Electronic fluorescent display

Claim 2

A cathodoluminescent visual display device having a plurality of pixel dots for displaying images when said device is viewed in a viewing direction, comprising: a housing defining a chamber therein, said housing having a face plate, and a back plate; an anode on or near said face plate; luminescent means that emits light in response to electrons, and that is on or adjacent to the anode; at least one cathode in the chamber between the face and back plates; at least a first and a second set of elongated grid electrodes between the anode and cathode, the electrodes in each set overlapping the luminescent means and grid electrodes in at least one other set at points when viewed in the viewing direction, wherein the overlapping points define pixel dots; means for causing the cathode to emit electrons; means for applying electrical potentials to the anode, cathode and the two or more sets of grid electrodes, causing the electrons emitted by the cathode to travel to the luminescent means at the pixel dots on or adjacent to the anode for displaying images; and spacer means connecting the face and back plates to provide mechanical support for the plates so that the housing will not collapse when the chamber is evacuated, said spacer means including a spacer plate defining holes therein for passage of electrons between the anode and cathode, wherein a predetermined number of one or more pixel dots correspond to and spatially overlap one hole, said spacer plate having a support wall between any two adjacent holes and one or more separation walls within at least one hole to divide said hole into smaller holes, said separation walls being thinner than the support walls, thereby reducing crosstalk.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1, wherein said anode and cathode are in two planes that are spaced apart, wherein the first and second sets of grid electrodes are in a first and a second plane respectively, said spacer means further comprising at least one net-shaped structure defining meshes that each permits electron passage to the luminescent means to address a plurality of pixel dots, said structure and said spacer plate rigidly connecting the face and back plates.

Claim 4

The device of claim 2, said housing further comprising a side plate between the face and back plates enclosing said chamber, wherein said face, side and back plates and the spacer plate are planar and have substantially the same planar dimensions, and are connected to one another at their edges to form a rigid structure.

Claim 5

The device of claim 2, said face and back plates being substantially parallel to each other, said spacer means further including elongated spacer members between the second plane and the back plate, said members connecting the structure to the back plate, wherein said structure, said spacer plate and spacer members include portions abutting each other and the face and back plates, said portions arranged along a line normal to the face and back plates forming a support for the face and back plates along said line, wherein said structure comprises bars, spaces between bars defining meshes, said members being arranged so that they and some of the bars match and abut one another and lie along lines normal to the face and back plates.

Claim 6

The device of claim 2, wherein said structure comprises bars, wherein spaces between bars define meshes, and wherein each bar matches a space between two adjacent pixels.

Claim 7

The device of claim 2, wherein said structure comprises bars, wherein spaces between bars define meshes, said bars located adjacent to portions of the grid electrodes, wherein portions of at least some of the grid electrodes adjacent to the bars are spaced apart at closer spacings than those further away from the bars to reduce any dark shadows caused by the structure.

Claim 8

The device of claim 2, wherein said structure comprises bars between meshes and adjacent to portions of the grid electrodes, and wherein the potentials applying means applies potentials to at least some of the grid electrodes adjacent to the bars that are higher than those further away from the bars to reduce any dark shadows caused by the structure.

Claim 9

The device of claim 2, wherein said spacer means includes a plurality of said net-shaped structures, said structures being in the shape of plates placed substantially in a plane adjacent to one another to form a larger plate structure.

Claim 10

The device of claim 1, wherein said anode and cathode are in two planes that are spaced apart, wherein the first and second sets of grid electrodes are in a first and second plane respectively, said spacer plate being located between the anode and the closest of the first or second plane to the anode, said spacer plate defining holes and walls therein, wherein adjacent holes are separated by a wall between the holes, said spacer means further comprising at least one net-shaped structure having meshes therein, said structure including bars attached to one another to form the structure, each of said bars being aligned with a corresponding wall, said bars and said walls being of such widths that each bar and its corresponding wall have surfaces that form a substantially smooth tapering surface to maximize the number of electrons transmitted through the holes and meshes and to minimize dark areas caused by the spacer means.

Claim 11

The device of claim 1, wherein said anode and cathode are in two planes that are spaced apart, wherein the first and second sets of grid electrodes are in a first and second plane respectively, said spacer plate being located between the first and second planes, said spacer plate defining holes and walls therein, wherein adjacent holes are separated by a wall between the holes, said spacer means further comprising at least one net-shaped structure having meshes therein, said structure including bars attached to one another to form the structure, each of said bars being aligned with a corresponding wall, said bars and said walls being of such widths that each bar and its corresponding wall have surfaces that form a substantially smooth tapering surface to maximize the number of electrons transmitted through the holes and meshes and to minimize dark areas caused by the spacer means.

Claim 12

The device of claim 1, wherein said grid electrodes are attached to said spacer means to reduce vibrations.

Claim 13

The device of claim 1, wherein said spacer plate is made of a photosensitive glass-ceramic material.

Claim 14

The device of claim 1, wherein dimensions of the holes at one side of the spacer plate are larger than those at the other side.

Claim 15

The device of claim 13, wherein the pixel dots are arranged in groups of adjacent dots, wherein each group corresponds to and overlaps one hole in the viewing direction, said spacer plate further comprising two or more separating walls separating at least one hole into smaller holes corresponding to and overlapping pixel dots of different colors, wherein each smaller hole tapers from one side of the spacer plate to the other, and wherein each smaller hole matches a pixel dot at the larger end of the hole.

Claim 16

The device of claim 13, wherein the holes at their larger dimensions match the pixel dots.

Claim 17

The device of claim 1, wherein said grid electrodes comprise wires, and wherein each hole is located so that it overlaps one wire, or two or more wires electrically connected, to form one or more electrodes for scanning the one or more pixel dots corresponding to the hole or controlling the brightness of such dots.

Claim 18

A cathodoluminescent visual display device having a plurality of pixel dots for displaying images when said device is viewed in a viewing direction, comprising: a housing defining a chamber therein, said housing having a face plate, and a back plate; an anode on or near said face plate; luminescent means that emits light in response to electrons, and that is on or adjacent to the anode; at least one cathode in the chamber between the face and back plates; at least a first and a second set of elongated grid electrodes between the anode and cathode, the electrodes in each set overlapping the luminescent means and grid electrodes in at least one other set at points when viewed in the viewing direction, wherein the overlapping points define pixel dots; means for causing the cathode to emit electrons; means for applying electrical potentials to the anode, cathode and the two or more sets of grid electrodes, causing the electrons emitted by the cathode to travel to the luminescent means at the pixel dots on or adjacent to the anode for displaying images; and spacer means connecting the face and back plates to provide mechanical support for the plates so that the housing will not collapse when the chamber is evacuated, said spacer means including a spacer plate defining holes therein for passage of electrons between the anode and cathode, wherein a predetermined number of one or more pixel dots correspond to and spatially overlap one hole, thereby reducing crosstalk, wherein the pixel dots are arranged in groups of adjacent dots displaying one or more colors, wherein each group of adjacent pixel dots for displaying the color or colors correspond to and overlap one hole in the viewing direction, said spacer plate further comprising means in said one hole for separating electrons addressing one of the group of pixel dots from electrons addressing a different one of the group of pixel dots to further reduce crosstalk.

Claim 19

A cathodoluminescent visual display device having a plurality of pixel dots for displaying images when said device is viewed in a viewing direction, comprising: a housing defining a chamber therein, said housing having a face plate, and a back plate; an anode on or near said face plate; luminescent means that emits light in response to electrons, and that is on or adjacent to the anode; at least one cathode in the chamber between the face and back plates; at least a first and a second set of elongated grid electrodes between the anode and cathode, the electrodes in each set overlapping the luminescent means and grid electrodes in at least one other set at points when viewed in the viewing direction, wherein the overlapping points define pixel dots; means for causing the cathode to emit electrons; means for applying electrical potentials to the anode, cathode and the two or more sets of grid electrodes, causing the electrons emitted by the cathode to travel to the luminescent means at the pixel dots on or adjacent to the anode for displaying images; and spacer means connecting the face and back plates to provide mechanical support for the plates so that the housing will not collapse when the chamber is evacuated, said spacer means including a spacer plate defining holes therein for passage of electrons between the anode and cathode, wherein a predetermined number of one or more pixel dots correspond to and spatially overlap one hole, thereby reducing crosstalk, wherein the pixel dots are arranged in groups of adjacent dots displaying one or more colors, wherein each group of adjacent pixel dots for displaying the color or colors correspond to and overlap one hole in the viewing direction, said spacer plate further comprising means in said one hole for separating electrons addressing one of the group of pixel dots from electrons addressing a different one of the group of pixel dots to further reduce crosstalk.

Claim 20

The device of claim 17, wherein the pixel dots are arranged in groups of three or more adjacent dots displaying the colors red, green and blue, wherein each group of three or more adjacent pixel dots for displaying the colors red, green and blue correspond to and overlap one hole, said separating means comprising two or more separating walls separating the hole into three or more smaller holes corresponding to and overlapping, dots of different colors.

Claim 21

A cathodoluminescent visual display device having a plurality of pixel dots for displaying images when the device is viewed in a viewing direction, comprising: a housing defining a chamber therein, said housing having a face plate and a back plate; an anode on or near said face plate; luminescent means that emits light in response to electrons, and that is on or adjacent to the anode; at least one elongated cathode in the chamber between the face and back plates; at least a first and a second set of elongated grid electrodes between the anode and cathode, the electrodes in each set overlapping the luminescent means and electrodes in at least one other set at points when viewed in the viewing direction, wherein the overlapping points define pixel dots; means for heating the cathode, causing the cathode to emit electrons in an electron cloud; means for applying electrical potentials to the anode, cathode and the two or more sets of grid electrodes, causing the electrons emitted by the cathode to travel to the luminescent means at the pixel dots on or adjacent to the anode for displaying images; spacer means connecting the face and back plates to provide mechanical support for the plates so that the housing will not collapse when the chamber is evacuated, said spacer means including elongated spacer members alongside the cathode, said members located between the back plate and the grid electrodes, between the sets of grid electrodes or between the grid electrodes and the anode; and a first set of one or more elongated shadow reducing electrodes adjacent to the spacer members, wherein said potentials applying means applies to the shadow reducing electrodes a potential that is higher than that applied to the cathode by the potentials applying means, causing electrons in the electron cloud emitted by the cathode to spread laterally before travelling towards the anode to thereby reduce any shadows caused by the spacer members.

Claim 22

A cathodoluminescent visual display device having a plurality of pixel dots for displaying images when the device is viewed in a viewing direction, comprising: a housing defining a chamber therein, said housing having a face plate and a back plate; an anode on or near said face plate; luminescent means that emits light in response to electrons, and that is on or adjacent to the anode; at least one elongated cathode in the chamber between the face and back plates; at least a first and a second set of elongated grid electrodes between the anode and cathode, the electrodes in each set overlapping the luminescent means and electrodes in at least one other set at points when viewed in the viewing direction, wherein the overlapping points define pixel dots; means for heating the cathode, causing the cathode to emit electrons in an electron cloud; means for applying electrical potentials to the anode, cathode and the two or more sets of grid electrodes, causing the electrons emitted by the cathode to travel to the luminescent means at the pixel dots on or adjacent to the anode for displaying images; spacer means connecting the face and back plates to provide mechanical support for the plates so that the housing will not collapse when the chamber is evacuated, said spacer means including elongated spacer members alongside the cathode, said members located between the back plate and the grid electrodes, between the sets of grid electrodes or between the grid electrodes and the anode; and a first set of one or more elongated shadow reducing electrodes adjacent to the spacer members, wherein said potentials applying means applies to the shadow reducing electrodes a potential that is higher than that applied to the cathode by the potentials applying means, causing electrons in the electron cloud emitted by the cathode to spread laterally before travelling towards the anode to thereby reduce any shadows caused by the spacer members.

Claim 23

The device of claim 19, further comprising a second set of shadow reducing electrodes between the back plate and the cathode, said second set of shadow reducing electrodes adjacent to the cathode, wherein said potentials applying means applies substantially the same potential to the cathode and the second set of shadow reducing electrodes.

Claim 24

The device of claim 19, wherein said first set of shadow reducing electrodes is located on the back plate.

Claim 25

The device of claim 19, wherein at least some of said spacer members are located between the back plate and the grid electrodes and have surfaces that face the cathode, and wherein at least some of said first set of shadow reducing electrodes are located on such surfaces of the spacer members and are facing the cathode.

Claim 26

A cathodoluminescent visual display apparatus comprising a mosaic of devices arranged side by side to form a larger display, each device having a plurality of pixel dots for displaying images when viewed in a viewing direction and comprising: a housing defining a chamber therein, said housing having a face plate and a back plate; an anode on or near said face plate; luminescent means that emits light in response to electrons, and that is on or adjacent to the anode; at least one cathode in the chamber between the face and back plates; at least a first and a second set of elongated grid electrodes between the anode and cathode, the electrodes in each set overlapping the luminescent means and electrodes in at least one other set at points when viewed in the viewing direction, wherein the overlapping points define pixel dots; means for heating the cathode, causing the cathode to emit electrons; means for applying electrical potentials to the anode, cathode and the two or more sets of grid electrodes, causing the electrons emitted by the cathode to travel to the luminescent means at the pixel dots on or adjacent to the anode for displaying images; and spacer means connecting the face and back plates to provide mechanical support for the plates so that the housing will not collapse when the chamber is evacuated, said spacer means including a spacer plate defining holes therein for passage of electrons between the anode and cathode, wherein a predetermined number of one or more pixel dots correspond to and spatially overlap one hole, thereby reducing crosstalk, said spacer plate having a support wall between any two adjacent holes and one or more separation walls within at least one hole to divide said hole into smaller holes, said separation walls being the inner than the support walls.

Claim 27

A cathodoluminescent visual display apparatus comprising a mosaic of devices arranged side by side to form a larger display, each device having a plurality of pixel dots for displaying images when viewed in a viewing direction and comprising: a housing defining a chamber therein, said housing having a face plate and a back plate; an anode on or near said face plate; luminescent means that emits light in response to electrons, and that is on or adjacent to the anode; at least one cathode in the chamber between the face and back plates; at least a first and a second set of elongated grid electrodes between the anode and cathode, the electrodes in each set overlapping the luminescent means and electrodes in at least one other set at points when viewed in the viewing direction, wherein the overlapping points define pixel dots; means for heating the cathode, causing the cathode to emit electrons; means for applying electrical potentials to the anode, cathode and the two or more sets of grid electrodes, causing the electrons emitted by the cathode to travel to the luminescent means at the pixel dots on or adjacent to the anode for displaying images; and spacer means connecting the face and back plates to provide mechanical support for the plates so that the housing will not collapse when the chamber is evacuated, said spacer means including a spacer plate defining holes therein for passage of electrons between the anode and cathode, wherein a predetermined number of one or more pixel dots correspond to and spatially overlap one hole, thereby reducing crosstalk, said spacer plate having a support wall between any two adjacent holes and one or more separation walls within at least one hole to divide said hole into smaller holes, said separation walls being the inner than the support walls.