Field-discharge fluorescent-display with fluorescent layer including glass

Claim 2

A fluorescent display apparatus, comprising: a first substrate having at least one cathode formed on a surface thereof, each cathode having a plurality of electric-field electron discharge devices for discharging low-speed electrons; a second substrate opposed to said first substrate, said second substrate having at least one anode formed thereon and a fluorescent layer comprising a fluorescent substance and a low-fusing-point glass formed on said anode, said cathode and said anode being located at a distance such that an electrostatic attractive force between said electric-field electron discharge devices and said fluorescent layer is greater than the Van der Waals force between said anode and said fluorescent substance, said fluorescent layer having a sufficient quantity of low-fusing-point glass such that said fluorescent layer is prevented from separating from said second substrate in response to the electrostatic attractive force between said electric-field electron discharge devices and said fluorescent layer when a voltage is applied between said cathode and said anode; and at least one spacer member interposed between said first and second substrates to define and maintain a space therebetween, whereby, low-speed electrons discharged from said cathode are absorbed by said fluorescent layer and cause said fluorescent layer to emit light.

Claim 3

A fluorescent display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said low-fusing-point glass comprises from 20 to 70 weight % of the sum of the weights of said fluorescent substance and said low-fusing-point glass.

Claim 4

A fluorescent display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coefficient of thermal expansion of said low-fusing-point glass is substantially the same as the coefficient of thermal expansion of said second substrate.

Claim 5

A fluorescent display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coefficient of thermal expansion of said low-fusing-point glass is in the range of from approximately 20×10 -7 /° C. to 90×10 -7 /° C.

Claim 6

A fluorescent display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the device density of said electric-field electron discharge devices of said display apparatus is at least 1/d AK 2 , where d AK is the distance from said electric-field electron discharge device to said fluorescent layer.

Claim 7

A fluorescent display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fluorescent substance is selected from the group consisting of ZnO:Zn, a mixture of ZnS:Cl and In 2 O 3 and a mixture of ZnS:Ag and In 2 O 3 .

Claim 8

A fluorescent display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fluorescent layer is comprised of said fluorescent substance, said low-fusing-point glass and a binder, and wherein said fluorescent layer has a mixture ratio prior to a sintering operation such that said fluorescent substance comprises approximately 5 to 30 wt. %, said low-fusing-point glass comprises approximately 15 to 55 wt. % and said binder comprises approximately 15 to 80 wt. % of said fluorescent layer.

Claim 9

A fluorescent display apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said fluorescent layer has a mixture ratio such that said fluorescent substance comprises approximately 20 wt. %, said low-fusing-point glass comprises approximately 29 wt. %, and said binder comprises approximately 51 wt. % of the fluorescent layer.

Claim 10

A fluorescent display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an exhaust port formed in one of said first and second substrates for exhausting gas from said space to the exterior of the display apparatus; and a sealing member for sealing said exhaust port.

Claim 11

A fluorescent display apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said sealing member comprises solder.

Claim 12

A fluorescent display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second substrates has at least one recess formed therein, and further comprising a thin film of getter material disposed in said recess and contacting said space.

Claim 13

A fluorescent display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said low-fusing-point glass is frit glass.

Claim 14

A fluorescent display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said low-fusing-point glass is an alkali metal silicate type inorganic adhesive agent.

Claim 15

A fluorescent display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said low-fusing-point glass is a phosphate-type inorganic adhesive agent.

Claim 16

A fluorescent display apparatus, comprising: first and second parallel opposed substrates; a plurality of cathodes formed on a surface of said first substrate, each cathode having a plurality of electric-field electron discharge devices for discharging low-speed electrons; an anode formed on a surface of said second substrate; a fluorescent layer formed on a surface of said anode, said fluorescent layer comprising a fluorescent substance and a low-fusing-point glass, said plurality of cathodes and said anode being located at a distance such that an electrostatic attractive force between said electric-field electron discharge devices and said fluorescent layer is greater than the Van der Waals force between said anode and said fluorescent substance, said fluorescent layer having a sufficient quantity of low-fusing-point glass such that said fluorescent layer is prevented from separating from said second substrate in response to the electrostatic attractive force between said electric-field electron discharge devices and said fluorescent layer when a voltage is applied between said plurality of cathodes and said anode; at least one spacer member interposed between said first and second substrates to define a space therebetween; an exhaust port formed in one of said first and second substrates for exhausting gas from said space; and a sealing member for sealing said exhaust port.

