Gas discharge devices including matrix materials with ionizable gas filled sealed cavities
US5877589A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 18, 1997 |
| Grant date | Mar 2, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 18, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J65/042
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A gas discharge illumination device is prepared by encapsulating ionizable gas within microporous or nanoscale sealed cavities created within a matrix material. Upon exposure of said matrix material to an electric field, the ionizable gas becomes ionized and emits light. By incorporating several different ionizable gases into one matrix material, a display with different colors of light can be produced. The gas discharge illumination device can be fabricated by a variety of techniques including selective cavity formation with overcoating taking place in an ionizable gas ambient, and bubbling ionizable gas through the matrix material while it is in viscous form. The gas discharge illumination device can be used to form either active or passive displays, as a sensor for detecting electric fields, and in other applications.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.