Display device and module therefor

• US 20020008463A1
• Filed: 06/07/2001
• Published: 01/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation (SRI International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation (SRI International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Roach, William R.
• Application Number:
  US09/876,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20020008463A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 313/492
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4202 for coupling an active element with fibres without intermediate optical elements, e.g. fibres with plane ends, fibres with shaped ends, bundles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4249 comprising arrays of active devices and fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/305 being the ends of optical fibres G09F9/302 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0753 the devices being arranged next to each other
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/20 with a particular shape, e.g. curved or truncated substrate

Abstract

A number of light-emitting fibers in side-by-side array comprise a display which may be employed alone or with other like displays. Each fiber includes a number of light-emitting elements disposed along an optical fiber, such as an electroluminescent material, e.g., an OLED material, disposed between hole injecting and electron injecting electrodes. Contacts to both the hole injecting and electron injecting electrodes are on the same surface of the fiber. A printed circuit board has plural parallel conductors that connect to respective contacts for the hole injecting and electron injecting electrodes on the light-emitting fibers, such as by solder, conductive adhesive and the like.

Claims

1. A display comprising:

a plurality of fibers disposed in side-by-side array and each having a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed on a first surface thereof and a length, each light-emitting element having first and second electrodes,

wherein the first electrodes are electrically connected to a first contact on the first surface proximate an end of each said fiber and wherein the respective second electrodes are connected to respective second contacts proximate the corresponding light-emitting element, and

wherein the respective first contacts of said plurality of side-by-side fibers are at different positions with respect to each other relative to the lengths of the fibers; and

a circuit board having first and second pluralities of elongated conductors disposed in respective substantially parallel side-by-side arrangement,

said circuit board being disposed proximal said plurality of side-by-side fibers with the first and second pluralities of elongated electrical conductors disposed substantially transverse to the lengths of said fibers,

wherein each of the first plurality of elongated conductors is electrically connected to the first contact of a predetermined one of said plurality of fibers and wherein each of the second elongated conductors is electrically connected to the second contacts of corresponding light-emitting elements of each of said plurality of fibers.

2. The display of claim 1 wherein said circuit board includes a substrate having said first and second pluralities of elongated conductors on a first portion thereof and having a second portion thereof angled with respect to the first portion thereof,

wherein the second portion of said circuit board is adapted for receiving electrical signals.

3. The display of claim 2 wherein said circuit board includes at least one of:

at least one electronic device on the second portion thereof coupled to ones of the first and second elongated conductors and connected for receiving the electrical signals, and

connection means on the second portion thereof adapted for receiving the electrical signals and for coupling the electrical signals to predetermined ones of said first and second elongated conductors.

4. The display of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of fibers further comprises a high-conductivity elongated electrical conductor disposed on a second surface thereof adjacent the first surface thereof for electrically connecting the first electrodes of said plurality of light-emitting elements and said first contact.

5. The display of claim 4 wherein said high-conductivity elongated electrical conductor comprises one of a deposited metal and a strip of metal disposed on the second surface of said fiber.

6. The display of claim 4 wherein at least one of the first and second contacts and said high-conductivity elongated electrical conductor includes at least one of copper, aluminum, chromium, silver, gold, alloys thereof, and combinations thereof.

7. The display of claim 1 further comprising a compressible spacer disposed between adjacent ones of said plurality of fibers,

said compressible spacer including at least one of an electrically insulating material and an electrically conductive material,

said compressible spacer having raised features that are compressible when said plurality of fibers are pressed together in the side-by-side array.

8. The display of claim 7 wherein said raised features include embossing of one of a thin sheet of plastic and of a thin foil of metal.

9. The display of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first contacts are electrically connected to said first elongated conductor, and

wherein said second electrical contacts are electrically connected to said second elongated conductors by at least one of solder, electrically conductive-epoxy and silver-filled epoxy.

10. The display of claim 1 wherein said second contacts include a metal layer deposited on the first surface of said fibers proximate the end thereof.

11. The display of claim 10 further comprising at least one of:

an insulating layer deposited on said metal layer and having an opening therein defining the first contact of said fiber, and

a pair of triangular insulators disposed between said plurality of fibers and said circuit board proximate said first plurality of elongated conductors.

12. The display of claim 1 wherein ones of the plurality of light-emitting fibers emit light of different colors and are disposed in staggered longitudinal relationship.

