JP3082902B2 - 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 gas discharge display panel, and more particularly, to a gas discharge display panel, in which a rear substrate having electrodes formed thereon and a transparent front substrate having transparent electrodes formed thereon are separated by a predetermined gap. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gas discharge display panel having a structure in which two substrates are arranged so as to face each other, the peripheral edges of both substrates are hermetically sealed to form an envelope, and a discharge gas is sealed in the envelope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a conventional gas discharge display panel 60 has a back substrate 64 made of an insulating material having a plurality of strip-shaped cathodes 62 arranged on one side, and a strip-shaped transparent board formed on one side. A front substrate 68 made of a transparent insulating material in which a plurality of anodes 66 are arranged side by side, the cathode 62 and the transparent anode 66 are arranged so as to be substantially orthogonal to each other with a predetermined gap therebetween, and the peripheral edges of both substrates are interposed via a sealing material. The envelope 70 is hermetically sealed, and a predetermined discharge gas is sealed in the internal space of the envelope 70.

At each intersection of the transparent anode 66 and the cathode 62, a large number of discharge cells 72 are formed in a dot matrix. Each discharge cell 72 is surrounded by a rear barrier rib 74 formed on the opposite surface of the rear substrate 64 and a lattice-shaped front barrier rib 76 formed on the opposite surface of the front substrate 68.

The rear side barrier rib 74 has a lattice shape having a first partition wall 74a for partitioning between the cathodes 62 and a second partition wall 74b for partitioning the cathodes 62 by a predetermined length. Similarly to the back side barrier ribs 74, the front side barrier ribs 76 have a grid having a first partition 76a for partitioning the transparent anodes 66 and a second partition 76b for partitioning the transparent anodes 66 at a predetermined length. It has a shape.

A spacer 78 is formed on the top surface of the rear side barrier rib 74 at a predetermined interval, and a spacer is provided between the rear side barrier rib 74 and the front side barrier rib 76.
A gap 80 corresponding to the height of 78 is formed, and the discharge cells 72 communicate with each other via the gap 80.

By selectively applying a DC voltage between the transparent anode 66 and the cathode 62, a desired discharge cell is obtained.
A discharge is generated at 72, and light based on the discharge is transmitted to the outside through the transparent anode 76 and the front substrate 78. As a result, arbitrary characters, figures, and the like are displayed on the display surface of the front substrate 78. Note that the flow of ions between the discharge cells 72 is ensured through the gap 80.

Meanwhile, the electrode (ie, the transparent anode 66) formed on the front substrate 68 side must be kept translucent so as not to hinder display. Therefore, the electrode on the front substrate 68 side must be formed of a transparent conductive film such as a NESA film (SnO ₂ ) or an ITO film (In ₂ O ₃ .SnO ₂ ), and the film thickness is restricted. There are certain limitations in ensuring its strength. For this reason, the electrode on the front substrate 68 side is apt to be damaged by mishandling during the assembling process or spattering at the time of discharging, and
As shown in FIG. 7 which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC ′ of FIG. 6, when one transparent anode 66 is damaged in a certain discharge cell 72a,
Not only the discharge cell 72a cannot discharge, but also the transparent anode 66 itself breaks, so that the discharge cells 72b and below located ahead of the disconnection location may not be able to discharge in a chain.

On the other hand, since the cathode 62 is an electrode on the side of the rear substrate 64, it is not necessary to ensure light transmission.
Therefore, the degree of freedom regarding the selection of the material and the setting of the thickness is high, and a certain degree or more of strength can be secured. Actually, the cathode 62 is made of silver / palladium (Ag / P
d) etc., and a cathode base 62a
And an emitter layer 62b in which an emitter material made of a mixture of LaB ₆ and BaAl ₂ O ₄ or the like is laminated on the surface. For this reason, the cathode 62 is excellent in impact resistance and spatter resistance, and it can be said that the possibility of the cathode 62 itself being damaged to the extent of disconnection is low.

Therefore, the conventional gas discharge display panel 60 described above is used.
This means that even if the transparent electrode 66 on the front substrate 68 side is damaged in a certain discharge cell 72, the transparent electrode 66 itself will not be disconnected, and therefore the discharge cells 72 other than the damaged portion will not be unable to discharge. For this reason, the width of each transparent electrode 66 is set to be wider than the distance between the first partition walls 76a of the front barrier ribs 76, and the side portions 66a and 66b of each transparent electrode 66 are set to the first barrier ribs 76 of the front barrier rib 76. Is configured to be covered by the partition wall 76a.

