STTR Phase II: Improved Addressing Speed of Plasma-sphere Arrays

这个小型企业技术转移（STTR）第二阶段项目是一项研究，旨在将第一阶段使用单色等离子体球进行的高速寻址工作扩展到彩色等离子体球。等离子体球体是中空的透明外壳，封装了选定的加压气体。当在壳体上施加电压时，气体电离并发光。等离子球应用于柔性的、电可寻址的阵列，形成等离子球阵列，用于大面积等离子显示。等离子球阵列和标准等离子显示器一样，需要二次电子发射材料来提高寻址速度。在第二阶段，该团队将继续研究将这些材料应用于彩色等离子体球体的薄膜和厚膜技术。提出了一种制作视频速度的大面积等离子显示器的新方法。等离子球阵列与其他显示技术的不同之处在于，它允许低成本的柔性、超大尺寸、全彩色和全动态视频显示。这个项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是一个突破性的显示技术。它摆脱了亚洲许多显示器制造商所采用的传统半导体制造工艺，代之以美国公司所采用和理解的低成本塑料、玻璃和印刷工艺。高速寻址的成功开发将有助于该产品在庞大且不断增长的动态标牌市场走向商业化。这项技术的商业化将在美国创造就业机会和商业机会。此外，等离子球阵列的生产成本比超大型LED显示屏低一个数量级。较低的材料和制造成本提供了社会效益，因为所需的自然资源较少，对环境的税收影响较小。等离子体球阵列可以做得像LED显示屏一样大，同时保留传统刚性等离子体显示屏的许多特殊功能，包括良好的视角、高亮度、出色的对比度和全动态视频。

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project is a study to expand the high speed addressing work conducted under Phase I using monochrome Plasma-spheres to color Plasma-spheres. Plasma-spheres are hollow transparent shells that encapsulate a selected pressurized gas. When a voltage is applied across the shell, the gas ionizes and glows. Plasma-spheres are applied to flexible, electrically addressable arrays to form Plasma-sphere arrays for use as large area plasma displays. Plasma-sphere arrays, like standard plasma displays require secondary electron emitting materials to increases addressing speeds. Under Phase II, the team will continue to investigate both thin film and thick film techniques for applying these materials to color Plasma-spheres. The proposed research presents a novel approach to produce video speed large area plasma displays. The Plasma-sphere array differs from other display technologies in that it allows for low-cost displays that are flexible, ultra-large, with full-color and full motion video.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is a breakthrough display technology. It moves away from the traditional semiconductor fabrication processes as practiced by many display manufacturers in Asia and replaces them with low cost plastic, glass, and printing processes practiced and well understood by US based companies. The successful development of a high speed addressing will help move this product toward commercialization in the large and growing market of dynamic signage. Commercialization of this technology will lead to job creation and commercial opportunities in the United States. Furthermore, Plasma-sphere arrays are an order of magnitude lower in production cost when compared with ultra large LED displays. Lower material and manufacturing costs provide a social benefit in that fewer natural resources are required with a less taxing effect on the environment. The Plasmasphere array can be made large like an LED display, while retaining many of the exceptional features of a conventional, rigid plasma display including good viewing angle, high brightness, excellent contrast, andfull motion video.