13. A set of light-emitting fibers comprising:

a plurality of lengths of elongated fiber each having a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed on a first surface thereof, each light-emitting element having first and second electrodes,

wherein the first electrodes of the light-emitting elements of each said elongated fiber are electrically connected to a first contact on the first surface proximate an end of that fiber, and

wherein the respective second electrodes are connected to respective second contacts proximate the corresponding light-emitting element,

wherein the respective first contact of each light-emitting fiber is at a different position relative to the length of the light-emitting fibers than are the first contacts of other ones of the set of light-emitting fibers.

14. The set of light-emitting fibers of claim 13 further comprising:

an electrically conductive area on the first surface of each of said set of light-emitting fibers, and

a patterned insulating layer disposed on said electrically conductive area,

said patterned insulating layer having at least one opening therein defining said first contact.

15. The set of light-emitting fibers of claim 13 further comprising:

an elongated electrical conductor disposed on a second surface of each fiber adjacent the first surface thereof,

said elongated electrical conductor including at least one of;

a deposited metal and

a strip of metal connecting the first contact thereof to an electrode of each light-emitting element thereof.

16. A display comprising:

a plurality of light-emitting fibers each having a given number of light-emitting elements along a first surface thereof at a first pitch, each light-emitting element having a first contact associated therewith,

wherein said plurality of light-emitting fibers are disposed side-by-side one another with corresponding ones of the first contacts thereof substantially aligned in a direction transverse to the light-emitting fiber,

whereby second surfaces opposite the first surfaces thereof define a viewing surface for the display;

a second contact on the first surface of each of the plurality of light-emitting fibers and connected to the light-emitting elements thereof,

wherein said second contacts of the plurality of light-emitting fibers are spaced away from an end one of the given number of light-emitting elements by different multiples of a second pitch;

a circuit having first and second substantially parallel conductors spaced-apart respectively at the first and second pitches on a surface thereof disposed proximate the first surfaces of said plurality of light-emitting fibers and substantially transverse thereto; and

means electrically connecting each of the first substantially parallel conductors to corresponding ones of the first contacts of said plurality of light-emitting fibers and connecting one of the second substantially parallel conductors to the second contact of a corresponding one of said plurality of light-emitting fibers.

17. The display of claim 16 wherein each of said plurality of light-emitting fibers further comprises a high-conductivity elongated electrical conductor disposed on a second surface thereof adjacent the first surface thereof for electrically connecting said plurality of light-emitting elements and said second contact.

18. The display of claim 17 wherein said high-conductivity elongated electrical conductor comprises one of a deposited metal and a strip of metal disposed on the second surface of said fiber.

19. The display of claim 16 further comprising:

a compressible spacer disposed between adjacent ones of said plurality of light-emitting fibers,

said compressible spacer including at least one of an electrically insulating material and an electrically conductive material,

said compressible spacer having raised features that are compressible when said plurality of fibers are pressed together in the side-by-side array.

20. The display of claim 19 wherein said raised features include embossing of one of a thin sheet of plastic and of a thin foil of metal.

21. The display of claim 16 further comprising:

a transparent faceplate disposed proximate second surfaces of said light-emitting fibers opposite the first surfaces thereof,

wherein the second surfaces of said plurality of light-emitting fibers are one of attached to said faceplate and spaced apart from said faceplate.

22. The display of claim 16 wherein said circuit includes at least one electronic device and connection means adapted for receiving electrical signal and for coupling said electrical signal to at least one of said first and second substantially parallel conductors and said electronic device.

23. A display comprising a plurality of display modules in side-by-side abutting relationship, each said display module comprising:

a plurality of fibers disposed in side-by-side array and each having a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed on a first surface thereof and a length, each light-emitting element having first and second electrodes,

wherein the first electrodes are electrically connected to a first contact on the first surface proximate an end of each said fiber,

wherein the respective second electrodes are connected to respective second contacts proximate the corresponding light-emitting element,

wherein the respective first contacts of said plurality of side-by-side fibers are at different positions with respect to each other relative to the lengths of the fibers; and

a circuit board having first and second pluralities of elongated conductors disposed in respective substantially parallel side-by-side arrangement,

said circuit board being disposed proximal said plurality of side-by-side fibers with the first and second pluralities of elongated electrical conductors disposed substantially transverse to the lengths of said fibers,

wherein each of the first plurality of elongated conductors is electrically connected to the first contact of a predetermined one of said plurality of fibers, and

wherein each of the second elongated conductors is electrically connected to the second contacts of corresponding light-emitting elements of each of said plurality of fibers; and

means adapted to couple the circuit board of each said display module to a source of electrical signals.

