JPH0572977A - Display element and display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To mount display elements in high density and to improve the manufacture efficiency of the display elements. CONSTITUTION:The display device has an electrode part 12 which has electrode chambers 15 and 17 where a common cathode 16 and plural anodes 18 pairing with it are stored and also has plural discharge holes 20 bored in its front surface and linked with those electrode chambers 15 and 17 and a display part 13 constituting plural picture elements by adhering fluorescent material films 27 on the internal surfaces of curved pipes 22R, 22G, and 22B forming discharge spaces respectively by mutually linking the discharge holes 20 corresponding to the electrode chambers 15 and 17 of the common cathode 16 and anodes 18 and using the curved parts of those curved pipes 22R, 22G, and 22B as display surfaces. The mutually adjacent curved pipes 22R, 22G, and 22B are formed integrally and their respective display surfaces are curved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device and a display device suitable for a display device to be incorporated in a display device installed on a road display panel or an athletic field, and more particularly to a plurality of glass bulbs which are display devices. The present invention relates to a display element and a display device that are integrated with each other for high-density mounting and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of display device, a plurality of display elements are arranged vertically and horizontally to form a display screen. Examples of the display elements are, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 1-100855 and 63-63. 307649, JP-A-62-188128, JP-A-62-188143, JP-A-2-95153, JP-A-2-189856, JP-A-2-213044 and the like are known.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional display element, as shown in FIG. 11, the display surfaces 1a, 1a ... Of the plurality of display elements 1, 1 ... Arranged vertically and horizontally are substantially flat surfaces. Because of this, these display surfaces 1a, 1a ...
Then, a large amount of reflected light 3 of external light 2 such as sunlight reflected on the outer surface 1b between the display surfaces 1a is incident on the eyes 4 of the viewer who views the display surfaces 1a, 1a ....

For this reason, there is a problem that the contrast of each display surface 1a is lowered and the background is reflected, which makes it difficult to see.

Therefore, conventionally, there is one in which a lens is provided on each display surface 1a, but this has a problem that the number of parts increases due to the provision of the lens and the cost increases.

The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to improve the contrast of a display screen with a simple structure and prevent the reflection of the background, and to realize high-density mounting. It is to provide a display element and a display device capable of performing the above.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is configured as follows.

The invention according to claim 1 of the present application (hereinafter referred to as the first invention) is such that an electrode chamber for accommodating a common electrode and a plurality of electrodes forming a pair with the common electrode is formed, and these electrode chambers are formed on the front surface. To the inner surface of the plurality of curved tubes that respectively form discharge spaces by communicating the discharge holes that correspond to the electrode chambers of the pair of electrodes with each other, and the electrode portions that each have a plurality of discharge holes that communicate with each other. A phosphor film is attached, and a display unit that constitutes a plurality of pixels with the curved portions of these curved tubes as a display surface is provided, and a plurality of adjacent curved tubes are integrally formed. At the same time, each of the display surfaces is formed into a curved surface.

The invention according to claim 2 of the present application (hereinafter referred to as the second invention) is such that an electrode chamber for accommodating a common electrode and a plurality of electrodes forming a pair with the common electrode are formed, respectively. An electrode portion having an open end on the front surface, a front plate fixed to the front surface of the electrode portion and having discharge holes communicating with the open ends of the electrode chambers, respectively, and the front of the front plate is airtightly covered. Then, a plurality of pixels are formed with each curved outer surface of a plurality of semi-circular tubes that communicate with a pair of the discharge holes corresponding to the electrode chambers of the pair of electrodes and form the discharge spaces in an airtight manner as a display surface. And a display section that forms a face plate by forming a face plate by integrally connecting a plurality of the semi-circular tubes in a radial direction, and forming a face plate on at least one of an inner surface of the face plate and a front surface of the front plate. Characterized by wearing To.

