JP3026765B2 - Method of manufacturing gas discharge display panel - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a gas discharge display panel, which is configured to obtain display light by exciting a phosphor with ultraviolet rays generated by generation of discharge in a discharge cell, and more particularly to a method of manufacturing a color filter. The present invention relates to a manufacturing method characterized by a forming method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 6, a conventional gas discharge display panel 60 has a rear substrate 12 made of an insulating material having a plurality of strip-shaped cathodes 18 arranged on one side and a strip-shaped transparent anode 24 on one side. The front substrate 14 made of a plurality of transparent insulating materials arranged side by side is
The transparent anode 24 and the transparent anode 24 are disposed so as to be substantially orthogonal to each other with a predetermined gap therebetween, and the peripheral edges of both substrates are hermetically sealed with a sealing material (not shown) to form an envelope 16. A structure is provided in which an ultraviolet radiation gas such as He or Xe is sealed in the internal space.

[0003] On the opposite surface 12a of the rear substrate 12, each cathode
A lattice-shaped rear barrier rib 20 having a first partition wall 20a for partitioning between the cathodes 18 and a second partition wall 20b for partitioning each cathode 18 by a predetermined length is formed. Also, the front substrate 14
As shown in FIG. 7, a grid having a first partition 28a for partitioning the transparent anodes 24 and a second partition 28b for partitioning the transparent anodes 24 by a predetermined length is also provided on the opposite surface 14a. A front side barrier rib 28 having a shape is formed. As a result, the envelope
In 16, a large number of discharge cells 42 surrounded by barrier ribs 20 and 28 of both substrates are formed in a dot matrix at each intersection of the transparent anode 24 and the cathode 18.

The facing surface 14a of the front substrate and the transparent anode 24
A color filter 32 is attached to the surface of the color filter 32, and a phosphor 36 is attached to the surface of the color filter 32. However, the entire surface of the transparent anode 24 is not covered with the color filter 32 and the phosphor 36, and a part 24a of the transparent anode 24 is formed through a rectangular discharge window 38 as shown in FIG. It is designed to be exposed inside. The discharge window 38 is formed in the opening 32 of the color filter.
a (the area where the color filter is not attached) and the opening 36a of the phosphor (the area where the phosphor is not attached) are communicated. In addition, the discharge window 38 is provided with the first partition 28a and the second partition 28b of the front side barrier rib 28.
It is arranged substantially at the center of a rectangular display area 39 partitioned by.

A spacer 30 is formed at an end surface of the front-side barrier rib 28 at a predetermined interval, and a spacer 30 is provided between the rear-side barrier rib 20 and the front-side barrier rib 28.
A gap 44 corresponding to a height of 30 is formed. The respective discharge cells 42 communicate with each other via the gap 44.

When a DC voltage is applied between the transparent anode 24 and the cathode 18, a discharge is generated in a desired discharge cell 42, and ultraviolet rays are generated. When the ultraviolet light excites the phosphor 36, display light having an emission color corresponding to the type of the phosphor 36 is transmitted to the outside through the transparent anode 24 and the front substrate 14. By selectively executing the above voltage application via a control / drive circuit (not shown), it is possible to display arbitrary characters and graphics on the display surface 14b of the front substrate 14.

[0007]

By the way, the above-mentioned color filter 32 is arranged to improve the contrast ratio of the gas discharge display panel 60. That is, the external light that has entered the discharge cells 42 from the display surface 14b of the front substrate is reflected on the phosphor 36 and appears whitish, and the distinction between the discharge cells 42 that are turned on and the discharge cells 42 that are turned off is lost. In order to prevent obscuration, it is necessary to interpose a color filter 32 on the side of the facing surface 14a of the front substrate to suppress the entrance of external light. As the color filter 32, a filter having a color similar to the emission color of the phosphor 36 is generally selected. However, in some cases, a color such as a light brown or gray color capable of suppressing the entry of external light is used. Are commonly used regardless of the emission color.

