Supporting And/or Spacing Elements Patents (Class 313/292)
  • Patent number: 6369495
    Abstract: In manufacturing of an organic electroluminescence (EL) display device, after first electrodes are formed on a substrate, insulating films are formed on the first electrodes except regions corresponding to light emitting portions. Spacers are formed on the insulating films, and overhanging portions are formed so as to overhand the spacers. Thus, element isolating structure portions for isolating organic EL elements are formed. Then, organic EL films, second electrodes, and protecting films are sequentially formed between the spacers. In the tube formed light emitting portions of the organic EL display device, the bending angle of a bending portion of a pattern of the element isolating structure portion is larger than 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsufumi Codama, Masaru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6369509
    Abstract: A short arc lamp in which cylindrical retaining bodies can be easily and reliably attached in upholding parts of the electrodes on a temporary basis and in which also the disadvantages which are caused by an anomalous discharge immediately after starting of lamp operation can be eliminated are achieved in a short arc lamp in which a cathode and an anode opposite one another in an arc tube having side parts on opposite sides, in which the upholding parts of the cathode and anode electrodes are inserted and held in cylindrical retaining bodies, and in which the cylindrical retaining bodies are supported in the shrunken regions of the side tubes by the upholding parts of the electrodes being wound with coil components which border the faces of the cylindrical retaining bodies that face the electrodes, and by the cylindrical retaining bodies being temporarily attached by these coil components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Ookubo, Toshiyuki Shima, Shinkichi Morimoto
  • Patent number: 6366009
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a field emission display (100) includes the steps of providing a cathode plate (102), providing an anode plate (104), providing a spacer substrate (160) made from a bulk spacer material (109), cutting the spacer substrate (160) to define a spacer (108) having a surface (107), passivating the surface (107) of the spacer (108) using the bulk spacer material (109) to form a passivation layer, and disposing the spacer (108) between the cathode plate (102) and the anode plate (104). A field emission display (100) which includes a cathode plate (102) having a plurality of electron emitters (124), an anode plate (104) opposing the cathode plate (102), and a spacer (108) extending between the cathode plate (102) and anode plate (104). The spacer (108) has a passivation layer made from bulk spacer material (109).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter A. Smith, Joyce K. Yamamoto, Craig Amrine, Thomas Nilsson, Steven M. Smith
  • Publication number: 20020030435
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus comprises a rear plate including electron-emitting devices formed thereon, a face plate including a fluorescent film formed thereon and being disposed to face the rear plate, a spacer in the form of a flat plate disposed between the rear plate and the face plate, and an outer frame surrounding peripheral edges of the rear plate and the face plate. Electrons emitted from the electron-emitting devices are irradiated to the fluorescent film to thereby display an image under condition where an inner space of a container constructed by the rear plate, the face plate and the outer frame is evacuated through a vent tube into a depressurized state. The vent tube is attached to a side of the outer frame that is positioned across an imaginary extension of the flat-plate spacer in the longitudinal direction thereof, or to the face plate or the rear plate in the vicinity of that side of the outer frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: YASUE SATO, SHINICHI KAWATE, KAZUYUKI UEDA
  • Patent number: 6356013
    Abstract: A flat panel display and a method for forming a flat panel display. In one embodiment, the flat panel display includes a wall which is held in place by a structure formed either on the faceplate or on the backplate. In one embodiment the supporting structure is formed by two adjacent walls that form a slot which mechanically restrains the wall. In another embodiment a slot is formed within the faceplate and the walls of the slot mechanically restrain the wall. In one embodiment wall segments are inserted into supporting structures that mechanically restrain each wall segment. In another embodiment a UV curable or a heat curable adhesive is used to maintain walls in their proper alignment and position. In yet another embodiment a conductive material is melted so as to bond conductive lines located on the wall and conductive lines located on the faceplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Candescent Intellectual Property Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Chungdee Pong, John D. Porter, Theodore S. Fahlen, Christopher J. Curtin, Robert G. Neimeyer, Paul N. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 6352763