Furthermore, the invention according to claim 3 of the present application (hereinafter referred to as the third invention) is characterized in that a plurality of display elements according to claim 1 or 2 are arranged vertically and horizontally to form a display screen. And

[0011]

[Action]

<First Invention> When a voltage is applied between required electrodes forming a pair among a plurality of electrodes, a discharge is generated, and this discharge passes through a discharge space in a curved tube to excite mercury to generate ultraviolet rays. .. This ultraviolet ray further excites the phosphor film on the inner peripheral surface of the curved tube to emit a desired color, and the desired colored light is emitted from the curved display surface of the curved tube.

Since the plurality of curved pipes adjacent to each other are integrally formed, there is no gap between the curved pipes adjacent to each other, and high density mounting can be achieved. The curved tube can be manufactured in one step.
In addition, since a plurality of curved tubes are integrated, it is possible to reduce the number of sealing points when sealing both ends of the curved tube to the electrode portion.

Therefore, the number of manufacturing steps of the display element can be reduced to reduce the manufacturing cost, and the reliability of the sealing portion of the curved tube can be improved to improve the yield.

Since the display surface is curved, it is possible to reduce the amount of reflected light which is reflected by the curved display surface and is incident on the eyes of a viewer of the display surface. Therefore, it is possible to improve the contrast of the display surface, prevent the reflection of the background, and improve the display image quality.

<Second Invention> When a voltage is applied between a required pair of electrodes among a plurality of electrodes, a discharge is generated, and the discharge space inside a semi-circular tube covering the electrodes being energized by this discharge. And excites mercury to generate ultraviolet rays. This ultraviolet ray further excites at least one phosphor film on the inner peripheral surface of the semi-circular tube and the front surface of the front plate to emit a desired color, and the desired colored light is emitted from the curved display surface of the semi-circular tube.

Since the semi-circular pipe is formed on the face plate by sequentially connecting a plurality of semi-circular pipes in the radial direction,
Since there is no gap between the adjacent semi-circular tubes, high-density mounting of the display surface can be achieved, and a plurality of semi-circular tubes can be manufactured in one process. Therefore, the number of manufacturing steps of the display element can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Further, since the display surface is curved, it is possible to reduce the amount of reflected light which is reflected by the curved display surface and is incident on the eyes of a viewer of the display surface. Therefore, it is possible to improve the contrast of the display surface, prevent the reflection of the background, and improve the display image quality.

<Third invention> Since a display screen is constructed by arranging a plurality of display elements according to any one of the first and second inventions vertically and horizontally, the present invention also provides the first and second inventions. The same effects as any of the effects of the invention can be obtained.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the first to third inventions of the present application will be described below with reference to FIG.
~ It demonstrates based on FIG.

In FIGS. 1 to 10, common parts are designated by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the first invention of the present application. In the figure, a display element 11 is provided with an electrode portion 12 and a display portion 13 which constitutes, for example, four picture elements.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the electrode portion 12 is, for example, at the center of the front surface of a ceramic prismatic base 14.
A cathode chamber 15 in the shape of a long hole with a bottom is formed by a front opening that is long in the lateral direction, and a horizontally long common cathode 16 is accommodated in the cathode chamber 15.

Further, on the front surface of the base 14, on both sides of the cathode chamber 15, for example, six anode chambers 1 on one side of a blind hole in the front opening.
7, 17 ... Are bored respectively, and a small columnar anode 18 is housed in each anode chamber 17.

Further, the base 14 is integrally formed with a rectangular outer edge flange 19 slightly projecting forward at the outer edge of the front surface, and the front surface of the base 14 inside the outer edge flange 19 is
The front plate 21 shown in FIG. 3 is fitted and fixed, and the front plate 21 has discharge holes 2 corresponding to the front openings of the cathode chamber 15 and each anode chamber 17.
0, 20 ... Are drilled respectively.

The front surface of the front plate 21 is shown in FIG.
, For example, four integral curved tubes 22, 22 ... Are sealed to form four picture elements.

