Light-emitting panel and a method for making

• US 8,246,409 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2011
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leidos, Inc. (Leidos Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Science Applications International Corporation
• Inventors: Green, Albert Myron, Drobot, Adam Thomas, George, Edward Victor, Johnson, Roger Laverne, Wyeth, Newell Convers
• Primary Examiner(s): HINES, ANNE M
• Application Number:
  US13/212,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20110300769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 445 24- 25
• US Class Current: 445/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0033 Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0036 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0065 Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 11/18 containing a plurality of independent closed structures for containing the gas, e.g. plasma tube array [PTA] display panels
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 17/16 Vessels; Containers
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 17/49 Display panels, e.g. with crossed electrodes , e.g. making use of direct current display panels making use of alternating current H01J11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 2217/49285 Associated optical means
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/305 Flat vessels or containers
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 65/046 the field being produced by using capacitive means around the vessel
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 9/185 of flat panel display devices, e.g. by using spacers
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 9/241 the vessel being for a flat panel display H01J9/261 takes precedence; flat discharge lamps H01J9/248

Abstract

An improved light-emitting panel having a plurality of micro-components sandwiched between two substrates is disclosed. Each micro-component contains a gas or gas-mixture capable of ionization when a sufficiently large voltage is supplied across the micro-component via at least two electrodes. An improved method of manufacturing a light-emitting panel is also disclosed, which uses a web fabrication process to manufacturing light-emitting displays as part of a high-speed, continuous inline process.

Claims

1. A web fabrication process for manufacturing a plurality of light-emitting panels, comprising:

forming a first substrate comprising a plurality of channels within the first substrate and at least one side surface including a plurality of substantially semi-circle openings to the plurality of channels; and

force-feeding a single micro-component through the plurality of channels via one of the plurality of substantially semi-circle openings of the side surface of the first substrate, the micro-component having a cylindrical shape, being not more than 300 microns in diameter across its minor axis, and emitting radiation when exposed to a trigger voltage.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of channels comprises at least one end at the side surface of the first substrate, and the process further comprises heating the micro-component to allow the micro-component to bend around the end of each channel.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the force-feeding comprises force-feeding a plurality of micro-components, each micro-component emitting a specific color of visible light when exposed to the trigger voltage.

4. The process of claim 1, further comprising coating each channel with a specific color phosphor.

5. A web fabrication process for manufacturing a plurality of light-emitting panels, comprising:

forming a first substrate comprising a plurality of channels within the first substrate approximately equally spaced from one another in parallel and at least one side surface including a plurality of substantially semi-circle openings to the plurality of channels; and

force-feeding a single micro-component through the plurality of channels via one of the plurality of substantially semi-circle openings of the side surface of the first substrate, the micro-component having a cylindrical shape, the single micro-component being bent in a u-shape at multiple points so as to be woven through the plurality of channels in a continuous fashion; and

forming at least one electrode in contact with the single micro-component such that the single micro-component is capable of emitting radiation when the at least one electrode is exposed to a trigger voltage.