Flat-panel-display, bottom-side, electrostatic-dissipation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9839106-B2
Application number	US-201514925490-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2015
Priority date	Jul 23, 2014
Publication date	Dec 5, 2017
Grant date	Dec 5, 2017

Abstract

The invention includes a flat-panel-display (FPD) manufacturing machine which utilizes x-rays for electrostatic dissipation of a bottom side of a FPD when lifting the FPD off of a table during manufacture of the FPD. The invention also includes a method of electrostatic dissipation of a bottom side of an FPD.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flat-panel-display (FPD) manufacturing machine comprising a table, a lift-pin, an actuator, and an x-ray tube, wherein:
a. the table has a hole;
b. the lift-pin is movably located in the hole;
c. the actuator is configured to exert a force on the lift-pin to at least assist in causing the lift-pin to lift the FPD off of the table; and
d. the x-ray tube forms at least a vertical segment of and is movable along with the lift pin.

2. The FPD manufacturing machine of claim 1 , further comprising a spacer, wherein the spacer is:
a. electrically-insulative;
b. located at an x-ray emission-end of the x-ray tube;
c. configured to electrically insulate the x-ray tube from the FPD; and
d. configured to maintain a predetermined distance between the emission-end of the x-ray tube and the FPD when lifting the FPD.

3. The FPD manufacturing machine of claim 1 , wherein the x-ray tube is the entire lift-pin.

4. The FPD manufacturing machine of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined distance is between 3-10 millimeters.

5. The FPD manufacturing machine of claim 2 , wherein the spacer comprises a polymer.

6. The FPD manufacturing machine of claim 2 , wherein the spacer comprises polyether ether ketone.

7. The FPD manufacturing machine of claim 2 , wherein the spacer is hollow, forming a region for formation of ions.

8. The FPD manufacturing machine of claim 7 , wherein the spacer is vented and the vents allow passage of ions and x-rays outward from the spacer.

9. The FPD manufacturing machine of claim 2 , wherein the spacer is part of a shell, a hollow region of which shell extends beyond the emission-end of the x-ray tube to form the spacer.

10. The FPD manufacturing machine of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to cause the x-ray tube to emit x-rays between the FPD and the table when the lift-pin at least assists in lifting the FPD off of the table.

11. The FPD manufacturing machine of claim 10 , wherein the controller comprises a power supply for the x-ray tube.

12. A flat-panel-display (FPD) manufacturing machine comprising a table, a lift-ping an actuator, and an x-ray tube, wherein:
a. the table includes:
i. an insulative outer layer configured to face and contact he FPD; and
ii. a hole;

b. the is movably located in the hole;
c. the actuator is configured to exert a force on the lift-pin to at least assist in causing the lift-pin to lift the FPD off of the table;
d. the table is configured for mounting an x-ray tube for dissipation of static electricity on a bottom side of the FPD during manufacture of the FPD;
e. the lift-pin is a lift-cylinder with a hollow-core; and
f. the x-ray tube is located inside the hollow-core of the lift-cylinder and is mounted fixed and stationary with respect to the table.

13. The FPD manufacturing machine of claim 12 , wherein the lift-cylinder comprises carbon fiber composite.

14. The FPD manufacturing machine of claim 12 , wherein the lift-cylinder is vented to allow ions and x-rays to more easily pass outside of the hollow-core of the lift-cylinder.

15. A flat-panel-display (FPD) manufacturing machine comprising a table, a lift-pin, an actuator, and an x-ray tube, wherein:
a. the table includes:
i. an insulative outer layer configured, to face and contact the FPD; and
ii. a hole and a second-hole;

b. the lift-pin is movably located in the hole;
c. the actuator is configured to exert a force on the lift-pin to at least assist in causing the lift-pin to lift the FPD off of the table;
d. the table is configured for mounting an x-ray tube for dissipation of static electricity on a bottom side of the FPD during manufacture of the FPD;
e. the x-ray tube is mounted, fixed and stationary with respect to the table, inside the second-hole; and
f. no lift-pin, configured to at least assist in lifting the FPD, is located in the second-hole.

16. The FPD manufacturing machine of claim 15 , wherein:
a. the table has a bearing-surface for holding the FPD; and
b. an x-ray emission-end the x-ray tube is located from flush with, to a distance of up to 10 millimeters below, the bearing-surface of the table.

17. A method of claim 10 , electrostatic dissipation of a bottom side of a flat-panel-display (FPD) during manufacture of the FPD, the method comprising lifting the FPD off of a table; emitting x-rays between the FPD and the table when the FPD is, lifted off of the table; and wherein lifting the FPD includes using an x-ray tube to at least assist in lifting the FPD off of the table.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein:
a. the table has a bearing-surface for holding the FPD; and
b. the x-ray tube is configured to emit x-rays radially outward and parallel to the bearing surface.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the x-ray tube is configured to emit x-rays radially outward and parallel to the bearing surface in a 360 degree arc around a circumference of the x-ray tube.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein an anode of the x-ray tube has a convex surface with target material and a window of the x-ray tube is annular-shaped.

Assignees

• Moxtek Inc

Inventors

• Miller Eric
• Wilson Steven West
• Kamtekar Sanjay
• Hansen Bill
• Harris Brad

Classifications

• H01J9/241 Primary

  the vessel being for a flat panel display (H01J9/261 takes precedence; flat discharge lamps H01J9/248) · CPC title

• H05F3/04 Primary

  by means of spark gaps or other discharge devices (devices providing for corona discharge per se H01T19/00) · CPC title

• H01J9/00

  Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture {, installation, removal, maintenance} of electric discharge tubes, discharge lamps, or parts thereof; Recovery of material from discharge tubes or lamps · CPC title

• H01J2235/086

  Target geometry · CPC title