US5486126A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spacers for large area displays
Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
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Filing: 1994-11-18
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Granted: 1996-01-23
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Expires: 2014-11-18
Abstract
Abstract A process is provided for forming spacers useful in large area displays. The process comprises steps of: forming bundles comprising fiber strands which are held together with a binder; slicing the bundles into slices; adhering the slices on an electrode plate of the display; and removing the binder.
Inventors
- 👤 David A. Cathey
- 👤 James J. Hofmann
- 👤 Danny Dynka
- 👤 Darryl M. Stansbury
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:18
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J9/00; H01J9/24; H01J9/241; H01J9/242; H01J29/00; H01J29/02; H01J29/028; H01J29/86; H01J29/864; H01J31/00; H01J31/08; H01J31/10; H01J31/12; H01J31/123; H01J31/125; H01J31/127; H01J9/02; H01J9/18; H01J9/185; H01J2329/00; H01J2329/86; H01J2329/8625; H01J2329/863; H01J2329/8635; H01J2329/864; H01J2329/8645; H01J2329/865; H01J2329/866; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/4981
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
49 words
A process for forming spacers, useful in large area displays, said process comprising the following steps of: forming bundles comprising fiber strands, said fiber strands being held together with a binder; slicing said bundles into slices; placing said slices on a plate of the display; and removing said binder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
49 words
A process for forming spacers, useful in large area displays, said process comprising the following steps of: forming bundles comprising fiber strands, said fiber strands being held together with a binder; slicing said bundles into slices; placing said slices on a plate of the display; and removing said binder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process for forming spacers, according to claim 1, wherein said fiber strands comprise glass.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The process for forming spacers, according to claim 2, wherein said binder comprises at least one of: acryloid acrylic plastic resin in an acetone/toluene solvent, Zein TM , corn protein in IPA/water based solvent, acryloid/Zein TM , polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) resist in water, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with ammonium dichromate (ADC) in water; and a wax.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process for forming spacers, according to claim 3, wherein said electrode plate is at least one of a baseplate and an anode screen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process for forming spacers, according to claim 4, wherein said electrode plate has pixel sites, said strands being adhered outside said pixel sites.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process for forming spacers, according to claim 5, wherein said fiber strands have a diameter substantially in the range of 0.001"-0.002".
Claim 8
Independent Claim
54 words
A method of manufacturing micro-pillars, comprising the following steps of: forming a bundle of glass fibers, said glass fibers being held together with an adhesive; slicing said bundles of glass fibers, said glass fibers having ends; etching back said adhesive on said ends of said glass fibers; and removing said adhesive, thereby creating micro-pillars.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
54 words
A method of manufacturing micro-pillars, comprising the following steps of: forming a bundle of glass fibers, said glass fibers being held together with an adhesive; slicing said bundles of glass fibers, said glass fibers having ends; etching back said adhesive on said ends of said glass fibers; and removing said adhesive, thereby creating micro-pillars.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of manufacturing micro-pillars, according to claim 7, further comprising the step of: polishing said ends of said glass fibers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of manufacturing micro-pillars, according to claim 8, wherein said micro-pillars have a height substantially in the range of 0.010."
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of manufacturing micro-pillars, according to claim 9, wherein said glass fibers are disposed parallel to one another in said bundle, said bundle having a length.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of manufacturing micro-pillars, according to claim 10, wherein said bundle is sliced at angle substantially normal to the length of said bundle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of manufacturing micro-pillars, according to claim 11, wherein said bundle comprises 1000-2000 of said glass fibers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of manufacturing micro-pillars, according to claim 12, wherein said glass fibers have a diameter substantially in the range of 0.001"-0.002".
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
A process for fabricating high-aspect ratio support structures, comprising the following steps of: applying adhesive on an electrode plate of a vacuum display; disposing discs on said adhesive, said discs comprising fibers and binding; and removing said binding, thereby exposing said fibers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
A process for fabricating high-aspect ratio support structures, comprising the following steps of: applying adhesive on an electrode plate of a vacuum display; disposing discs on said adhesive, said discs comprising fibers and binding; and removing said binding, thereby exposing said fibers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process for fabricating high-aspect ratio support structures, according to claim 14, wherein said fibers comprise silicon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process for fabricating high-aspect ratio support structures, according to claim 15, wherein said binding is removed in a solvent, said solvent comprising acetone.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process for fabricating high-aspect ratio support structures, according to claim 16, wherein said binding comprises wax.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process for fabricating high-aspect ratio support structures, according to claim 17, wherein said adhesive comprises at least one of: epoxy, silica, alumina, and phosphate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process for fabricating high-aspect ratio support structures, according to claim 18, wherein said adhesive is stable at temperatures substantially in the range of 300° 500° C.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process for fabricating high-aspect ratio support structures, according to claim 19, wherein said fibers have ends, said ends of said fibers being polished prior to adhesion to said electrode plate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
A process for forming spacers, useful in evacuated displays, said process comprising the following steps of: forming bundles comprising fiber strands; slicing said bundles into slices; disposing said slices on a plate of the display, said fibers from said slices functioning as spacers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
A process for forming spacers, useful in evacuated displays, said process comprising the following steps of: forming bundles comprising fiber strands; slicing said bundles into slices; disposing said slices on a plate of the display, said fibers from said slices functioning as spacers.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process for forming spacers, according to claim 21, wherein each of said fiber strands have a length which is at least 5 times greater than width.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process for forming spacers, according to claim 22, wherein said width of each of said fiber strands is less than 50 μm.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process for forming spacers, according to claim 22, wherein said length of each of said fiber strands is greater than 0.005".
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process for forming spacers, according to claim 21, wherein said fiber strands comprise at least one of glass and PMMA.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process for forming spacers, according to claim 21, wherein said fiber strands have a coating, said coating being useful for maintaining a substantially uniform distance between said fiber strands and for effecting electrical bleed off.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process for forming spacers, according to claim 21, wherein said bundle has a cross-section having a length substantially in the range of 0.25"-2.0".
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
51 words
A process for forming micro-pillars, useful as support structures in a vacuum cavity of a flat panel display device, comprising the following step of: placing fibers on a substrate, said fibers being disposed perpendicular to said substrate, said fibers being parallel to one another, said fibers having a substantially uniform length.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
51 words
A process for forming micro-pillars, useful as support structures in a vacuum cavity of a flat panel display device, comprising the following step of: placing fibers on a substrate, said fibers being disposed perpendicular to said substrate, said fibers being parallel to one another, said fibers having a substantially uniform length.
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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) | 1999-01-22 | 1999-07-24 | 2000-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-22 | 2003-07-24 | 2004-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-22 | 2007-07-24 | 2008-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |