US3875457A - Field responsive photoluminescent display devices - Google Patents

Field responsive photoluminescent display devices Download PDF

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Publication number
US3875457A
US3875457A US318136A US31813672A US3875457A US 3875457 A US3875457 A US 3875457A US 318136 A US318136 A US 318136A US 31813672 A US31813672 A US 31813672A US 3875457 A US3875457 A US 3875457A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
layer
phosphor
writing
insulating
phosphor layer
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US318136A
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English (en)
Inventor
Benjamin Kazan
Thomas O Sedgwick
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
International Business Machines Corp
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International Business Machines Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by International Business Machines Corp filed Critical International Business Machines Corp
Priority to US318136A priority Critical patent/US3875457A/en
Priority to IT30504/73A priority patent/IT1001606B/it
Priority to NL7314734A priority patent/NL7314734A/xx
Priority to FR7341686A priority patent/FR2211669B1/fr
Priority to GB5535773A priority patent/GB1430854A/en
Priority to SE7316185A priority patent/SE388311B/xx
Priority to CA187,437A priority patent/CA1001260A/en
Priority to AU63347/73A priority patent/AU474813B2/en
Priority to ES421420A priority patent/ES421420A1/es
Priority to CH1750573A priority patent/CH558594A/xx
Priority to DE2363087A priority patent/DE2363087A1/de
Priority to JP14365873A priority patent/JPS5341079B2/ja
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3875457A publication Critical patent/US3875457A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J31/00—Cathode ray tubes; Electron beam tubes
    • H01J31/08—Cathode ray tubes; Electron beam tubes having a screen on or from which an image or pattern is formed, picked up, converted, or stored
    • H01J31/10—Image or pattern display tubes, i.e. having electrical input and optical output; Flying-spot tubes for scanning purposes
    • H01J31/12—Image or pattern display tubes, i.e. having electrical input and optical output; Flying-spot tubes for scanning purposes with luminescent screen
    • H01J31/122—Direct viewing storage tubes without storage grid
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J29/00—Details of cathode-ray tubes or of electron-beam tubes of the types covered by group H01J31/00
    • H01J29/02—Electrodes; Screens; Mounting, supporting, spacing or insulating thereof
    • H01J29/10—Screens on or from which an image or pattern is formed, picked up, converted or stored

