EP0363201A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Process for defining an array of pixels in a thin film electroluminescent edge emitter structure
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1989-10-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-10-05
Abstract
Abstract A method for defining an array of light-emitting pixels in a thin film electroluminescent edge emitter structure includes the steps of moving the structure in proximity to a stationary first laser source as the first laser source is operated to generate a plurality of first laser pulses. The plurality of first laser pulses are focused into "lines" of light energy that strike the structure at a plurality of spaced apart locations in succession to ablate a predetermined number of layers of the structure. This ablation process forms a plurality of spaced apart channels in the structure. The portions of the structure remaining between each pair of adjacent channels define an array of pixels in the structure. The structure having the pixels formed therein is moved in proximity to a second laser source. The second laser source is movable in a selected direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the structure. The second laser source provides a second laser beam that is focused to a "point" of light energy which strikes the end portion of each pixel at an area inward of the pixel edge surface to ablate a predetermined number of layers at each pixel end portion. The movement of the second laser beam is controlled relative to the movement of the structure to correspondingly control the amount of material ablated inward of the edge surface of each pixel to remove the pixel edge surface and form a new pixel edge surface shaped to a preselected contour.
Inventors
- 👤 William Henry Kasner
- 👤 Zoltan Kokai Kun
- 👤 David Leksell
- 👤 Vincent Andrew Toth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:08
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B33/00; H05B33/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
322 words
A method for defining an array of pixels in a thin film electroluminescent edge emitter structure, said structure having a pair of electrically conductive outer layers with a plurality of inner layers interposed therebetween, one of said inner layers being formed from a phosphor material; the method being characterized by moving said structure and a first high energy source relative to each other as said first high energy source is operated, to project, in serial fashion, a high plurality of first high energy pulses which strike one of said outer layers at a plurality of spaced apart locations in succession; ablating said one outer layer and a predetermined number of inner layers of said structure at said plurality of locations with said plurality of first high energy pulses to form, in succession, a plurality of spaced apart channels in said structure, the portions of said structure remaining between each pair of adjacent channels defining a plurality of pixels each having a pair of lateral edge surfaces and an end portion having an edge surface terminating at an edge surface of said structure; moving said structure with said plurality of pixels formed therein and a second high energy source relative to each other as said second high energy source is operated to project a second high energy beam, said second high energy beam striking each said pixel end portion at an area inward of each said pixel edge surface and ablating said one outer layer and said predetermined number of inner layers at said end portion; and controlling the movement of said structure and at least said second high energy beam relative to each other to correspondingly control the amount of material ablated from said one outer layer and said predetermined number of inner layers at said area inward of each said pixel edge surface to remove said pixel edge surface and form a new pixel edge surface shaped to a preselected contour.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
322 words
A method for defining an array of pixels in a thin film electroluminescent edge emitter structure, said structure having a pair of electrically conductive outer layers with a plurality of inner layers interposed therebetween, one of said inner layers being formed from a phosphor material; the method being characterized by moving said structure and a first high energy source relative to each other as said first high energy source is operated, to project, in serial fashion, a high plurality of first high energy pulses which strike one of said outer layers at a plurality of spaced apart locations in succession; ablating said one outer layer and a predetermined number of inner layers of said structure at said plurality of locations with said plurality of first high energy pulses to form, in succession, a plurality of spaced apart channels in said structure, the portions of said structure remaining between each pair of adjacent channels defining a plurality of pixels each having a pair of lateral edge surfaces and an end portion having an edge surface terminating at an edge surface of said structure; moving said structure with said plurality of pixels formed therein and a second high energy source relative to each other as said second high energy source is operated to project a second high energy beam, said second high energy beam striking each said pixel end portion at an area inward of each said pixel edge surface and ablating said one outer layer and said predetermined number of inner layers at said end portion; and controlling the movement of said structure and at least said second high energy beam relative to each other to correspondingly control the amount of material ablated from said one outer layer and said predetermined number of inner layers at said area inward of each said pixel edge surface to remove said pixel edge surface and form a new pixel edge surface shaped to a preselected contour.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 characterized by forming said thin film electroluminescent edge emitter structure from a first electrically conductive layer disposed on a substrate, a first dielectric layer disposed on said first electrically conductive layer, a second dielectric layer spaced from said first dielectric layer, a phosphor layer interposed between said first and second dielectric layers and a second electrically conductive layer disposed on said second dielectric layer, said second electrically conductive layer corresponding to said one outer layer;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
ablating at least said second electrically conductive layer, second dielectric layer and phosphor layer at each of said preselected locations with one of said first high energy pulses to form a channel in said structure; and ablating at least said second electrically conductive layer, second dielectric layer and phosphor layer of each said pixel at said area inward of said pixel edge surface with said second high energy beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
ablating at least said second electrically conductive layer, second dielectric layer and phosphor layer at each of said preselected locations with one of said first high energy pulses to form a channel in said structure; and ablating at least said second electrically conductive layer, second dielectric layer and phosphor layer of each said pixel at said area inward of said pixel edge surface with said second high energy beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
102 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized by maintaining said first high energy source in a stationary position during linear movement of said struc ture in proximity thereto as said plurality of first high energy beams are projected to form said plurality of spaced apart channels in said structure; and moving at least said second high energy beam in a selected direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of linear movement of said structure at said area inward of each said pixel edge surface to remove said area and form said new pixel edge surface shaped to a preselected contour.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized by focusing each said first high energy pulse to a line of light energy at said one outer layer of said structure to form a generally rectangular channel; and focusing said second high energy beam to a point of light energy at said one outer layer of said structure.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by positioning said first and second high energy sources substantially perpendicular with said one outer layer of said structure.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized by moving said structure at a relatively constant linear speed.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by forming said plurality of spaced apart channels in said structure so that said channels are substantially parallel with each other.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, characterized by shaping each said pixel edge surface to a concave contour.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, characterized by shaping each said pixel edge surface to a convex contour.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
89 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 4, characterized by focusing each said first high energy pulse so that each said first high energy pulse has a preselected cross-sectional shape at east one outer layer of said structure; and ablating said one outer layer and said predetermined number of inner layers at said plurality of locations with said plurality of first high energy pulses focused to said preselected cross-sectional shape to form a plurality of spaced apart channels in said structure each having said preselected cross-sectional shape.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
80 words
A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said first and second high energy sources are first and second laser sources and the said structure is formed from a first electrically conductive layer disposed on said first electrically conductive layer, a second dielectric layer spaced from said first dielectric layer, a phosphor layer interposed between said first and second dielectric layers and a second electrically conductive layer disposed on said second dielectric layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
86 words
A method as claimed in claim 11, characterized by positioning a first focusing assembly between said first laser source and said structure, said first focusing assembly being operable to focus each said first laser pulse to a line of light energy at each second electrically conductive layer; and positioning a second focusing assembly between said second laser source and said structure, said second focusing system being movable with said second laser source and operable to focus said second laser beam to a point of light energy.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 or 12, characterized by extending said channel formed at each said location through at least said second electrically conductive layer, said second dielectric layer and said phosphor layer; and ablating at least said second electrically conductive layer, said second dielectric layer and said phosphor layer at said area inward of each said pixel end portion.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in any of claims 11 to 13, characterized by forming said channels in said structure so that said channels extend a preselected distance into a central portion of said structure from said structure edge surface.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
50 words
A method as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized by moving said structure in proximity to said first laser source at a constant linear speed; and pulsing said first laser source at preselected time intervals to control the spacing between adjacent channels formed in said structure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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