    Abstract: A curable slurry for forming ceramic microstructures on a substrate using a mold. The slurry is a mixture of a ceramic powder, a fugitive binder, and a diluent. The ceramic powder has a low softening temperature in a range of about 400° C. to 600° C. and a coefficient of thermal expansion closely matched to that of the substrate. The fugitive binder is capable of radiation curing, electron beam curing, or thermal curing. The diluent promotes release properties with the mold after curing the binder or quick and complete burn out of the binder during debinding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Dillon, Kyung H. Moh, Thomas Edward Wood, Raymond C. Chiu, Vincent Wen-Shiuan King, Richard P. Rusin, Timothy Lee Hoopman, Paul Edward Humpal
  • Patent number: 6353280
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus comprises a rear plate on which an electron-emitting device is provided, a face plate having an image-forming member and arranged to be opposed to the rear plate, and a spacer provided between the face plate and the rear plate. The spacer comprises a spacer base plate and a coating layer including organic resin and carbon. At least part of the carbon is exposed from the surface of the coating layer. The image-forming apparatus displays an image with a high luminance and a high color saturation over a prolonged time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Shibata, Sotomitsu Ikeda, Toyoko Kobayashi, Masato Yamanobe
  • Patent number: 6342754
    Abstract: A charge-reducing film is used for coating a surface within a vacuum container containing electron-emitting devices to prevent deviations of electron beams caused by electric charges of the furface. The charge-reducing film comprises a nitrogen compound containing one or more than one transition metals and at least one element selected from aluminum, silicon and boron. An oxide layer may be arranged on the charge-reducing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Kuroda, Hiroshi Takagi, Yoichi Osato, Noriaki Ohguri, Yoshimasa Okamura, Takao Kusaka
  • Publication number: 20010054866
    Abstract: A large-area field emission device (“FED”) which is sealed under a predetermined level of vacuum pressure and method for making same includes a large-area substrate, an emitter electrode structure disposed on the substrate such that the emitter structure is disposed over a substantial portion of the substrate, a plurality of groups of micropoints, with each group having a predetermined number of micropoints and with each group being disposed at discrete positions on the emitter electrode structure, an insulating layer disposed over the substrate, with the insulating layer having openings therethrough which have a diameter within a predetermined range, and with each openings surrounding at least a portion a micropoint, an extraction structure disposed on the insulating layer, with the extraction structure having openings therethrough which have a diameter within a predetermined range, with each openings surrounding at least a portion of a micropoint, and with the openings in the extraction structur
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventors: David A. Cathey, Jimmy J. Browning
  • Patent number: 6329750
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for anodically bonding an array of spacer columns to one of the inner major faces on one of the generally planar plates of an evacuated, flat-panel video display. The process includes the steps of: providing a generally planar plate having a plurality of spacer column attachment sites; providing electrical interconnection between all attachment sites; coating each attachment site with a patch of oxidizable material; providing an array of unattached permanent glass spacer columns, each unattached permanent spacer columns being of uniform length and being positioned longitudinally perpendicular to a single plane, with the plane intersecting the midpoint of each unattached spacer column; positioning the array such that an end of one permanent spacer column is in contact with the oxidizable material patch at each attachment site; and anodically bonding the contacting end of each permanent spacer column to the oxidizable material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Hofmann, Jason B. Elledge, Zhong-Yi Xia, David A. Cathey
  • Patent number: 6326721
    Abstract: An HID lamp utilizes a wire frame member having an integral coil with spaces between windings to relieve thermal stress and provide shock absorption in a ceramic metal halide discharge lamp mounted concentrically in an elliptical-dimple (ED-type) glass envelope. The wire frame member has a first end welded to a current carrying support member embedded in the stem and a second end welded to an upper axial lead of the arc tube, the coil being situated about the dimple. The lower axial lead fixed relative to a second current carrying support member embedded in the stem, so that the coil compresses when the arc tube expands relative to the wire frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corp.
