system executing a current estimation block estimating the current flowing though the PRC's step-up transformer based on a voltage input; executing a thermal level estimation block estimating a thermal level at the PRC's step-up transformer based on the estimated current flowing though the PRC's step-up transformer; executing a protection logic block comparing the estimated thermal level to a pre-determined trip threshold to determine whether a thermal overload has occurred; and outputting a trip signal if the trip threshold has been exceeded.

Abstract: Disclosed is reflective morphable display with multi-layered depth viewing, low power consumption and few components and a method of activating various features thereof. The disclosed display includes a bi-stable reflective cholesteric liquid display crystal (ChLCD) layered in combination with a display device such as an LCD and a quarter lambda (?/4) retardation film layer. Linearly polarized light emerging from the front surface of a display device is circularly polarized by the ?/4 layer before entering the ChLCD layer. In its reflective state, the ChLCD layer receiving a portion of the ambient light having the same handedness of the ChLCD is reflected in a mirror-like manner. Also in its reflective state, when it receives light that is circularly polarized by the ?/4 retardation film layer, the ChLCD layer acts as a shutter. A display device with depth viewing is provided as the ChLCD layer pixelated so it is configured to display font and/or other indicia.

Abstract: An electronic device (100, 400, 500) includes a display (116, 516) positioned within a housing (104, 504) for presenting two dimensional images. A cover (102, 502) is moveably mounted to the housing (104, 504) and capable of assuming an open position and a closed position. An optical element (120, 420, 520) is disposed within the cover (102, 502), wherein the display (116, 516) may be viewed directly when the cover (102, 502) is in the open position and wherein the display may be viewed through the optical element (120, 420, 520) when the cover (102, 502) is in the closed position, the optical element (120, 420, 520) giving the two dimensional images on the display (116, 516) a three dimensional appearance.

Abstract: A method for forming a housing for an electronic device (510) includes providing a first rigid layer (102, 302) including a curved surface defining a cavity (108, 308). A first adhesive (112, 312) is optionally applied over the curved surface, and an electro-optic module (105, 305) having a flexible substrate and a viewable surface (111, 311), is conformally fitted on the first adhesive (112, 312). A second adhesive (114, 314) is optionally disposed over the electro-optic module (105, 305) and a support structure (122) is optionally placed on the second adhesive (114). The support structure (122) includes an attachment apparatus (126) for mounting electronic circuitry. The first and second adhesives (112, 114) are cured. One of the second adhesive (114) or both the first rigid layer (102, 301) and the first adhesive (112) are transparent for viewing a viewable surface (111, 311) on or coupled to the electro-optic module (105, 305).

Abstract: An electronic device (110, 210) includes a housing (120) encasing a component (112, 114). The housing (120) includes a region (300, 600, 800, 1000) contiguous to the component (112, 114), the region (300, 600, 800, 1000) configured to selectively switch between a metallic appearance to transparent to reveal the component (112, 114) through the region (300, 600, 800, 1000) when transparent. Metal surfaces, metal particles, or shiny particles that are incorporated into device structures may be actuated. The grain sizes of the particles can be adjusted to achieve the desired reflections. In addition, individual shutters (318, 618, 818, 1018) can be fabricated with a distribution of predisposed orientations to enhance the reflectivity.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a field emission backlight (500) that eliminates the effects of backscatter electrons on spacers (532). The field emission backlight (500) includes an anode (530), a cathode (204) separated from the anode (530) by a first distance (403), and a plurality of electron emitters (504) disposed on the cathode (204). A plurality of spacers (532) separate the anode (530) and cathode (204) by a first distance (403) and are disposed a second distance (408) from the nearest electron emitters (504), wherein the second distance (408) is at least twice the magnitude of the first distance (403).

Abstract: A field emission device (10) is provided that prevents electrical breakdown. The field emission device (10) comprises an anode (40) distally disposed from a cathode plate that includes an insulating substrate (12) having a portion exposed to the anode (40), and a cathode metal (14) overlying another portion of the insulating substrate (12). A gate electrode (26) overlies an oxide (24) above at least a portion of the cathode metal (14) and optionally above a portion of the substrate. A dielectric layer (18) is positioned between a resistive layer (22) and the cathode metal (14), and substantially all of the exposed substrate, and underlies substantially all of the gate electrode (26) including its edges (34, 46), providing a resistance between the cathode metal (14) and the edges (34, 46).

Abstract: A method is provided for preventing electron emission from a sidewall (34) of a gate electrode (20) and the edge (28) of the gate electrode stack of a field emission device (10), the gate electrode (20) having a surface (24) distally disposed from an anode (40) and a side (26) proximate to emission electrodes (38). The method comprises growing dielectric material (22) over the surface (24) and side (26) of the gate electrode (20), and performing an anisotropic etch (32) normal to the surface (24) to remove the dielectric material (22) from the surface (24) and leaving at least a portion of the dielectric material (22) on the side (26) of the gate electrode (20) and edge (28) of the gate electrode stack.

