Socket for use with a micro-component in a light-emitting panel

Abstract

An improved light-emitting panel having a plurality of micro-components at least partially disposed in a socket and sandwiched between two substrates is disclosed. Each micro-component contains a gas or gas-mixture capable of ionization when a sufficiently large voltage is supplied across the micro-component via at least two electrodes.

1 . A energy-detecting light-emitting panel comprising: 
 a first substrate;    a second substrate opposed to the first substrate;    a plurality of sockets, each socket comprising a cavity and wherein the cavity is patterned on the first substrate so as to be formed in the first substrate;    a plurality of micro-components, each micro-component containing an ionizable gas or gas-mixture, wherein at least one micro-component of the plurality of micro-components is at least partially disposed in each socket;    a plurality of electrodes, wherein at least two electrodes of the plurality of electrodes are adhered to only the first substrate, only the second substrate, or at least one electrode of the at least two electrodes is adhered to each of the first substrate and the second substrate;    wherein a voltage is applied to the at least two electrodes, which voltage is just below a write potential required for ionization of gas or gas-mixture, and wherein when at least a portion of the panel is exposed to an external energy, the external energy causes the gas or gas-mixture to ionize and at least one micro-component to thereby emit radiation.    
   
   
       2 . The energy-detecting light-emitting panel of  claim 1 , wherein the external energy is photons.  
   
   
       3 . The energy-detecting light-emitting panel of  claim 1 , wherein the depth of the cavity is selected to achieve a specific field of view for the light-emitting display.  
   
   
       4 . The energy-detecting light-emitting panel of  claim 1 , wherein at least one socket is at least partially coated with phosphor.  
   
   
       5 . The energy-detecting light-emitting panel of  claim 1 , wherein at least one socket is at least partially coated with a reflective material.  
   
   
       6 . The energy-detecting light-emitting panel of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive or bonding agent disposed in the cavity.  
   
   
       7 . The energy-detecting light-emitting panel of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of material layers comprise at least one enhancement material selected from the group consisting of anti-glare coatings, touch sensitive surfaces, contrast enhancement coatings, and protective coatings.  
   
   
       8 . The energy-detecting light-emitting panel of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of material layers comprise at least one enhancement material selected from the group consisting of transistors, integrated-circuits, semiconductor devices, inductors, capacitors, resistors, diodes, control electronics, drive electronics, pulse-forming networks, pulse compressors, pulse transformers, and tuned-circuits.  
   
   
       9 . A light-emitting panel comprising: 
 a first substrate;    a second substrate opposed to the first substrate;    a plurality of sockets, wherein each socket of the plurality of sockets comprises a cavity and wherein the cavity is patterned on the first substrate so as to be formed in the first substrate;    a plurality of micro-components, wherein at least one micro-component of the plurality of micro-components is at least partially disposed in each socket;    a plurality of electrodes, wherein at least two electrodes of the plurality of electrodes are adhered to only the first substrate, only the second substrate, or at least one electrode is adhered to the each of the first substrate and the second substrate and wherein the at least two electrodes are arranged so that voltage supplied to the at least two electrodes causes one or more micro-components to emit radiation.    
   
   
       10 . The light-emitting panel of  claim 9 , wherein the cavity is in a shape selected from the group consisting of a cube, a cone, a conical frustum, a paraboloid, spherical, cylindrical, a pyramid, a pyramidal frustum, a parallelepiped, and a prism.  
   
   
       11 . The light-emitting panel of  claim 9 , wherein the depth of the cavity is selected to achieve a specific field of view for the light-emitting display.  
   
   
       12 . The light-emitting panel of  claim 9 , wherein at least one socket is at least partially coated with phosphor.  
   
   
       13 . The light-emitting panel of  claim 9 , wherein at least one socket is at least partially coated with a reflective material.  
   
   
       14 . The light-emitting panel of  claim 9 , further comprising an adhesive or bonding agent disposed in the cavity.  
   
   
       15 . The light-emitting panel of  claim 9 , wherein at least one socket comprises at least one enhancement material selected from the group consisting of anti-glare coatings, touch sensitive surfaces, contrast enhancement coatings, and protective coatings.  
   
   
       16 . The light-emitting panel of  claim 9 , wherein at least one socket comprises at least one enhancement material selected from the group consisting of transistors, integrated-circuits, semiconductor devices, inductors, capacitors, resistors, diodes, control electronics, drive electronics, pulse-forming networks, pulse compressors, pulse transformers, and tuned-circuits.  
   
   
       17 . A light-emitting panel comprising: 
 a first substrate;    a second substrate opposed to the first substrate;    a plurality of sockets, wherein each socket of the plurality of sockets comprises:    a cavity, wherein the cavity is patterned on the first substrate so as to be formed in the first substrate; and    a plurality of material layers, wherein the plurality of material layers are disposed on the first substrate such that the plurality of material layers conform to the shape of the cavity of each socket;    a plurality of micro-components, wherein at least one micro-component of the plurality of micro-components is at least partially disposed in each socket;    a plurality of electrodes, wherein at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes is disposed within the material layers.    
   
   
       18 . The light-emitting display of  claim 17 , wherein at least two electrodes of the plurality of electrodes are arranged so that voltage supplied to the at least two electrodes causes one or more micro-components to emit radiation throughout the field of view of the light-emitting panel without crossing the at least two electrodes.  
   
   
       19 . The light-emitting panel of  claim 17 , wherein the shape of the cavity is selected from the group consisting of a cube, a cone, a conical frustum, a paraboloid, spherical, cylindrical, a pyramid, a pyramidal frustum, a parallelepiped, and a prism.  
   
   
       20 . The light-emitting panel of  claim 17 , wherein the depth of the cavity is selected to achieve a specific field of view for the light-emitting display.  
   
   
       21 . The light-emitting panel of  claim 17 , wherein at least one socket is at least partially coated with phosphor.  
   
   
       22 . The light-emitting panel of  claim 17 , wherein at least one socket is at least partially coated with a reflective material.  
   
   
       23 . The light-emitting panel of  claim 17 , further comprising an adhesive or bonding agent disposed in each socket.  
   
   
       24 . The light-emitting panel of  claim 17 , wherein the material layers comprise at least one enhancement material selected from the group consisting of anti-glare coatings, touch sensitive surfaces, contrast enhancement coatings, and protective coatings.  
   
   
       25 . The light-emitting panel of  claim 17 , wherein the material layers comprise at least one enhancement material selected from the group consisting of transistors, integrated-circuits, semiconductor devices, inductors, capacitors, resistors, diodes, control electronics, drive electronics, pulse-forming networks, pulse compressors, pulse transformers, and tuned-circuits.