Getters and gettering in plasma display panels

In this article, starting from a calculation of the internal conductance inside AC and DC plasma display panels (PDPs), st simple theoretical model is used to estimate the pressure evolution inside a display during the exhausting process and the lifetime. All the values obtained are then compared to the results of specific measurements carried out on real PDPs. Based on these data, the role of a getter inside PDPs and possible getter configurations are discussed. According to the model proposed, the placement of nonevaporable getters (NEGs) inside the panel in a suitable arrangement is shown to improve the quality of the devices. A NEG can, in fact, act as an in situ pump during the production process (reducing the exhausting time) as well as a gas-purifier during the life of the PDP (sorbing the outgassed species). (C) 1998 American Vacuum Society.