Electric lamp and discharge devices – With gas or vapor – Three or more electrode discharge device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-18
2001-02-06
Font, Frank G. (Department: 2877)
Electric lamp and discharge devices
With gas or vapor
Three or more electrode discharge device
C313S584000, C313S581000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06184620
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an alternating-current driving-type display device utilizing plasma discharge.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, there has been known an alternating-current driving-type display device using plasma discharge, i.e. so-called AC (alternating-current)-type plasma display panel (Plasma display panel: PDP). As this AC-type PDP, there are such a plasma display panel which is able to display a light emitted by a discharge gas and such a plasma display panel which is able to excite a fluorescent mnaterial by ultraviolet rays generated by the discharging.
Heretofore, there are known conventional color AC-type PDPs which are driven by two-phase electrodes and by three-phase electrodes.
FIG. 1
shows an arrangement of a color AC-type PDP
1
which is driven by three-phase electrodes.
FIG. 1
is a perspective view showing a portion which includes a portion corresponding to one pixel.
FIG. 2
is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A—A in
FIG. 1
which is parallel to the direction in which address electrodes of
FIG. 1
are extended.
FIG. 3
is a cross-sectional view taken along the B—B in
FIG. 1
which is parallel to the direction in which display electrodes of
FIG. 1
are extended.
This color AC-type PDP
1
includes a three-electrode structure in which a pair of display electrodes
2
,
2
and an address electrode
3
are opposed to each other in a matrix display unit light-emission region, and in which fluorescent materials
4
(
4
R,
4
G,
4
B) are formed on the address electrode
3
side.
That is, a plurality of sets (only one set is illustrated in the figure) of the pair of display electrodes
2
,
2
are arrayed on a first substrate, e.g. a front glass substrate
5
on the display surface side. A dielectric layer
6
is formed so as to cover the display electrodes
2
,
2
. Further, an MgO film having a thickness of several 1000s of angstroms is formed on the surface of the dielectric layer
6
as a protecting layer
7
. Reference numeral
8
denotes a bus electrode of a low resistance value formed on the display electrodes
2
,
2
.
On the other hand, the address electrode
3
for causing the unit light-emission region to become luminous selectively is arrayed on a second substrate opposing the front glass substrate
5
, e.g. rear glass substrate
10
in the direction perpendicular to the display electrodes
2
,
2
, e.g. at a pitch of about 200 microns. Further, a dielectric layer
12
is formed so as to cover the address electrodes
3
. A stripe-like partition wall
11
having a width of about 100 microns for determining a spacing size of a discharge space is formed between adjacent address electrodes
3
, whereby the discharge space is partitioned at every unit light-emission region in the line direction (extended direction of the display electrodes
2
,
2
). Also, fluorescent materials
4
R,
4
G,
4
B of three colors of red, green and blue are formed between adjacent partition walls
11
by coating. Incidentally, in the discharge space, there is sealed a Penning gas in which xenon is mixed with neon, for example, as a discharge gas for exciting the fluorescent materials
4
(
4
R,
4
G,
4
B) with ultraviolet rays.
Each pixel (picture element) comprising the display screen is composed of three unit light-emission regions of red (R), green (G), blue (B) of the same area arrayed on the line direction.
In this color AC-type PDP
1
, after a discharge is started between one display electrode
2
of the selected pair of display electrodes
2
,
2
and the selected address electrode
3
, the discharge is maintained between the pair of display electrodes
2
and
2
and the fluorescent materials
4
(
4
R,
4
G,
4
B) are excited to become luminous by the ultraviolet rays generated by plasma discharge produced at that time. Accordingly, by selectively causing each unit light-emission region to become luminous, it becomes possible to present a full color display by a combination of red (R), green (G), blue (B).
By the way, in such color AC-type PDP
1
, in order to make the display pixel become high-definition, it is necessary to reduce a distance between the display electrodes
2
and
2
. In this connection, it is necessary to make a distance between the address electrode
3
and the display electrode
2
become equal to the distance between the display electrodes
2
and
2
.
However, there is a limit on reducing the distance between the display electrodes
2
and
2
. Thus, it is difficult to make the display pixel become high-definition.
If the distance between the electrodes
2
and
2
is less than, for example, 20 microns, then when the fluorescent material having a thickness ranging from 20 to 40 microns is formed, a plasma discharge space
14
shown in
FIG. 3
is lost. There is then the risk that a discharge destruction will occur between the electrodes.
Also, even considering the arrangement in which the plasma discharge space
14
is maintained, the portion in which the fluorescent materials should be formed is limited. If the fluorescent materials
4
are reduced, then the brightness becomes low. Further, there is the disadvantage that the fluorescent materials are deteriorated by ion bombardment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the aforementioned aspect, it is an object of the present invention to provide a high-definition display device.
Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a display device in which a structure may be simplified and in which a manufacturing process thereof may be facilitated.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display device, in which in an alternating-current driving type display device utilizing plasma discharge, a discharge maintaining electrode group, an address electrode group and a discharge starting address electrode group comprising a part of the address electrode group are formed on the same substrate, the discharge maintaining electrode group and the discharge starting address electrode group are formed on the same plane, and the discharge starting address electrodes and the address electrodes are continuously formed at the same time.
In the display device according to the present invention, since the discharge maintaining electrode group, the address electrode group and the discharge start address electrode group are formed on the same substrate, even when the distance between the address electrode and the discharge maintaining electrode is reduced too far, the plasma discharge space may be sufficiently maintained by the partition wall. Accordingly, it becomes possible to make a display pixel become high-definition.
When the fluorescent layer on the opposing substrate side is excited to become luminous by the ultraviolet rays generated by plasma, the ultraviolet rays generated by plasma may be maintained sufficiently so that the fluorescent layer becomes able to be luminous with a high brightness. Also, since the fluorescent layer is disposed in the outside of the plasma and the fluorescent layer is protected from being exposed to the plasma, it is also possible to prevent the fluorescent material from being deteriorated by the ion bombardment of the plasma.
Since the discharge maintaining electrode group, the address electrode group and the discharge starting address electrode group are formed on the same substrate, in the process for forming electrodes, respective electrodes may be positioned with a high alignment accuracy. Thus, in the process for sealing the substrate on the electrode side and the opposing substrate, a tolerance of alignment and space interval may be increased sufficiently. Also, since the discharge maintaining electrode group and the discharge starting address electrode group are formed on the same plane, it is possible to set a distance between a pair of discharge maintaining electrodes and a distance between one discharge maintaining electrode and the discharge starting address electrode with a high accuracy.
Then, since the address electrode
Kawaguchi Hidehiro
Miyahara Kiyohiko
Mori Hiroshi
Nakamura Suehiro
Font Frank G.
Kananen Ronald P.
Lee Andrew H.
Rader Fishman & Grauer
Sony Corporation
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