    Inventors: Daniel P. Shippee, Gregory J. Nelson, Franciscus H. van Lierop, Kevin D. Provagna, James M. Gensert
  • Patent number: 6323590
    Abstract: A flat panel display and a method for forming a flat panel display. In one embodiment, the flat panel display includes a wall which is held in place by a structure formed either on the faceplate or on the backplate. In one embodiment the supporting structure is formed by two adjacent walls that form a slot which mechanically restrains the wall. In another embodiment a slot is formed within the faceplate and the walls of the slot mechanically restrain the wall. In one embodiment wall segments are inserted into supporting structures that mechanically restrain each wall segment. In another embodiment a UV curable or a heat curable adhesive is used to maintain walls in their proper alignment and position. In yet another embodiment a conductive material is melted so as to bond conductive lines located on the wall and conductive lines located on the faceplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Candescent Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Chungdee Pong, John D. Porter, Theodore S. Fahlen, Christopher J. Curtin, Robert G. Neimeyer, Paul N. Ludwig
  • Publication number: 20010033127
    Abstract: A display panel module comprises: a substrate; a circuit board; electrode terminals aligned in a first direction over a surface of the substrate, each of the electrode terminals extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; lead terminals aligned in the first direction over a confronting surface of the circuit board to the substrate; at least an anisotropically conductive film sandwiched between the electrode terminals and the lead terminals; and a plurality of first electrically insulating walls provided on the substrate and positioned in at least selected plural ones of gaps between selected ones of the electrode terminals, and the selected ones of the electrode terminals being positioned on opposite side regions of the module, and the opposite side regions are distanced in the first direction and separated by a center region, wherein the first electrically insulating walls have a first height, which is higher than a first total height of the electrode terminals and the anisotropical
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Mizutani, Eiichi Kitazume
  • Patent number: 6307327
    Abstract: A method for controlling spacer (108) visibility in a field emission display (100) includes the steps of modifying pixel data for transmission to a plurality of pixels (110) in a first region (112) adjacent to a spacer (108) to render the spacer (108) invisible to a viewer of the field emission display (100). A field emission display (100) with a spacer visibility correction circuit (104) that modifies pixel data for transmission to a plurality of pixels (110) in a first region (112) adjacent to a spacer (108).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: MOtorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Chenggang Xie, Ken K. Foo
  • Patent number: 6294869
    Abstract: The present invention is designed to provide a high intensity light irradiation apparatus having a simpler, lighter, easy to assemble and replace support member for a dielectric barrier electrical discharge lamp. The dielectric barrier electrical discharge lamp 1 comprises concentric outer tube 11 and inner tube 12 to form an inert gas filled electrical discharge space 14 defined by the outer and inner tubes 11,12 and their end walls. A metal rod 3 is inserted into the inner tube 12 of the electrical discharge lamp 1. A pair of clamp members 4 are secured to both ends of the metal rod 3 for clamping the both ends of the electrical discharge lamp 1. An AC voltage is applied between the metal rod 3 and an outer electrode 21 on the surface of the outer tube 11. Cooling water flows through the gap between the metal rod 3 and the inner tube 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: ORC Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo Adachi, Yasuhiko Okugi
  • Patent number: 6281863
    Abstract: A plasma display panel driving system and method for a display panel having a first common electrode and first independent electrodes arranged at a back plate side, a second common electrode and second independent electrodes arranged at a face plate side, an inner partition positioned between the first common and independent electrodes at the back plate side and the second common and independent electrodes at the face plate side and having an aperture therein connecting a space at the back plate side and a space at the face plate side, and a fluorescent layer arranged in the space at the face plate side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Sasaki, Masaji Ishigaki, Norio Yatsuda, Yuji Sano, Hiroshi Ohtaka, Nobuyuki Ushifusa, Eiji Matsuzaki, Seiichi Tsuchida
  • Patent number: 6278233
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus such as an image display apparatus has spacers the charging of the surface of which can be reduced as well as the occurrence of discharge. The image forming apparatus includes an envelope, an electron source disposed within the envelope, an image forming member for forming an image by irradiation with electrons emitting by the electron source, and a spacer disposed between electrodes to which mutually different voltages are applied within the envelope. The spacer has conductivity and is electrically connected to the electrodes via conductive layers, and each of the conductive layers has an end portion defining a shape which is a combination of a linear portion and a curved portion or a combination of a linear portion and an obtuse-angle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Sanou, Hideaki Mitsutake, Yoichi Ando
