Abstract:
A luminous display device is disclosed as including a transparent or translucent top body part having a rear surface; a bottom body part having a front side, a rear side, and a trough extending along at least part of the front side of the bottom body part to form a pre-defined pattern; in which the rear surface of the upper body part is in fused sealing relationship with the front side of the bottom body part to form a sealed discharge chamber between the trough and the upper body part; an ionizable gas filling the chamber; and two openings in the bottom body part each having a first end communicating with the chamber and a second end communicating with an electrode, the electrodes being energizable to ionize the gas in the chamber to produce light discharge of the pre-defined pattern.

Description:
[0001]     This invention relates generally to luminescent display devices and to a method of manufacturing same. More particularly, the invention relates to gas plasma display devices.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     It is well known to produce light by passage of electricity through gases. This phenomenon has been used in lighted signs which display numerals, characters, symbols, graphics and the like, such as neon signs for example. Gases commonly used for this purpose are neon, argon, mercury vapour, or mixtures thereof.  
         [0003]     U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,383,295, 5,126,632, 5,281,898 and 4,403,831 disclose various conventional display devices. U.S. Pat. No. 6,512,331 issued to the applicant herein discloses a luminous display device and a method of making the same in which a front member of transparent glass is fused to the rim area of a rear member having a recess therein and protuberances projecting from the base of the recess toward the front member. The protuberances are closely spaced with respect to each other and the front member to provide passages between the protuberances and a light discharge member between the front member and the recess. An opening extends through the rear member communicating with the chamber. A tubular member mounted on the rear member communicates with the opening for evacuating the chamber and filling it with an ionizable gas. An electrode device is mounted in the tubular member and is operatively connected to a power source for ionizing the gas in the chamber thereby producing light discharge fingers or streaks through the passages providing the desired display of light. The rear member is moulded to form the recess and protuberances integral therewith thus minimizing the number of parts of the display device. The content of U.S. Pat. No. 6,512,331 is fully incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0004]     As the closely spaced protuberances in the device in U.S. Pat. No. 6,512,331 do not provide a pre-defined passage(s) along which the light discharge fingers or streaks are produced, but intersticial passages along which the light discharge fingers or streaks may be produced, neither the manufacturer nor the user can determine the light patterns produced by such a display, and in fact the light patterns generated by such a display are random and always differ.  
         [0005]     It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a luminous display device and a method of manufacturing same in which the aforesaid shortcoming is mitigated, or at least to provide a useful alternative to the public.  
         [0006]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a luminous display in which pre-defined light pattern(s) can be produced upon activation of the display.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a luminous display device comprising a non-opaque first member having a rear surface; a second member having a front side, a rear side, and at least a first trough member extending along at least part of said front side of said second member to form at least a first pre-defined pattern; wherein said rear surface of said first member is in fused sealing relationship with said front side of said second member to thereby form at least a first sealed discharge chamber between said first trough member and said first member; an ionizable gas filling said chamber; and at least a first opening in one of said first and second members having a first end communicating with said first chamber and a second end communicating with an electrode means, said electrode means being energizable to ionize said gas in said first chamber to produce light discharge of said at least first pre-defined pattern.  
         [0008]     According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of making a luminous display device, comprising the steps of providing a non-opaque first member having a rear surface; moulding a second member with a front side, a rear side, and at least a first trough member extending along at least part of said front side of said second member to form at least a first pre-defined pattern; fusing said rear surface of said first member with said front side of said second member to form at least a first sealed discharge chamber between said first trough member and said first member; producing at least a first opening in one of said first and second members having a first end communicating with said first chamber; evacuating said first chamber through said first opening; filling said first chamber through said first opening with an ionizable gas; and installing electrode means in communication relationship with a second end of said first opening, wherein said electrode means is energizable to ionize said gas in said first chamber to produce light discharge of said at least first pre-defined pattern. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of examples of only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a bottom body part forming part of a luminous display according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of a luminous display according to the first embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line A-A of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a bottom body part forming part of a luminous display according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a top view of an intermediate body part forming part of a luminous display according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a luminous display according to the second embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line B 1 -B 1  of  FIG. 3 , which coincides with line B 2 -B 2  of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a top view of an intermediate body part forming part of a luminous display according to a third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a top view of a bottom body part forming part of a luminous display according to a third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of a luminous display according to the third embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line C 1 -C 1  of  FIG. 6 , which coincides with line C 2 -C 2  of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 9A  is a top view of a bottom body part forming part of a luminous display according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 9B  is a sectional view of a luminous display according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line D-D of  FIG. 9A ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 10A  is a top view of a bottom body part forming part of a luminous display according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 10B  is a sectional view of a luminous display according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line E-E of  FIG. 10A ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 11A  is a top view of a bottom body part forming part of a luminous display according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0023]      FIG. 11B  is a sectional view of a luminous display according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line F-F of  FIG. 11A . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]     In a first embodiment according to the invention, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a luminous display  100  includes a top body part  102  and a bottom body part  104 . The top body part  102  is made of a non-opaque, e.g. transparent or translucent, material, e.g. glass or plastics. The top body part  102  has substantially flat upper and lower surfaces. As to the bottom body part  104 , and as shown in more detail in  FIG. 1 , a continuous recess  106  is formed, e.g. during the moulding stage, on an upper surface  108  of the bottom body part  104  to form a pre-defined pattern, e.g. a Christmas tree as now shown in  FIG. 1 . It should of course be understood that various other patterns can be formed. At each of two extremities of the recess  106  is an exhaust hole  110 , leading to a lower surface  111  of the bottom body part  104 .  
         [0025]     During assembly of the luminous display  100 , the lower surface of the top body part  102  is fused together with the upper surface  108  of the bottom body part  104  to form a chamber between the recess  106  and the lower surface of the top body part  102 , leading on each side to one of the two exhaust holes  110 . Air in the chamber is then evacuated through one or both of the exhaust holes  110 . The chamber is then filled, again through one or both of the exhaust holes  110 , with an ionizable gas, e.g. neon, argon, mercury vapour, or mixtures thereof. An electrode  112  is then installed at and in communication with a respective exhaust holes  110 . The chamber formed between the recess  106  of the bottom body part  104  and the upper body part  102  is thus sealed. When the electrodes  112 , which are connected to an electrical power source, are energized to ionize the gas in the chamber, a coloured light discharge in the shape of the pre-defined pattern will be generated.  
         [0026]     The colour of the light discharge will depend in part on the ionizable gas filled in the chamber. Different types of phosphor coatings may also be applied on different parts of the recess  106  so that different colours will be shown upon ionization of the gas. Pre-defined multi-colour patterns may thus be generated upon ionization of the gas.  
         [0027]     In a second embodiment according to the invention, as shown in FIGS.  3  to  5 , a luminous display  200  includes a top body part  202 , an intermediate body part  203  and a bottom body part  204 . As in the case of the luminous display  100  discussed above, the top body part  202  is made of a non-opaque material, and has substantially flat upper and lower surfaces. As to the intermediate body part  203 , and as shown in more detail in  FIG. 3 , a continuous recess  206  is formed, e.g. during the moulding stage, on an upper surface  208  of the intermediate body part  203  to form a pre-defined pattern, e.g. a Christmas tree as now shown in  FIG. 3 . At each of two extremities of the recess  206  is an opening  210 , leading to a lower surface of the intermediate body part  203 . As to the bottom body part  204 , two through holes  212  are provided.  
         [0028]     During assembly of the luminous display  200 , the lower surface of the top body part  202  is fused together with the upper surface  208  of the intermediate body part  203 . The lower surface of the intermediate body part  203  is then fused together with the upper surface of bottom body part  204 , with the through holes  212  in communication with the openings  210 , so as to form a chamber, leading on each side to a respective through hole  212 . Air in the chamber is then evacuated through one or both of the through holes  212 . The chamber is then filled, again through one or both of the through holes  212 , with an ionizable gas. An electrode  214  is then installed at and in communication with a respective through hole  212 . The chamber formed between the recess  206  of the intermediate body part  203 , the upper body part  202  and the upper surface of the bottom body part  204  is thus sealed. When the electrodes  214  are energized to ionize the gas in the chamber, a coloured light discharge in the shape of the pre-defined pattern will be generated.  
         [0029]     In a third embodiment according to the invention, as shown in FIGS.  6  to  8 , a luminous display  300  includes a top body part  302 , an intermediate body part  303  and a bottom body part  304 . The top body part  302  is made of a non-opaque material, and has substantially flat upper and lower surfaces. As shown in more detail in  FIG. 6 , a continuous recess  306  is formed, e.g. during the moulding stage, on an upper surface  308  of the intermediate body part  303  to form a first pattern, e.g. a spider. At each of two extremities of the recess  306  is a through hole  310   a ,  310   b . As to the bottom body part  304 , and as shown in  FIG. 7 , a continuous recess  316  is formed, e.g. during the moulding stage, on an upper surface  318  of the bottom body part  304  to form a second pattern, e.g. a spiral. At each of two extremities of the recess  316  is a through hole  320   a ,  320   b . A further through hole  322  is also provided in the bottom body part  304 .  
         [0030]     During assembly of the luminous display  300 , the lower surface of the top body part  302  is fused together with the upper surface  308  of the intermediate body part  303  to form a first chamber. The lower surface of the intermediate body part  303  is then fused together with the upper surface of bottom body part  304 , with the through hole  310   a  in communication with the through hole  320   a , and the through hole  310   b  in communication with the through hole  322 . Air in the chamber is then evacuated through one or both of the through holes  320   b ,  322 . The chamber is then filled, again through one or both of the through holes  320   b ,  322 , with an ionizable gas. An electrode  314  is then installed at and in communication with a respective through hole  320   b ,  322 . The chamber formed between the recess  306  of the intermediate body part  303 , the upper body part  302 , the lower surface of the intermediate body part  303 , and the recess  316  of the lower body part is thus sealed. When the electrodes  314  are energized to ionize the gas in the chamber, two coloured light discharges in the shape of two pre-defined patterns will be generated. The two pre-defined coloured patterns, i.e. one of a spider and one of a spiral, will be shown upon activation of the electrodes  314 . The two coloured patterns are each of a different distance from the upper surface of the top body part  302 , thus creating an overall three-dimensional pattern.  
         [0031]     In a fourth embodiment according to the invention, as shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , a luminous display  400  includes a top body part  402  and a bottom body part  404 . A continuous trough  408  in the form of three conjoining straight recesses is provided on the bottom body part  404 . At each end of the trough  408  is installed a respective electrode  406 , which are energizable to ionize the gas in the sealed chamber formed between the trough  408  and the top body part  402 .  
         [0032]     In a fifth embodiment according to the invention, as shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B , a luminous display  500  includes a top body part  502  and a bottom body part  504 . A main difference between the luminous display  500  and the luminous display  400  discussed above is that only one electrode  506  is provided, which is installed at a through hole at or adjacent to a mid-point between two extremities of a continuous trough  508  on the bottom body part  504 .  
         [0033]     In a sixth embodiment according to the invention, as shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B , a luminous display  600  includes a top body part  602  and a bottom body part  604 . A main difference between the luminous display  600  and the luminous display  500  discussed above is that only one electrode  606  is installed, which is installed at a through hole at or adjacent to one of two extremities of a continuous trough  608  on the bottom body part  604 .  
         [0034]     It should be understood that the above only illustrates and describes examples whereby the present invention may be carried out, and that modifications and/or alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the body parts may be curved in shape, e.g. undulating, or in a wave shape.  
         [0035]     It should also be understood that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided or separately or in any suitable sub-combination.