24. The display of claim 23 further comprising:

a transparent faceplate,

wherein said plurality of display modules are disposed side-by-side one another with second surfaces of said light-emitting fibers opposite the first surfaces thereof proximate said faceplate,

wherein the second surfaces of said plurality of light-emitting fibers are one of attached to said faceplate and spaced apart from said faceplate.

25. The display of claim 23 further comprising:

a compressible spacer disposed between adjacent ones of said plurality of display modules,

said compressible spacer including at least one of an electrically insulating material and an electrically conductive material,

said compressible spacer having raised features that are compressible when said plurality of fibers are pressed together in the side-by-side abutting relationship.

26. A display comprising:

a transparent faceplate;

a plurality of display modules in side-by-side abutting relationship on said faceplate;

each said display module comprising;

a plurality of light-emitting fibers each having a given number of light-emitting elements along a first surface thereof at a first pitch, each light-emitting element having a first contact associated therewith,

wherein said plurality of light-emitting fibers are disposed side-by-side one another with corresponding ones of the first contacts thereof substantially aligned in a direction transverse to the lightemitting fiber,

whereby second surfaces opposite the first surfaces thereof are proximate said faceplate for defining a viewing surface for the display;

a second contact on the first surface of each of the plurality of light-emitting fibers and connected to the light-emitting elements thereof,

wherein said second contacts of the plurality of light-emitting fibers are spaced away from an end one of the given number of light-emitting elements by different multiples of a second pitch;

a circuit having first and second substantially parallel conductors spaced-apart respectively at the first and second pitches on a surface thereof disposed proximate the first surfaces of said plurality of light-emitting fibers and substantially transverse thereto; and

an electronic device on said circuit board and coupled to said at least one elongated electrical conductor for applying an electrical signal thereto; and

means electrically connecting each of the first substantially parallel conductors to corresponding ones of the first contacts of said plurality of light-emitting fibers and connecting one of the second substantially parallel conductors to the second contact of a corresponding one of said plurality of light-emitting fibers.

27. A method for making a light-emitting display comprising:

placing side-by-side one another a plurality of elongated light-emitting fibers each having a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed along a first surface thereof and having a second surface opposite the first surface thereof for providing a viewing surface for the display, each light-emitting fiber having a first contact on the first surface thereof connected to first electrodes of the light-emitting elements thereon and each light-emitting element having a second contact connected to a second electrode thereof;

providing a circuit substrate having first and second sets of substantially parallel elongated electrical conductors on one surface thereof;

placing the one surface of the circuit substrate and the first surfaces of the side-by-side plurality of elongated fibers proximate one another;

electrically connecting ones of the first set of elongated electrical conductors to the first contact of a respective one of the light-emitting fibers; and

electrically connecting ones of the second set of elongated electrical conductors to the exposed contacts on each of said plurality of light-emitting fibers.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein at least one of said electrically connecting ones of the first set and said electrically connecting ones of the second set includes:

applying an electrically conductive connection material on at least one of the first and second contacts on each of said plurality of light-emitting fibers and the first and second sets of elongated electrical conductors, and

wherein said placing includes the first and second contacts and the first and second sets of elongated conductors coming into contact with the electrically conductive connection material.

29. A method of assembling a plurality of linear fibers into a two dimensional array having a given width comprising:

placing the plurality of fibers side by side in two dimensional array;

placing a linear compressible element between adjacent ones of the fibers side by side therewith in the two dimensional array; and

compressing the fibers and the compressible elements in a direction transverse to their linear dimension until the array has the given width.

30. A module of linear light-emitting fibers in side by side array, each fiber having a plurality of first contacts along an exposed side thereof and having a second contact extending along a length thereof, wherein the first and second contacts are coupled to a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed along the exposed side of each linear light-emitting fiber, comprising:

a plurality of first linear conductors transverse to the length of the light-emitting fibers, each transverse first conductor connecting together respective ones of the first contacts of the light-emitting fibers that are in a given position along the length of each light-emitting fiber;

an insulator overlying the light-emitting fibers at least near one portion thereof and having one or more openings therein to expose in different lineal and transverse positions ones of the second contact of each light-emitting fiber; and

a plurality of second linear conductors transverse to the length of the light-emitting fibers, each transverse second conductor connecting to a respective second contact of one of the light-emitting fibers that are in a given lineal and transverse position.