The integral curved tube 22 is, for example, one in which three U-shaped curved tubes 22B, 22G and 22R which respectively emit light to B, G and R to form one picture element are laterally integrated. .. Each of the curved tubes 22B, 22G, and 22R is formed by bending a glass circular tube into a substantially U-shape, and a phosphor film 22P that emits blue, green, and red (hereinafter referred to as B, G, and R) is emitted over almost the entire length. They are wearing each. In addition, each curved tube 22B, 22G, 2
2R opens both axial ends 22a and 22b,
The curved portion 22c is used as the display surface.

Since each U-shaped curved tube 22B, 22G, 22R is a circular tube, each display surface 22c is formed as a curved surface that is convex outward.

Next, an example of a method of manufacturing the integral bending tube 22 will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, as shown in FIG. 4, the entire large-diameter oval glass bulb 23 is heated and softened substantially evenly by the flame of the burner 24 from the left and right directions.

Next, the large-diameter glass bulb 23 is strongly sandwiched by, for example, a pair of front and rear molds 25a and 25b as shown in FIG. 5 (A), and three glass bulbs having a diameter of 3 are provided as shown in FIG. 5 (B). Forming an integral glass bulb 26 that is integrally connected in a direction.

After this, for example, R, G, B phosphor coatings are poured into the integrated glass bulb 26 so that B,
The G and R phosphor films 22P are entirely deposited.

Next, the integral glass bulb 26 is divided into, for example, three equal parts in the lengthwise direction, and these are further divided into, for example, U.
Each of them is bent into a letter shape to form the integral curved tube 22 shown in FIG. 5 (C) and FIG.

The opening ends 22a and 22b of each of the integral type curved tubes 22 thus configured are sealed to the front plate 21, and the U-shaped curved portion of each integral type curved tube 22 is displayed on the display surface 22c.
And

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, one open end 22a of each integral type curved tube 22 is communicated with the discharge hole 20 of the front plate 21 communicating with each anode chamber 17, and the other end 22b of the opening is also communicated. Are communicated with the discharge holes 20 of the front plate 21 communicating with the cathode chamber 15 to hermetically seal the front plate 21. Further, the cathode chamber 15, the anode chamber 17, the integral curved tubes 22, ...
An appropriate amount of mercury and a rare gas such as argon are enclosed in the inside.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

When a required voltage is applied between the common cathode 16 and the required anode 18, a discharge is generated between the two, and this discharge excites mercury in a curved tube containing the energized anode 18. And generate ultraviolet rays. This ultraviolet ray further excites the phosphor film 22P in the curved tube to emit a desired color, and the light is emitted from the display surface 22c.

If a voltage is applied between the common cathode 16 and a plurality of anodes 18, 18 for one picture element or all picture elements, the colored light for one picture element or all picture elements is displayed on the display surface. Light is emitted from 22c.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, since the integral bending tube 22 integrally connects the three bending tubes 22B, 22G, 22R to form one picture element, each bending tube 22B,
Since there is no gap between 22G and 22R, high-density mounting can be achieved, and at least three curved tubes 22R, 22G, and 22B can be manufactured in almost one step, so that manufacturing efficiency can be improved.

Further, in the present embodiment, only eight sealing portions are required to seal both end portions 22a and 22b of the integral curved tube 22 to the front plate 21, which is 24 compared with the conventional example. Therefore, both the sealing work efficiency and the reliability of the sealing portion can be improved.

Further, one common cathode 16 is shared by a plurality of anodes 18, and a cathode chamber 15 for accommodating the common electrode 16 is provided.
Since only one is sufficient, the configuration of the base 14 can be simplified and the size can be reduced.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the integral curved tube 2
Since 2 has its display surface 22c formed in a curved surface that is convex outward, the amount of reflected light 30 that external light 28 such as sunlight reflects on each display surface 22c and enters the eyes 29 of the viewer. Can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to improve the contrast of the display surface 22c and prevent the reflection of the background to make the display surface 22c easy to see.

In the above embodiment, one picture element is composed of 3
The case where the curved tubes 22B, 22G, and 22R are integrated has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of curved tubes 22 may be integrated, and the number thereof is not limited. ..