  • Publication number: 20010013747
    Abstract: A spacer using a cross structure, which is used to maintain the interval between two panels, for large flat panel display devices, and a flat panel display device using the spacer, are provided. This spacer includes a cross-rib type spacer obtained by combining a cross structure and a rib structure, and a cross-trapezoid type spacer obtained by combining a cross structure and a trapezoid rib structure. These spacer structures facilitate enlargement of panels by increasing the supporting strength while maintaining a high aspect ratio. Also, while these types of spacers are incorporated with a metal mesh, the distance between the mesh and a substrate is freely controlled according to the length of a cross structure, thereby improving the focusing of emitted electrons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Inventors: So-youn Jung, Jae-eun Jung, Jong-min Kim
  • Patent number: 6274972
    Abstract: An electron beam apparatus includes an electron source having an electron-emitting device, an electrode for controlling an electron beam emitted from the electron source, a target to be irradiated with an electron beam emitted from the electron source and a spacer arranged between the electron source and the electrode. The spacer has a semiconductor film on the surface thereof that is electrically connected to the electron source and the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Mitsutake, Shinichi Kawate, Naoto Nakamura, Yoshihisa Sano
  • Patent number: 6255772
    Abstract: A large-area field emission device (“FED”) which is sealed under a predetermined level of vacuum pressure and method for making same includes a large-area substrate, an emitter electrode structure disposed on the substrate such that the emitter structure is disposed over a substantial portion of the substrate, a plurality of groups of micropoints, with each group having a predetermined number of micropoints and with each group being disposed at discrete positions on the emitter electrode structure, an insulating layer disposed over the substrate, with the insulating layer having openings therethrough which have a diameter within a predetermined range, and with each openings surrounding at least a portion a micropoint, an extraction structure disposed on the insulating layer, with the extraction structure having openings therethrough which have a diameter within a predetermined range, with each openings surrounding at least a portion of a micropoint, and with the openings in the extraction structur
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Cathey, Jimmy J. Browning
  • Patent number: 6249083
    Abstract: An electric field emission display (FED) and a method for manufacturing a spacer thereof are provided. The FED includes a spacer having a structure in which a multi-focusing electrode layer, an electron beam amplifying layer and a getter layer are stacked between an anode and a cathode, or a spacer having a structure in which a first electrode layer, a first insulating layer, a second electrode layer, a second insulating layer, a third electrode layer, a third insulating layer and a fourth electrode layer are sequentially stacked. Thus, electron beams can be easily focused by the multi-focusing electrode of the spacer, and high luminance can be realized at low current due to electron beam amplification of the electron amplifying apparatus. Also, the diamond tip is used as an electron emission means, to thereby obtain a low driving voltage, stability at a high temperature, and high thermal conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Samsung Display Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong-min Kim
  • Patent number: 6249079
    Abstract: A description is given of a fluorescent lamp having spacers 6 for supporting a wall 2 of the discharge vessel, the fluorescent layer 3 having (8) a reduced thickness in a surrounding region of the spacer 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Patent-Trehand-Gesellschaft fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen mbH
    Inventors: Frank Vollkommer, Lothar Hitzschke
  • Patent number: 6239551
    Abstract: A discharge space structure of a plasma display panel is provided in which rays generated by a cell are not diffused into neighboring cells but sent to the front of the panel, to prevent color spread in the same stripe, improving luminance of the plasma display panel. The plasma display panel is constructed in such a manner that the front and back substrates, parallel to each other, are combined using frit glass, a dielectric layer is formed on display electrodes arranged on the front substrate, a protective layer formed on the dielectric layer, address electrodes are arranged on the back substrate, barriers are formed between the address electrodes, and a fluorescent layer is formed between the barriers, in which each discharge space defined by the fluorescent layer is formed in a hemispheric shape, to send rays generated by the fluorescent layer to the front of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Myung-Ho Park
  • Patent number: 6236157
