JP4248568B2 - Display device in which a plurality of arc tubes are juxtaposed - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device in which a plurality of arc tubes (also called “plasma arc tube”, “display tube”, “gas discharge tube”, “plasma discharge tube”, etc.) are juxtaposed. The present invention relates to a display device that displays an arbitrary image by arranging a plurality of arc tubes in which a phosphor layer is arranged inside a thin tube of about 5 mm and a discharge gas is sealed.

As such a display device, for example, a display device described in Patent Document 1 is known. In such a display device, as a method of forming a plurality of light emitting points in the longitudinal direction of the arc tube, for example, a plurality of display electrode pairs are arranged in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the arc tube on a substrate that supports the arc tube. Then, the electrode forming surface of the substrate is brought into contact with the arc tube, and a voltage is applied to the plurality of display electrode pairs, thereby forming a plurality of light emitting points in the longitudinal direction of the arc tube.
JP 2000-315460 A

  However, in such a display device, it is difficult to produce the same arc tube in terms of shape and performance, and the emission intensity of the arc tube is not uniform due to variations in production, so when a plurality of arc tubes are juxtaposed, The unevenness of the light emission intensity appears as display unevenness of the display device.

  Further, since the diameter of the arc tube is also non-uniform when viewed microscopically, the contact area between the display electrode pair formed on the substrate supporting the arc tube and the arc tube becomes non-uniform. Uniformity causes variations in driving voltage, leading to light emission mistakes at the light emitting points.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and in producing a display device in which a plurality of arc tubes as described above are juxtaposed, the characteristics of each arc tube (emission luminance, discharge threshold voltage, outer diameter). An object of the present invention is to prevent display unevenness and drive voltage variation by measuring the dimensions in advance and arranging the arc tubes according to the characteristics.

The present invention relates to a display device in which a plurality of arc tubes each having a plurality of thin tubes having a plurality of light emitting points arranged in the longitudinal direction, in which a phosphor layer is disposed and a discharge gas is enclosed, and in the longitudinal direction of the arc tube A plurality of electrodes arranged in intersecting directions, and the plurality of arc tubes change their discharge threshold characteristics smoothly in response to variations in discharge threshold characteristics at the time of manufacturing each arc tube measured in advance. In order, the display device includes a plurality of light-emitting tubes in which a light- emitting tube having a low discharge threshold voltage is disposed at the center of the display device and a light-emitting tube having a high discharge threshold voltage is disposed at an end thereof.

  According to the present invention, since the plurality of arc tubes are arranged corresponding to the characteristics of the arc tubes measured in advance, for example, when the arc tubes are arranged corresponding to the characteristic of emission luminance, display unevenness is caused. If the arc tubes are arranged according to the characteristic of the discharge threshold voltage, a sufficient drive voltage margin can be secured, stable display can be performed, and the characteristic of the outer diameter can be handled. Thus, when the arc tubes are arranged, it is possible to prevent light emission mistakes of the arc tubes.

  In the present invention, the arc tube may be formed of a thin tube having a phosphor layer disposed therein and a discharge gas sealed therein and having a plurality of emission points in the longitudinal direction. As this arc tube, various arc tubes known in the art can be applied. The arc tube may be manufactured using a thin tube having any diameter, but is particularly preferably formed using a thin tube having a diameter of about 0.5 to 5 mm. The thin tube preferably has a circular cross section, but may have a flat elliptical cross section.

  In the present invention, the plurality of arc tubes are arranged corresponding to the characteristics of the arc tubes measured in advance. The characteristics of each arc tube measured in advance include, for example, emission luminance, discharge threshold voltage (discharge start voltage or minimum sustain discharge voltage), outer diameter, etc. for each arc tube. The discharge start voltage means a voltage necessary for generating a discharge with no residual charge between the two electrodes, and the minimum sustain discharge voltage is an AC drive with a residual charge between the two electrodes. Means the minimum voltage required to generate a sustain discharge alternately (also called “sustain discharge”, “display discharge”, etc.), but there is a certain relationship between them. One may be measured and used as the discharge threshold voltage.