Abstract: A fabrication process is provided for reducing leakage current in a field emission display having at least one electron emitter (24) electrically coupled to a ballast resistor (16) coupled to a cathode metal (14), wherein at least one defect (28) extends to a gate electrode (20) from a region (22) electrically coupled to the ballast resistor, the method comprising heating (32) to reduce the resistance of the ballast resistor; and applying (34) a voltage between the cathode metal and the gate electrode thereby creating a current through the at least one defect to create an electrical open therein.

Abstract: A method is provided for bonding spacers (22) to an anode (12) and/or cathode (24) of a flat panel display. The method comprises forming a black matrix layer (26) between a ductile metal layer (28) and a first display plate (12), the black matrix layer (26) and the ductile metal layer (28) defining a plurality of regions (20) surrounding a plurality of pixels (16). A cathodoluminescent material (18) is formed within each of the pixels (16) and an aluminum layer (32) may be formed on the silver layer (28) and the cathodoluminescent layer (18). A first end (52) of each of a plurality of spacers is attached to one each of the regions (20), wherein a thermocompression bonding positions the spacer (22) contiguous to the ductile metal layer (28). The second display plate (24), e.g., cathode, is attached to a second end of each of the plurality of spacers (22).

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for reducing color bleed in a flat panel display. The apparatus comprises an anode (30) with a plurality of phosphors (28) of at least two colors sequentially disposed thereon. A cathode (14) is arranged in parallel opposed position to and separated from the anode (30) and contains a plurality of pads (40) of emitters. Each pad (40) is disposed on the cathode (14) in spaced relationship to and aligned with one of the at least two colors, respectively, wherein electrons from each of the plurality of pads of emitters that drift from its intended phosphor (28) are encouraged to drift toward an adjacent phosphor (28) of the same color.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for focusing electrons being emitted from a field emission device. The apparatus comprises a substrate (12,41,51) having first and second portions, and a cathode metal layer (20,44,52) formed over the substrate (12,41,51) in the first portion to partially define a sidewall (23) for a trench (25) in the second portion. A ballast layer (22,46,53) is formed over the substrate (12,41,51) in the second portion, the cathode metal layer (20,44,52), and the sidewall (23). A first dielectric layer (24,47,54) is formed over the ballast layer (22,46,53) in the first portion. A gate extraction metal layer (26,48,55) is formed over the first dielectric layer. At least one emitter (30) comprising a high aspect ratio conductive material is formed above the substrate and in the trench (25) having a sidewall (23) defined by the first dielectric layer (24,47,54) and the cathode metal layer (20,44,52).

Abstract: A field emission device and method of forming a field emission device are provided in accordance with the present invention. The field emission device is comprised of a substrate (12) having a deformation temperature that is less than about six hundred and fifty degrees Celsius and a nano-supported catalyst (22) formed on the substrate (12) that has active catalytic particles that are less than about five hundred nanometers. The field emission device is also comprised of a nanotube (24) that is catalytically formed in situ on the nano-supported catalyst (22), which has a diameter that is less than about twenty nanometers.

Abstract: A field emission device (400) includes a plastically-deformable, ceramic, stamped substrate (200) made from a plastically deformable ceramic, which in the preferred embodiment includes a calendered tape. The plastically-deformable, ceramic, stamped substrate (200) includes first and second opposed surfaces (202, 204) and defines apertures (206) in which are formed extraction electrodes (410). The field emission device (400) further includes an electron-emissive layer (418) being formed on the first opposed surface (202). Cathodes (420) are disposed on the electron-emissive layer (418) and cross the extraction electrodes (410) at an angle of 90.degree.. A method for fabricating said field emission device (400) includes stamping a layer (100) of the softened calendered tape with a die (300) to define the apertures (206) and grooves (208, 212, 214).

Abstract: A spacer (200) for a field emission display (201) is disclosed. The spacer (200) includes a lower resistive region (220) and an upper insulative region (222). The spacer (200) has a member (210) which is coated with a resistive coating (212) extending between the lower end of the member and a height (h.sub.2) less than the total height (h.sub.1) of the spacer (200). An insulative coating (218) is formed on the member (210) and extends between the upper end of the resistive coating (212) and the upper end of the member (210). The resistive coating (212) has a secondary electron yield less than 2 over the lower resistive region (220) of the spacer (200). The insulative coating (218) has a secondary electron yield between 0.75-2 over the upper insulative region (222) of the spacer (200).

Abstract: A method for affixing a plurality of spacers (150, 250) within a field emission display (100, 200) is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: (i) forming a metallic bonding pad (160, 260) on the inner surface of the anode (110) or cathode (230) (ii) placing an edge of the spacers (150, 250) in intimate physical contact with a portion of the metallic bonding pad (160, 260) thereby providing contacting surfaces (iii) applying a potential difference of about 1000 Volts across the contacting surfaces so that the metallic bonding pad (160, 260) is biased positively with respect to the spacers (150, 250), and (iv) simultaneously heating the region about, and including, the bonding surfaces to a temperature of about 400 degrees Celsius for about 15 minutes so that an anodic bond is formed between the contacting surfaces.