Micron Technology Incorporated

Micron Display Technology, Inc.

Micron Display

Jim J Browning

David A Cathey

Surjit S Chadha

Seungwoo Lee

Charles Martin Watkins

John K Lee

Zhongyi Xia

Tyler A Lowrey

Robert J Hanson

Won-Joo Kim

Craig M Dunham

Gary A Evans

David H Chun

Dean Andrew Wilkinson

Michael Garcia

Michel Garcia

Surjit S Chadha, Deceased

Exhaust flange

An evacuated cavity is hermetically sealed between a baseplate and faceplate of a flat panel display. Melting a glass powder, or frit, on the perimeter of the viewing area forms the hermetic seal. After melting the frit, a first fluid is circulated through the cavity to speed cooling. To further expedite the cooling of the flat panel display, a second fluid flows externally along the contour of the flat panel display to insure that the cooling is uniform and thereby avoid thermal shock.

Flat panel display, method of high vacuum sealing

A multi-layered structure, and method for producing same, which may include at least one glass layer anodically bonded to an intermediate layer. The intermediate layer may function as an anodic bonding layer, an etch stop layer, and/or a hard mask layer. A template may be formed of the multi-layered structure by forming a desired pattern of openings therein by way of, for example, etching. Such a template may, for example, be used in the alignment and adherence of spacer structures to an electrode plate during the fabrication of flat panel displays. When used in this context, the construction of such a template results in more precise control of the patterning and sizing of the holes formed therein which thereby allows for more precise placement of spacer structures as well as the use of spacer structures exhibiting relatively higher aspect ratios during the fabrication of flat panel displays.

Spacer fabrication for flat panel displays

A display device and a method for making and operating the display device are described. The display device comprises a base plate containing at least one emitter, a display screen, and a spacer located between the base plate and display screen, where the spacer has a high concentration of an emitter-cleaning material. The spacer may comprise a xerogel or aerogel material and the emitter-cleaning material may comprise hydrogen. The spacer and a method for making the spacer and using the spacer to clean an emitter are also described. The spacer material cleans the emitter by absorbing gases during fabrication of the display device and desorbing emitter-cleaning gases during operation of the display device. By keeping the emitter clean, the spacer retains the work function of the emitter at a low level, thereby prolonging the usefulness of the display device.

Spacers, display devices containing the same, and methods for making and using the same

A method for determining functionality of pixels comprising the addressing of at least one but not more than ten pixels at a time, thereby producing a current. The pixels are comprised of cathode emitters. The current is collected on an anode disposed opposite the pixels, and the current is measured.

Method of testing addressable emissive cathodes

A method for cleansing the phosphor screen of a display device comprising the removal of oxygen or sulfur from the surface of the phosphor, and/or its associated binder material, to a depth that prevents oxygen diffusion from the phosphor and/or binder, thereby creating an oxygen deficient surface on the phosphors.

Method for cleaning phosphor screens for use with field emission displays

A method of electrically testing pixel functionality is provided comprising releasably disposing a wafer in a socket. The wafer has at least one baseplate comprised of cathode emitters arranged in pixels. The socket has pads. The socket pads are contacted with test pins, and each of the pixels is addressed individually, thereby causing the cathode emitters to emit electrons in a current. The current is collected from each of the pixels on an anode screen. Alternatively, the anode card may have pins, and these pins contact pads on the baseplate. The baseplate, or substrate with baseplates, does not require a socket with pins.

Apparatus for testing emissive cathodes in matrix addressable displays

Method and apparatus for testing emissive cathodes

A multi-layered structure, and method for producing same, which may include at least one glass layer anodically bonded to an intermediate layer. The intermediate layer may function as a anodic bonding layer, an etch stop layer, and/or a hard mask layer. A template may be formed of the multi-layered structure by forming a desired pattern of openings therein by way of, for example, etching. Such a template may, for example, be used in the alignment and adherence of spacer structures to an electrode plate during the fabrication of flat panel displays. When used in this context, the construction of such a template results in more precise control of the patterning and sizing of the holes formed therein which thereby allows for more precise placement of spacer structures as well as the use of spacer structures exhibiting relatively higher aspect ratios during the fabrication of flat panel displays.

A method and apparatus which provides for continual monitoring of the electrical and optical performance of one or more field emission display devices while the devices are burned-in is for the purpose of proper aging and testing of screen phosphors and semiconductor circuitry as well as determining the failure of the display devices including failures of individual field emitters within a display device. Display performance parameters including luminance anode current and field emitter performance are measured for determining when the components are properly aged as well as determining catastrophic failures in a display or a substantial degrade in performance in order to determine when and how the device may have failed.

Method and apparatus for burn-in and test of field emission displays

A display device, and a method for making and operating the display device are described. The display device comprises a base plate containing at least one emitter, a display screen, and a spacer located between the base plate and display screen, where the spacer has a high concentration of an emitter-cleaning material. The spacer may comprise a xerogel or aerogel material and the emitter-cleaning material may comprise hydrogen. The spacer and a method for making the spacer and using the spacer to clean an emitter are also described. The spacer material cleans the emitter by absorbing gases during fabrication of the display device and desorbing emitter-cleaning gases during operation of the display device. By keeping the emitter clean, the spacer retains the work function of the emitter at a low level, thereby prolonging the usefulness of the display device.

Spacers, display devices containing the same, and methods for making and

The present invention discloses a method for accurately maintaining an alignment of a faceplate and a cathode member during the manufacturing of field emission displays and plasma displays. The invention maintains the alignment in preparation for, and throughout, the sealing process of these displays through the application of a glass frit material on at least one of the plates. A sol-gel material is further applied on top of the glass frit; and, in addition, for optimum performance, an adhesive material is used in conjunction with the sol-gel material for enhanced support of the plates during the early stages of the sealing process. The adhesive material, which maintains the alignment early in the sealing process, may evaporate or soften as the temperature increases, at which point, the sol-gel material maintains the plates in alignment during the softening of the seal frit.

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Boise, ID, United States of America

Jim J Browning