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the second invention of the present application. In the drawing, the display element 31 is provided with an electrode portion 32 and a display portion 33 which constitutes, for example, two picture elements.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the electrode portion 32 is, for example, one side of the front surface of the ceramic prismatic base 34 (see FIG. 8).
On the left side), a cathode chamber 35 having an elongated bottomed hole is formed with a front opening that is long in the lateral direction, and a horizontally long common cathode 36 is accommodated in the cathode chamber 35.

Further, on the front surface of the base 34, on one side of the cathode chamber 35, for example, six anode chambers 3 on one side of a blind hole of the front opening.
7, 37 ... Are bored, and a small columnar anode 38 is housed in each anode chamber 37.

Further, the base 34 is integrally formed with a square-shaped outer edge flange 39 slightly projecting forward at the outer edge of the front surface, and the front surface of the base 14 in the outer edge flange 39 is
The front plate 41 is fitted and fixed, and the cathode chamber 35,
Discharge holes 40, 40 ... Corresponding to the front opening of each anode chamber 37.
Are drilled respectively.

The front surface of the front plate 41 is shown in FIG.
As shown in, the bottom face open end of the glass face plate 42 having a corrugated cross-sectional shape is hermetically sealed to form the display portion 32 of, for example, two picture elements.

The face plate 42 is, for example, B, G, R
Three semi-circular tubes 4 that illuminate each to form one picture element
2 pixels of 3,43,43, that is, 6 semi-circular tubes 4
The bottoms of the openings 3, 43 ... Are sequentially connected integrally in the radial direction to form a corrugated plate. Each semi-circular tube 43 divides the glass circular tube into approximately half-divided parts and divides the inner surface into almost the entire length.
Phosphor film 42 for two picture elements which respectively emit light in B, G and R
P is attached to both ends, and the bottom surfaces of both openings at both ends in the axial direction are connected to the cathode chamber 35 and the anode chamber 37, respectively. Further, a curved outer surface 43c that is convex outward of each semi-circular tube 43 is used as a display surface.

Further, if necessary, a phosphor film 42p corresponding to each emission color of the phosphor film 42p of each semi-circular tube 43 is attached to the front surface of the front plate 41.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

When a required voltage is applied between the common cathode 36 and the required anode 38, a discharge is generated between the two 36, 38, and this discharge is a semi-circular tube 43 containing the energized anode 38.
The mercury inside is excited to generate ultraviolet rays. This ultraviolet ray further excites the phosphor film 42P in the semi-circular tube 43 to emit a desired color, and the light is emitted from the display surface 43c.

Further, when a voltage is applied between the plurality of anodes 38, 38 for one picture element or two picture elements and the common cathode 36, colored light for one picture element or two picture elements is displayed on the display surface. Light is emitted from 43c.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the face plate 42 is formed by connecting six semi-circular tubes 43, 43, ... Since there is no gap between the tubes 43, high-density mounting of the display surface 43c can be achieved, and in addition to, for example, 2
Since the face plate 42 for picture elements can be manufactured, manufacturing efficiency can be improved. Also, the face plate 4
In No. 2, since the display surface 43c is formed by a curved surface that is convex outward, it is possible to reduce the amount of external light reflected on each display surface 43c and improve the contrast, as in the above-described embodiment. It is possible to prevent the reflection of the background.

Furthermore, each concave portion of the corrugated display surface 43c of the face plate 42, that is, the adjacent semi-circular tubes 43, 43.
Since each of the recesses in between is also curved, the reflected light here can be diffused to improve the contrast and prevent the reflection of the background.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a display device 50 according to an embodiment of the third invention of the present application, and this display device 50 does not show a plurality of the display elements 11 and 31 configured as described above. A large-sized display screen 52 is configured by densely mounting the display shelves 51 on a plurality of shelves 51 of the display shelf and arranging them vertically and horizontally.

This display device 50 includes the display elements 11, 3
Since a plurality of display elements 1 are arranged vertically and horizontally, this display element 1
The same effects as the effects of 1, 31 can be obtained.

