Abstract: Inert gas provided at a suitable level inside a hermetically sealed cathode-ray tube display, typically of the flat-panel type, enables the display's electron-emitting device (20) to be automatically cleaned during display operation subsequent to final display sealing. Upon being struck by electrons emitted by the electron-emitting device, atoms (68) of the inert gas ionize to produce positively charged ions (124) which travel backward to the electron-emitting device and dislodge overlying contaminant material (130 and 132). A getter (26) collects dislodged contaminant. A reservoir (28) provides inert gas to replace inert gas lost during the cleaning process.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing contaminants from a display device is disclosed. In one embodiment, an auxiliary chamber is adapted to be coupled to a surface of a display device such that contaminants within the display device can travel from the display device into the auxiliary chamber. A getter is disposed in the auxiliary chamber. The getter is adapted to capture the contaminants once the contaminants travel from the display device into the auxiliary chamber. In other embodiments, the getter is disposed in the border region surrounding the active area of the display.

Abstract: A light-emitting device (42, 68, 80, 90, or 100) suitable for a flat-panel CRT display contains a plate (54), a light-emissive region (56), a light-blocking region (58), and a light-reflective layer (60 or 70). The light-emitting device achieves one or more of the following characteristics by suitably implementing the light-reflective layer or/and providing one or more layers (72, 82, 92, and 100) along the light-reflective layer: (a) reduced electron energy loss as electrons pass through the light-reflective layer, (b) gettering along the light-reflective layer, (c) reduced secondary electron emission along the light-reflective layer, (d) reduced electron backscattering along the light-reflective layer, and (e) reduced chemical reactivity along the light-reflective layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing contaminants from a display device is disclosed. In one embodiment, an auxiliary chamber is adapted to be coupled to a surface of a display device such that contaminants within the display device can travel from the display device into the auxiliary chamber. A getter is disposed in the auxiliary chamber. The getter is adapted to capture the contaminants once the contaminants travel from the display device into the auxiliary chamber. In other embodiments, the getter is disposed in the border region surrounding the active area of the display.

Abstract: Methods for performing cathode burn-in with respect to an FED display that avoid display non-uniformities near and around the spacer wall structures. In a first method, the anode is floated or receives a negative voltage with respect to the electron emitter. A positive voltage is then applied to the focus waffle structure with respect to the electron emitter. The cathode is then energized thereby preventing emitted electrons from escaping the focus well. Under these conditions, cathode burn-in conditioning can occur but electrons are energetically forbidden from hitting the anode or the spacer walls except for a small region near the focus waffle. Under the second method, the anode is grounded or allowed to float. A negative bias is applied to the focus waffle. This causes electrons to be collected at the M2 layer of the gate. Electrons are energetically forbidden from hitting any portion of the tube except the M2 layer.

Abstract: Inert gas provided at a suitable level inside a hermetically sealed cathode-ray tube display, typically of the flat-panel type, enables the display's electron-emitting device (20) to be automatically cleaned during display operation subsequent to final display sealing. Upon being struck by electrons emitted by the electron-emitting device, atoms (68) of the inert gas ionize to produce positively charged ions (124) which travel backward to the electron-emitting device and dislodge overlying contaminant material (130 and 132). A getter (26) collects dislodged contaminant. A reservoir (28) provides inert gas to replace inert gas lost during the cleaning process.

Abstract: A light-emitting device (42, 68, 80, 90, or 100) suitable for a flat-panel CRT display contains a plate (54), a light-emissive region (56), and a light-reflective layer (60 or 70). The light-emitting device achieves one or more of the following characteristics by suitably implementing the light-reflective layer or/and providing one or more layers (72, 82, 92, and 100) along the light-reflective layer: (a) reduced electron energy loss as electrons pass through the light-reflective layer, (b) gettering along the light-reflective layer, (c) reduced secondary electron emission along the light-reflective layer, (d) reduced electron backscattering along the light-reflective layer, and (e) reduced chemical reactivity along the light-reflective layer.

Abstract: A structure and method for forming an column electrode for a field emission display device wherein the column electrode is disposed beneath the field emitters and the row electrode. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises depositing a resistor layer over portions of a column electrode. Next, an inter-metal dielectric layer is deposited over the column electrode. In the present embodiment, the inter-metal dielectric layer is deposited over portions of the resistor layer and over pad areas of the column electrode. After the deposition of the inter-metal dielectric layer, the column electrode is subjected to an anodization process such that exposed regions of the column electrode are anodized. In so doing, the present invention provides a column electrode structure which is resistant to column to row electrode shorts and which is protected from subsequent processing steps.