Definitions

  • improved image storage and display devices of the type which includes a layer of phosphor material which is stimulated to emit light through photolumi 52 5 (1 H 315 11 315 12 3 3 5 AB nescence.
  • the intensity of emitted light is varied by 313/92 250 3 5 applying an electric field to the phosphor layer.
  • the 511 Int. Cl. 1101, 31/48 field may be applied to the P p layer y sand- [58] Field of Search .1 315/11, 12; 313/65 AB, wishing the layer between a layer of insulating mate- 313/68 A, 92 PH; 250/365 rial and a layer of electrically conductive material and subjecting the insulator to an electron beam.
  • the field strength at selected locations at writing elec- UNITED STATES PATENTS tron beam is focussed on the insulator at these se 7 S I q lected locations.
  • the phosphor layer z g l g2 may be covered on one surface with insulation materi- 4/196; Turrllcer e d X als forming a charge trap and the phosphor and insula- 3'437'752 4mm; Ford g 5 X tion layers sandwiched between sets of orthognal elec- 3:594:607 7/l97l Frankland 313/68 A x trically conductive strips Selective field alteration is 3.051.362 3/1972 Takita 313/68 A X accomplished by X-Y addressing an orthognal pair of 3,663v8l3 5/1972 Shaw 250/365 X conductive strips.
  • the invention is in the field of image storage and display devices and particularly pertains to those devices which use phosphor material excited to emit light through the phenomenon of photoluminescence.
  • a cathode ray tube including a target comprised of a layer of phosphor material excited to emit light by flooding the target with an electron beam produced by a flooding electron gun.
  • the cathode ray tube includes a storage grid upon which is stored a charge image corresponding to the light image to be emitted by the target. This stored charge image controls the electron flow between the flooding electron gun and the target to thereby modulate the intensity of the target luminescence in accordance with the stored charge image.
  • Such storage and display devices are explained in greater detail in US. Pat. No. 3,002,124 to Schneeberger, issued Sept. 26, 1961, US. Pat. No. 3,567,984 to Allard, issued Mar. 2, 1971 and US. Pat. No. 3,243,644 to Roe, issued Mar. 29, 1966.
  • phosphor materials can be made to emit light through photoluminescence and that the intensity of the emitted light can be controlled by a direct application of voltage to the material.
  • phosphor materials such as ZnO and ZnS can be made to emit light when subjected to ultraviolet radiation and that the intensity of this emitted light can be controlled by directly applying an electric potential to the phosphor material.
  • P. F. Daniels et al Control of Luminescence by Charge Extraction
  • Physical Review Vol. 111, Sept. 1, 1958, pages 1240-1244
  • L. W. Hershinger et al Very Low Voltage DC Electroquenchable
  • the present invention is directed to an improved image storage and display device using phosphor materials excited to emit light by photoluminescence.
  • the display device is provided with an image storage and display feature that does not require the direct application of a potential to the phosphor material.
  • the intensity of the light emitted by the phosphor material can be changed by subjecting the material to an electric field without the direct application of a potential to the material. The intensity remains at this new level so long as the field exists.
  • the basic embodiment is modified to provide a new type of display storage tube of the type including a target comprised of a layer of phosphor material.
  • the tube includes a writing gun producing an information modulated writing electron beam which alters the electric field at selected points on the phosphor material in accordance with the writing beam modulation.
  • the basic embodiment is modified to provide an X-Y addressed storage and display panel.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates the basic embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 1 to provide a high resolution image storage and display tube
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention which includes the X-Y addressing of selected locations on the phosphor material.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment will be used to explain the basic operation of the inventive device.
  • the device of FIG. I is comprised of a display panel including a phosphor layer 2, for example a ZnO or ZnS layer.
  • a phosphor layer 2 is covered with an insulating film 4, which, by way of example only, maybe SiO,.
  • the opposite surface of the phosphor layer is covered by a metallic backplate 6, illustrated as being opaque. This conductive backplate 6 may, however, be transparent or translucent.
  • the phosphor material 2 is caused to luminesce through the phenomenon of pho toluminescence.
  • the phosphor material 2 is ZnO or ZnS
  • luminescence results when the material is subjected to ultraviolet radiation from source 14.
  • the invention wiil be explained assuming the phosphor layer to be ZnO and the excitation ultraviolet radiation. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to Zn) phosphor material nor to ultraviolet ex citation.
  • the level of luminescence is controlled by flooding the insulating layer 4 with a defocused electron beam produced by a suitable electron gun shown, by way of example, in FIG. I, as a corona generator 8, the cathode of which is connected to the negative terminal ofa high voltage power source 12.
  • a suitable electron gun shown, by way of example, in FIG. I, as a corona generator 8, the cathode of which is connected to the negative terminal ofa high voltage power source 12.
  • FIG. 2 By making use of the above field effect control of photoluminescence, a new type of display storage tube can be built as illustrated in FIG. 2.
  • This tube comprises a conventionally shaped tube including a transparent or translucent glass faceplate 22 at the front thereof.
  • a target or screen 7 consisting of a transparent conductive layer [8, phosphor layer 2 and insulating layer 4.
  • FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 Common elements in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 will be designated by common numerical designators.
  • collector mesh 15 Situated behind target 7 is a collector mesh 15. Photoexcitation of the phosphor layer is produced by the radiation source 14, which is shown, by way of example in FIG. 2, as an ultraviolet source.
  • the tube wall, the collector mesh 15, as well as the insulating layer 4, are made from materials transparent to ultraviolet radiation, so that the phosphor layer 2 may be excited into luminescence.
  • the tube also includes an electron flooding gun 28 and a writing electron gun 26, the function and operation of which will be described in detail hereinbelow.
  • the energy of flooding beam 29 is controlled, by setting the cathode potential of electron gun 28 in such a way that during a substantial portion of the discharge interval the ratio of the number of secondary electrons emitted by insulating layer 4 to the number of primary electrons of beam 29 is less than unity.
  • insulating layer 4 is SiO and the cath- Ode of gun 28 is set at -l 00V. In this erased condition,
  • the setting of the potential of the cathode of the writing gun is such that the energy of writing beam 27 contains sufficient energy to render the ratio of the number of secondary electrons freed from the insulating layer to the number of primary electrons of the writing beam greater than unity.
  • the result is that where insulating layer 4 is struck by the focused writing beam the potential rises close to ground potential as grounded collector mesh 15 substantially absorbs all electrons emitted secondarily.
  • the reduction of the electric field over the phosphor layer at areas of the insulating layer where the writing beam has struck, will result in an increase in the efficiency of luminescence at corresponding areas of phosphor layer 2 producing a bright trace on a relatively dark background. Assuming no charge leakage through insulating layer 4, the stored image may be viewed for many minutes after writing beam 27 is cut off.
  • the flooding beam 29 is switched on while the conductive plate 18 is connected to ground potential.
  • the action of the flooding beam will be to maintain the areas on the insulating layer 4 at either one of two stable potential states; lOO volts, corresponding to the erase state, at those areas not scanned by beam 27, and substantially ground at those locations which have been scanned by the writing beam 27.
  • said means for exposing said phosphor material to light includes means for producing light in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum.
  • said means for applying a charge pattern comprises means for locally charging the insulating layer with electrons.
  • said means for applying a charge pattern comprises an electronic gun means for producing an electron beam impinging said insulating layer, said electron gun means including means for selectively focussing and defocussing said electron beam and means for altering the energy of said electron beam.
  • the device of claim 1 further including a second layer of electrically insulating material disposed over said layer of insulating material, said means for applying a charge pattern comprising a first set of conductive strips disposed over said second insulating layer and a second set of conductive strips, orthogonal to said first set forming said layer of conductive material.
  • an image display device including a layer of phosphor material stimulated to luminesce by photoluminescence, the improvement comprising:
  • a writing electron gun for subjecting selected locations on said insulating layer with a focussed electron beam to thereby change the intensity of the electric field acting on said phosphor layer at said selected locations
  • a flooding electron gun means for flooding the insulating layer with electrons to sustain the local electrical fields acting on the phosphor layer.