The color filter 32 is formed by printing a thick filter paste on the surface 14a of the front substrate and the surface of the transparent anode 24, followed by drying and firing. Need to be formed so that the openings 32a of the color filters each have a sufficient area. If the area of the opening 32a is insufficient, the discharge window 38 is closed and the surface of the transparent anode 24 becomes insulated, which may hinder discharge generation.

On the other hand, since the filter paste is printed after being adjusted to a very low viscosity state, it is extremely difficult to apply the filter paste in an intended pattern, as shown in FIG. When the filter paste 46 is printed on the opposing surface 14a of the front substrate and the surface of the transparent anode 24, the filter paste 46 spreads naturally and overlaps with the adjacent filter paste 46, or the opening of the filter paste serving as a base of the color filter opening 32a. The portion 46a contracts. The portion where the filter pastes 46 overlap can be removed relatively easily later, but it is difficult to widen the opening area later because the opening 46a may damage the transparent anode 24. The reason for using the low-viscosity filter paste 46 is that the high-viscosity filter paste 46 must be used.
This is because if the color filter 32 is used, the color filter 32 after completion becomes thicker, which impairs the light transmittance and causes the brightness of the gas discharge display panel 60 to decrease.

As described above, the filter paste having a low viscosity is used.
Even if 46 is used, if the pitch between the discharge cells 42 can be set relatively wide, even if the area of the opening 46a fluctuates somewhat, it falls within the range of error and does not cause much problem. When the resolution of the discharge cells 42 is reduced in accordance with the increase in the resolution, the area of the filter paste 46 to which the filter paste 46 is applied becomes narrower, so that the fluctuation of the applied area after printing cannot be ignored.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gas discharge display panel with a higher definition so that the area to which each filter paste is applied becomes narrower. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a gas discharge display panel capable of securing a discharge window having a sufficient area required for generating a discharge.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, a method of manufacturing a gas discharge display panel according to the present invention is directed to an insulating material comprising a plurality of strip-shaped electrodes arranged on one surface at regular intervals. And a front substrate made of a transparent insulating material in which a plurality of strip-shaped transparent electrodes are arranged side by side at a fixed interval on one surface so that the electrodes of each substrate intersect with a predetermined gap. And a discharge cell is formed at each intersection of the electrodes, the periphery of both substrates is hermetically sealed to form an envelope, and a color filter is disposed on the opposite surface side of the front substrate. in the phosphor and becomes ultraviolet radiation gas enclosed manufacturing method of the opposing surfaces of the front substrate gas discharge display panel which is divided into a plurality of display regions by barrier ribs surrounding each discharge cell within, the front
Color is applied to the area between the transparent electrodes on the opposite surface of the substrate.
Filter paste, which is the base of the filter, for each display area
Apply in a predetermined pattern to improve the fluidity of the filter paste
Therefore, the filter paste was applied to each surface from both sides of the transparent electrode.
Spreading over the surface of the transparent electrode belonging to the display region;
After drying the paste, bake it to remove the color filter.
Forming step, and coating a phosphor on the surface of the color filter.
Applying the filter paste.
Controls the spread of the filter paste
By doing so, a part of the surface of the transparent electrode belonging to each display area
Make sure that there are exposed areas that are not covered with the filter paste.
Features. How the filter paste spreads
Is, for example, deposition patterns of filter paste, deposited amount,
It is controlled by appropriately adjusting the attachment position and the like.

[0013] The filter paste is applied in a predetermined pattern to one portion of a portion located between the transparent electrodes belonging to each display area, for example, on the opposite surface of the front substrate. The applied filter paste is spread from one side of each transparent electrode arranged on both sides to a part of the surfaces of both transparent electrodes due to its fluidity. Alternatively, the filter paste may be applied in a predetermined pattern to two portions of the opposing surface of the front substrate, which are located between the transparent electrodes belonging to each display area. In this case, due to its fluidity, each filter paste is spread from one of the transparent electrodes arranged on both sides closer to one side to a part of the surface of the transparent electrode.