As described above, the side portions 66a of each transparent electrode 66,
As a result of burying 66b in the first barrier rib 76a of the front barrier rib 76, even if the transparent electrode 66 is damaged in a certain discharge cell 72, it is hidden in the first barrier rib 76a of the front barrier rib 76. Since the power supply can be maintained through the portion, the transparent electrode 66 itself is not disconnected, and discharge failure of the discharge cell 72 other than the damaged portion is prevented.

[0011]

In this type of gas discharge display panel 60, it is necessary to reduce the dot pitch of the discharge cells 72 in order to achieve a fine display. It is necessary to secure a sufficient discharge area in the discharge cell 72 in order to prevent the brightness from lowering. Therefore, in order to secure a sufficient discharge area in the discharge cell 72 and reduce the dot pitch, the widths of the partitions 76a and 76b of the front-side barrier rib 76 and the partitions 74a and 74b of the rear-side barrier rib 74 must be reduced. However, in the conventional gas discharge display panel 60 described above, if the width of the first partition wall 76a of the front-side barrier rib 76 is reduced, the transparent electrode
It is not possible to secure a sufficient width to cover the side portions 66a and 66b of the 66, and as a result, the transparent electrode 66 in a certain discharge cell 72 may be damaged, which may cause disconnection of the transparent electrode 66 itself. Therefore, in the conventional gas discharge display panel 60,
Due to the necessity to ensure a sufficient width to cover the side portions 66a and 66b of the transparent electrode 66, the width of the first partition wall 76a of the front side barrier rib 76 cannot be reduced more than a certain value. Cannot be reduced to achieve a fine display.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention that even if a transparent electrode is damaged in a certain discharge cell, the transparent electrode itself is not disconnected. In addition, it is possible to prevent discharge failure of the discharge cells other than the damaged part, and furthermore, it is possible to reduce the width of the partition walls of the front side barrier rib and the rear side barrier rib, thereby reducing the dot pitch of the discharge cells. It is an object of the present invention to realize a gas discharge display panel.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, a gas discharge display panel according to the present invention comprises a back substrate made of an insulating material having a plurality of strip electrodes arranged on one surface, and a strip substrate formed on one surface. A front substrate made of a transparent insulating material in which a plurality of transparent electrodes are juxtaposed, and a discharge cell is formed at each intersection of the electrodes by arranging the electrodes of each substrate so as to intersect with a predetermined gap therebetween, The periphery of both substrates is hermetically sealed to form an envelope, a predetermined discharge gas is sealed in the envelope, and a plurality of partition walls separating the transparent electrodes are formed on the electrode forming surface of the front substrate. In the gas discharge display panel formed, one side or both sides of each of the transparent electrodes is covered with a transparent insulator layer, and the partition wall covers the side of the transparent electrode. That it is located on the transparent insulator layer other than the To.

Further, another gas discharge display panel according to the present invention comprises a back substrate made of an insulating material having a plurality of band-shaped electrodes arranged on one surface, and a transparent insulating material having a plurality of band-shaped transparent electrodes arranged on one surface. A front substrate made of a material is arranged such that the electrodes of each substrate intersect with a predetermined gap therebetween to form a discharge cell at each intersection of the electrodes, and the peripheral edges of both substrates are hermetically sealed. A gas discharge display panel comprising an envelope, a phosphor and an ultraviolet radiation gas sealed in the envelope, and a plurality of partitions separating the transparent electrodes formed on the electrode forming surface of the front substrate. , One side of each of the transparent electrodes
Alternatively, both side portions are covered with a transparent insulator layer, and the partition is disposed on the transparent insulator layer other than the portion covering the side portion of the transparent electrode. . In the gas discharge display panel, a color filter may be formed between the side of the transparent electrode and the transparent insulator layer.

Thus, one side or both sides of each transparent electrode
Because the other side is covered with the transparent insulator layer, even if the transparent electrode is damaged in a certain discharge cell, the portion covered by the transparent insulator layer is not damaged, and the transparent electrode itself is disconnected. Never do. Therefore, there is no possibility that the discharge cells other than the damaged discharge cells cannot be discharged in a chain.

Further, by covering the side of each transparent electrode with a transparent insulator layer, the side of the transparent electrode is prevented from being damaged. There is no need to cover the sides. For this reason, the width of the partition partitioning each transparent electrode can be reduced, and the dot pitch of the discharge cells can be reduced.

Furthermore, since the side portions of each transparent electrode are covered with a transparent insulator layer made of a transparent material, light generated by discharge in the discharge cells is blocked by the transparent insulator layer. Without being transmitted to the outside through the transparent insulator layer, the transparent electrode and the front substrate, high-luminance display is possible.

