EP0467542A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Radiation-emitting panels and display assemblies
Assignee: Smiths Group PLC
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Filing: 1991-06-25
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-06-25
Abstract
Abstract A radiation-emitting panel such as for back lighting a display 40 has three transparent glass plates 1, 2 and 3 sealed together around their edges to form two gas-discharge volumes 7 and 7'. The plates are supported within their edges by two identical arrays of pillars 10 and 10' formed integrally from the plates. The lower surface 12 of the lower plate 3 is profiled with inverted frusto-pyramids and coated with a reflecting layer 13. Electrodes 21 and 22 normally cause discharge within the upper volume 7, and the emission of light. Electrodes 23 and 24 can be used to excite the lower volume 7', such as on failure of the upper volume, the reflector 13 acting to reflect light preferentially into the pillars 10'.
Inventors
- 👤 Neil Anthony Fox
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:56
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J61/00; H01J61/02; H01J61/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
A radiation-emitting panel including a first upper plate transparent to visible radiation, a second plate sealed with the first plate around its edge and enclosing a first gas-discharge volume at reduced pressure between the lower surface of the first plate and the upper surface of the second plate, the first and second plates being supported within their edges by at least one support member internally of the first gas-discharge volume, and electrodes operable to excite discharge and radiation within said gas-discharge volume, characterised in that the panel includes a third lower plate (3) sealed with the second plate (2) around its edge and enclosing a second gas-discharge volume (7') at reduced pressure between the lower surface (8) of the second plate (2) and the upper surface (9) of the third plate (3), the second and third plates being supported within their edges by at least one support member (10') internally of the second gas-discharge volume (7'), and electrode (23, 24) operable to excite discharge and radiation within the second gas-discharge volume, and that the second plate is transparent to visible radiation such that a part at least of the radiation produced in the second gas-discharge volume is transmitted through the second and first plates such that illumination can be provided by the panel even when there is no discharge within the first gas-discharge volume.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
A radiation-emitting panel including a first upper plate transparent to visible radiation, a second plate sealed with the first plate around its edge and enclosing a first gas-discharge volume at reduced pressure between the lower surface of the first plate and the upper surface of the second plate, the first and second plates being supported within their edges by at least one support member internally of the first gas-discharge volume, and electrodes operable to excite discharge and radiation within said gas-discharge volume, characterised in that the panel includes a third lower plate (3) sealed with the second plate (2) around its edge and enclosing a second gas-discharge volume (7') at reduced pressure between the lower surface (8) of the second plate (2) and the upper surface (9) of the third plate (3), the second and third plates being supported within their edges by at least one support member (10') internally of the second gas-discharge volume (7'), and electrode (23, 24) operable to excite discharge and radiation within the second gas-discharge volume, and that the second plate is transparent to visible radiation such that a part at least of the radiation produced in the second gas-discharge volume is transmitted through the second and first plates such that illumination can be provided by the panel even when there is no discharge within the first gas-discharge volume.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A radiation-emitting panel according to Claim 1, characterised in that the support members (10, 10') are of a radiation-transmitting material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A radiation-emitting panel according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the support members are provided by two identical arrays of pillars (10, 10') extending between the first and second plate (1 and 2) and between the second and third plate (2 and 3).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
94 words
A radiation-emitting panel according to Claim 3, characterised in that the pillars (10, 10') are spaced from one another by flat regions (5, 6, 8, 9) on the surface of the plates, that there is a phosphor coating (30) within both the first and second gas-discharge volumes (7 and 7'), and that the flat regions (8) on the second plate (2) have no phosphor coating or a thinner phosphor coating than other surfaces within the first and second gas-discharge volumes (7 and 7') so that radiation can pass more freely through these flat regions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A radiation-emitting panel according to Claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the second plate (2) has pillars (10, 10') formed integrally with the plate on opposite sides.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A radiation-emitting panel according to any one of the preceeding claims, characterised in that the the second plate (2) is of a material transparent to ultra-violet radiation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A radiation-emitting panel according to any one of the preceeding claims, characterised in that the three plates (1, 2 and 3) are of the same material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A radiation-emitting panel according to any one of the preceeding claims, characterised in that the third plate (3) is transparent to visible radiation, and that the panel includes a reflector (13) adjacent the outer surface of the third plate (3) arranged to reflect radiation into the panel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A radiation-emitting panel according to Claim 8, characterised in that the reflector (13) is shaped to reflect radiation preferentially into the support member (10').
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A radiation-emitting panel according to Claim 9, characterised in that the reflector (13) is shaped with an array of inverted frusto-pyramids.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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