    Abstract: In a field emission display device, a spacer assembly and a method for forming a spacer assembly. In one embodiment, the present invention is comprised of a spacer wall which has a specific secondary electron emission coefficient function associated therewith. In the present embodiment, a coating material is then applied to at least a portion of the spacer wall. In this embodiment, the coating material has a secondary electron emission coefficient function which is different than the secondary electron emission coefficient function of the spacer wall. In so doing, the present embodiment provides a spacer assembly having a plurality of secondary electron emission coefficient functions associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Candescent Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence S. Pan, Donald R. Schropp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6225731
    Abstract: A single-ended glass halogen lamp includes an infrared reflecting shroud surrounding a lamp filament which reflects infrared energy back to the lamp filament to heat the filament and improve overall lamp efficiency. The shroud is supported within the lamp enclosure by the electrical leads which connect the lamp filament to a source of electricity. The optical interference filter is preferably a tantala-silica coating formed on an exterior of an ellipsoidal shaped shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Lun Auyang
  • Patent number: 6222313
    Abstract: A field emission display (100) includes a cathode plate (110) having a plurality of electron emitters (119), an anode plate (120) having a plurality of phosphors (126), and a spacer (130) having a rough surface (140). The roughness of rough surface (140) is selected to improve the charging and discharging characteristics of field emission display (100). Preferably, rough surface (140) is characterized by a peak-to-valley number within a range of 0.5-6 micrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter A. Smith, Joyce K. Yamamoto, Scott K. Ageno
  • Patent number: 6218784
    Abstract: In the present invention, it is possible to implement a small size and light PDP apparatus by integrally forming a panel unit and a driving circuit unit on a single substrate. A panel unit(discharge cells) of the PDP is formed on one surface of a flat metallic substrate, and a driving circuit unit is formed on the other surface of the same. Namely, in the PDP apparatus having a panel unit formed of a plurality of discharge cells, and a driving circuit unit for supplying a power and signal to the panel unit, the PDP apparatus includes a metallic lower substrate, a first insulation layer formed on an upper surface of one side of the metallic lower substrate, an upper substrate formed opposite to the one side of the metallic lower substrate, a plurality of barriers formed between the metallic lower substrate and the upper substrate for defining a plurality of discharge spaces, and a second insulation layer formed on another surface of the metallic lower substrate and including the driving circuit unit thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Woo-Sung Jang, Je-Seok Kim
  • Patent number: 6198214
    Abstract: In order to operate Field Emission Displays (“FEDs”) contain an evacuated space. Generally, two soda-lime glass substrates, separated by a vacuum gap, act as cathode and anode. The vacuum gap is essential for the electrons to be emitted from the sharp cathode tips and travel towards the anode to give up their energy to the phosphor anode plate to emit light. The two plates and the frit seal holding the vacuum gap are under strain due to the atmospheric pressure acting on them. For small size FEDs , this strain is not a problem. However, for large area FEDs, the strain is detrimental both to the glass plates (2 mm thick) and frit seal. Under the strain, both the cathode and anode plates will buckle-in towards vacuum and, in turn, stress the frit seal, causing cracks and vacuum failure. To minimize this effect and enable the FED to operate normally, a field emissive display with a support plate for the cathode plate is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: FED Corporation
    Inventors: Munisamy Anandan, Olivier Prache
  • Patent number: 6184619
    Abstract: An electron apparatus includes a rear substrate having an electron-emitting device, a front substrate irradiated with electrons, and a support member for maintaining the interval between these substrates. The distribution of the electric field is controlled, and a force acting in the direction away from the support member is applied to emitted electrons to prevent the electrons from striking the support member. At this time, the electrons are accelerated toward the front substrate. Since the degree of deflection by a deflection force on the rear substrate side is larger than the degree of deflection by a deflection force on the front substrate side, the deflection force on the rear substrate side is relatively weakened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Yamazaki, Masahiro Fushimi, Hideaki Mitsutake
  • Patent number: 6177757
    Abstract: An envelope of a cathode ray tube includes a substantially rectangular flat face plate, and a substantially rectangular flat rear plate opposed to the face plate with a side wall being interposed therebetween, a plurality of funnels extending from the rear plate. A plurality of necks extend from the respective funnels, and a plurality of electron guns are respectively arranged in the necks. A plurality of plate support portions are arranged between the rear plate and the face plate, so as to support the rear plate and the face plate against an atmospheric pressure. Each plate support portion includes a support body made of glass which is integrally welded with the rear plate and extends from the rear plate toward the face plate, and a distal end portion jointed to the extending end of the support body and being in contact with the face plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takashi Enomoto, Takashi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 6172454
