The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 22, 1998
Filed:
Dec. 23, 1996
Jaroslaw Zieba, Santa Rosa, CA (US);
James W Seeser, Columbia, MO (US);
Michael Cumbo, Santa Rosa, CA (US);
William T Beauchamp, Santa Rosa, CA (US);
Robert Scanlon, Santa Rosa, CA (US);
Curtis Hruska, Santa Rosa, CA (US);
Optical Coating Laboratory, Inc., Santa Rosa, CA (US);
Abstract
The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for enhancing the performance of visual display units which utilize plasma display panels. More specifically, the present invention provides methods and apparatus for providing an optically enhancing/noise suppressing device for positioning in front of the viewing surface of a plasma display panel. The device also increases the impact resistance of the PDP. The device of the present invention is manufactured separately from the PDP. The device may be provided with attachment means for securing the device to the surface of the visual display unit in a position in front of the viewing surface of the PDP or may be designed to be free-hanging, i.e., suspended, or otherwise positioned in front of the viewing surface of the PDP. In its most basic embodiment, the device of the present invention comprises multiple layers of different materials including at least one plastic substrate layer for impact resistance, an optically selective coating providing high photopic transmittance, continuous high electrical conductivity for RFI shielding, and reflectivity specifically within the near-IR region, and an IR absorbing coating for absorbing IR energy emissions. In a preferred embodiment, the IR absorbing coating constitutes a dye material which is preferably selected to also be color-correcting with respect to the particular PDP.