Abstract: A method of removing contaminant particles in newly fabricated field emission displays. According to one embodiment of the present invention, contaminant particles are removed by a conditioning process which includes the steps of: a) driving a anode of a field emission display (FED) to a predetermined voltage; b) slowly increasing an emission current of the FED after the anode has reached the predetermined voltage; and c) providing an ion-trapping device for catching the ions and particles knocked off, or otherwise released, by emitted electrons. In this embodiment, by driving the anode to the predetermined voltage and by slowly increasing the emission current of the FED, contaminant particles are effectively removed without damaging the FED. The present invention also provides a method of operating FEDs to prevent gate-to-emitter current during turn-on and turn-off.

Abstract: A method of removing contaminant particles in newly fabricated field emission displays. According to one embodiment of the present invention, contaminant particles are removed by a conditioning process which includes the steps of: a) driving a anode of a field emission display (FED) to a predetermined voltage; b) slowly increasing an emission current of the FED after the anode has reached the predetermined voltage; and c) providing an ion-trapping device for catching the ions and particles knocked off, or otherwise released, by emitted electrons. In this embodiment, by driving the anode to the predetermined voltage and by slowly increasing the emission current of the FED, contaminant particles are effectively removed without damaging the FED. The present invention also provides a method of operating FEDs to prevent gate-to-emitter current during turn-on and turn-off.

Abstract: A spacer (100 or 600/1000A/1000B) situated between a faceplate structure (301) and a backplate structure (302) of a flat panel display is configured to be self standing. In one implementation, a pair of spacer feet (111 or 113 and 112 or 114) are located over the same face surface, or over opposite face surfaces, of a spacer wall (101) near opposite ends of the wall. An edge electrode (121 or 122) is located over an edge surface of the spacer adjacent to the faceplate structure or the backplate structure. In another implementation, a spacer clip (1000A or 1000B) clamps opposite face surfaces of a spacer wall (600) largely at one end of the wall.

Abstract: A conductive focus waffle structure for focusing electrons emitted from a cathode portion of a flat panel display device, and a method for forming the conductive focus waffle structure. In one embodiment, the present invention applies a first layer of photo-imagable material above a cathode portion of a flat panel display device. This embodiment then removes portions of the layer of photo-imagable material such that openings are formed therein. A layer of conductive material is then applied over the cathode such that conductive material is disposed within the openings in the layer of photo-imagable material. A dielectric layer of material is also disposed between the cathode and the bottom surface of the conductive material. This embodiment of the present invention then removes the layer of photo-imagable material such that at least a portion of the conductive focus waffle structure is formed disposed above the cathode.

Abstract: A flat panel display contains a faceplate structure (174 or 350), a backplate structure (175 or 351), and a spacer (140, 340, 0r 341). A light-emitting structure (171 or 306) is located along a faceplate (170 or 302) in the faceplate structure. An electron-emitting structure (172 or 305) is located along a backplate (173 or 303) in the backplate structure. The spacer is situated between the light-emitting and electron-emitting structures. Transition metal oxide or transition metal in oxide state is present in a ceramic core (401, 501, 0r 601) or/and a resistive skin (402, 403, 502, 503, 602, or 603) of the spacer.

Abstract: A method of removing contaminant particles in newly fabricated field emission displays. According to one embodiment of the present invention, contaminant particles are removed by a conditioning process which includes the steps of: a) driving a anode of a field emission display (FED) to a predetermined voltage; b) slowly increasing an emission current of the FED after the anode has reached the predetermined voltage; and c) providing an ion-trapping device for catching the ions and particles knocked off, or otherwise released, by emitted electrons. In this embodiment, by driving the anode to the predetermined voltage and by slowly increasing the emission current of the FED, contaminant particles are effectively removed without damaging the FED. The present invention also provides a method of operating FEDs to prevent gate-to-emitter current during turn-on and turn-off.

Abstract: A flat panel display (500 or 700) contains a faceplate structure (510 or720), a backplate structure (511 or 730) coupled to the faceplate structure, and a plurality of spacers (501-503, 601, or 701-707) situated between the faceplate and backplate structures. The faceplate structure is formed with a faceplate )721) and a light emitting structure (722). The backplate structure is formed with a backplate (731) and an electron emitting structure (732). The core of each spacer is a spacer body (602 or 757). A face electrode (501a-503a, 203, 604, or 771-778) overlies the spacer body of each spacer. A common bus structure (504 or 723) electrically connects the face electrodes, thereby enabling charge built up on any particular spacer to be distributed among all the spacers.

