Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Plural physical display element control system – Display elements arranged in matrix
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-18
2002-04-02
Hjerpe, Richard (Department: 2674)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Plural physical display element control system
Display elements arranged in matrix
C345S204000, C313S482000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06366269
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates in general to flat panel displays, and in particular to spacers for spacing apart panels in flat panel displays.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A conventional flat panel display
10
shown in
FIG. 1
is useful in a portable device, such as a notebook computer
12
, that requires a thin display having less weight and power consumption than a cathode ray tube (CRT) display. Typical well-known flat panel displays are field emission displays, passive and active matrix liquid crystal displays, and plasma displays.
As shown in
FIG. 2
in a cut-away view, a conventional flat panel display
10
generally includes a transparent face panel
14
spaced apart from a base panel
16
. In a field emission display, the face and base panels
14
and
16
are spaced apart from one another to create a space which can be evacuated so electrons will be emitted from emitters (not shown) in the base panel
16
. Also, in a liquid crystal display, the face and base panels
14
and
16
are spaced apart to create a space for liquid crystal cells, and in a plasma display the face and base panels
14
and
16
are spaced apart to create a space which can be filled with a gas for generating plasma.
The face panel
14
and base panel
16
are typically spaced apart from one another by thousands of columnar spacers
18
individually formed or positioned between the panels
14
and
16
. Because the columnar spacers
18
must be individually formed or positioned, the flat panel display
10
can be difficult, time-consuming and costly to manufacture. Also, the columnar spacers
18
cannot be positioned accurately enough to ensure that they do not interfere with an image generating apparatus (not shown) in the flat panel display
10
. As a result, it is sometimes necessary to scrap the flat panel display
10
after manufacturing if its display image
20
is substantially affected by interference from the columnar spacers
18
. Further, the columnar spacers
18
are generally limited to about 100 &mgr;m in height because they are unstable above that height. As a result, the brightness of field emission displays is limited, because the limited height of the columnar spacers
18
limits the distance between the face and base panels
14
and
16
which, in turn, limits a voltage differential between the panels
14
and
16
. The limited voltage differential limits the brightness of the field emission displays.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved structure for spacing apart the face and base panels in flat panel displays. The structure should be simple to manufacture, easy to align with the image generating apparatus in a flat panel display, and capable of exceeding 100 &mgr;m in height to help increase the brightness of field emission displays.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An inventive spacing structure is a unitary structure of uniform height which projects between a flat panel display's face and base panels across a substantial area of their facing surfaces. As a result, the unitary spacing structure spaces a substantial portion of the face panel away from the base panel in a substantially parallel spaced apart relationship with the base panel. Preferably, the unitary spacing structure includes a multitude of rail members framed by and interconnected with a multitude of frame members. Because the inventive spacing structure is a unitary structure, it can be conveniently manufactured apart from the flat panel display and then easily aligned with the image generating apparatus of the display. Thus, the unitary spacing structure can help to make flat panel displays less difficult, time-consuming and costly to manufacture. Also, the rail members and frame members of the preferred unitary spacing structure make the structure stronger than conventional columnar spacers because the rails distribute the force they support. As a result, the unitary spacing structure can easily exceed 100 &mgr;m in height and can thereby help increase the brightness of field emission displays.
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patent: 5186670 (1993-02-01), Doan et al.
patent: 5543683 (1996-08-01), Haven et al.
patent: 5561343 (1996-10-01), Lowe
patent: 5708325 (1998-01-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 5774103 (1998-06-01), Choi et al.
patent: 5804917 (1998-09-01), Takahashi et al.
patent: 6023262 (2000-02-01), Eglit
patent: 6064303 (2000-05-01), Klein et al.
patent: 6072448 (2000-06-01), Kojima et al.
patent: 6161933 (2000-12-01), Tschida et al.
Elledge Jason B.
Watkins Charles M.
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Hjerpe Richard
Micro)n Technology, Inc.
Nguyen Kimnhung
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