The method of manufacturing a gas discharge display panel according to the present invention does not directly apply the filter paste serving as the element of the color filter to the surface of the transparent electrode, but flows the filter paste applied to the surface of the front substrate. Utilizing the property, the filter paste is intended to reach the surface of the transparent electrode belonging to each display region from the side of the transparent electrode. In other words, it is important that the first application location of the filter paste is not the surface of the transparent electrode but the opposing surface of the front substrate.

[0015] As a result, the amount, position and pattern (shape) of the filter paste to be applied are appropriately selected in consideration of the fluidity (viscosity) of the filter paste, and the degree of spread of the filter paste is adjusted in advance. By doing so, it becomes easy to apply the filter paste to the surface of the transparent electrode so that the entire surface of the transparent anode belonging to each display region is exposed with a required area without being covered with the filter paste. On the other hand, in the conventional manufacturing method, since the filter paste is applied to the surface of the transparent electrode from the beginning, even if the filter paste is applied in a pattern having openings, the filter is immediately applied from the surface of the transparent electrode. Since the flow of the paste starts, the opening is immediately closed. Further, in the case of the present invention, the filter paste is applied to the side of the transparent electrode, and as a result, the filter paste travels only from the width direction to the surface of the transparent electrode. It is easy to secure an area where the filter paste does not reach in the direction. On the other hand, in the conventional manufacturing method, since the filter paste comes close to the opening of the filter paste from the longitudinal direction of the transparent electrode, the opening is easily closed by the filter paste that is pushed in from all sides. is there. In short, the method for forming a color filter according to the present invention uses a phenomenon in which a low-viscosity filter paste spreads beyond a deposition pattern immediately after deposition on the surface of a transparent electrode belonging to each display area. The color filter forming portion and the exposed portion are to be made separately.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A gas discharge display panel according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing a gas discharge display panel 10. This gas discharge display panel 10 has a rear substrate 12 made of an insulating material such as a flat glass and a front substrate 14 also made of a transparent insulating material such as a flat glass opposed to each other with a predetermined gap therebetween. Is hermetically sealed via a sealing material (not shown) such as low-melting glass to form an envelope 16, and a discharge gas containing an ultraviolet radiation component such as He or Xe is filled in the interior space of the envelope 16. The basic configuration is to enclose.

A strip-shaped cathode is provided on the opposite surface 12a of the rear substrate 12.
18 are formed. The cathode 18 is made of silver / palladium (Ag / Pd) or the like, and the surface of the cathode 18 has GdB ₆
And an emitter material composed of a mixture of BaAl ₂ O ₄ and the like is deposited by plasma spraying or the like. Although not shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of cathodes 18 are actually arranged in parallel on the opposing surface 12a of the rear substrate at predetermined intervals. On the opposite surface 12a of the rear substrate, a rear barrier rib 20 is further disposed. The rear-side barrier ribs 20 are formed by printing and baking low-melting glass, etc., and a plurality of first partition walls 20a that partition between the cathodes 18 and a plurality of second partition walls 20 that separate the cathodes 18 by a predetermined length. And a partition 20b.

A band-shaped transparent anode 24 made of a transparent conductive film such as a NESA film (SnO ₂ ) or an ITO film (In ₂ O ₃ .SnO ₂ ) is formed on the facing surface 14a of the front substrate 14 at a predetermined interval. In this case, a plurality of coatings are formed. As shown in FIG. 2, the front surface 14a of the front substrate 14
Is arranged. The front-side barrier ribs 28 are formed by printing and baking low-melting-point glass in the same manner as the rear-side barrier ribs 20, and form a plurality of first partition walls 28 a that partition between the transparent anodes 24, and each transparent anode 24. It has a lattice shape having a plurality of second partition walls 28b separated by a predetermined length. The facing surface 14a of the front substrate 14 is partitioned into a plurality of rectangular display areas 39 by the front barrier ribs 28. Further, a spacer 30 made of an insulating material such as glass is protruded from an end face of the intersection of the first partition 28a and the second partition 28b of the front side barrier rib 28.