Abstract: A flat panel display that has internal components that are cleaned using a dry cleaning treatment. The cleaned internal components include a matrix structure, a focus structure and a support structure. The dry cleaning treatment removes contaminants from the surfaces of the internal components. By cleaning the internal components, contaminants are removed that can deleteriously affect the performance of the display. The cleaned support structure has uniform resistance and does not produce spatially nonuniform resistivity over time. This prevents regions of the visible display that are not properly illuminated and minimizes the possibility of arcing.

Abstract: A cathode structure suitable for a flat panel display is provided with coated emitters. The emitters are formed with material, typically nickel, capable of growing to a high aspect ratio. These emitters are then coated with carbon containing material for improving the chemical robustness and reducing the work function. One coating process is a DC plasma deposition process in which acetylene is pumped through a DC plasma reactor to create a DC plasma for coating the cathode structure. An alternative coating process is to electrically deposit raw carbon-based material onto the surface of the emitters, and subsequently reduce the raw carbon-based material to the carbon containing material. Work function of coated emitters is typically reduced by about 0.8 to 1.0 eV.

Abstract: A cathode structure suitable for a flat panel display is provided with coated emitters. The emitters are formed with material, typically nickel, capable of growing to a high aspect ratio. These emitters are then coated with carbon containing material for improving the chemical robustness and reducing the work function. One coating process is a DC plasma deposition process in which acetylene is pumped through a DC plasma reactor to create a DC plasma for coating the cathode structure. An alternative coating process is to electrically deposit raw carbon-based material onto the surface of the emitters, and subsequently reduce the raw carbon-based material to the carbon containing material. Work function of coated emitters is typically reduced by about 0.8 to 1.0 eV.

Abstract: A cathode structure suitable for a flat-panel display contains an emitter layer (213) divided into emitter lines, a plurality of electron emitters (229, 239, or 230) situated over the emitter lines, and a gate layer (215A) having an upper surface spaced largely above the electron emitters. The gate layer has a plurality of gate holes (215B) each corresponding to one of the electron emitters. The cathode structure further includes a carbon-containing layer (340, 240, or 241) coated over the electron emitters and directly on at least part of the upper surface of the gate layer such that at least part of the carbon-containing layer extending along and above the gate layer is exposed.

Abstract: A cathode structure suitable for a flat panel display is provided with coated emitters. The emitters are formed with material, typically nickel, capable of growing to a high aspect ratio. These emitters are then coated with carbon containing material for improving the chemical robustness and reducing the work function. One coating process is a DC plasma deposition process in which acetylene is pumped through a DC plasma reactor to create a DC plasma for coating the cathode structure. An alternative coating process is to electrically deposit raw carbon-based material onto the surface of the emitters, and subsequently reduce the raw carbon-based material to the carbon containing material. Work function of coated emitters is typically reduced by about 0.8 to 1.0 eV.

Abstract: A cathode structure suitable for a flat panel display is provided with coated emitters. The emitters are formed with material, typically nickel, capable of growing to a high aspect ratio. These emitters are then coated with carbon containing material for improving the chemical robustness and reducing the work function. One coating process is a DC plasma deposition process in which acetylene is pumped through a DC plasma reactor to create a DC plasma for coating the cathode structure. An alternative coating process is to electrically deposit raw carbon-based material onto the surface of the emitters, and subsequently reduce the raw carbon-based material to the carbon containing material. Work function of coated emitters is typically reduced by about 0.8 to 1.0 eV.

Abstract: A flat panel display that has internal components that are cleaned using a dry cleaning treatment. The cleaned internal. components include a matrix structure, a focus structure and a support structure. The dry cleaning treatment removes contaminants from the surfaces of the internal components. By cleaning the internal components, contaminants are removed that can deleteriously affect the performance of the display. The cleaned support structure has uniform resistance and does not produce spatially nonuniform resistivity over time. This prevents regions of the visible display that are not properly illuminated and minimizes the possibility of arcing.

Abstract: Multiple procedures are presented for removing contaminant material (12) from electron-emissive elements (10) of an electron-emitting device (30). One procedure involves converting the contaminant material into gaseous products (14), typically by operating the electron-emissive elements, that move away from the electron-emissive elements. Another procedure entails converting the contaminant material into further material (16) and removing the further material. An additional procedure involves forming surface coatings (18 or 20) over the electron-emissive elements. The contaminant material is then removed directly from the surface coatings or by removing at least part of each surface coating.