Patent attributes
A single substrate AC and/or DC gas discharge (plasma) display device comprised of hollow microspheres containing ionizable gas at a predetermined pressure, each microsphere being positioned on the surface of the substrate or within a substrate cavity, well, or hollow. Each microsphere is in electrical contact with 2, 3, or more electrodes. The AC or DC gas discharge within each microsphere emits photons in the visible and/or invisible range. In one embodiment, photons from the gas discharge within a microsphere excite a luminescent substance or material such as a phosphor that emits photons in the visible and/or invisible spectrum. The microsphere may contain the luminescent substance or the substance may be located separately from, but in close proximity to, the microsphere.