Patent GB-900198-A (GB)
Title: Display device
IPC: G09F9/33
Filed: 1960-12-19
Abstract: 900,198. Semi-conductor devices. WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CO. Dec. 19, 1960 [Jan. 13, I960], No. 43579/60. Class 37. [Also in Group XL (a)] A solid state display device comprises a layer 15, Fig. 2, of electro-luminescent material common to a plurality of independently controllable display elements defined between a transparent electrode structure 11 and a plurality of elementary back electrodes 12. The display elements are associated with at least one flat member of non-linear dielectric material 20 which extends with its large planar surfaces non-parallel to the electro-luminescent layer, e.g. along a row of back electrodes 12, and has disposed on its planar surfaces circuit means which define a plurality of elementary non- linear condensers, the effective capacitances of which are controlled by input signals, and control the magnitude of a time varying electric field applied across the electro-luminescent layer. As shown, each control element comprises two non-linear dielectric capacitors formed between elementary control electrode 27 and two power input conductors 22, 23, a resistor 28 and a capacitor formed between a plate 29 connected to a signal source and a grounded plate 24. The control electrode 27 is directly connected to a back electrode 12 by a conductive rubber disc 16, and power input conductors 22, 23, which extend along the entire length of member 20, are connected to sources of time varying potential having a common connection to ground or, if necessary, D.C. bias potentials. The circuit elements 24, 28 and 29 may be omitted. The non-linear dielectric 20 may be a ferro-electric material, e.g. barium titanate, barium-strontium titanate, barium stannate, sodium columbate, sodium tantalate, potassium columbate or potassium tantalate. The conductive elements 22-24, 27 and 29 may be formed by spraying a paste of silver and glass frit through a suitable mask and the resistor 28 may be of carbon with a phenolic filler. The display elements are supported on a glass base 10 and comprise a layer 15 of copper-activated zinc sulphide in a binder of glass or polyvinyl chloride, aluminium electrodes 12 and a coating 11 of tin oxide or fine, closely-spaced gold lines. One or more rows of control elements may be encapsulated in an epoxy resin or low melting point glass. The angle between the members 20 and the electroluminescent layer may be less than 90 degrees, but is preferably more than 30 degrees. Suitable dimensions for individual elements of the display device and corresponding potentials are given. In a further embodiment of the invention, non- linear dielectric members 51, Fig. 6, having conductive elements 52, 53, 55-57 and resistive elements 54, are each disposed in a ceramic holder 61 having end terminals 62, 63. This control structure 50 is associated with a further structure 70 comprising semi-conductor diodes 73, 74 in insulating holders 71. Each diode 73 is connected between the signal source and distribution system and the element 53 while each diode 74 is connected to element 53 and is maintained in a generally non-conductive state by a bias applied to its other terminal. The two structures 50, 70 may be formed with interlocking notches or grooves. Specifications 829,255, 855,524 and 858,393 are referred to.