Landscapes

  • Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
  • Cathode-Ray Tubes And Fluorescent Screens For Display (AREA)
  • Photo Coupler, Interrupter, Optical-To-Optical Conversion Devices (AREA)
  • Conversion Of X-Rays Into Visible Images (AREA)
US318136A 1972-12-26 1972-12-26 Field responsive photoluminescent display devices Expired - Lifetime US3875457A (en)

Priority Applications (12)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US318136A US3875457A (en) 1972-12-26 1972-12-26 Field responsive photoluminescent display devices
IT30504/73A IT1001606B (it) 1972-12-26 1973-10-24 Dispositivo perfezignato per l im magazzinamento e la visualizzazione di immagini
NL7314734A NL7314734A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-12-26 1973-10-26
FR7341686A FR2211669B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-12-26 1973-11-14
GB5535773A GB1430854A (en) 1972-12-26 1973-11-29 Display devices
SE7316185A SE388311B (sv) 1972-12-26 1973-11-30 Metod for styrning av intensiteten hos ljus som emitteras i en bildindikeringsanordning samt bilindikeringsanordning for genomforande av metoden
CA187,437A CA1001260A (en) 1972-12-26 1973-12-05 Field responsive photoluminescent display devices
AU63347/73A AU474813B2 (en) 1972-12-26 1973-12-06 Improvements relating to display devices
ES421420A ES421420A1 (es) 1972-12-26 1973-12-13 Un dispositivo de almacenamiento y exhibicion de imagenes.
CH1750573A CH558594A (de) 1972-12-26 1973-12-14 Bildspeicher- und sichtgeraet.
DE2363087A DE2363087A1 (de) 1972-12-26 1973-12-19 Bildspeicher- und sichtgeraet
JP14365873A JPS5341079B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-12-26 1973-12-24

