Flat panel display, method of high vacuum sealing
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorsCraig M. Dunham, Seungwoo Lee, Jim Browning, Michel Garcia
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An evacuated cavity is hermetically sealed between a baseplate and faceplate of a flat panel display. Melting a glass powder, or frit, on the perimeter of the viewing area forms the hermetic seal. After melting the frit, a first fluid is circulated through the cavity to speed cooling. To further expedite the cooling of the flat panel display, a second fluid flows externally along the contour of the flat panel display to insure that the cooling is uniform and thereby avoid thermal shock.
Claims29
A method for high vacuum sealing a flat panel display, comprising:
- lining the edges of a first component plate with a bonding material;
- positioning a second component plate over the first component plate, wherein the bonding material is sandwiched between the component plates, thereby defining a cavity between the plates;
- heating the bonding material between the component plates;
- channeling a cooling fluid through the cavity after heating the bonding material, wherein the cooling fluid has a lower temperature than the component plates;
- and
- evacuating the cavity after channeling the fluid.
A method of manufacturing a flat panel display, comprising:
- forming a flat panel display assembly with an internal cavity;
- thermally processing the assembly in a processing chamber;
- flowing a first fluid through the cavity after thermally processing, whereby the first fluid cools inner surfaces of the assembly by convection;
- while flowing the first fluid, simultaneously flowing a second fluid within the processing chamber, whereby the second fluid cools outer surfaces of the assembly by convection;
- and
- sealing the cavity.
A method of cooling a flat panel display assembly, comprising at least two component plates, after melting a frit to bond the plates together and define a cavity between them, the method comprising:
- simultaneously supplying heated gas to inside and outside surfaces of the flat panel display assembly;
- and
- gradually cooling the gas while supplying the gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.