Since the transparent insulator layer transmits light,
In the case of a gas discharge display panel for color display, it is possible to form a color filter between the transparent insulator layer and the side of the transparent electrode covered with the transparent insulator layer. Therefore, the arrangement area of the color filters can be increased, and the contrast ratio can be improved.

Since a plurality of partitions for partitioning between the transparent electrodes are arranged on the transparent insulator layer other than the portions covering the side portions of the transparent electrodes, the partitions are arranged so as not to overlap with the transparent electrodes. In addition, the amount of transmitted light is further increased.

[0020]

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. In this gas discharge display panel 10, a rear substrate 12 made of an insulating material such as flat glass and a front substrate 14 also made of a transparent insulating material such as flat glass are opposed to each other with a predetermined gap therebetween, and the peripheral edges of both substrates are arranged. An envelope 16 is formed by hermetically sealing through a sealing material (not shown) such as low-melting glass or the like, and a discharge gas mainly containing a rare gas such as Ne or Ar is filled in the interior space of the envelope 16. The basic configuration is to enclose.

On the opposite surface 12a of the rear substrate 12, a cathode 18 is formed. The cathode 18 is provided on the opposite surface 12 a of the rear substrate 12.
A strip-shaped cathode base 18a made of silver, palladium (Ag, Pd) or the like formed on the cathode base 18a;
aB ₆ and BaAl ₂ O ₄ and the emitter layer 18b of the emitter material made from mixtures deposited by plasma spraying of
It is composed of Although not shown in FIG. 1,
Actually, a plurality of cathodes 18 are juxtaposed on the opposing surface 12a of the back substrate 12. On the opposite surface 12a of the rear substrate 12, 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 include a first partition wall 20a that partitions between the cathodes 18 and a second partition wall 20b that partitions each cathode 18 at a predetermined length. Having a lattice shape. Further, a spacer 22 made of an insulating material such as glass is protrudingly provided on the top surface of the intersection between the first partition 20a and the second partition 20b of the rear barrier rib 20.

As shown in FIG. 2 which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA 'of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 which is a perspective view showing the opposing surface 14a side of the front substrate 14, the opposing surface 14a of the front substrate 14 has a NESA. Membrane (S
A plurality of strip-shaped transparent anodes 24 made of a transparent conductive film such as nO ₂ ) or ITO film (In ₂ O ₃ .SnO ₂ ) are formed at predetermined intervals.

A transparent glass layer 26 as a transparent insulator layer is formed in the longitudinal direction of the transparent anode 24 between the transparent anodes 24 by printing and firing transparent glass. The transparent glass layer 26 is formed so that both end portions 26a and 26b cover side portions 24a and 24b of the adjacent transparent anode 24. Therefore, both sides (the right side 24a and the left side 24b) of each transparent anode 24 of the transparent glass layer 26 are buried in the transparent glass layer 26. In addition, as the transparent insulator layer, for example, a transparent metal oxide layer may be used in addition to the transparent glass layer 26 described above.

On the opposing surface 14a of the front substrate 14, a front-side barrier rib 28 is further disposed. 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 that are separated by a predetermined length. The first partition 28a is formed on the side of the transparent anode 24.
Both ends 26a, 26b of the transparent glass layer covering 24a, 24b
It is arranged on a transparent glass layer 26 other than that. Therefore, the first partition wall 28a of the front side barrier rib 28 is arranged so as not to overlap with the transparent anode 24.

The back substrate 12 and the front substrate 14 are arranged such that the electrodes of each substrate are substantially orthogonal to each other with a predetermined gap therebetween.
Discharge cells 30 surrounded by the rear barrier ribs 20 and the front barrier ribs 26 are formed in a dot matrix at each intersection of the two electrodes. The spacer between the rear side barrier rib 20 and the front side barrier rib 26 is
Because of the interposition of the gap 22, a gap 32 corresponding to the height of the spacer 22 is formed between the barrier ribs. Each discharge cell 30
The connection is made through the gap 32.

When a DC voltage higher than the discharge starting voltage is applied between the transparent anode 24 and the cathode 18 from a power source (not shown), a discharge is generated in the discharge cell 30 and light having a predetermined luminescent color is generated. The 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 30, and an arbitrary character or figure is displayed on the display surface 14b of the front substrate 14. be able to. At the time of discharging, each discharge cell passes through the gap 32.
The circulation of ions between 30 is ensured.

