Method for forming spacers in flat panel displays using photo-etching
AssigneeMicron Display Technology, Inc.
InventorJason B. Elledge
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Photoetchable glass is used to form spacer elements for large area field emission displays. Frit dots are placed onto a substrate. A sheet of photo etchable glass is exposed to UV light using a mask such that the UV light exposes the etchable areas and does not expose the areas which will form the spacers. The etchable glass is then heat treated to crystallize the UV exposed areas and to tailor the coefficient of thermal expansion. Next the glass is adhered to the frit coated substrate and the UV exposed areas etched away leaving spacers adhered to frit dots.
Claims14
A method for making spacer elements for large area field emission displays comprising the steps of:
- forming a number of adhesive areas on a substrate;
- exposing a sheet of photo etchable material to light through a mask such that the exposure of light defines areas which will form spacers and areas to be later removed;
- adhering the areas which will form the spacers to the adhesive areas on the substrate;
- and
- removing the areas to be removed from the photo etchable material, thereby leaving spacers adhered to said substrate at the adhesive areas.
A method comprising the steps of:
- forming a number of frit regions on a substrate;
- exposing a sheet of photoetchable glass to UV light through a mask such that the UV light exposes etchable areas and does not expose areas which will form spacer elements;
- heat treating the exposed etchable glass to crystallize the exposed areas;
- adhering the exposed and treated etchable glass to the substrate with the frit regions formed thereon;
- and
- etching the UV exposed areas such that spacers are adhered to the frit regions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.