Abstract: A microtip cathode for flat panel display screens has a constant access resistance and includes a substrate (10), a resistive layer (19), at least one cathode conductor (13), an insulating layer (16), and a control gate (3). The microtip cathode further includes an auxiliary insulating layer (18) disposed between the cathode conductor (13) and the insulating layer (16) to suppress needle hole effects in the insulating layer (16).

Abstract: A flat panel display includes cathode columns with microtips for emitting electrons, arranged in gate rows, and an anode provided with phosphor elements arranged in groups of juxtaposed strips, electrically insulated one from the other. The intersection of a gate row and of a cathode column defines a pixel of the display. The groups of anode strips are electrically connected to form two networks. A first network includes groups of strips of odd rank, while the second network includes the groups of strips of even rank. The flat panel display further includes an electronic control system adapted to sequentially address the groups of odd rank, and even rank, respectively.

Abstract: A device for sputtering a metallic material on a plate comprises a vacuum chamber provided with a linear conveyor carrying at least one plate, the plate surface to be processed being turned downward. At least two sputtering sources are disposed under the conveyor, perpendicularly to its moving direction. Each source is associated with a collimator. The sputtering sources and their associated collimators are disposed to coat the whole width of the plate.

Abstract: A device and a process for the control of a microtip fluorescent screen or display formed from pixels arranged in accordance with L rows and M columns of images able to have a discrete number of Q grey tones, in which the column voltage values are chosen in a strictly increasing sequence of N+1 values such that the row selection time being subdivided into S equal time intervals .DELTA.t, each voltage value is applied an integral number of times .DELTA.t, (N.times.S)+1 representing the number of grey levels, with N.gtoreq.2 and S.gtoreq.2. During a row selection time, the corresponding column voltage assumes a first value Va during a certain number of time intervals .DELTA.t, then during the remaining time intervals it additionally has a second value Vb following onto the first in the sequence of N voltages.