As shown in FIG. 1, the opposing surface 14a of the front substrate
A color filter 32 is formed on the surface of the transparent anode 24. A phosphor 36 is adhered to the surface of the color filter 32. However, if the entire surface of the transparent anode 24 is covered with the color filter 32 or the phosphor 36, discharge cannot be generated, so that a part of the transparent anode 24 is not covered.
a is exposed through the discharge window 38 (FIG. 2). In the conventional gas discharge display panel 60, the front substrate facing surface 14
a rectangular discharge window at substantially the center of each display area 39 in FIG.
A color filter 32 and a phosphor are arranged around the
36 laminates were arranged so as to surround them (FIG. 6).
On the other hand, in the gas discharge display panel 10 according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the color filter 32 and the phosphor 36 are formed in each display area 39 on the front substrate facing surface 14a.
Are laminated on both sides of the transparent anode 24, and a discharge window 38 is formed between the laminates 40, 40 so that the surface of the transparent electrode 24 is exposed. In other words, the discharge window 38 is formed between the gaps formed between the color filters 32, 32 distributed in each display area 39 and the phosphor 3
It is formed by communicating the gap formed between 6, 36. Each laminate 40
Is curved so as to protrude toward the center of the display area 39, so that the shape of the discharge window 38 formed between the two stacked bodies 40, 40 has the narrowest width near the center. It has a drum shape that gradually widens toward the upper and lower ends.

As the phosphor 36, different types of phosphors are selected for each display area 39 according to the emission color.
For example, in FIG. 2, a display area 39A having a red light emitting phosphor 36R, display areas 39B and 39C having a green light emitting phosphor 36G, and a display area 39D having a blue light emitting phosphor 36B. One pixel 41 is constituted by four sets of display areas.

The back substrate 12 and the front substrate 14 are arranged so that the transparent anode 24 and the cathode 18 of each substrate are substantially orthogonal to each other with a predetermined gap therebetween. The discharge cells 42 surrounded by the rear barrier ribs 20 and the front barrier ribs 28 are formed in a large number in a dot matrix form at each intersection (FIG. 1). Since the end face of the spacer 30 is in contact with the end face of the rear-side barrier rib 20, a gap 44 corresponding to the height of the spacer 30 is formed between the barrier ribs 20 and 28. The connection is made through the gap 44.

When a DC voltage equal to or higher than the discharge starting voltage is applied between the transparent anode 24 and the cathode 18 from a power supply (not shown), a discharge is generated in the discharge cell 42 to generate ultraviolet rays. Since this ultraviolet light excites the phosphor 36, the phosphor
Light of a color corresponding to the 36 types is generated, and the colored light passes through the transparent anode 24 and the front substrate 14 and is emitted to the outside. By selectively executing this voltage application via a control / drive circuit (not shown), discharge light emission is generated in a desired discharge cell 42, and an arbitrary character or graphic is displayed on the display surface 14b of the front substrate 14. be able to. At the time of discharging, the flow of ions between the discharge cells 42 is ensured through the gap 44.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which a filter paste 46 serving as a base of the color filter 32 is applied to the surface 14a of the front substrate and the surface of the transparent anode 24. In the figure, a plurality of small rectangles drawn by dotted lines correspond to the display area 39, and a large rectangle drawn by a two-dot chain line corresponds to one pixel 41 shown in FIG. is there. As shown, each display area 39 is provided on both sides of each transparent anode 24.
A filter paste 46 is arranged for each. This filter paste 46 is applied to each display area on the facing surface 14a of the front substrate.
At two places between the transparent anodes 24 belonging to 39, a predetermined pattern is applied by thick film printing, but since the viscosity is adjusted to be relatively low, the original pattern is applied after the application. It spreads beyond. The filter paste 46 partially overlaps with the other filter paste 46 arranged adjacently on the facing surface 14a of the front substrate, and the filter paste 46 applied on the left side is transparent from the right side of the transparent electrode 24 arranged on the left side. The filter paste 46 applied on the surface of the electrode 24 and on the right side spreads from the left side of the transparent electrode 24 disposed on the right side to the surface of the transparent electrode 24, and the other side near the center of each transparent anode 24. It comes close to the filter paste 46 applied near the side.