    Abstract: Laser-assisted chemical vapor deposition is used to form spacers at desired locations in a field emission display. The spacers can be designed with different shapes to provide increased strength and also to be formed differently depending on the their location on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: James J. Hofmann
  • Patent number: 6157131
    Abstract: A quartz protective sleeve surrounding a ceramic metal halide arc tube is supported by a pair of frame members received inside the sleeve. A short frame member extends only partially into the sleeve, while a long frame member extends through the sleeve and includes a loop which engages a dimple at the top of the lamp envelope. The sleeve is fitted over the frame members, which are spring loaded apart. Axial positioning may be provided by terminals or other features fixed to the frame members. In an alternative embodiment, shoulders for positioning the sleeve and terminals for connecting to the arc tube are formed integrally with the frame members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corp.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Nelson, Franciscus H. van Lierop, John S. Bailey
  • Patent number: 6157123
    Abstract: A flat panel display contains a faceplate structure (174 or 350), a backplate structure (175 or 351), and a spacer (140, 340, 0r 341). A light-emitting structure (171 or 306) is located along a faceplate (170 or 302) in the faceplate structure. An electron-emitting structure (172 or 305) is located along a backplate (173 or 303) in the backplate structure. The spacer is situated between the light-emitting and electron-emitting structures. Transition metal oxide or transition metal in oxide state is present in a ceramic core (401, 501, 0r 601) or/and a resistive skin (402, 403, 502, 503, 602, or 603) of the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Candescent Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony P. Schmid, Christopher J. Spindt, David L. Morris, Theodore S. Fahlen, Yu Nan Sun
  • Patent number: 6153986
    Abstract: A voltage ratio regulator circuit for a spacer electrode of a flat panel display screen. Within one implementation of a field emission display (FED) device, thin spacer walls are inserted between a high voltage (Vh) faceplate and a backplate to secure these structures as a vacuum is formed between. A phosphor layer on the faceplate receives electrons selectively emitted from discrete electron emitting areas along the backplate (cathode) thereby forming images on the faceplate. The faceplate warms relative to the backplate, as a result of energy released by the phosphor layer, thereby generating a temperature gradient along the spacer walls. The top portion of each spacer wall becomes more conductive with increased temperature and acts to attract electrons that are emitted toward the faceplate. To counter this attraction, a spacer electrode is placed along each spacer wall at a height, d, above the backplate and maintained at a voltage, Ve. Electrodes of all of the spacer walls are coupled together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Candescent Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James C. Dunphy, Donald R. Schropp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6153979
    Abstract: A channel member for a PALC panel includes a transparent plate having a planar surface and first and second electrodes on the planar surface of the transparent plate. The first electrode has a width in the range 35-90 .mu.m and a height in the range 0.5-30 .mu.m and the second electrode has a width in the range 30-70 .mu.m and a height in the range 0.5-30 .mu.m. A rib is attached to the first electrode and has a width in the range 15-40 .mu.m, a height in the range 80-200 .mu.m and a ratio of height to width of at least about 5:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ilcisin, Thomas S. Buzak
  • Patent number: 6153973
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus comprises a rear plate on which an electron-emitting device is provided, a face plate having an image-forming member and arranged to be opposed to the rear plate, and a spacer provided between the face plate and the rear plate. The spacer comprises a spacer base plate and a coating layer including organic resin and carbon. At least part of the carbon is exposed from the surface of the coating layer. The image-forming apparatus displays an image with a high luminance and a high color saturation over a prolonged time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Shibata, Sotomitsu Ikeda, Toyoko Kobayashi, Masato Yamanobe
  • Patent number: 6147442
    Abstract: In manufacturing of an organic electroluminescence (EL) display device, after first electrodes are formed on a substrate, insulating films are formed on the first electrodes except regions corresponding to light emitting portions. Spacers are formed on the insulating films, and overhanging portions are formed so as to overhang the spacers. Thus, element isolating structure portions for isolating organic EL elements are formed. Then, organic EL films, second electrodes, and protecting films are sequentially formed between the spacers. In the thus formed light emitting portions of the organic EL display device, the bending angle of a bending portion of a pattern of the element isolating structure portion is larger than 90.degree..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsufumi Codama, Masaru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6144154