That is, since the display elements 11 and 31 can be mounted at high density, the display image quality can be improved, and the manufacturing cost of the display elements 11 and 31 can be reduced. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the entire display device can be reduced. Can be reduced.

The axis of each curved tube 22 and each semi-circular tube 43 of each display element 11 and 31 may be aligned vertically or horizontally in FIG.

[0059]

As described above, the first invention of the present application is
Since a plurality of adjacent curved tubes having a display surface are integrated, it is possible to eliminate the gap between the curved tubes and achieve high-density mounting, and simultaneously form a plurality of curved tubes at the same time. Therefore, the manufacturing efficiency can be improved.

Further, since the display surface is curved, it is possible to reduce the amount of reflected light which is reflected by the curved display surface and is incident on the eyes of a viewer of the display surface. Therefore, in addition to enhancing the contrast, the reflection of the background can be prevented and the display surface can be easily seen.

In the second invention of the present application, since a plurality of adjacent semi-circular tubes are sequentially and integrally connected in the radial direction to form the face plate, the gap between the semi-circular tubes is eliminated and the height of the display surface is increased. The density mounting can be achieved, and the manufacturing efficiency can be improved as compared with the case where the semi-circular pipes are individually manufactured.

Further, since the display surface of the face plate is formed into a curved surface, the contrast of the display surface is enhanced as in the first aspect of the invention, and the reflection of the background is prevented so that the display surface can be easily seen. You can

The third invention of the present application is based on these first and second aspects.
Since the display element according to any one of the first aspect of the invention is arranged vertically and horizontally, the same effect as that of either of the first and second aspects can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a display element according to the first invention of the present application.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a base of the electrode unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a first diagram for manufacturing the integral bending tube shown in FIG.
FIG.

5A is a perspective view showing a second step in the case of manufacturing the integral type curved tube shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the integrated glass bulb manufactured by the step of FIG. Figure, (C)
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an integral curved tube manufactured as a result of the final step.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an effect of reducing the amount of reflected light on the display surface of the display element shown in FIG. 1 and the like.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a display element according to the second invention of the present application.

8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG.

9 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a display device according to an embodiment of the fourth invention of the present application.

FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged side view of a conventional display element.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11, 31 Display element 12, 32 Electrode part 13, 33 Display part 15, 35 Cathode chamber 16, 36 Common cathode 17, 37 Anode chamber 18, 38 Anode 20, 40 Discharge hole 21, 41 Front plate 22 Integrated curved tube 22B Curved tube of blue light emission 22G Curved tube of green light emission 22R Curved tube of red light emission 22p Phosphor film 26 Integrated glass bulb 42 Face plate 43 Semi-circular tube 43c Display surface 50 Display device 52 Display screen

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An electrode portion for forming a common electrode and a plurality of electrodes forming a pair with the common electrode, and for arranging a plurality of discharge holes communicating with these electrode chambers on the front surface, respectively. A phosphor film is applied to the inner surface of a plurality of curved tubes that form discharge spaces by communicating the discharge holes corresponding to the electrode chambers of the paired electrodes, and the curved portions of these curved tubes are displayed on the display surface. A plurality of pixels that are adjacent to each other are integrally formed, and each of the display surfaces is formed as a curved surface. Display element. 2. An electrode part for accommodating a common electrode and a plurality of electrodes forming a pair with the common electrode, the open end of the electrode chamber being provided on the front surface, and the electrode part fixed to the front surface of the electrode part. And a pair of the discharge holes corresponding to the electrode chambers of the pair of electrodes by airtightly covering the front of the front plate with the discharge holes communicating with the open ends of the electrode chambers. A plurality of semi-circular tubes that form air-tight discharge spaces by making them communicate with each other, and a display section that configures a plurality of pixels with the curved outer surfaces of the semi-circular tubes as a display surface. A display element comprising: a face plate formed integrally with each other in a direction; and a phosphor film deposited on at least one of an inner surface of the face plate and a front surface of the front plate. 3. A display device comprising a plurality of display elements according to claim 1 or 2 arranged vertically and horizontally to form a display screen.