Abstract: A flat panel display (300) contains a faceplate structure (320), a backplate structure (330) coupled to the faceplate structure, and a spacer (351 or 352) situated between the faceplate and backplate structures. The spacer is formed with material having a dielectric constant greater than 100 times the permittivity constant. The constituents of the spacer material typically include oxygen and aluminum, chromium, and titanium bonded to the oxygen. The titanium is present in the spacer at a level corresponding to approximately 4% titanium oxide by weight.

Abstract: The invention provides spacers for separating and supporting a faceplate structure and a backplate structure in a flat panel display, and methods for fabricating these spacers. Each spacer is typically made of ceramic, such as alumina, containing transition metal oxide, such as titania, chromia or iron oxide. Each spacer can be fabricated with an electrically insulating core and electrically resistive skins. The insulating core can be a wafer formed of ceramic such as alumina, and the resistive skins can be formed by laminating electrically resistive wafers, formed from alumina containing transition metal oxide, to the outside surfaces of the insulating core. Each spacer can also have a core of electrically insulating ceramic composition made of a ceramic containing a transition metal oxide in its higher oxide states, and electrically resistive outside surfaces made of a ceramic containing a transition metal oxide in lower oxide states.

Abstract: Spacers (140 or 404) suitable for a flat panel display are fabricated according to a process in which a laminated wafer (100 or 400) is formed by laminating a core wafer (401) of electrically insulating ceramic to an additional wafer (402 or 403) created at least from electrically insulating ceramic, transition metal, and oxygen, at least part of the oxygen being bonded to the transition metal and/or constituents of the ceramic. The laminated wafer is then cut to form the spacers. Face metallization strips (101-110 or 405 and 406) may be provided over outside face surfaces of the laminated wafer.

Abstract: A flat panel display (300) having a spacer (351) situated between a faceplate structure (320) and a backplate structure (330) is partitioned into (a) a pair of spacer-adjacent regions (303 and 304) adjacent to, and on opposite sides of, the spacer and (b) a pair of spacer-charging regions (302 and 305) respectively adjacent to, and further away from the spacer than, the spacer-charging regions. Each of the spacer-adjacent and spacer-charging consists of one or more pixel rows. Instead of activating the pixel rows sequentially during a frame of pixel information, the pixel rows are activated according to the order that arises when both of the spacer-charging regions are activated after activating the two spacer-adjacent regions. Operating the display in this manner reduces charge buildup on the spacer.

Abstract: The invention provides spacers for separating and supporting a faceplate structure and a backplate structure in a flat panel display, and methods for fabricating these spacers. Each spacer is typically made of ceramic, such as alumina, containing transition metal oxide, such as titania, chromia or iron oxide. Each spacer can be fabricated with an electrically insulating core and electrically resistive skins. The insulating core can be a wafer formed of ceramic such as alumina, and the resistive skins can be formed by laminating electrically resistive wafers, formed from alumina containing transition metal oxide, to the outside surfaces of the insulating core. Each spacer can also have a core of electrically insulating ceramic composition made of a ceramic containing a transition metal oxide in its higher oxide states, and electrically resistive outside surfaces made of a ceramic containing a transition metal oxide in lower oxide states.

Abstract: A method for forming a three-dimensional multi-level conductive matrix structure for a flat panel display device. In one embodiment, the present invention forms first pixel separating structures across a surface of a faceplate of a flat panel display. The first pixel separating structures separate adjacent first sub-pixel regions. In this embodiment, the first pixel separating structures are formed by applying a first layer of photo-imagable material across the surface of the faceplate. Next, portions of the first layer of photo-imagable material are removed to leave regions of the first layer of photo-imagable material covering respective first sub-pixel regions. Then, a first layer of conductive material is applied over the surface of the faceplate such that the first layer conductive material is disposed between the aforementioned regions of the first layer of photo-imagable material.

