Plasma addressed micro-mirror display

• US 20090243975A1
• Filed: 03/27/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edward Pakhchyan
• Original Assignee: Edward Pakhchyan
• Inventors: Mesropian, Haik, Pakhchyan, Syuzi, Pakhchyan, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 8,305,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/60
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0833 the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133374 for displaying permanent signs or marks
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/023 Display panel composed of stacked panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/06 Details of flat display driving waveforms
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/28 using luminous gas-discharge panels, e.g. plasma panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/346 based on modulation of the reflection angle, e.g. micromirrors micromirrors devices per se G02B26/0833

Abstract

A gas discharge addressed display having a matrix of picture elements comprising a plurality of electrode micro-mechanical actuators having optical properties.

Claims

1. An addressing structure for bistable picture elements of a display comprising:

(a) a substrate;

(b) a plurality of first and second addressing electrodes disposed on said substrate;

(c) a plurality of picture element electrodes each forming a capacitor with selected ones of said first addressing electrodes; and

(d) a plurality of arc gaps operating in a low pressure discharge gas formed between each said picture element electrodes and selected ones of said second addressing electrodes, wherein said picture element electrodes provide a voltage potential to selected ones of said bistable picture elements of said display.

2. The addressing structure as defined in claim 1 in which each said bistable picture element is a micromechanical actuator with optical properties.

3. The addressing structure as defined in claim 1 in which each said bistable picture element comprises a micromechanical actuator having optical properties and operating with an electrostatic attraction force.

4. The addressing structure as defined in claim 1 in which said pressure of said low pressure discharge gas is between approximately 30 torr and approximately 500 torr.

5. The addressing structure as defined in claim 1 in which said low pressure discharge gas is selected from the group consisting of helium, neon, argon, xenon.

6. A gas discharge addressed display panel comprising:

(a) first and second spaced apart substrates defining a space there between;

(b) a low pressure discharge gas substantially filling said space;

(c) a plurality of first and second addressing electrodes disposed on said first substrate within said space; and

(d) a plurality of picture elements, each comprising at least one micro-mechanical actuator having optical properties connected to said first substrate, each said picture element having an actuation electrode forming a capacitor with a selected one of said first addressing electrodes and forming an arc gap with a selected one of said second addressing electrodes.

7. The gas discharge addressed display panel as defined in claim 6 in which said micro-mechanical actuator having optical properties comprises a tilting micro-mirror.

8. The gas discharge addressed display panel as defined in claim 6 in which said first substrate is provided with substantially equally spaced-apart grooves and in which said micro-mechanical actuators having optical properties are received in said grooves.

9. The gas discharge addressed display panel as defined in claim 6 in which said first substrate is provided with substantially equally spaced-apart cavities and in which said micro-mechanical actuators having optical properties are received in said cavities.

10. The gas discharge addressed display panel as defined in claim 6 in which said pressure of said low pressure discharge gas is between approximately 30 torr and approximately 500 torr.

11. The gas discharge addressed display panel as defined in claim 6 in which said low pressure discharge gas is selected from the group consisting of helium, neon, argon, xenon.

12. The gas discharge addressed display panel as defined in claim 6 further including display panel drive electronics connected to said first and second addressing electrodes.

13. A gas discharge addressed display panel comprising:

(a) first and second spaced apart substrates; and

(b) an addressing structure constructed on said first substrate, said addressing structure comprising;

(i) a plurality of first and second addressing electrodes,

(ii) a plurality of picture element electrodes, each said picture element electrode forming a capacitor with a selected one of said first addressing electrodes and forming an arc gap operating in a low pressure discharge gas with a selected one of said second addressing electrodes, and

(c) a plurality of bistable picture elements constructed on said second substrate, wherein said picture element electrodes provide a voltage potential to selected one of said bistable picture elements.

14. The gas discharge addressed display panel as defined in claim 13, further including display panel drive electronics connected to said first and second addressing electrodes.

15. The gas discharge addressed display panel as defined in claim 13 further including a plurality of picture element actuation electrodes disposed on said second substrate.

16. An electronic circuit for addressing a bistable picture element of a display comprising:

(a) first and second addressing electrodes;

(b) a capacitor having first and second capacitor plates;

(c) an arc gap operating in a low pressure discharge gas, said arc gap having first and second terminals, said first capacitor plate of said capacitor being connected to said first addressing electrode and said second capacitor plate of said capacitor being connected to said first terminal of said arc gap; and

said second terminal of said arc gap being connected to said second addressing electrode and wherein said second capacitor plate of said capacitor provides a voltage potential to said bistable picture element of said display.

17. The electronic circuit as defined in claim 16 in which said electronic circuit is a voltage controlled, self terminating current switch.

18. The electronic circuit as defined in claim 16 in which said bistable picture element comprises a micromechanical actuator having optical properties.

19. The electronic circuit as defined in claim 16 in which said bistable picture element comprises a micromechanical actuator having optical properties operating with an electrostatic attraction force.

20. The electronic circuit as defined in claim 16 in which said low pressure discharge gas is selected from the group consisting of helium, neon, argon, xenon.

21. The electronic circuit as defined in claim 16 in which said pressure of said low pressure discharge gas is between approximately 30 torr and approximately 500 torr.

22. The electronic circuit as defined in claim 16 in which said first and second capacitor plates are constructed from a light reflecting conductor.

23. The electronic circuit as defined in claim 16 in which said second capacitor plate comprises a fixed electrode for a micromechanical actuator having optical properties.