Candescent Technologies Corporation

Other

Ion Systems, Inc.

Candescent Intellectual Property Services, Inc.

John K O'Reilly

Christopher J Spindt

George B Hopple

Kollengode S Narayanan

Vasil M Chakarov

Jennifer Y Sun

Theodore S Fahlen

Robert M Duboc

Robert G Neimeyer

Alfred S Conte

Steve T Cho

Robert L Marion

Ramamoorthy Ramesh

James C Dunphy

Peter Gefter

Michael James Nystrom

Shiyou Pei

Roger W Barton

David L Morris

Lawrence S Pan

Scott J Gehlke

David R Morris

Donald R Schropp, Jr

Ions for neutralizing electrostatic charge on an object are generated and delivered in a stream of gas flowing through a dielectric channel that surrounds a loop of conductive filament which forms an ionizing electrode. The loop is formed within a single plane, or within multiple planes, and is supported within the channel with a plane of the loop substantially aligned with flow of gas through the channel. A region of minimum field intensity within the bounded region of the loop electrode is oriented in alignment with substantially maximum velocity of gas flow through a cross section of the dielectric channel.

Ionizing electrode structure and apparatus

The present invention provides a spacer assembly which is tailored to provide a secondary electron emission coefficient of approximately 1 for the spacer assembly when the spacer assembly is subjected to flat panel display operating voltages. The present invention further provides a spacer assembly which accomplishes the above achievement and which does not degrade severely when subjected to electron bombardment. The present invention further provides a spacer assembly which accomplishes both of the above-listed achievements and which does not significantly contribute to contamination of the vacuum environment of the flat panel display or be susceptible to contamination that may evolve within the tube. Specifically, in one embodiment, the present invention is comprised of a spacer structure which has a specific secondary electron emission coefficient function associated therewith. The material comprising the spacer structure is tailored to provide a secondary electron emission coefficient of approximately 1 for the spacer assembly when the spacer assembly is subjected to flat panel display operating voltages.

Tailored spacer wall coatings for reduced secondary electron emission

Methods and structures are provided which support spacer walls in a position which facilitates installation of the spacer walls between a faceplate structure and a backplate structure of a flat panel display. In one embodiment, spacer feet are formed at opposing ends of the spacer wall. These spacer feet can be formed of materials such as ceramic, glass and/or glass frit. The spacer feet support the corresponding spacer wall on the faceplate (or backplate) structure. Tacking electrodes can be provided on the faceplate (or backplate) structure to assert an electrostatic force on the spacer feet, thereby holding the spacer feet in place during installation of the spacer wall. The spacer wall can be mechanically and/or thermally expanded prior to attaching both ends of the spacer wall to the faceplate (or backplate) structure. The spacer wall is then allowed to contract, thereby introducing tension into the spacer wall which tends to straighten any inherent waviness in the spacer wall. Alternatively, spacer clips can be clamped onto opposing ends of a spacer wall to support the spacer wall during installation. The spacer clips can provide electrical connections to face electrodes located on the spacer wall.

Self-standing spacer wall structures and methods of fabricating and installing same

A spacer (,or,A/,B) situated between a faceplate structure (,) and a backplate structure (,) of a flat panel display is configured to be self standing. In one implementation, a pair of spacer feet (,or,and,or,) are located over the same face surface, or over opposite face surfaces, of a spacer wall (,) near opposite ends of the wall. An edge electrode (,or,) is located over an edge surface of the spacer adjacent to the faceplate structure or the backplate structure. In another implementation, a spacer clip (,A or,B) clamps opposite face surfaces of a spacer wall (,) largely at one end of the wall.

Self-standing spacer wall structures

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

John K O'Reilly