However, the filter paste 46 is printed only on the facing surface 14a of the front substrate, and the filter paste 46 naturally spreads toward the center of the transparent anode 24, and the filter paste 46 is directly printed on the surface of the transparent anode 24. Therefore, the surface of the transparent anode 24 in the display area 39 is not entirely covered with the filter paste 46. Even if the filter paste 46 spreading from both sides of the transparent anode 24 is extremely close to the center of the transparent anode 24, at least the upper and lower portions of the display area 39 are not covered with the filter paste 46. The exposed portion 24a is secured.

Since the filter paste 46 naturally spreads immediately after printing, it is difficult to specify its final shape accurately. However, it is necessary to adjust the pattern, the amount of coating, the position of coating, and the like during printing. Thus, the width and direction of the spread can be controlled to some extent. For example, if the filter paste 46 is applied in a vertically long pattern, it tends to spread in the width direction rather than the longitudinal direction, and if the amount of application is increased, the spread area is increased accordingly. As a result, it is possible to unify the area and shape of the filter paste 46 occupying each display area 39 to some extent.

As the filter paste 46, there are used three types of red, blue, and green colors corresponding to the emission color of the phosphor 36. The same type of filter paste 46 applied to both sides of the transparent anode 24 is selected for each display area 39. For example, a red color filter 46 is provided on the left and right of the transparent anode 24 belonging to the display area 39A.
R and the transparent anodes 24 belonging to the display areas 39B and 39C are covered with a green color filter 46G, and the left and right sides of the transparent anode 24 belonging to the display area 39D are covered with a blue color filter 46B. Is being worn.

Next, as described above, the filter paste 46 is applied to both sides of the transparent anode 24 for each display area 39, dried and then fired, and the color filter 32 is fired.
To complete.

Then, a phosphor 36 for obtaining a corresponding emission color is applied on the surface of each color filter 32 by thick-film printing. At this time, the phosphor 36 covers the entire surface of the color filter 32. Instead of being applied so as to cover, as shown in FIG.
It is applied only to the part included in the inside.

That is, each phosphor 36 is printed in a thick film in a preset pattern having a shape and area substantially equal to the shape and area of the color filter 32 included in each display area 39. Even if the phosphor 36 is adjusted to have a high viscosity to some extent, there is not much problem. Therefore, the phosphor 36 can be relatively easily applied to the intended shape and area. However, the shape of the color filters 32 spread in the display area 39 is not exactly uniform, and each color filter 32
Since there is a variation in every 32, there is a possibility that some deviation may occur between the pattern of the phosphor 36 and the shape of each color filter 32, but this is within a practically negligible level. As a result, a part 24a of the surface of the transparent anode 24
Are the gaps between the color filters 32, 32 and the phosphors 36, 36.
It is surely exposed through the discharge window 38 having a sufficiently large area formed by communicating the gap therebetween.

Finally, the front side barrier ribs 28 are formed by printing a thick glass paste in a grid pattern between the display areas 39 on the facing surface 14a of the front substrate.

In the above description, an example is shown in which three different types of color filters 32 are used. However, a color filter 32 of a color common to each display area 39 may be arranged. In this case, the filter paste that is the basis of the color filter 32
46 depositions will be easier. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the filter paste is provided at one center between the transparent anodes 24 belonging to the respective display areas 39 on the facing surface 14a of the front substrate.
Print 46 in a suitable pattern. This filter paste
Since the viscosity of 46 is also adjusted to be extremely low similarly to the above, it mainly spreads left and right, and from the right side and left side of each transparent anode 24 arranged on both sides, the surface of the transparent anode 24 belonging to the display area 39 I will enter. The surface of the transparent anode 24 is covered with the filter paste 46 from both left and right sides. The filter paste 46 is printed on the facing surface 14a of the front substrate to the last.
Since it is not printed directly on the surface of 24, the display area
The entire surface of the transparent anode 24 included in 39 is filter paste
An exposed portion 24a that is not covered with the filter paste and is not covered with the filter paste is secured at least on the upper and lower portions.

