Patent · US Expired

Internal support structure for flat panel device

US5589731A · kind A · utility

76Cited by
53References
74Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 1, 1993
Grant dateDec 31, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 1, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S264/91
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A flat panel device contains a faceplate, a backplate, a light-emitting mechanism, and a spacer. The faceplate is connected to the backplate to form a sealed enclosure. The spacer is situated within the enclosure and supports the two plates against forces acting towards the enclosure. The spacer can take various forms and can be constituted with various materials. In one embodiment, the spacer includes a spacer wall formed with multiple sheets of laminated material consisting of ceramic, glass-ceramic, ceramic reinforced glass, devitrifying glass, or metal coated with electrical insulation. In another embodiment, the spacer includes a spacer wall having a surface that follows a non-straight path adjacent the faceplate. In yet another embodiment, the spacer is a spacer structure through which a plurality of holes extends. The light-emitting mechanism is typically implemented with an electron-emitting cathode and light-emissive material situated over the faceplate. The cathode may be a thermionic cathode or a field emitter cathode.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.