Abstract: An electroluminescent device has at least two active semiconductive conjugated polymer light emitting layers arranged between a cathode and an anode. The layers are arranged so that at least part of at least two layers lie in an emission zone of the device.

Abstract: According to two aspects of the invention, a FED and a process for making a FED are provided which effectuate more accurate and efficient sealing between a faceplate and a backplate assembly, with more accurate and efficient sealing between the faceplate and cathode member. The FED is made according to a process including: aligning the faceplate and the cathode member; disposing an adhesive between the faceplate and the cathode member; pressing the faceplate and the cathode member together; disposing a frit seal between the faceplate and the backplate assembly; and heating the frit seal to a temperature sufficient to cause the frit to seal.

Abstract: A cold cathode structure, useful for field emission displays, is disclosed. A thin resistive silicon film is disposed on a glass substrate; conductive emitter tips are disposed on top thereof. An alloy of amorphous silicon and amorphous carbon is used for the emitter tips. The proportion of the carbon in the alloy increases, gradually or abruptly, from the base to the top of the emitter tips.The carbon gradient is implemented during the process step, in which an n-type silicon layer is formed from which the emitter tips are made in subsequent masking and etching steps. The amount of carbon makes the emitter tips harder and gives lower work function at greater stability. Moreover, the carbon gradient allows for additional sharpening of the emitter tips.

Abstract: A transmission line includes a high permeability conductor. The high permeability conductor increases the inductance-per-length of the transmission line to reduce the propagation velocity along the line. The high permeability conductor supplements a high dielectric constant insulator and high permeability core that increase the capacitance-per-length and inductance-per-length, respectively. In one embodiment, the transmission line is a microstrip line that is used in a matrix addressable display. In another embodiment, the transmission line is a coaxial line where the central conductor includes a center layer of nonmagnetic material and an outer layer of high permeability material. The high permeability conductor can be formed from a single layer of high permeability material or may be formed from a central layer of high conductivity material coated with an outer layer of a high permeability conductor.

Abstract: The present invention provides an FED with a getter material deposited and activated on the substrates of the faceplate and the baseplate of the FED. In one embodiment of the invention, a large FED includes a faceplate, a baseplate, and an unactivated non-evaporable getter material. The faceplate has a transparent substrate with an inner surface, and a cathodoluminescent material disposed on a portion of the inner surface. The baseplate has a base substrate with a first surface and an emitter array formed on the first surface. The baseplate and the faceplate are coupled together to form a sealed vacuum space in which the inner surface and the first surface are juxtaposed to one another in a spaced-apart relationship across a vacuum gap. The unactivated non-evaporating getter material is deposited directly on the inner surface and/or the first surface.

Abstract: A flat-panel field emission display comprises a luminescent faceplate, a rigid backplate, and an interposed or sandwiched emitter or cathode plate. A dielectric connector ridge is screen-printed over the faceplate's rear surface. Upper and lower level conductors are then screen printed over the faceplate. The lower-level conductors are applied directly on the faceplate rear surface. The upper-level conductors are applied atop the connector ridge. A plurality of bond wire interconnections extend between individual screen-printed conductors of the upper and lower levels. The bond wire interconnections create inter-level electrical interconnections between said individual screen-printed conductors. The cathode plate is positioned over the connector ridge. The cathode plate has a plurality of die bond pads facing the faceplate rear surface and aligned with the upper-level conductors.

Abstract: An improved method of high density plasma etching for etching substrates such as semiconductor wafers is provided. The method includes controlling the ratio of ions to neutrals in a high density plasma using an ion filter located in the flow path of the plasma. The ion filter is adapted to interrupt and deflect ions in the plasma while allowing neutrals to pass through to the substrate unaffected. This helps to prevent notching because a more favorable ion/neutral ratio is present at the substrate. At the same time etch selectivity is high, particularly for etching polysilicon to oxide, because current density can remain high.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a conductive and light-absorbing baseplate for use in a field emission display is disclosed. A surface of the baseplate is coated with a praseodymium oxide- and manganese oxide-containing layer having a resistivity that does not exceed 1.times.10.sup.5 .OMEGA.-cm. The coating may be placed on the baseplate by radiofrequency sputtering, laser ablation, plasma deposition or the like. Suitable praseodymium sources include praseodymium acetate, praseodymium oxalate and Pr(THd).sub.3, while suitable manganese sources include MnO.sub.2 and MnCO.sub.3.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a field emission display is provided comprising: an anode; a phosphor screen located on the anode; a cathode; an evacuated space between the anode and the cathode; an emitter located on the cathode opposite the phosphor; wherein the emitter comprises an electropositive element both in a body of the emitter and on a surface of the emitter. According to another aspect of the invention a process for manufacturing an FED is provided comprising the steps of: forming an emitter comprising an electropositive element in the body of the tip; positioning the emitter in opposing relation to a phosphor display screen; creating an evacuated space between the emitter tip and the phosphor display screen; and causing the electropositive element to migrate to the an emission surface of the emitter.