After the filter paste 46 is applied to both sides of the transparent anode 24 for each display area 39 as described above,
After the drying and firing steps, the color filter 32 is completed. Next, although not shown, the phosphor 36 is applied to a portion included in each display area 39 in the surface of the color filter 32 in the same manner as described above. As a result, a part 24a of the surface of the transparent anode 24 is formed by the gap between the color filters 32, 32 and the phosphor.
It is surely exposed through the discharge window 38 formed by communicating the gap between 36, 36.

[0033]

In the method of manufacturing a gas discharge display panel according to the present invention, a filter paste which is a raw material of a color filter is applied to the surface of the front substrate instead of directly to the surface of the transparent electrode. By using the fluidity to reach only the necessary area from both sides of the transparent electrode to the surface of the transparent electrode, the area where the color filter is not arranged on the surface of the transparent anode belonging to each display area is required. Is easy to secure. As a result, the surface of the transparent electrode can be reliably exposed in an area where a discharge can be generated in each discharge cell, and the discharge characteristics of the gas discharge display panel can be further stabilized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of a gas discharge display panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view showing a facing surface of a front substrate according to the gas discharge display panel.

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view showing a state in which a filter paste is applied to a facing surface of the front substrate and a surface of a transparent anode.

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view showing a state in which a phosphor is applied to a surface of a portion belonging to a display area in a color filter applied to an opposing surface of a front substrate and a surface of a transparent anode.

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view showing another example in which a filter paste is applied to the facing surface of the front substrate and the surface of the transparent anode.

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view showing a conventional gas discharge display panel.

FIG. 7 is a partial plan view showing a facing surface of a front substrate according to a conventional gas discharge display panel.

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which a filter paste is applied to a facing surface of a front substrate and a surface of a transparent anode according to a conventional gas discharge display panel.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Gas discharge display panel 12 Rear substrate 12a Opposing surface of rear substrate 14 Front substrate 14a Opposing surface of front substrate 16 Enclosure 18 Cathode 24 Transparent anode 24a Exposed portion of transparent anode 28 Front barrier rib 32 Color filter 36 Phosphor 38 Discharge Window 39 Display area 42 Discharge cell 46 Filter paste

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A back substrate made of an insulating material having a plurality of strip-shaped electrodes arranged on one side thereof at regular intervals, and a transparent insulating material having a plurality of strip-shaped transparent electrodes arranged on one side at regular intervals. A front substrate made of a material is disposed facing each other so that the electrodes of each substrate intersect with a predetermined gap therebetween, a discharge cell is formed at each intersection of the electrodes, and the periphery of both substrates is hermetically sealed. A color filter is arranged on the side facing the front substrate, and a phosphor and an ultraviolet radiation gas are sealed in the discharge cells. The facing surface of the front substrate surrounds each discharge cell. In the method for manufacturing a gas discharge display panel partitioned into a plurality of display areas by barrier ribs, a portion located between the transparent electrodes on the opposite surface of the front substrate
Display the filter paste that is the basis of the color filter
It is applied in a predetermined pattern for each area, and the filter paste
Depending on the fluidity, the filter paste is applied to both sides of the transparent electrode
From the surface to the transparent electrode surface belonging to each display area,
After the filter paste is dried, it is baked to give a color filter.
Forming a filter, and applying a fluorescent light to the surface of the color filter.
And a step of applying a filter.
By controlling the spread of the paste, each display area
Cover part of the transparent electrode surface belonging to the area with filter paste
Gas discharge table characterized by securing exposed parts
Display panel manufacturing method. 2. A filter paste is applied in a predetermined pattern to a portion of a portion between the transparent electrodes belonging to each display area on the opposing surface of the front substrate, and each of the filter pastes is formed by the fluidity of the filter paste. The method according to claim 1, wherein the filter paste is spread from one side of each transparent electrode disposed on both sides to a part of the surfaces of both transparent electrodes. 3. A filter paste is applied in a predetermined pattern to two portions located between the transparent electrodes belonging to each display area on the opposite surface of the front substrate, and each of the filter pastes is formed by the fluidity of the filter paste. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the filter paste is spread on a part of the surface of the transparent electrode from one side closer to each other among the transparent electrodes arranged on both sides.