  In the above-described configuration, it is desirable that the configuration further includes a pair of supports that sandwich a plurality of juxtaposed arc tubes from the display surface side and the back surface side. As this support, for example, glass, resin or the like can be applied.

  Thus, when a pair of support bodies that sandwich a plurality of arc tubes are provided, a plurality of substrates arranged in the direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the arc tube on the arc tube facing surface of the support body located on the display surface side. It is desirable to have a configuration including these electrodes.

  In the above configuration, when a plurality of arc tubes are arranged corresponding to the emission luminance, it is desirable to arrange a high-luminance arc tube at the center of the display device and an arc tube with low luminance at the end. .

  When arranging a plurality of arc tubes corresponding to the discharge threshold voltage, an arc tube having a low discharge threshold voltage is arranged at the center of the display device, and an arc tube having a high discharge threshold voltage is arranged at the end. It is desirable.

  Furthermore, when arranging a plurality of arc tubes corresponding to the outer diameter, it is desirable to arrange them in the order of the outer diameter. In this case, the display device may be arranged in ascending order or descending order from one end to the other end. Alternatively, a light emitting tube having a large outer diameter may be arranged at the center of the display device, and arranged so that the outer diameter decreases gradually and symmetrically toward the left and right ends of the display device. Or, conversely, a light emitting tube having a small outer diameter may be arranged at the center of the display device, and arranged so that the outer diameter increases gradually and symmetrically toward the left and right ends of the display device.

  When the arc tubes are arranged corresponding to the above characteristics, it is desirable to arrange them so that these characteristics change smoothly.

  The present invention will be described in detail below based on the embodiments shown in the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by this, A various deformation | transformation is possible.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of the display device of the present invention.
The display device of the present invention is a display device that displays a desired image by arranging a plurality of arc tubes in which a phosphor layer is disposed in parallel and a discharge gas is sealed in a thin tube having a diameter of about 0.5 to 5 mm. is there.

  In this figure, 31 is a front side (display side) substrate, 32 is a back side substrate, 1 is an arc tube, 2 is a display electrode pair (main electrode pair), and 3 is a data electrode (also called a signal electrode). is there.

  The front substrate 31 and the rear substrate 32 are made of acrylic resin. The arc tube 1 is made of borosilicate glass. The display electrode pair 2 is formed by vapor-depositing or printing copper, chromium, silver, or the like on the surface facing the arc tube of the substrate 31 on the front side. Similarly, the data electrode 3 is formed by vapor-depositing or printing copper, chromium, silver, or the like on the surface facing the arc tube of the substrate 32 on the back side.

  Inside the arc tube 1 (discharge space), a phosphor layer (not shown) is provided, and a discharge gas is introduced to seal both ends. As described above, the data electrode 3 is formed on the substrate 32 on the back side, and is provided so as to contact the arc tube 1 along the longitudinal direction of the arc tube 1. The display electrode pair 2 is formed on the substrate 31 on the front side, and is provided in contact with the arc tube 1 in a direction intersecting with the data electrode 3. A non-discharge region (non-discharge gap) 21 is provided between the display electrode pair 2 and the display electrode pair 2.

  The data electrode 3 and the display electrode pair 2 are brought into contact with the lower outer peripheral surface and the upper outer peripheral surface of the arc tube 1 at the time of assembly, respectively. In order to improve the adhesion, the display electrode and the arc tube You may adhere | attach by interposing an adhesive agent between surfaces.

When this display device is viewed in plan, the intersection of the data electrode 3 and the display electrode pair 2 is a unit light emitting region. In the display, any one of the display electrode pairs 2 is used as a scanning electrode, a selective discharge is generated at the intersection of the scanning electrode and the data electrode 3, and a light emitting region is selected. This is performed by generating a display discharge at the display electrode pair 2 using the wall charges formed on the inner surface of the tube. The selective discharge is a counter discharge generated in the arc tube 1 between the scanning electrode and the data electrode 3 facing each other in the vertical direction, and the display discharge is between two display electrodes arranged in parallel on a plane. This is a surface discharge generated in the arc tube 1.
With such an electrode arrangement, a plurality of luminous points are formed in the arc tube 1 in the longitudinal direction.

  The electrode structure shown in the figure has a structure in which three electrodes are arranged in one light emitting portion and a display discharge is generated by a display electrode pair. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the display electrode 2 and the data electrode 3 The display discharge may be generated between the two.

  That is, an electrode structure in which the display electrode pair 2 is one and the display electrode 2 is used as a scanning electrode to generate a selective discharge and a display discharge (opposite discharge) between the data electrode 3 may be used.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the display device according to the first embodiment. This figure is a front view of the display device.
In the present embodiment, the arc tube 1 has a circular cross section. For example, Pyrex (registered trademark: heat-resistant glass manufactured by Corning, USA) is used, and the outer diameter of the tube is 1 mm, the wall thickness is 100 μm, and the length is 400 mm. It was produced.

  The arc tube 1 is produced by producing a large base material similar to the arc tube 1 by the Danner method and redrawing (stretching) it while heating and softening it.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of arc tubes are arranged corresponding to the emission luminance. That is, the arc tube 1a with high emission luminance is arranged at the center of the screen, and the arc tube 1b with low emission luminance is arranged at the left and right ends of the screen. Each arc tube has a specific emission luminance determined at the time of manufacture, and is measured and arranged in advance.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the relationship between the coordinate x in the horizontal direction of the screen and the light emission luminance of the arc tube at the position of the coordinate.
As shown in this graph, the arc tubes are arranged in the order of luminance in the horizontal direction, and at this time, the emission luminance is arranged so that the emission luminance becomes a gentle mountain-shaped curve, that is, the luminance change is smooth. Specifically, a light emitting tube 1a having a high light emission luminance is arranged at the center of the screen, a light emitting tube 1b having a low light emission luminance is arranged at the left and right ends of the screen, and a light emission having a medium light emission luminance is placed between them. A tube is placed.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of the screen when the entire screen of the display device is displayed in white. As shown in this figure, when the arc tube 1 is arranged as shown in the graph of FIG. 3, the emission luminance at the center of the screen can be increased and the emission luminance at the edge of the screen can be decreased.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a comparative example of the arrangement based on the light emission luminance. When the light emitting tubes 1 are arranged at random without considering the light emission luminance, luminance unevenness randomly exists on the entire screen.

  As is clear from the comparison between the two, if a light emitting tube having a high luminance is arranged at the center of the display device and a light emitting tube having a low luminance is arranged at the end as in the present embodiment, the region having a high luminance is located at the center of the screen. And more natural image display becomes possible.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of the display device according to the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, a plurality of arc tubes are arranged corresponding to the discharge threshold voltage. That is, the arc tube 1c having a low discharge threshold voltage is arranged at the center of the screen, and the arc tube 1d having a high discharge threshold voltage is arranged at the left and right ends of the screen. Each arc tube has a unique discharge threshold voltage determined at the time of manufacture, and is measured and arranged in advance.

  As shown in the figure, the discharge threshold voltage is a discharge start voltage or a minimum sustain discharge voltage when an AC voltage V is applied between the display electrode pair 2 by the drivers D1 and D2. As described above, the discharge start voltage is a voltage necessary for generating a discharge with no residual charge between the display electrode pair 2, and the minimum sustain discharge voltage is a residual charge between the display electrode pair 2. This is the minimum voltage necessary for alternating current driving in the presence of the voltage and alternately generating a sustain discharge.

  When looking at each arc tube, there is a certain relationship between the discharge start voltage and the minimum sustain discharge voltage. An arc tube with a high discharge start voltage also has a high minimum sustain discharge voltage, and an arc tube with a low discharge start voltage has a minimum sustain. The discharge voltage is also low. Thus, since there is a certain relationship between the two, in this embodiment, the discharge start voltage is measured and used as the discharge threshold voltage.

  FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the horizontal coordinate x of the screen and the discharge threshold voltage of the arc tube at the coordinate position.

  In this graph, the solid line J indicates the minimum sustain discharge voltage of the arc tube, and the solid line K indicates the discharge start voltage of the arc tube. As shown in this graph, the arc tubes are arranged in the horizontal direction in the order of the discharge start voltage, and at that time, the arc tubes having a low discharge start voltage are arranged so as to be positioned at the center of the screen. As described above, the voltage width from the minimum sustain discharge voltage to the discharge start voltage is almost the same in all the arc tubes.

  The dotted line L and the dotted line M are the minimum and maximum values of the sustain discharge voltage actually applied, and the voltage range from the dotted line L to the dotted line M is the voltage margin (driveable voltage range) N1 of the sustain discharge voltage. In the center of the screen, the distance between the display electrode pair is far from the driver, and a voltage drop occurs. The reason why the maximum value of the sustain discharge voltage is set to be equal to or lower than the discharge start voltage is that when the discharge start voltage is exceeded, light is emitted to a light emitting point at which discharge is not desired. Therefore, the voltage range from the dotted line L to the dotted line M becomes the voltage margin N1 of the sustain discharge voltage.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing a comparative example of the arrangement based on the discharge threshold voltage.
A solid line J indicates the minimum sustain discharge voltage of the arc tube, and a solid line K indicates the discharge start voltage of the arc tube. This graph shows an example in which the arc tube 1 is randomly arranged without considering the discharge threshold voltage, and when the arc tube 1 is randomly arranged in this way, the discharge threshold voltage of the arc tube is the entire screen. It will vary.

  The dotted line L and the dotted line M are the minimum value and the maximum value of the sustain discharge voltage actually applied when the arc tubes 1 are randomly arranged. As shown in this graph, the voltage margin N2 of the sustain discharge voltage when the arc tubes are arranged without considering the discharge threshold voltage is a voltage range from the dotted line L to the dotted line M, and driving in a very narrow voltage range is performed. As a result, the driver cost is increased, and a light emission mistake at the light emitting point is caused.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, when the arc tube 1c having a low discharge threshold voltage is arranged at the center of the screen and the arc tube 1d having a high discharge threshold voltage is arranged at the end of the screen, the voltage drop is reduced. Since the voltage margin N1 of the sustain discharge voltage when considered can be made wider than that of the comparative example, it is possible to drive in a wide voltage range, to suppress an increase in driver cost, and to prevent a light emission point light emission error. can do.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the display device according to the third embodiment. This figure shows a cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the arc tube. In the present embodiment, a plurality of arc tubes are arranged corresponding to the outer diameter.

  That is, the arc tube 1e having a large outer diameter is disposed at one end (for example, the right end) of the screen, and the arc tube 1f having a medium outer diameter is sequentially disposed at the center of the screen. An arc tube 1g having a small outer diameter is disposed at the end (for example, the left end). Each arc tube has a specific outer diameter determined at the time of manufacture, and is measured and arranged in advance.

  Thus, when the arc tubes are arranged in the order of the outer diameter dimensions, even if the front substrate 31 is a rigid substrate made of acrylic, for example, the display electrode pair 2 formed on the front substrate 31 and Since the contact area with each arc tube 1e, 1f, 1g can be made uniform, variations in driving voltage can be prevented, and uneven brightness and light emission mistakes at the light emitting point can be prevented.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a comparative example when the outer diameter dimension of the arc tube is not taken into consideration. When the arc tubes 1e, 1f, and 1g are randomly arranged without considering the outer diameter dimension of the arc tube, Since the arc tube 1g that does not come into contact with the display electrode pair 2 is generated, the driving voltage varies over the entire screen, which causes luminance unevenness and a light emission failure of the light emitting point.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the display device according to the fourth embodiment. This figure shows a cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the arc tube. In the present embodiment, the arc tube has a plurality of arc tubes having a flat elliptical cross section arranged in correspondence with the outer diameter.

  In this case as well, similarly to the third embodiment, the arc tube 1h having a large outer diameter is arranged at one end (for example, the right end) of the screen, and the arc tube 1i having a medium outer diameter is sequentially arranged at the center of the screen. The arc tube 1j having a small outer diameter is arranged at the other end (for example, the left end) of the screen. Each arc tube has a specific outer diameter determined at the time of manufacture, and is measured and arranged in advance.

  Thus, when the arc tubes are arranged in the order of the outer diameter dimensions, even if the front substrate 31 is a film substrate such as flexible PET, for example, the display electrode pair formed on the front substrate 31 2 and the arc tube 1h, 1i, 1j can be made to have a uniform contact area, so that variations in drive voltage can be prevented, and a more uniform screen display without uneven brightness or drive voltage is possible. It becomes.

  FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a comparative example when the outer diameter of the arc tube is not taken into consideration, and is a comparative example using an arc tube having a flat elliptical cross section. Even in this arc tube, when the arc tubes 1h, 1i, 1j are randomly arranged without considering the outer diameter size, the arc tube 1j having a small outer diameter size is displayed due to the tension (tension) of the film substrate 31. Since the contact area with the electrode pair 2 is reduced, the drive voltage varies across the entire screen, causing uneven brightness and uneven drive voltage.

  As described above, when manufacturing a display device in which a plurality of arc tubes are juxtaposed, characteristics such as emission luminance, discharge threshold voltage, and outer diameter dimension of each arc tube are measured in advance, and arc tubes are arranged according to the characteristics. By arranging, it is possible to prevent display unevenness and drive voltage variation of the display device, and to improve the display quality of the arc tube.

  According to the present invention, since a plurality of arc tubes are arranged corresponding to the characteristics of each arc tube measured in advance, for example, if the arc tubes are arranged corresponding to the characteristic of emission luminance, display is performed. If the arc tube is arranged corresponding to the characteristic of the discharge threshold voltage, the display is stabilized, and if the arc tube is arranged corresponding to the characteristic of the outer diameter, the arc tube Light emission mistakes are prevented.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the whole structure of the display apparatus of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of Embodiment 1 of a display apparatus. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the horizontal coordinate x of the screen of Embodiment 1 and the light emission luminance of the arc tube at the position of the coordinate. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example of a screen when the entire screen of the display device of Embodiment 1 is displayed in white. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the comparative example of the arrangement | sequence by light emission luminance. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of Embodiment 2 of a display apparatus. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the coordinate x of the horizontal direction of the screen of Embodiment 2, and the discharge threshold voltage of the arc_tube | light_emitting_tube in the position of the coordinate. It is a graph which shows the comparative example of the arrangement | sequence by discharge threshold voltage. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of Embodiment 3 of a display apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the comparative example when not considering the outer diameter dimension of an arc_tube | light_emitting_tube. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of Embodiment 4 of a display apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the comparative example when not considering the outer diameter dimension of an arc_tube | light_emitting_tube.

Explanation of symbols

1 arc tube 1a arc tube with high emission brightness 1b arc tube with low emission brightness 1c arc tube with low discharge threshold voltage 1d arc tube with high discharge threshold voltage 1e, 1h arc tube with large outside diameter 1f, 1i with outside diameter Medium arc tube 1g, 1j Arc tube with small outer diameter 2 Display electrode pair 3 Data electrode 21 Non-discharge region 31 Front side substrate 32 Back side substrate

Claims (3)

A display device in which a phosphor layer is arranged and a discharge gas is enclosed, and a plurality of light emitting tubes composed of thin tubes having a plurality of light emitting points in the longitudinal direction are juxtaposed,
Comprising a plurality of electrodes arranged in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the arc tube,
The discharge threshold voltage is applied to the central portion of the display device in such an order that the discharge threshold characteristics change smoothly in response to the variation in the discharge threshold characteristics at the time of manufacturing each arc tube measured in advance . A display device in which a plurality of arc tubes, each having a low arc tube and an arc tube having a high discharge threshold voltage at the end, are juxtaposed.   The display device with juxtaposed plural arc tubes according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of supports for sandwiching the plural arc tubes arranged side by side from the display surface side and the back surface side. 3. A display device in which a plurality of arc tubes are juxtaposed , wherein the plurality of electrodes are formed on an arc tube facing surface of a support located on the display surface side.

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