Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for testing the electrical characteristics of reflective displays, including interferometric modulator displays. In one embodiment, a controlled voltage is applied to conductive leads in the display and the resulting current is measured. The voltage may be controlled so as to ensure that interferometric modulators do not actuate during the resistance measurements. Also disclosed are methods for conditioning interferometric modulator display by applying a voltage waveform that causes actuation of interferometric modulators in the display.

Abstract: A package is made of a transparent substrate having an interferometric modulator and a back plate. A non-hermetic seal joins the back plate to the substrate to form a package, and a desiccant resides inside the package. A method of packaging an interferometric modulator includes providing a transparent substrate and manufacturing an interferometric modulator array on a backside of the substrate. A back plate is provided and a desiccant is applied to the back plate.

Abstract: Interferometric modulators having a separable modulator architecture are disclosed having a reflective layer suspended from a flexible layer over a cavity. The interferometric modulators have one or more anti-tilt members that inhibit undesirable movement of the reflective layer, such as curling and/or tilting. The stabilization of the reflective layer by the anti-tilt members can improve the quality of the optical output of the interferometric modulators, as well as displays comprising such interferometric modulators.

Abstract: An array of movable elements is arranged on a substrate. Each element has a cavity and a movable member to move through the cavity. The pressure resistance of the elements varies, allowing actuation signals to be manipulated to activate elements with different pressure resistance at different levels of the actuation signal.

Abstract: A protected faceplate structure of a field emission display device is disclosed in one embodiment. Specifically, in one embodiment, the present invention recites a faceplate of a field emission display device wherein the faceplate of the field emission display device is adapted to have phosphor containing wells disposed above one side thereof. The present embodiment is further comprised of a barrier layer which is disposed over the one side of said faceplate which is adapted to have phosphor containing wells disposed thereabove. The barrier layer of the present embodiment is adapted to prevent degradation of the faceplate. Specifically, the barrier layer of the present embodiment is adapted to prevent degradation of the faceplate due to electron bombardment by electrons directed towards the phosphor containing wells.

Abstract: A protected faceplate structure of a field emission display device is disclosed in one embodiment. Specifically, in one embodiment, the present invention recites a faceplate of a field emission display device wherein the faceplate of the field emission display device is adapted to have phosphor containing areas disposed above one side thereof. The present embodiment is further comprised of a barrier layer which is disposed over the one side of said faceplate which is adapted to have phosphor containing areas disposed thereabove. The barrier layer of the present embodiment is adapted to prevent degradation of the faceplate. Specifically, the barrier layer of the present embodiment is adapted to prevent degradation of the faceplate due to electron bombardment by electrons directed towards the phosphor containing areas.

Abstract: A protected faceplate structure of a field emission display device is disclosed in one embodiment. Specifically, in one embodiment, the present invention recites a faceplate of a field emission display device wherein the faceplate of the field emission display device is adapted to have phosphor containing areas disposed above one side thereof. The present embodiment is further comprised of a barrier layer which is disposed over the one side of said faceplate which is adapted to have phosphor containing areas disposed thereabove. The barrier layer of the present embodiment is adapted to prevent degradation of the faceplate. Specifically, the barrier layer of the present embodiment is adapted to prevent degradation of the faceplate due to electron bombardment by electrons directed towards the phosphor containing areas.

Abstract: A light-emitting device (42, 68, 80, 90, or 100) suitable for a flat-panel CRT display contains a plate (54), a light-emissive region (56), a light-blocking region (58), and a light-reflective layer (60 or 70). The light-emitting device achieves one or more of the following characteristics by suitably implementing the light-reflective layer or/and providing one or more layers (72, 82, 92, and 100) along the light-reflective layer: (a) reduced electron energy loss as electrons pass through the light-reflective layer, (b) gettering along the light-reflective layer, (c) reduced secondary electron emission along the light-reflective layer, (d) reduced electron backscattering along the light-reflective layer, and (e) reduced chemical reactivity along the light-reflective layer.

Abstract: Methods for performing cathode burn-in with respect to an FED display that avoid display non-uniformities near and around the spacer wall structures. In a first method, the anode is floated or receives a negative voltage with respect to the electron emitter. A positive voltage is then applied to the focus waffle structure with respect to the electron emitter. The cathode is then energized thereby preventing emitted electrons from escaping the focus well. Under these conditions, cathode burn-in conditioning can occur but electrons are energetically forbidden from hitting the anode or the spacer walls except for a small region near the focus waffle. Under the second method, the anode is grounded or allowed to float. A negative bias is applied to the focus waffle. This causes electrons to be collected at the M2 layer of the gate. Electrons are energetically forbidden from hitting any portion of the tube except the M2 layer.