Abstract: A field emission display device includes a baseplate having a set of field-induced electron emitters for each pixel in a display. Each set includes a plurality of emitters each carried by a supporting substrate and disposed within a respective aperture in an insulating layer deposited on the surface of the substrate. A conductive layer is deposited on the insulating layer peripherally about the apertures. A plurality of emitter conductors are each operatively coupled to the emitters of one of the sets of emitters. A conductive voltage applied to the conductive layer and a source voltage applied to one of the emitter conductors causes the emitters coupled to the emitter conductor to each emit an electron emission. The display device also includes a faceplate having a transparent viewing layer positioned in a parallel spaced-apart relationship with the baseplate. An anode is deposited on a planar surface of the viewing layer opposite the sets of emitters.

Abstract: A process is provided for forming a conductive line between a conductor and a spacer formed on a substrate of a field emission display. In one embodiment, the process performs the steps of disposing a screen between the substrate and a distributing member, the screen having an opening which permits the extrusion a conductive material, and moving the distributing member relative to the screen to extrude the conductive material through the opening and form a conductive line connecting the conductor and the spacer, wherein the snap off distance is varied according as the distributing member moves along the substrate.

Abstract: High resolution color displays for field emission displays are formed by applying a grille to a screen layer, the grille having a set of holes formed therein exposing areas of the screen layer. A layer of photoresist is applied to the grille and the exposed areas of the screen layer, whereby a plurality of photoresist-covered screen layer areas are defined. One set of the plurality of photoresist-covered screen layer areas is fixed, whereby a fixed set and an unfixed set are defined. The photoresist is removed from the unfixed set and a light emitting substance is deposited on the exposed screen layer area. The fixed set of photoresist is plasma etched.

Abstract: A conductive, light-absorbing baseplate for use in a field emission display is disclosed. The interior surface of the baseplate is coated with a praseodymium-manganese oxide layer having a resistivity that does not exceed 1.times.10.sup.5 .OMEGA..multidot.cm. A field emission display is also disclosed which comprises the conductive, light-absorbing baseplate, as well as processes for manufacturing the baseplate, field emission display and the conductive, light-absorbing praseodymium-manganese oxide material used to coat the baseplate.

Abstract: A flat-panel field emission display comprises a luminescent faceplate, a rigid backplate, and an interposed or sandwiched emitter or cathode plate. A dielectric connector ridge is screen-printed over the faceplate's rear surface. Upper and lower level conductors are then screen printed over the faceplate. The lower-level conductors are applied directly on the faceplate rear surface. The upper-level conductors are applied atop the connector ridge. A plurality of bond wire interconnections extend between individual screen-printed conductors of the upper and lower levels. The bond wire interconnections create inter-level electrical interconnections between said individual screen-printed conductors. The cathode plate is positioned over the connector ridge. The cathode plate has a plurality of die bond pads facing the faceplate rear surface and aligned with the upper-level conductors.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a field emission display ("FED") architecture for isolating display grids, wherein an FED has a plurality of pixels. Each of the pixels comprise at least two field emitter tips for displaying information to the pixel and a pixelator for driving the field emitter tips. Further, an isolated display grid is incorporated for each of the field emitter tips. Each display grids is coupled to a bus having a predetermined voltage by a link. In one embodiment of the present invention, the link can be disintegrated by internal or external means. In a second embodiment, the FED comprises a first and second bus, each of bus having a predetermined voltage, whereby a first isolated display grid is coupled to the first bus by a first link and a second isolated display grids is coupled to the second bus by a second link.

Abstract: A method of electrically testing pixel functionality is provided comprising releasably disposing a wafer in a socket. The wafer has at least one baseplate comprised of cathode emitters arranged in pixels. The socket has pads. The socket pads are contacted with test pins, and each of the pixels is addressed individually, thereby causing the cathode emitters to emit electrons in a current. The current is collected from each of the pixels on an anode screen. Alternatively, the anode card may have pins, and these pins contact pads on the baseplate. The baseplate, or substrate with baseplates, does not require a socket with pins.

Abstract: In an electroluminescent device which comprises a layer of a semiconductive conjugated polymer between positive and negative charge carrier injecting electrodes, a barrier layer is arranged between the layer of semiconductive conjugated polymer and the charge carrier injecting layer for negative charge carriers. The barrier layer protects the layer of semiconductive conjugated polymer from for example mobile ions released by the reactive charge carrier injecting layer. The barrier layer can in some circumstances also itself be light-emissive.

Abstract: Binders, both inorganic and organic, are used for providing sufficient binding action to hold powder phosphor particles together as well as to the glass screen of a field emission display device.

Abstract: A driver circuit for driving the emitters of a flat panel display such as a field emission display. The driver circuit includes a capacitor and a charge circuit. The capacitor is connected between the emitter and an extraction grid held at a constant potential. The charge circuit has two inputs respectively connected to a row line and a column line. The charge circuit also has a charge terminal connected to the capacitor. In operation, the charge circuit applies at the charge terminal a selected voltage level which is below the grid voltage. The selected voltage level represents the intensity of the pixel associated with the emitter. In response to the selected voltage level at the charge terminal, the extraction grid charges the capacitor to a potential which is the difference between the grid voltage and the selected voltage level. When charged, the capacitor is isolated from the driver circuit. The charge stored in the isolated capacitor discharges through the emitter.