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US318136A US3875457A (en) 1972-12-26 1972-12-26 Field responsive photoluminescent display devices

Publications (1)

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US3875457A true US3875457A (en) 1975-04-01

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US318136A Expired - Lifetime US3875457A (en) 1972-12-26 1972-12-26 Field responsive photoluminescent display devices

Country Status (12)

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US (1) US3875457A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS5341079B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AU (1) AU474813B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (1) CA1001260A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH558594A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2363087A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
ES (1) ES421420A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2211669B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1430854A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
IT (1) IT1001606B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL7314734A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
SE (1) SE388311B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4259608A (en) * 1977-04-27 1981-03-31 Mcteague Gerald E Direct viewing storage target having an array of fluorescent dots for a cathode ray tube

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2436622C2 (de) * 1974-07-30 1983-12-01 Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-Gmbh, 6000 Frankfurt Bildwandler- oder Bildverstärkerröhre

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2887597A (en) * 1955-10-27 1959-05-19 Hughes Aircraft Co Storage screen for direct-viewing storage tube
US3046440A (en) * 1959-06-26 1962-07-24 English Electric Valve Co Ltd Signal storage arrangements
US3087086A (en) * 1959-07-08 1963-04-23 Ferranti Ltd Direct viewing cathode-ray storage tubes
US3437752A (en) * 1965-09-29 1969-04-08 Us Navy Apparatus for electron smoothing in image dissector tubes
US3594607A (en) * 1969-04-16 1971-07-20 Tektronix Inc Direct viewing bistable storage tube having fast erase speed
US3651362A (en) * 1968-07-23 1972-03-21 Iwatsu Electric Co Ltd Screens for cathode ray tubes with discrete phosphor layers
US3663813A (en) * 1970-01-19 1972-05-16 American Cyanamid Co Optical reader for luminescent codes luminescing in different wavelengths
US3666946A (en) * 1970-09-29 1972-05-30 Ncr Co Automatic information reading system using photoluminescent detection means

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2029463C3 (de) * 1969-06-12 1973-11-15 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd., Kadoma, Osaka (Japan) Bildaufzeichnungs und/oder wieder gärvorrichtung

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2887597A (en) * 1955-10-27 1959-05-19 Hughes Aircraft Co Storage screen for direct-viewing storage tube
US3046440A (en) * 1959-06-26 1962-07-24 English Electric Valve Co Ltd Signal storage arrangements
US3087086A (en) * 1959-07-08 1963-04-23 Ferranti Ltd Direct viewing cathode-ray storage tubes
US3437752A (en) * 1965-09-29 1969-04-08 Us Navy Apparatus for electron smoothing in image dissector tubes
US3651362A (en) * 1968-07-23 1972-03-21 Iwatsu Electric Co Ltd Screens for cathode ray tubes with discrete phosphor layers
US3594607A (en) * 1969-04-16 1971-07-20 Tektronix Inc Direct viewing bistable storage tube having fast erase speed
US3663813A (en) * 1970-01-19 1972-05-16 American Cyanamid Co Optical reader for luminescent codes luminescing in different wavelengths
US3666946A (en) * 1970-09-29 1972-05-30 Ncr Co Automatic information reading system using photoluminescent detection means

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4259608A (en) * 1977-04-27 1981-03-31 Mcteague Gerald E Direct viewing storage target having an array of fluorescent dots for a cathode ray tube

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA1001260A (en) 1976-12-07
GB1430854A (en) 1976-04-07
ES421420A1 (es) 1976-04-16
CH558594A (de) 1975-01-31
IT1001606B (it) 1976-04-30
JPS49116954A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-11-08
FR2211669B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1976-10-01
SE388311B (sv) 1976-09-27
FR2211669A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-07-19
AU6334773A (en) 1975-06-12
JPS5341079B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1978-10-31
AU474813B2 (en) 1976-08-05
NL7314734A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-06-28
DE2363087A1 (de) 1974-07-18

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