Rainbow Displays, Inc.

International Business Machines Corporation

Seiko Epson Corporation

Donald P Seraphim

Raymond G Greene

Dean W Skinner

J Peter Krusius

Boris Yost

John P Koons

Che-Yu Li

Donald G McBride

Robert Babuka

Voya Rista Markovich

Sanjay Dabral

Richard Hsiao

Shunji Suzuki

Ho Chong Lee

Ronald A Kaschak

Charles E Gazdik

Jack M McCreary

Patrick A Toole

Lester Mayes

William Louis Brodsky

Kishor V Desai

Robert H Katyl

Koichi Miwa

Harold Kohn

Michael J Canestaro

Kohichi Miwa

Robert G Rickert

Michikazu Noguchi

Shyama P Mukherjee

Robert R Schaffer

Richard C Senger

Robert J Capwell

Ray G Greene

Christopher D Turock

Kevin G McKenna

Michikazu Noquchi

The present invention features a system for uniformly distributing luminance and a high degree of collimation from a back light module for flat-panel, liquid crystal displays (LCDs) simultaneously. A constant and uniform luminance output of the back light module in two directions is obtained through appropriate selection of lamps, geometry and optical components. An appropriate balance of lamps, lamp spacing, diffusers and light collimating optics are chosen to produce a high brightness back light module with very high intensity output over two very large surfaces. Variations in intensity over the illuminated area are minimized using light recycling in conjunction with the reflective diffusers and collimating optics. Precision collimators eliminate light beyond a defined angle, as required in tiled or monolithic flat-panel LCDs with predetermined display specifications.

Back light assembly for use with back-to-back flat-panel displays

The present invention features are series of techniques for designing and assembling of large, robust monolithic and monolithic-like flat panel displays. Many techniques originally developed for creating tiled, flat-panel displays having visually imperceptible seams may be advantageously applied to monolithic structures. These techniques include single-sided wiring, two-sided wiring from opposite sides, segmented row and column lines, and reordering row and column lines in fan-out region. Single-sided wiring facilitates the construction of displays with small outlines. By using these techniques, display sharpness and contrast may be improved. In addition, color and luminance balance and uniformity across the display may also be improved.

Construction of large, robust, monolithic and monolithic-like, AMLCD displays with wide view angle

The present invention features designs of pixels and designs of control features for seals on AMLCD tiles optimized for tiling AMLCD flat panel displays (FPDs) which have visually imperceptible seams. The FPD structure has an image view plane which is continuous and remote from the pixel apertures or image source plane on the inside of the tiles. The image is formed on the view plane by a distributed ultra low magnification flies-eye optical system (a screen) that is integrated with the tiles, effectively excluding and obscuring an image of the seams. The innovations described herein minimize the defects on the perimeter pixels by effectively damming the waviness of the front of the seal near the perimeter pixels on the tiles. Dark space required for the seal between the interior tile edges and active regions of the pixels is decreased, as is the space allocated for wiring thereby increasing the feasible aperture ratios near the mosaic edges and all apertures. The tile designs make effective use of the area of an entire manufacturing panel.

Tiled flat-panel display having visually imperceptible seams, optimized for HDTV applications

The present invention features a series of techniques for designing and assembling of large, robust monolithic and monolithic-like flat panel displays. Many techniques originally developed for creating tiled, flat-panel displays having visually imperceptible seams may be advantageously applied to monolithic structures. These techniques include single-sided wiring, two-sided wiring from opposite sides, segmented row and column lines, and reordering row and column lines in fan-out region. Single-sided wiring facilitates the construction of displays with small outlines. By using these techniques, display sharpness and contrast may be improved. In addition, color and luminance balance and uniformity across the display may also be improved.

Design features optimized for tiled flat-panel displays

The present invention features techniques for designing large, robust monolithic and monolithic-like displays having good brightness and contrast over a wide range of viewing angles. These techniques include controlling the layout of the pixel array and its access circuits that modify the electrical characteristics in order to minimize undesirable optical, electro-optical, and ambient light aberrations and any electronic anomalies creating visually perceptible discontinuities or boundaries. These artifacts are reduced to levels that allow for better color correction. In addition, the use of optical components such as collimators, light enhancing films, diffusers, screens, polarizers and masks are described. The resulting displays present luminance and chromaticity outputs from areas of originally varying optical response that become uniform within the tolerances of the human visual system.

Construction of large, robust, monolithic and monolithic like, AMLCD displays with wide view angle

The present invention features methods and apparatuses for sealing tiled, flat-panel displays (FPDs). Tile edges corresponding with the display's perimeter edges are designed with a wide seal. Interior edges, however, have narrow seals in order to maintain the desired, constant, pixel pitch across tile boundaries. In some cases, this invention applies specifically to arrays of tiles 2&times;2 or less, and, in other cases, to N&times;M arrays, where N and M are any integer numbers. The tiles are enclosed with top and bottom glass plates, which are sealed with an adhesive bond to the tiles on the outside perimeter of the tiled display. Vertical seams (where tiles meet at the perimeter of the FPD) are sealed with a small amount of polymer. The seal may be constructed between a cover plate and a back plate, sandwiching the tiles. The AMLCD edges may be coated with either a non-permeable material or a polymer having an extremely low permeability (for example, Parylene&trade;). Alternatively, the edge sealing of individual tiles can be achieved by using a metallized film adhesive that is bonded to the tile edges. A low-temperature, sintered Solgel can be used to achieve extremely narrow, yet mechanically strong, seals for individual tiles. Still another enhancement employs a metallurgical seal outside a narrow, polymer seal.

Method of constructing and sealing tiled, flat-panel displays

This invention describes fabrication techniques for producing microdisplays suitable for combining into tiled, flat-panel displays having visually imperceptible seams. Assembly techniques to overcome flatness requirements imposed by tiled, flat-panel display assemblies are also described. Edge treatment techniques for individual microdisplays while still part of the silicon die or wafer are also described. The use of these inventive techniques allows the assembly microdisplays into tiled, flat-panel that are appear visually seamless and optically uniform.

Method for assembling a tiled, flat-panel microdisplay array having imperceptible seams

Method for assembling a tiled, flat-panel microdisplay array having reflective microdisplay tiles and attaching thermally-conductive substrate

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Vestal, NY, United States of America

Donald P Seraphim