Claim 17

A fluorescent display apparatus, comprising: first and second parallel opposed substrates; a plurality of cathodes formed on a surface of said first substrate, each cathode having a plurality of electric-field electron discharge devices for discharging low-speed electrons; an anode formed on a surface of said second substrate; a fluorescent layer formed on a surface of said anode, said fluorescent layer comprising a fluorescent substance and a low-fusing-point glass, said plurality of cathodes and said anode being located at a distance such that an electrostatic attractive force between said electric-field electron discharge devices and said fluorescent layer is greater than the Van der Waals force between said anode and said fluorescent substance, said fluorescent layer having a sufficient quantity of low-fusing-point glass such that said fluorescent layer is prevented from separating from said second substrate in response to the electrostatic attractive force between said electric-field electron discharge devices and said fluorescent layer when a voltage is applied between said plurality of cathodes and said anode; at least one spacer member interposed between said first and second substrates to define a space therebetween; an exhaust port formed in one of said first and second substrates for exhausting gas from said space; and a sealing member for sealing said exhaust port.

Claim 18

A fluorescent display apparatus according to claim 15, wherein an intermediate member is interposed between said exhaust port and said sealing member.

Claim 19

A fluorescent display apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said intermediate member further comprises a first layer and a second layer sequentially interposed between said exhaust port and said sealing member.

Claim 20

A fluorescent display apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said first layer comprises Cr and said second layer comprises an Au--Sn alloy.

Claim 21

A fluorescent display apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said exhaust port comprises a funnel shaped opening.

Claim 22

A fluorescent display apparatus, comprising: a pair of parallel opposed substrates, at least one of said pair of substrates having at least one recess formed therein; a plurality of cathodes formed on a surface of one of said pair of substrates, each cathode having a plurality of electric-field electron discharge devices for discharging low-speed electrons; an anode formed on a surface of the other of said pair of substrates; a fluorescent layer formed on said anode, said fluorescent layer having at least a fluorescent substance and a low-fusing-point glass, said plurality of cathodes and said anode being located at a distance such that an electrostatic attractive force between said electric-field electron discharge devices and said fluorescent layer is greater than the Van der Waals force between said anode and said fluorescent substance, said fluorescent layer having a sufficient quantity of low-fusing-point glass such that said fluorescent layer is prevented from separating from said second substrate in response to the electrostatic attractive force between said electric-field electron discharge devices and said fluorescent layer when a voltage is applied between said plurality of cathodes and said anode; at least one spacer member interposed between said pair of substrates to define a space therebetween; and a thin film of getter material disposed in said recess and contacting said space.

Claim 23

A fluorescent display apparatus, comprising: a pair of parallel opposed substrates, at least one of said pair of substrates having at least one recess formed therein; a plurality of cathodes formed on a surface of one of said pair of substrates, each cathode having a plurality of electric-field electron discharge devices for discharging low-speed electrons; an anode formed on a surface of the other of said pair of substrates; a fluorescent layer formed on said anode, said fluorescent layer having at least a fluorescent substance and a low-fusing-point glass, said plurality of cathodes and said anode being located at a distance such that an electrostatic attractive force between said electric-field electron discharge devices and said fluorescent layer is greater than the Van der Waals force between said anode and said fluorescent substance, said fluorescent layer having a sufficient quantity of low-fusing-point glass such that said fluorescent layer is prevented from separating from said second substrate in response to the electrostatic attractive force between said electric-field electron discharge devices and said fluorescent layer when a voltage is applied between said plurality of cathodes and said anode; at least one spacer member interposed between said pair of substrates to define a space therebetween; and a thin film of getter material disposed in said recess and contacting said space.

Claim 24

A fluorescent display apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the thickness of said thin film of getter material is in a range from approximately 1000 to 6000 angstroms.

Claim 25

A fluorescent display apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said getter material is made of a material selected from the group consisting of AlMg alloy, AlBa alloy, Ti, a Zr alloy and Hf alloy.