Abstract: According to the invention, a flat panel device includes a spacer for providing internal support. In one embodiment, the spacer is made of ceramic, glass-ceramic, ceramic reinforced glass, devitrified glass, metal with electrically insulative coating or high-temperature vacuum-compatible polyimide, and can be a spacer wall, a spacer structure including a plurality of holes, or some combination of a spacer wall, spacer walls, and spacer structure. Spacer surfaces are treated to reduce secondary emissions and prevent charging of the spacer surfaces. The flat panel device can include a thermionic cathode or a field emitter cathode, and the faceplate and backplate can both be straight or both be curved. The flat panel device can include an addressing grid. In a method according to the invention for assembling a flat panel device, spacer walls are held in proper alignment during assembly by being inserted into a notch formed in the addressing grid and/or a top or bottom wall of the enclosure.

Abstract: A flat panel apparatus includes a faceplate with a backplate interior side, a backplate with a backplate interior side, and sidewalls positioned between the faceplate and backplate, all in combination forming an enclosed sealed envelope. At least one spacer is positioned in the envelope. The spacer includes a spacer backplate face, with a periphery, and it is positioned adjacent to the backplate interior side. The spacer also includes a spacer faceplate face, with a periphery, and it is positioned adjacent to the faceplate interior side. A first conductive layer, metallization, is applied to substantially cover the entire spacer backplate face to its periphery. A second conductive layer, metallization, is applied to substantially cover the entire spacer faceplate face to its periphery. A plurality of spacers can be positioned in the sealed envelope, and the spacers can be in the form of walls, posts, or wall segments.

Abstract: The invention provides spacers for separating and supporting a faceplate structure and a backplate structure in a flat panel display, and methods for fabricating these spacers. Each spacer is typically made of ceramic, such as alumina, containing transition metal oxide, such as titania, chromia or iron oxide. Each spacer can be fabricated with an electrically insulating core and electrically resistive skins. The insulating core can be a wafer formed of ceramic such as alumina, and the resistive skins can be formed by laminating electrically resistive wafers, formed from alumina containing transition metal oxide, to the outside surfaces of the insulating core. Each spacer can also have a core of electrically insulating ceramic composition made of a ceramic containing a transition metal oxide in its higher oxide states, and electrically resistive outside surfaces made of a ceramic containing a transition metal oxide in lower oxide states.

Abstract: According to the invention, a flat panel device includes a spacer for providing internal support. In one embodiment, the spacer is made of ceramic, glass-ceramic, ceramic reinforced glass, devitrified glass, metal with electrically insulative coating or high-temperature vacuum-compatible polyimide, and can be a spacer wall, a spacer structure including a plurality of holes, or some combination of a spacer wall, spacer walls, and spacer structure. Spacer surfaces are treated to reduce secondary emissions and prevent charging of the spacer surfaces. The flat panel device can include a thermionic cathode or a field emitter cathode, and the faceplate and backplate can both be straight or both be curved. The flat panel device can include an addressing grid.

Abstract: A flat panel display includes a faceplate and an opposing backplate. The two are sealed together and a sealed envelope is created that includes an active area of length L.sub.1. The active layer includes addressable pixels on the faceplate. Spacers are perpendicular to the faceplate and backplate. The length of a spacer is in a direction parallel to the plane of the faceplate. At least one spacer is positioned in the envelope and provides rigidity to the display. This is required because of the high vacuum which is maintained within the envelope. One or more electrodes are formed on an exterior surface of the spacer. The electrodes extend a length of L.sub.2 along a side of the spacer that is at least equal to L.sub.1. Voltages applied to the electrodes are controlled to achieve a desired voltage distribution between the backplate and the faceplate. The electrode is made of a material with a sheet resistance of less than about 10.sup.5 to 10.sup.7 .OMEGA./.quadrature..

Abstract: A gas pressure neutralizing device for use with a working channel of an inspection instrument. The device comprises means for providing a first gas pressure buffer, a second gas pressure buffer, a chamber formed therebetween and means for reducing the pressure in the chamber whereby gases are substantially prevented from exiting the instrument through a working inlet of the device at an elevated pressure or high velocity.

Abstract: A dry composition including Portland cement, sand, fly ash Type F, with or without glass fiber, vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer or equivalent powder form bonding agent, sodium salts of polymerized substituted benzoid alkyl sulfonic acids, or equivalent dispersing or emulsifying agent, and defoamer or antifoam agent or equivalent defoamer or antifoam agent, which is completely dry and controlled inplant.