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a support member (50) for maintaining the distance between a face plate (30) and a rear plate (31) is interposed between the face plate (30) and the rear plate (31). An intermediate layer (52) is formed at apportion near the face plate (30). The intermediate layer (52) is a low-resistance film, and is set to have almost the same potential as that of the face plate (30). As a result, an electron beam from an electron-emitting portion near the support member (50) follows an orbit which steadily comes close to the support member near the face plate. By setting the interval between electron-emitting devices adjacent to each other via the support member to be larger than the interval between devices adjacent to each other without the mediacy of the support member, the electron beam is irradiated on a proper position on the face plate (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Yamazaki, Masahiro Fushimi, Hideaki Mitsutake
  • Patent number: 6144153
    Abstract: A display device includes a cathode plate having a minute field emission cathode to emit electrons into an area defining a pixel, a spacer support member, and an anode plate placed between the cathode plate and the spacer support member, the anode plate having a fluorescent layer in the area defining the pixel, wherein the spacer support member is provided with a plurality of pole members for contacting the cathode plate and supporting the cathode plate against atmospheric pressure, the pole members extending vertically toward the cathode plate from a surface of the spacer support member and passing through a plurality of through-holes provided on the anode plate without contacting the anode plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Tadashi Nakatani
  • Patent number: 6140762
    Abstract: A flat panel display and a method for forming a flat panel display. In one embodiment, the flat panel display includes a wall which is held in place by a structure formed either on the faceplate or on the backplate. In one embodiment the supporting structure is formed by two adjacent walls that form a slot which mechanically restrains the wall. In another embodiment a slot is formed within the faceplate and the walls of the slot mechanically restrain the wall. In one embodiment wall segments are inserted into supporting structures that mechanically restrain each wall segment. In another embodiment a UV curable or a heat curable adhesive is used to maintain walls in their proper alignment and position. In yet another embodiment a conductive material is melted so as to bond conductive lines located on the wall and conductive lines located on the faceplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Candescent Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Chungdee Pong, John D. Porter, Theodore S. Fahlen, Christopher J. Curtin, Robert G. Neimeyer, Paul N. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 6133677
    Abstract: Discharge lamp utilizes a current carrying frame member which supports an arc tube and positions it centrally in a glass envelope having a closed end with an inside surface. The frame member has a first end fixed to a lead in the stem and a second end formed with first and second cantilevers connected by a 180 degree bend to resiliently position the frame member in the closed end of the envelope. A metal halide discharge lamp having an elliptical glass envelope and a cylindrical end utilizes a frame wherein the cantilevers are displaced apart to load a hooked end formed on the second cantilever against the inside surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignees: Philips Electronics North America Corp., Supro Spring and Wire Forms Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel P. Shippee, Kevin D. Provagna, James M. Gensert, Faye E. Bentley
  • Patent number: 6124671
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a substrate, an electron-emitting device, a wiring electrode for applying an input signal to the electron-emitting device, and an image forming member to which an electron emitted from the electron-emitting device is irradiated. An acceleration electrode is provided opposite to the substrate, and a potential defining electrode is provided between the acceleration electrode and the substrate. A second support member connects the potential defining electrode and the acceleration electrode, and a first support member connects the wiring electrode and the potential defining electrode. The second support member has a semiconductive material surface, and the first support member has a resistance greater than that of the second support member by ten times or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Fushimi, Hideaki Mitsutake, Hidetoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6124676
    Abstract: A color two substrate alternating plasma display panel. The panel includes two tiles joined together so as to be opposite each other and defining a space therebetween. The space is filled with gas. One of the tiles has column electrodes which are approximately parallel, separated by a spacing and covered with at least one phosphor region. The other tile has at least one row electrode. The phosphor regions are provided with at least one recess placed at the intersection of a column electrode with the row electrode. A color pixel is formed by neighboring recesses lying within the same row electrode in adjacent phosphor regions. In order to obtain better light efficiency, the distance separating two adjacent recesses lying within adjacent phosphor regions and belonging to the same pixel is greater than the spacing so that space has a thickness greater than that required when two recesses are separated by approximately the spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Thomson Tubes Electroniques