The right side 24a and the left side of each transparent anode 24
24b passes through each discharge cell 30 of the transparent anode 24,
Over a predetermined width, because it is covered with the transparent glass layer 26, even if the transparent anode 24 is damaged in a certain discharge cell 30,
The portion covered by the transparent glass layer 26 is not damaged, and the transparent anode 24 itself does not break. Therefore,
In spite of the fact that the discharge cell 30 cannot be discharged due to the damage of the transparent anode 24, other discharge cells to which the transparent electrode 24
30 does not become unable to discharge in a chain.

As described above, by covering the right side 24a and the left side 24b of each transparent anode 24 with the transparent glass layer 26, damage to both sides 24a and 24b of the transparent anode 24 can be prevented. Unlike the conventional example, there is no need to cover the side of the transparent anode with the front-side barrier ribs.
The width of the first partition 28a of the front-side barrier rib 28 can be reduced, and the dot pitch of the discharge cells 30 can be reduced.

Further, since the right side 24a and the left side 24b of each transparent anode 24 are covered with a transparent glass layer 26 made of a transparent material, the light generated by the discharge in the discharge cells 30 is Since the light is transmitted to the outside through the transparent glass layer 26, the transparent anode 24, and the front substrate 14 without being blocked by the transparent glass layer 26, a high-luminance display is possible.

In the above embodiment, the first partition 28a of the front side barrier rib 28 is formed on the transparent glass layer 26.
Both ends 26 covering side portions 24a, 24b of transparent anode 24
Since the first partition wall 28a of the front side barrier rib 28 is disposed so as not to overlap the transparent anode 24, the light transmission amount is further increased.

Next, a gas discharge display panel 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The gas discharge display panel 10 is for color display. A color filter 34 is formed between the transparent anode 24 and the transparent glass layer 26, and the gas discharge display panel 10 is formed on the transparent glass layer 26 in the discharge cells 30. A phosphor 36 is adhered and formed, and the inner space of the envelope 16 is filled with an ultraviolet radiation gas mainly composed of a simple substance or a mixture of rare gases such as He and Xe. In the present embodiment, the emitter layer 18b attached to the surface of the strip-shaped cathode base 18a is a G layer.
Consists of a mixture of dB ₆ and BaAl ₂ O ₄

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line BB 'of FIG.
As shown in the figure, one discharge cell 30R to which the phosphor 36 for the three primary colors of red light emission is attached, one discharge cell 30B to which the phosphor 36 for blue light emission is attached, and one discharge cell 30B for the green light emission Phosphor 36
Are attached to two discharge cells 30G, for a total of four discharge cells 30G.
Constitute one pixel 38, and a large number of pixels 38 are arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions.

The color filter 34 is formed so as to improve the contrast ratio of the gas discharge display panel 10 for color display.
The red color filter is inside the discharge cell 30R with
A blue color filter 34 is provided in the discharge cell 30B to which the phosphor 36 for emitting blue light is attached, and a green color filter 34 is provided in the discharge cell 30G to which the phosphor 36 for emitting green light is attached.
Are arranged respectively. This color filter
34 is formed by printing and baking the filter paste.

Then, a transparent anode is supplied from a power supply (not shown).
When a DC voltage equal to or higher than the discharge starting voltage is applied between the 24-cathode 18, a discharge occurs in the discharge cell 30 to generate ultraviolet rays. The ultraviolet light excites the phosphor 36 in the discharge cell 30, and light having a predetermined emission color is transmitted to the outside through the transparent anode and the front substrate 14. By selectively executing this voltage application via a control / drive circuit (not shown), discharge light emission is generated in a desired discharge cell 30, and an arbitrary character or figure is displayed on the display surface 14b of the front substrate 14. You can do it.

Gas discharge display panel according to the present embodiment
10, the right side 24a and the left side 24b of each transparent anode 24 are covered with the transparent glass layer 26 over a predetermined width through each discharge cell 30 of the transparent anode 24. Therefore, even if the transparent anode 24 is damaged in a certain discharge cell 30, the portion covered with the transparent glass layer 26 is not damaged, and the transparent anode 24 itself does not break. Therefore, aside from the fact that the discharge cell 30 cannot be discharged due to the damage of the transparent anode 24, the other discharge cells 30 to which the transparent electrode 24 is concerned cannot be sequentially discharged.

Further, by covering the right side 24a and the left side 24b of each transparent anode 24 with the transparent glass layer 26, both sides 24a and 24b of the transparent anode 24 can be prevented from being damaged. It is not necessary to cover the side of the transparent anode with the front-side barrier ribs as in the first embodiment. Therefore, the width of the first partition 28a of the front-side barrier ribs 28 can be reduced, and the dot pitch of the discharge cells 30 can be reduced. It becomes possible.