Abstract: A light-emitting device (42, 68, 80, 90, or 100) suitable for a flat-panel CRT display contains a plate (54), a light-emissive region (56), and a light-reflective layer (60 or 70). The light-emitting device achieves one or more of the following characteristics by suitably implementing the light-reflective layer or/and providing one or more layers (72, 82, 92, and 100) along the light-reflective layer: (a) reduced electron energy loss as electrons pass through the light-reflective layer, (b) gettering along the light-reflective layer, (c) reduced secondary electron emission along the light-reflective layer, (d) reduced electron backscattering along the light-reflective layer, and (e) reduced chemical reactivity along the light-reflective layer.

Abstract: Electroluminescent devices have, as the active layer, a polymer having a chain comprising a plurality of electroluminescent groupings, adjacent pairs of the electroluminescent groupings being connected via two benzene rings linked to each other only by a single covalent bond, at least one of the benzene rings bearing, at a position ortho to the covalent bond, a substituent of sufficient size that the length of the bond connecting the two benzene rings is not less than 1.495 Angstroms. Preferred electroluminescent groupings comprise a chain of three or more para-phenylene groups connected to one another by amide, carboxy, ester, urea, urethane or vinyl groups. The polymers have a fixed conjugation length with predictable electroluminescent properties.

Abstract: An electroluminescent polymer comprises a main chain and a plurality of side chains, each of the side chains comprising an electroluminescent group and a flexible spacer connecting the electroluminescent group to the main chain, the spacers and the main chain being such that the electroluminescent groups are not conjugated with one another. The nature of the main chain and the spacer groups can be varied to enhance solubility, film-forming ability and other characteristics of the polymer, without significantly changing the electroluminescent properties of the polymer.

Abstract: Electroluminescent devices have, as the active layer, a polymer having a chain comprising a plurality of electroluminescent groupings, adjacent pairs of the electroluminescent groupings being connected via two benzene rings linked by only a single covalent bond, at least one of the benzene rings bearing, at a position ortho to the covalent bond, a substituent of sufficient size that the two benzene rings are essentially not conjugated with each other. Preferred electroluminescent groupings comprise a chain of three or more para-phenylene groups connected to one another by amide, carboxy, ester, urea, urethane or vinyl groups. The polymers have a fixed conjugation length with predictable electroluminescent properties.

Abstract: Liquid crystal compounds which show a ferroelectric phase and which exhibit high spontaneous polarization values and smectic behavior over a range of temperatures have the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is alkyl of from 1 to 16 carbon atoms; alkoxy; haloalkyl; alkoxyalkyl, wherein the alkoxy substituent thereof comprises a chain of carbon atoms including one or more oxygen ether atoms; or alkoxyalkoxy, wherein the alkoxy substituent thereof comprises a chain of carbon atoms including one or more oxygen ether atoms; R.sup.2 is alkyl of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; each of R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 is alkylene; n is an integer 1 or 2; and W is alkyl of from 1 to 12 carbon atoms or fluoroalkyl of the formula ##STR2## wherein each of X, Y and Z is hydrogen or fluorine, m is zero or an integer from 1 to 6, and at least one of X, Y and Z is fluorine when m is zero.

Abstract: Disclosed are smetic liquid crystal compounds exhibiting ferroelectric behavior and having the formulaR.sup.1 --OR.sup.2).sub.a O--R.sup.3).sub.b Z--R*wherein R.sup.1 is alkyl or alkoxyalkyl, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each alkylene, a is an integer of at least one, b is zero or one, R* is an optically active group containing an asymmetric center and --Z-- is an organic divalent core radical having parallel or coaxially extending bonds at the terminal ends thereof, the core radical having an axial ratio of at least two and being characterized by an essentially rigid and flat molecular structure. Presence of the ether-interrupted hydrocarbon tail moiety at the terminal end of the compounds provides a lowering in observed temperatures of phase transition.

Abstract: This invention relates to 2-(thiazolidin-2'-yl) ethylchlorocarbonates useful as intermediates in the synthesis of photographic image dye-providing materials and to their preparation by the reaction of the appropriate 2-(2'-hydroxyethyl)-thiazolidine with phosgene under certain conditions.

Abstract: Liquid crystal mixtures are disclosed which contain 30-60% of a Schiff's base nematic liquid crystal compound, 25-65% of a second nematic liquid crystal compound selected from the classes of azoxy, ester and biphenyl, and 5-15% of a triphenyl compound to raise the isotropic transition temperature. This combination results in liquid crystal compositions having unexpectedly wide nematic temperature ranges.

Abstract: Liquid crystal mixtures are disclosed which contain 30-60% of a Schiff's base nematic liquid crystal compound, 25-65% of a second nematic liquid crystal compound selected from the classes of azoxy, ester and biphenyl, and 5-15% of a triphenyl compound to raise the isotropic transition temperature. This combination results in liquid crystal compositions having unexpectedly wide nematic temperature ranges.