    Inventors: Serge Salavin, Henri Doyeux, Jacques Deschamps
  • Patent number: 6111355
    Abstract: A thin film EL panel includes: an EL element substrate having a thin film EL element with a plurality of pixels; a color filter substrate having a color filter and being disposed opposite to the EL element substrate through a gap; and a seal resin for sealing the gap formed on the periphery of the display region. A spacer having a particle size of 15 to 120 .mu.m is interposed in the gap between the EL element and the color filter substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Inoue, Mikihiro Noma
  • Patent number: 6111351
    Abstract: A flat panel display and a method for forming a flat panel display. In one embodiment, the flat panel display includes a wall which is held in place by a structure formed either on the faceplate or on the backplate. In one embodiment the supporting structure is formed by two adjacent walls that form a slot which mechanically restrains the wall. In another embodiment a slot is formed within the faceplate and the walls of the slot mechanically restrain the wall. In one embodiment wall segments are inserted into supporting structures that mechanically restrain each wall segment. In another embodiment a UV curable or a heat curable adhesive is used to maintain walls in their proper alignment and position. In yet another embodiment a conductive material is melted so as to bond conductive lines located on the wall and conductive lines located on the faceplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Candescent Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Chungdee Pong, John D. Porter, Theodore S. Fahlen, Christopher J. Curtin, Robert G. Neimeyer, Paul N. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 6107731
    Abstract: A flat-panel display contains a pair of plate structures (40 and 42) coupled together to form a sealed enclosure. A spacer (44) is situated in the enclosure for resisting external forces exerted on the display. The spacer is formed with a main spacer portion (60), typically shaped like a wall, and a face electrode (66) situated over a face of the main spacer portion. The face electrode causes electrons moving from one of the plate structures to the other to be deflected in such a manner as to compensate for other electron deflection caused by the presence of the spacer. The face electrode is divided into multiple laterally separated segments (66.sub.1 -66.sub.N) to improve the accuracy of the compensation along the length of the spacer. In fabricating the display, a masking step is typically utilized in defining the widths of the segments of the face electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Candescent Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Spindt, John E. Field
  • Patent number: 6104136
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a vacuum envelope and an electron emission element, an image forming member and a spacer disposed within the vacuum envelope. The spacer, which is disposed between electrodes to which mutually different voltages are applied within the vacuum vessel, has semiconductivity on a surface thereof faced to vacuum and a conductive member arranged to encircle the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoto Abe, Masahiro Fushimi, Hideaki Mitsutake
  • Patent number: 6091193
    Abstract: A mesh grid for a fluorescent display tube capable of effectively preventing a deformed mesh from being in contact with fluorescent substance without disturbing indications on an anode display unit. The mesh grid is mounted over an anode substrate with adhesive. A mesh of the mesh grid is disposed over the anode display unit including a plurality of anode segments. The mesh is formed in a hexagonal pattern. On the mesh, protruding portions directed to the anode display unit are formed. The protruding portions are disposed at positions opposing the anode display unit but not opposing each of the anode segments. The protruding portions are formed by pressing the mesh toward the anode display unit with each intersection of fine wires in a hexagonal pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Futaba Denshi Kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Michio Kuwamoto, Teruo Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6084337
    Abstract: A gas discharge lamp has a tubular envelope containing tubular electrodes at opposite ends. An annular support member of a compressible ceramic fiber is supported in a groove around each electrode and is compressed against the inside surface of the envelope. Movement of the electrodes relative to the envelope is damped by the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Geoffrey Beardmore
  • Patent number: 6078132
    Abstract: The present invention broadly provides an improvement in a deuterium arc lamp having structure (e.g., anode 27, baffle 28, etc.) mounted on the distal end of an electrical conductor (26) within an elongated tubular glass envelope (21) in spaced relation to the side wall (22) of the envelope. The improvement broadly comprises spacer means (24), such as axially-spaced disk-like first and second members (32, 33), that operatively engage the structure, and that restrain transverse movement of such structure within the envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Imaging & Sensing Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Eric P. Davenport