Further, since the right side 24a and the left side 24b of each transparent anode 24 are covered with the transparent glass layer 26 made of a transparent material, the light generated by the discharge in the discharge cells 30 is Since the light is transmitted to the outside through the transparent glass layer 26, the transparent anode 24, and the front substrate 14 without being blocked by the transparent glass layer 26, a high-luminance display is possible.

Further, since the transparent glass layer 26 transmits light, the transparent anode 24 covered with the transparent glass layer 26 is transparent.
It is also possible to arrange a color filter 34 between the transparent glass layer 26 and the right side 24a and left side 24b. Therefore, the arrangement area of the color filters 34 can be increased, and the contrast ratio can be improved.

In this embodiment, the first barrier ribs 28a of the front side barrier ribs 28 are formed on both ends of the transparent glass layer 26 which cover the side portions 24a, 24b of the transparent anode 24.
Since the first barrier ribs 28a of the front side barrier ribs 28 are arranged so as not to overlap with the transparent anode 24, the light transmission amount is further increased.

In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which both sides 24a and 24b of the transparent anode 24 are covered with the transparent glass layer 26, but at least one side is covered with the transparent glass layer 26. Just do it. Also in this case, even if the transparent anode 24 is damaged, the portion covered with the transparent glass layer 26 is not damaged,
The transparent anode 24 itself does not break. In the above description, the DC discharge type gas discharge display panel is illustrated, but the invention may be applied to an AC drive type gas discharge display panel.

[0041]

In the gas discharge display panel according to the present invention, one side or both sides of each transparent electrode is covered with the transparent insulator layer, so that the transparent electrode may be damaged in a certain discharge cell. Even so, the portion covered with the transparent insulator layer is not damaged, the power supply is maintained, and the transparent electrode itself does not break. Therefore, there is no possibility that the discharge cells other than the damaged discharge cells cannot be discharged in a chain.

Further, by covering the side of each transparent electrode with a transparent insulator layer, the side of the transparent electrode is prevented from being damaged. There is no need to cover the sides. For this reason, the width of the partition partitioning each transparent electrode can be reduced, so that the dot pitch of the discharge cells can be reduced, and the display can be made finer.

[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 schematic sectional view taken along line A-A 'of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a facing surface side of the front substrate according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the gas discharge display panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line B-B 'of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line B-B 'of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Gas discharge display panel 12 Rear substrate 12a Opposite surface of rear substrate 14 Front substrate 14a Opposite surface of front substrate 16 Enclosure 18 Cathode 24 Transparent anode 24a Right side of transparent anode 24b Left side of transparent anode 26 Transparent glass layer 28 Front barrier rib 28a First barrier rib of front barrier rib 30 Discharge cell 34 Color filter 36 Phosphor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01J 17/04 H01J 17/49

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A back substrate made of an insulating material having a plurality of strip-shaped electrodes arranged on one surface thereof, and a front substrate formed of a transparent insulating material having a plurality of strip-shaped transparent electrodes arranged on one surface thereof. Are arranged so as to intersect with a predetermined gap therebetween, and a discharge cell is formed at each intersection of the electrodes, and the periphery of both substrates is hermetically sealed to form an envelope. In a gas discharge display panel in which a predetermined discharge gas is sealed and a plurality of partitions for partitioning between the transparent electrodes are formed on the electrode forming surface of the front substrate, one side portion of each of the transparent electrodes is provided.
Alternatively, both side portions are covered with a transparent insulator layer, and the partition is disposed on the transparent insulator layer other than the portion covering the side portion of the transparent electrode. Gas discharge display panel. 2. A back substrate made of an insulating material having a plurality of band-shaped electrodes arranged on one surface thereof, and a front substrate formed of a transparent insulating material having a plurality of band-shaped transparent electrodes arranged on one surface. Are arranged so as to intersect with a predetermined gap therebetween, and a discharge cell is formed at each intersection of the electrodes, and the periphery of both substrates is hermetically sealed to form an envelope. the phosphor and ultraviolet radiation gas sealed, and further, a plurality of partition walls to form formed by a gas discharge display panel which partitions between the transparent electrodes on the electrode formation surface of the front substrate, one of said respective transparent electrodes
Side portion or both side portions of the transparent electrode are covered with the transparent insulator layer, and the partition walls are arranged on the transparent insulator layer other than the portion covering the side portion of the transparent electrode. A gas discharge display panel characterized by the above-mentioned. 3. The gas discharge display panel according to claim 2, wherein a color filter is formed between the side of the transparent electrode and the transparent insulator layer.