LOW-VOLTAGE THIN-FILM ELECTROLUMINESCENT PHOSPHOR

HIGH-RESOLUTION, FULL-COLOR, THIN-FILM ELECTROLUMINESCENT FLAT-PANEL DISPLAYS FOR CRITICAL SPACECRAFT APPLICATIONS WILL REQUIRE HIGHER PIXEL DENSITIES THAN CAN BE SUPPORTED BYCONVENTIONAL THIN-FILM ELECTROLUMINESCENT (TFEL) PHOSPHOR TECHNOLOGY. THIS IS DUE TO THE HIGH OPERATING VOLTAGES REQUIRED BY THESE DEVICES AND THE LIKELIHOOD OR ARCING AT SMALL PIXEL SPACINGS. HOWEVER, IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE REQUIRED OPERATING VOLTAGES UTILIZING RECENTLY DEVELOPED DEPOSITION-ENHANCEMENT TECHNIQUES, SUCH AS ION-BEAM-ASSISTED DEPOSITION, IN CONJUNCTION WITH NEW DIELECTRIC FILMS BASED ON DIAMOND-LIKE HYDROGENATED AMORPHOUS CARBON TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE THICKNESS OF THE PHOSPHOR LAYERS. REDUCED VOLTAGE REQUIREMENTS WOULD ALSO ALLOW DEVELOPMENT OF MORE COMPACT AND LIGHTWEIGHT MONOLITHIC DISPLAYS WITH HIGHER BRIGHTNESS, LONGER LIFETIMES, AND HIGHER RESOLUTION THAN ARE ACHIEVABLE WITH CONVENTIONAL TFELS.