US3848245A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Quenched photoluminescent displays and a power circuit latching means therefore
Assignee: Bunker Ramo Corp
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Filing: 1970-01-15
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Granted: 1974-11-12
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Expires: 1990-01-15
Abstract
Abstract An illuminated display provided by exciting a phosphor surface to luminescence and heating selected areas of the phosphor surface to quench luminescence thereat to produce a desired display pattern. One display panel version has a plurality of separate and spaced thin film resistors bonded on a support surface provided by an insulative substratum, with the resistors and support surface covered by an overlay of phosphor. The overlay is an even uniform dispersal of particles of several different photoluminescent compounds, each producing a different color upon excitation and having a different quenching temperature range. Thin film conductors connect the resistors to control circuits which are completed in accordance with a control logic provided to apply heating power to selected ones of the resistors to define a desired display pattern which may be varied in color and tone according to the heating temperature set by a power regulator. Vanadium dioxide thermal elements, each contacting an end of a respective resistor, upon reaching a threshold temperature, latch in a separate power circuit which continues to heat the resistors after the initial heating thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 R Marshall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:21
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K11/00; C09K11/02; C09K11/025; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/0147; G02F2/00; G02F2/02; H; H01; H01J; H01J29/00; H01J29/02; H01J29/10; H01J29/18; H01J29/182
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A photoluminescent display device, comprising in combination: a member having a display surface supporting photoluminescent material susceptible of excitation by electromagnetic energy to produce visible light; means for directing electromagnetic radiation towards said display surface to excite luminescence of said photoluminescent material; and heating means underlying selected areas of said photoluminescent material for quenching the luminescence thereof to define a desired display pattern thereon; wherein the improvement comprises heat-actuated switch means in thermal contact with said heating means and in electrical communication with an energy source and with said heating means, said switch means being actuated, by momentary increase of the temperature of said heating means to quenching temperature, to ''''on'''' state, wherein it feeds sufficient energy from said source to maintain said heating means at quenching temperature.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
A photoluminescent display device, comprising in combination: a member having a display surface supporting photoluminescent material susceptible of excitation by electromagnetic energy to produce visible light; means for directing electromagnetic radiation towards said display surface to excite luminescence of said photoluminescent material; and heating means underlying selected areas of said photoluminescent material for quenching the luminescence thereof to define a desired display pattern thereon; wherein the improvement comprises heat-actuated switch means in thermal contact with said heating means and in electrical communication with an energy source and with said heating means, said switch means being actuated, by momentary increase of the temperature of said heating means to quenching temperature, to ''''on'''' state, wherein it feeds sufficient energy from said source to maintain said heating means at quenching temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said photoluminescent material is a dispersal of particles of several phosphor compounds having different color and quenching temperature ranges, and wherein said heating means comprises in combination an electrical reSistance element in thermal contact with said photoluminescent material, and power regulator means for controlling the magnitude of electrical power supplied to said resistance element for thereby controlling the temperature thereof, to provide predetermined colors in the overlying photoluminescent material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein heat sink means are thermally coupled to said photoluminescent material around the periphery of said selected area to enhance the definition of said pattern.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said switch means includes resistor means for the dissipation of electrical power, said resistor means being variable in response to heat and limiting said dissipation to a quiescent level insufficient to quench luminescence when said resistor means are below a threshold temperature, yet passing said power for dissipation at a level sufficient to quench luminescence when said resistor means are above said threshold temperature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said means for directing electromagnetic radiation comprise an electric lamp having an enclosed envelope, said envelope also providing said member and defining said display surface at an outside portion of said envelope for an integrated lamp and display package.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device according to claim 5 where said portion of said envelope is transparent and where said heating means includes a transparent electrical resistance element on said display surface and under said photoluminescent material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 6 where said resistance element is a transparent deposit of tin oxide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 6 where said envelope includes reflective surfaces opposite said transparent portion to direct light therethrough from said lamp.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
171 words
A photoluminescent display device, comprising in combination: a member having a display surface supporting photoluminescent material susceptible of excitation by electromagnetic energy to produce visible light; means for directing electromagnetic radiation towards said display surface to excite luminescence of said photoluminescent material; heating means comprising a plurality of separate and spaced electrical resistance elements positioned between said display surface and said photoluminescent material, and means for supplying electrical energy to selected ones of said elements to define a desired display pattern by quenching the luminescence thereabove, said last means including individual switch means in thermal contact with each of said resistance elements for limiting the dissipation of said energy therein to a quiescent level insufficient to quench luminescence when said switch means are below a threshold temperature, yet passing said energy at a level sufficient to quench luminescence when said switch means are above said threshold temperature, and control means for independently raising the temperature of said switch means above said threshold temperature at said selected ones of said resistance elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
171 words
A photoluminescent display device, comprising in combination: a member having a display surface supporting photoluminescent material susceptible of excitation by electromagnetic energy to produce visible light; means for directing electromagnetic radiation towards said display surface to excite luminescence of said photoluminescent material; heating means comprising a plurality of separate and spaced electrical resistance elements positioned between said display surface and said photoluminescent material, and means for supplying electrical energy to selected ones of said elements to define a desired display pattern by quenching the luminescence thereabove, said last means including individual switch means in thermal contact with each of said resistance elements for limiting the dissipation of said energy therein to a quiescent level insufficient to quench luminescence when said switch means are below a threshold temperature, yet passing said energy at a level sufficient to quench luminescence when said switch means are above said threshold temperature, and control means for independently raising the temperature of said switch means above said threshold temperature at said selected ones of said resistance elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 9 wherein said switch means are provided by a material having the property of abruptly changing resistance at said threshold temperature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
A device according to claim 10 wherein said material is vanadium dioxide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A display panel according to claim 9 wherein said resistance elements are a chromium silicide deposit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A device in accordance with claim 9 wherein said control means includes multiplex circuit means for supplying momentary energy pulses to selected ones of said resistance elements to raise the temperature thereof, and thus raise the temperature of the associated switch means above said threshold temperature.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said control means is constituted by a pointer with a heated tip for manual tracing over said display surface, thereby raising the temperature of such of said switch means as underlie the path traced.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
99 words
In a display device havinG a display panel with a surface coating of thermally quenchable photoluminescent phosphor, a plurality of selectively energizable resistor heating elements underlying said coating and a plurality of conductors supplying electrical power for said resistors, individual thermal switch means at each of said resistors limiting the supply of electrical power to said resistors to a quiescent level insufficient to quench luminescence when said switch means are below a threshold temperature, yet passing power sufficient to provide quenching of the coating overlying a particular resistor when the switch means associated therewith is above said threshold temperature.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
99 words
In a display device havinG a display panel with a surface coating of thermally quenchable photoluminescent phosphor, a plurality of selectively energizable resistor heating elements underlying said coating and a plurality of conductors supplying electrical power for said resistors, individual thermal switch means at each of said resistors limiting the supply of electrical power to said resistors to a quiescent level insufficient to quench luminescence when said switch means are below a threshold temperature, yet passing power sufficient to provide quenching of the coating overlying a particular resistor when the switch means associated therewith is above said threshold temperature.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
53 words
A display panel device according to claim 15 wherein said thermal switch means are provided by a thin filmed pad of material at one end of each of said resistors interposed between the resistor and certain of said conductors, said material having the property of abruptly changing in resistance at said threshold temperature.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
A display panel device according to claim 16 wherein said material is vanadium dioxide.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-11 | 1978-05-13 | 1978-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-11 | 1982-05-13 | 1982-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-11 | 1986-05-13 | 1986-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |