JP2640094B2 - Multicolor emission type gas discharge display panel and method of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gas discharge display panel for displaying characters, figures, and the like on a display surface using discharge light emission in discharge cells, and more particularly to at least two or more gas discharge display panels in a plurality of regions of a single panel. The present invention relates to a multi-color emission type gas discharge display panel capable of realizing the emission colors of

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 8, a conventional gas discharge display panel 60 has a rear substrate 64 made of an insulating material such as a flat glass plate having a plurality of strip-shaped cathodes 62 arranged at a constant pitch on one surface.
And a front substrate 68 made of a transparent insulating material such as a flat glass plate in which a plurality of strip-shaped transparent anodes 66 are arranged side by side at a constant pitch, and the cathode 62 and the transparent anode 66 are orthogonal to each other with a predetermined gap therebetween. The outer periphery of both substrates is hermetically sealed via a sealing material to form an envelope 70, and a predetermined discharge gas is sealed in the internal space of the envelope 70. In the internal space, the cathode 62
A large number of discharge cells 72 are formed at each intersection of the transparent anode 66 and each of the discharge cells 72 is partitioned into a dot matrix by grid-shaped barrier ribs 74 formed on the opposite surface of the front substrate 68. ing. A spacer 76 is formed at a predetermined interval on the end face of the barrier rib 74, and as a result, a gap having a width corresponding to the height of the spacer 76 is provided between the barrier rib 74 and the rear substrate 64. 78 is formed. Each discharge cell 72 is communicated through the gap 78.

When a voltage is selectively applied between the transparent anode 66 and the cathode 62, a discharge is generated in a desired discharge cell 72, and light based on the discharge is generated by the transparent anode 66.
And is radiated to the outside through the front substrate 68. As a result, arbitrary characters, figures, and the like are displayed on the front substrate 68 as a display surface. In addition, the flow of ions between the discharge cells 72 is ensured via the gap 78.

[0004]

In the conventional gas discharge display panel 60, the display color is defined by the type of the discharge gas filled in the envelope 70. And the envelope
One discharge space is formed in 70 (the discharge cells 72 are communicated with each other through the gap 78), and only one kind of discharge gas is filled. 60 was only capable of monochromatic emission (monocolor). For this reason, when discharge light emission of a plurality of colors is required, a plurality of gas discharge display panels having different emission colors must be used in combination, and costs are increased due to the complicated wiring work and drive control. The problem was that it was rising.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems.
An object of the present invention is to realize a gas discharge display panel capable of emitting light of a plurality of colors.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a multicolor light emitting type gas discharge display panel according to the present invention comprises a front substrate made of a transparent insulating material having an anode formed on one surface, and a cathode formed on one surface. A rear substrate made of the formed insulating material is disposed opposite to each other with a predetermined gap therebetween to form a discharge cell between the electrodes, and the periphery of both substrates is hermetically sealed to form an envelope. In a gas discharge display panel having a discharge gas sealed in an envelope, a plurality of air-tightly divided discharge regions are formed in the envelope through a partition member, and at least one of the discharge regions is formed. And a discharge gas that forms a different emission color from the other discharge regions.

[0007] At least one of the plurality of discharge regions is filled with a discharge gas containing a component that emits ultraviolet light by discharge generation, and ultraviolet light is irradiated into discharge cells belonging to the discharge region. A phosphor that receives and generates colored light may be arranged. Alternatively, a plurality of discharge cells are formed in at least one discharge region, barrier ribs for partitioning each discharge cell into a dot matrix are arranged, and a plurality of discharge cells are formed in at least one other discharge region. Alternatively, barrier ribs for dividing each discharge cell into seven segments may be arranged.

In the above-mentioned multicolor light-emitting type gas discharge display panel, for example, a vent is formed for each discharge region in the envelope, and a branch pipe branched from one main pipe is air-tightly connected to each vent. At the same time, after evacuating each discharge area through the main pipe, the same discharge gas is once filled in all the discharge areas through the main pipe, and the branch pipe connected to the specific discharge area is heated and melted. After the discharge gas in the remaining discharge area is exhausted through the main pipe and filled with another discharge gas, the branch pipe connected to the specific discharge area is heated and melted to hermetically seal the air. It is manufactured by repeating the operation of stopping until all discharge regions are filled with discharge gas.

[0009]

The inside of one envelope formed by a pair of front substrate and back substrate is airtightly divided into a plurality of discharge regions via a partition member, and at least one discharge region is different from other discharge regions. Discharge gas that forms a luminous color, the discharge luminescence is selectively generated in the discharge cells belonging to each discharge region. The display of the different colors described above can be realized.

[0010]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gas discharge display panel according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the front side of the first multicolor light emitting type gas discharge display panel 10, and FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view showing the internal structure thereof. The first multicolor light-emitting type gas discharge display panel 10 includes a back substrate 12 made of an insulating material such as a flat glass.
And a front substrate also made of a transparent insulating material such as flat glass
14 are arranged opposite to each other with a predetermined gap therebetween, and the peripheral edges of both substrates are hermetically sealed in a square frame shape via a sealing material 16 such as frit glass to form an envelope 18, and the envelope 18 is formed. The interior space of the vessel 18 is made of a pair of partition members 20a and 20 made of frit glass or the like.
It is characterized in that it is air-tightly divided equally into three discharge areas via b, and different discharge gases are filled in each discharge area. In the first discharge region 22 located on the left side of the discharge region, a mixed gas of Ne and He (Ne: 90
% By volume, He: 10% by volume). Further, the second discharge region 24 located in the middle is filled with a mixed gas of He and Xe (He: 98% by volume, Xe: 2% by volume). Further, in the third discharge region 26 located on the right side, a mixed gas of Ne, He, Ar and Xe (N 2
e: 35% by volume, He: 60.85% by volume, Ar: 0.15% by volume, Xe: 4% by volume).

A plurality of strip-shaped cathodes 28 formed by sintering an Ag / Pd-based paste or the like for each discharge region are arranged on the opposite surface of the back substrate 12 at predetermined intervals. An emitter material, which is a mixture of LaB ₆ and BaAl ₂ O ₄ , is deposited on the surface of the cathode 28. The front substrate 14
NESA film (SnO ₂ ) for each discharge region
And a plurality of strip-shaped transparent anodes 30 made of an ITO film (In ₂ O ₃ .SnO ₂ ) or the like are arranged side by side at predetermined intervals (in FIG. 2, only one transparent anode 30 is provided). Represented). On the opposing surface of the front substrate 14, a grid-like structure provided with a first partition wall 32a for partitioning between the transparent anodes 30 and a second partition wall 32b for partitioning the transparent anodes 30 at predetermined intervals in the length direction. Are formed. This barrier rib 32
Is made of an insulating material such as glass. Further, a spacer 34 made of an insulating material such as glass is provided at an intersection of the barrier rib 32 and the first partition 32a and the second partition 32b.
Is protruding.

The rear substrate 12 and the front substrate 14 are arranged such that a cathode 28 and a transparent anode 30 formed on respective opposing surfaces intersect with a certain gap. As a result, each cathode
A large number of discharge cells 36 are formed at each intersection between the transparent anode 30 and 28. Each discharge cell 36 is a first partition of a barrier rib.
It is partitioned in a dot matrix by the second partition 32b and the second partition 32b. Further, since the end surface of the spacer 34 formed on the barrier rib 32 abuts on the opposing surface of the rear substrate 12, a spacer 34 is provided between each end surface of the first partition 32 a and the second partition 32 b and the rear substrate 12. Gap 38 equivalent to the height of
Is formed. Between each discharge area, as described above,
Although they are air-tightly divided by a and 20b, the discharge cells 36 in each discharge area are connected to each other through the gap 38 to ensure the flow of the discharge gas and ions. Although not shown, the second discharge region 24 and the third discharge region 26
The surface of the barrier rib 32 surrounding each of the discharge cells 36 is coated with a phosphor that emits green light or blue light by ultraviolet irradiation.

As shown in FIG. 1, a front substrate 14 and a rear substrate
12 does not have the same dimensions as the front substrate 14
Is configured to be longer in the vertical direction and shorter in the horizontal direction than the rear substrate 12. As a result, when the two substrates are overlapped, a portion that does not overlap the rear substrate 12 is formed near the upper side 14a and the lower side 14b of the front substrate 14, and the terminal 40 of the transparent anode 30 is formed in this portion.
a and 40b are taken out. Also, the left side of the rear substrate 12
In the vicinity of 12a and the right side 12b, there is a portion which does not overlap with the front substrate 14, and the terminals 42a and 42b of the cathode 28 are taken out from this portion. These terminals 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b
Is connected to a drive / control circuit (not shown).

Thus, the above-mentioned terminal is supplied from a power source (not shown).
Transparent anode 30 and cathode 28 through 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b
When a DC voltage is applied in between, the discharge cells 36 in each discharge area
, Discharge light emission is obtained. For example, in the first discharge region 22 filled with a mixed gas of Ne and He, red visible light is generated by the discharge. He and Xe
In the second discharge region 24 filled with the mixed gas of
Ultraviolet rays are generated by the discharge, and the ultraviolet rays excite the phosphor in the discharge cells 36, so that green or blue light is generated. Further, in the third discharge region 26 filled with a mixed gas of Ne, He, Ar and Xe, red visible light is generated by the discharge, and green to blue light is generated by the excitation of the phosphor by ultraviolet rays. Then, yellow to orange light which is a mixed color of the two is generated. The colored light generated in the discharge cells 36 in each discharge region passes through the transparent anode 30 and the front substrate 14 and is emitted to the outside. Therefore, by selectively performing the voltage application via a control / drive circuit (not shown), discharge light emission is generated in a specific discharge cell 36, and characters and figures of different colors are displayed for each discharge region. It becomes possible. It should be noted that the composition of the discharge gas and the type of phosphor to be filled in each discharge region are not limited to the above, and various discharge gases and phosphors can be selected to obtain a desired emission color. Also, the front substrate
On the surface of 14, a filter for adjusting hue and saturation or improving contrast may be arranged.

Next, a method of filling each discharge region with a discharge gas will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, vent holes 44 are formed in the back substrate 12 for each discharge region.
44 includes a branch pipe 48a branched from one main pipe 46,
48b and 48c are connected to each other. Each branch pipe 48a, 48b,
48c is connected to the main pipe 46 through connecting pipes 50a, 50b and 50c. The base end of the main pipe 46 is connected to a vacuum exhaust / gas filling device (not shown).
These main pipe 46, branch pipes 48a, 48b, 48c and connecting pipe 50
Each of a, 50b, and 50c is formed by connecting an L-shaped bent glass tube. As shown in FIG. 4, the connecting portion between each branch pipe 48 and the ventilation port 44 of the rear substrate 12 is air-tightly caulked by a sealing material 52 made of frit glass or the like. A thick portion 54 protruding inward is formed near the lower end of the inner surface of the branch pipe 48,
The pipe diameter of this part is smaller than the other parts.

After the vacuum exhaust / gas filling device connected to the main tube 46 is operated to simultaneously evacuate each discharge region, Ne is discharged into all the discharge regions via the main tube 46. And a mixed gas of He. And the first
The lower end portion of the branch pipe 48a connected to the discharge region 22 is heated and melted by a gas burner and hermetically sealed. Next, the main pipe
46 through the second discharge region 24 and the third discharge region 26.
After the e-He gas is exhausted, the second discharge region 24 and the third discharge region 26 are filled with a mixed gas of He and Xe via the main pipe 46. Then, the lower end of the branch pipe 48b connected to the second discharge region 24 is heated and melted by a gas burner, and hermetically sealed. Next, after He / Xe gas in the third discharge region 26 is exhausted through the main tube 46, Ne, He, Ar, and Xe enter the third discharge region 26 through the main tube 46.
Is charged. Then, the lower end of the branch pipe 48c connected to the third discharge region 26 is heated and melted by a gas burner and hermetically sealed. Finally, as shown in FIG.
After the boundary between the connecting pipe 46 and the connecting pipe 50b is heated and melted by a gas burner and sealed off, the sealing portion of each branch pipe 48 is cut to complete the filling of the discharge region with the discharge gas. As described above, a thick portion 54 is provided near the lower end of the inner surface of each branch pipe 48.
Is formed, the hermetic sealing can be performed very easily by heating the portion with a gas burner.

According to the above-mentioned filling method, since a single evacuation / gas filling system can realize evacuation of each discharge region and filling of discharge gas, simplification of manufacturing equipment and steps can be realized. Of course, it is needless to say that an independent evacuation / gas filling system may be connected to each discharge region, and the evacuation and filling of the discharge gas may be performed individually.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment. The second multicolor light-emitting type gas discharge display panel 56 includes a front substrate 14.
And the rear substrate 12 are opposed to each other with a predetermined gap therebetween, and the periphery of both substrates is hermetically sealed in a square frame shape with a sealing material 16 therebetween to form an envelope 18. Although not different from the light-emitting type gas discharge display panel 10, instead of dividing the internal space of the envelope 18 into three equal parts through a pair of partition members 20a and 20b, the inner space is surrounded by a T-shaped partition member 20c. It is characterized in that a first discharge region 22 that is long horizontally is formed above the vessel 18, and the lower portion is bisected to form a second discharge region 24 and a third discharge region 26. . In the second discharge region 24 and the third discharge region 26, lattice-shaped barrier ribs 32 are arranged to divide a large number of discharge cells 36 into a dot matrix in the same manner as described above. In the discharge area 22, a plurality of trapezoidal or hexagonal barrier ribs 58 surrounding each discharge cell 36 are arranged in a predetermined pattern to constitute seven segments. Discharge cells constituting these 7 segments
Also in 36, a transparent anode having a predetermined shape is formed on the front substrate 14 side, and a cathode having a predetermined shape is formed on the rear substrate 12 side.

The first multicolor light emitting discharge display panel 10
Similarly, a mixed gas of 90% by volume of Ne and 10% by volume of He is contained in the first discharge region 22 and 98% by volume in the second discharge region 24.
A mixed gas of volume% He and volume 2% Xe further contains 35 volume% Ne, 60.85 volume% in the third discharge region 26.
Of He, 0.15% by volume of Ar, and 4% by volume of Xe. The surface of the barrier rib 32 surrounding each of the discharge cells 36 in the second discharge region 24 and the third discharge region 26 is coated with a phosphor that generates green light or blue light when irradiated with ultraviolet light.

In the vicinity of the upper side 14a and the lower side 14b of the front substrate 14, the terminals 40a and 40b of the transparent anode of each discharge region are taken out, and the cathode of each discharge region is also provided near the left side 12a and the right side 12b of the rear substrate 12. Terminals 42a and 42b are taken out. Then, from the power supply (not shown), the terminals 40a, 40
By selectively applying a DC voltage via b, 42a and 42b, a desired discharge cell 36 can be turned on. For example, if the discharge cells 36 forming the seven segments of the first discharge region 22 are appropriately turned on, any number can be displayed in red with the required number of digits. Also, by lighting the discharge cells 36 partitioned in a dot matrix shape belonging to the second discharge region 24, any character or figure can be displayed in green or blue. Further, by turning on the discharge cells 36 partitioned into a dot matrix belonging to the third discharge region 26, any character or figure can be displayed in yellow or orange.

This second multi-color emission type gas discharge display panel
In FIG. 7, as shown in FIG. 7, as shown in FIG. 7, a vent 44 is formed for each discharge region on the back substrate 12, and branch pipes 48 a, 48 b, 48 c are air-tightly connected to each vent 44 via a sealing material 52. By connecting and converging each branch pipe 48a, 48b, 48c to one main pipe 46 via the connecting pipe 50, different discharge areas are formed using one vacuum exhaust / gas filling system in the same manner as described above. Discharge gas can be charged.

The number of discharge regions formed in the envelope is not necessarily limited to three, but it is sufficient if at least two or more discharge regions are provided. Further, the configuration and combination of each discharge region are not limited to the above, and may be appropriately changed according to a required display mode. Further, when forming three or more discharge regions, it is not necessary to fill all discharge regions with different discharge gases, and if at least one discharge region is filled with a discharge gas different from other discharge regions. , The object of the present invention 2
The above emission colors are obtained.

[0023]

According to the multicolor light-emitting type gas discharge display panel of the present invention, a plurality of discharge areas are formed in a single envelope formed by a pair of front and back substrates through a partition member. And at least one discharge region is filled with a discharge gas that forms a different emission color from other discharge regions, so that discharge light emission is selectively generated in discharge cells belonging to each discharge region. This makes it possible to realize display of at least two or more different colors in units of discharge area, even though it is a single gas discharge display panel. As a result, the wiring work and drive control are simplified and the cost can be reduced as compared with the case of performing multicolor display by combining a plurality of gas discharge display panels having different emission colors.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the front side of a first multi-color emission type gas discharge display panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an internal structure of a first multi-color emission type gas discharge display panel.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a manufacturing process of a first multicolor light emitting gas discharge display panel.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a connection state between a back substrate and a branch pipe of the first multi-color emission gas discharge display panel.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a manufacturing process of a first multicolor light emitting gas discharge display panel.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a front side of a second multi-color emission type gas discharge display panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a manufacturing process of a second multi-color emission type gas discharge display panel.

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view showing the internal structure of a conventional gas discharge display panel.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 First multicolor emission type gas discharge display panel 12 Back substrate 14 Front substrate 16 Sealing material 18 Enclosure 20a, 20b, 20c Partition material 22 First discharge area 24 Second discharge area 26 Third discharge Area 28 Cathode 30 Transparent anode 32 Barrier rib 36 Discharge cell 44 Vent 46 Main pipe 48a, 48b, 48c Branch pipe 56 Second multi-color emission type gas discharge display panel 58 Barrier rib

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A front substrate made of a transparent insulating material having an anode formed on one surface and a rear substrate made of an insulating material formed with a cathode formed on one surface are opposed to each other with a predetermined gap therebetween. In a gas discharge display panel in which a cell is formed and a peripheral edge of both substrates is hermetically sealed to form an envelope, and a discharge gas is sealed in the envelope, a partition member is provided in the envelope. A plurality of discharge regions which are hermetically divided through the discharge region, and at least one of the discharge regions is filled with a discharge gas which forms a different emission color from the other discharge regions. Color emission type gas discharge display panel. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one discharge region is filled with a discharge gas containing a component that emits ultraviolet rays by generating a discharge, and a discharge cell belonging to the discharge region is filled with a discharge gas.
2. The multicolor light-emitting gas discharge display panel according to claim 1, wherein a phosphor that emits colored light upon irradiation with ultraviolet rays is arranged. 3. A plurality of discharge cells are formed in at least one discharge region, and barrier ribs for partitioning each discharge cell into a dot matrix are arranged, and a plurality of discharge cells are formed in at least one other discharge region. 3. The multicolor light-emitting gas discharge display panel according to claim 1, wherein cells are formed and barrier ribs forming seven segments are formed by partitioning each discharge cell. 4. A front substrate made of a transparent insulating material having an anode formed on one surface thereof and a rear substrate made of an insulating material having a cathode formed on one surface thereof are opposed to each other with a predetermined gap therebetween. A cell is formed, and the periphery of both substrates is hermetically sealed to form an envelope, and a plurality of air-tightly divided discharge regions are formed in the envelope via a partition member. At least one of the discharge areas is filled with a discharge gas that forms a different emission color from the other discharge areas. A vent is formed, a branch pipe branched from one main pipe is connected to each vent in an air-tight manner, and after evacuating each discharge region through the main pipe, once through the main pipe. All discharge areas are filled with the same discharge gas and connected to a specific discharge area. After heating and melting the branch pipe to hermetically seal it, exhausting the discharge gas in the remaining discharge area through the main pipe, filling it with another discharge gas, and heating the branch pipe connected to the specific discharge area. A method for producing a multicolor light-emitting type gas discharge display panel, wherein the operation of melting and hermetically sealing is repeated until all discharge regions are filled with discharge gas.