US4413883A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Displays controlled by MIM switches of small capacitance
Assignee: Nortel Networks Ltd
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Filing: 1980-12-03
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Granted: 1983-11-08
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Expires: 2000-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A matrix multiplexed field effect display has switch devices at matrix crosspoints to provide a turn-on threshold for the field effect material. The switch devices are thin film metal-insulator-metal (MIM) switches. The display is operated at low current so that the MIM switches, which may be deposited on glass, do not degrade rapidly in use.
Inventors
- 👤 David R. Baraff
- 👤 Nur M. Serinken
- 👤 Richard W. Streater
- 👤 Carla J. Miner
- 👤 Robert J. Boynton
- 👤 Blair K. MacLaurin
- 👤 William D. Westwood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:20
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/34; G09G3/36; G09G3/3611; G09G3/367; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/136; G02F1/1362; G02F1/1365; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A matrix multiplexed display comprising a pair of plates, at least one of the plates being transparent, the plates having sealed therebetween a layer of liquid characterized by electric field dependent optical transmissivity, a first plurality of electrodes on an inside surface of one plate and a second plurality of electrodes on an inside surface of the other plate, the display having a plurality of picture elements, each element defined by a pair of opposed electrodes on the inside surfaces of respective plates, means for applying a voltage between the opposed electrodes of each element, each picture element being series connected to a respective switch comprising a thin insulating film flanked by thin film conducting layers, the insulating film characterized by a gross change in resistivity at a predetermined voltage thereacross, the switches formed on the inside surface of at least one of the plates, each switch having a capacitance substantially less than the capacitance of its series connected picture element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A matrix multiplexed display comprising a pair of plates, at least one of the plates being transparent, the plates having sealed therebetween a layer of liquid characterized by electric field dependent optical transmissivity, a first plurality of electrodes on an inside surface of one plate and a second plurality of electrodes on an inside surface of the other plate, the display having a plurality of picture elements, each element defined by a pair of opposed electrodes on the inside surfaces of respective plates, means for applying a voltage between the opposed electrodes of each element, each picture element being series connected to a respective switch comprising a thin insulating film flanked by thin film conducting layers, the insulating film characterized by a gross change in resistivity at a predetermined voltage thereacross, the switches formed on the inside surface of at least one of the plates, each switch having a capacitance substantially less than the capacitance of its series connected picture element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A matrix multiplexed display as claimed in claim 1 in which each switch is substantially smaller in area than the picture element controlled thereby.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A matrix multiplexed display as claimed in claim 2 in which each switch is laterally offset from the picture element controlled thereby.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A matrix multiplexed display as claimed in claim 2 in which each picture element and its series connected switch are superimposed, one picture element electrode having a part extending therefrom to provide a relatively small contact area with the switch insulating film.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A matrix multiplexed display as claimed in claim 1 in which on the inside of at least one of the plates, a thin film capacitor is formed in parallel with each picture element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
A matrix multiplexed display as claimed in claim 1 the picture elements and the switches being arranged in rows and columns, first lead means electrically connecting the thin film conducting layer at one side of each switch to an electrode of its series connected picture element, second lead means electrically connecting the thin film conducting layer at the other side of the switches in rows, and third lead means electrically connecting the electrodes on the other plate in columns.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A matrix multiplexed display as claimed in claim 1 in which the thin film conducting layer at said one side of each switch is formed as a single homogeneous substantially transparent layer with an electrode of its series connected picture element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A matrix multiplexed display as claimed in claim 1 in which the insulating film of each switch is one of a group consisting of tantalum pentoxide, silicon dioxide, silicon oxynitride, silicon monoxide and zinc oxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A matrix multiplexed display as claimed in claim 1 in which the thin film conducting layer of at least one side of each switch is one of a group consisting of tantalum, aluminum, chromium, gold, indium tin oxide, and NiCr+Au.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A matrix multiplexed display as claimed in claim 1 in which each switch is a tantalum-tantalum pentoxide-gold device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A matrix multiplexed display as claimed in claim 1 in which each switch is an aluminum-aluminum oxide-gold device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A matrix multiplexed display as claimed in claim 1 in which the liquid is a liquid crystal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A matrix multiplexed display as claimed in claim 12 in which the liquid crystal is a twisted nematic liquid crystal and the plates confining the liquid crystal are crossed polarizing plates.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A matrix multiplexed display as claimed in claim 12 in which the liquid crystal is in combination with a pleochroic dye.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A matrix multiplexed display as claimed in claim 1 in which said liquid is an electophoretic display medium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A matrix multiplexed display as claimed in claim 1 in which said gross change in resistivity of said insulating layer results from a tunnelling mechanism.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A matrix multiplexed display as claimed in claim 1 in which said gross change in resistivity of the insulating layer results from a trap depth modulation mechanism.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
A matrix multiplexed display as claimed in claim 1 in which the gross change is resistivity of said insulating layer results from the combination of a tunnelling mechanism and a trap depth modulation mechanism.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
84 words
A matrix multiplexed display as claimed in claim 1 in which the picture elements and switches are arranged in rows and columns, the metal layer at one side of each switch being in the form of first and second distinct regions, first lead means for electrically connecting each of said first regions to a series connected picture element, second lead means for electrically connecting said second regions together in rows, and third lead means electrically connecting the electrodes on the other plate in columns.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
184 words
In a method of fabricating a display, the steps of: depositing onto a transparent plate a row-column array of thin film metal regions, each region constituting a first terminal of a switch; anodizing said metal regions thereby forming a dielectric layer on said metal regions; forming a thin film conducting region over said anodized regions, the conducting regions forming a second terminal of respective switches; forming a corresponding array of transparent electrodes on the plate; forming a plurality of thin film leads parallel to the rows; forming thin film interconnects between one terminal of each switch and the electrode adjacent thereto; forming thin film interconnects between the other terminal of each switch and the row leads whereby to interconnect the switches in rows; forming a corresponding array of transparent electrodes on a second transparent plate; forming a plurality of thin film leads parallel to the columns on the second plate; forming thin film interconnects between the electrodes and the column leads to interconnect the electrodes on said second plate in columns; and sealing between the plates a liquid having electic field related optical characteristics.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
184 words
In a method of fabricating a display, the steps of: depositing onto a transparent plate a row-column array of thin film metal regions, each region constituting a first terminal of a switch; anodizing said metal regions thereby forming a dielectric layer on said metal regions; forming a thin film conducting region over said anodized regions, the conducting regions forming a second terminal of respective switches; forming a corresponding array of transparent electrodes on the plate; forming a plurality of thin film leads parallel to the rows; forming thin film interconnects between one terminal of each switch and the electrode adjacent thereto; forming thin film interconnects between the other terminal of each switch and the row leads whereby to interconnect the switches in rows; forming a corresponding array of transparent electrodes on a second transparent plate; forming a plurality of thin film leads parallel to the columns on the second plate; forming thin film interconnects between the electrodes and the column leads to interconnect the electrodes on said second plate in columns; and sealing between the plates a liquid having electic field related optical characteristics.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
179 words
In a method of fabricating a display the steps of: depositing onto one transparent plate a row-column array of thin film metal regions, each region constituting first terminals of a pair of switches; anodizing said metal region; forming spaced conducting regions on each anodized region, the conducting regions forming second terminals of the pair of switches; forming a corresponding array of transparent electrodes on the plate; forming a plurality of thin film leads parallel to the rows; forming thin film interconnects between the second terminal of one switch of each pair and the electrode adjacent thereto; forming thin film interconnects between the second terminal of the other switch of each pair a lead adjacent thereto whereby to interconnect the switches in rows; forming a corresponding array of transparent electrodes on a second transparent plate; forming a plurality of thin film leads parallel to the column; forming thin film interconnects between the electrodes and the column leads to interconnect the electrodes in columns on the second plate; and sealing between the plates a liquid having electric field related optical characteristics.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
179 words
In a method of fabricating a display the steps of: depositing onto one transparent plate a row-column array of thin film metal regions, each region constituting first terminals of a pair of switches; anodizing said metal region; forming spaced conducting regions on each anodized region, the conducting regions forming second terminals of the pair of switches; forming a corresponding array of transparent electrodes on the plate; forming a plurality of thin film leads parallel to the rows; forming thin film interconnects between the second terminal of one switch of each pair and the electrode adjacent thereto; forming thin film interconnects between the second terminal of the other switch of each pair a lead adjacent thereto whereby to interconnect the switches in rows; forming a corresponding array of transparent electrodes on a second transparent plate; forming a plurality of thin film leads parallel to the column; forming thin film interconnects between the electrodes and the column leads to interconnect the electrodes in columns on the second plate; and sealing between the plates a liquid having electric field related optical characteristics.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 20 or 21 in which at least some of the conducting regions electrically connected to the second terminal of each switch are deposited simultaneously as a single homogeneous layer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 20 in which at least some of the conducting regions electrically connected to the first terminal of each switch are deposited simultaneously as a single homogenous layer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
A matrix multiplexed display as claimed in claim 1 in which at least one of the thin film conducting layers is a thin film metal layer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-11-07 | 1987-05-09 | 1987-11-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-11-07 | 1991-05-09 | 1991-11-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-11-07 | 1995-05-09 | 1995-11-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |