Vacuum Hold-Down for Seamless Image Panel Flatness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tiled display systems face image artifacts due to movement between the image panel and the front plane panel caused by rolling and air pockets, which affects the flatness and contact between phosphors, leading to suboptimal image quality.
Innovation Solution
A breather assembly is coupled to the image panel, allowing a vacuum to be drawn to pull the panels into intimate contact with the phosphors, while permitting independent movement, thereby reducing relative movement and preventing image artifacts during thermal expansion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the image panel is rolled for shipping, then ease of transport is improved, but air pockets form between panels causing image artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
A vacuum channel is pre-formed between the image panel and front plane panel before shipping, allowing air to be evacuated in advance. This preliminary action prevents air pockets from forming during rolling and transport, eliminating image artifacts while maintaining the ability to roll the panel for shipping.
2Reliability
If the panels are held in intimate contact, then image quality is improved, but thermal expansion causes stress and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum channel is segmented to allow differential movement between the image panel and front plane panel. This segmentation enables each panel to expand and contract independently during thermal cycles while maintaining intimate contact, preventing stress buildup and potential damage.
3Reliability
If sealing gaskets are added to prevent movement, then image quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A vacuum channel is formed between the image panel and front plane panel, using pneumatic pressure differential to hold the panels in intimate contact. This pneumatic approach eliminates the need for mechanical sealing gaskets, reducing structural complexity while maintaining image quality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures a flat and uniformly spaced image panel, enhancing image quality by eliminating internal reflections and allowing the panel to be rolled without strain, maintaining image integrity during transport and operation.
Implementation Method 1
A breather assembly is coupled to at least one edge of the image panel and a vacuum is drawn through the breather assembly
Implementation Method 2
a vacuum is drawn through the breather assembly to pull the image panel portion and the front panel into intimate contact
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure described herein generally relates to an image panel and a method of compressing the image panel. A breather assembly is coupled to at least one edge of the image panel and a vacuum is drawn through the breather assembly to pull the image panel portion and the front panel into intimate contact with phosphors sandwiched therebetween. The breather assembly draws the vacuum from the air pockets between adjacent phosphors to pull the image panel flat and thus prevent image artifacts from forming while also permitting the image panel portion and the front plane panel to move independently.