Abstract: An electrode structure for a display device comprising a gate electrode proximate to an emitter and a focusing electrode separated from the gate electrode by an insulating layer containing a ridge. When the focusing electrode is an aperture-type electrode, the upper surface of the ridge protrudes closer to the emitter than the sidewall of the gate electrode or the sidewall of the focusing electrode. When the focusing electrode is a concentric-type electrode, the ridge protrudes above the upper surface of the gate electrode or the upper surface of the focusing electrode. A method for making the aperture-type and concentric-type electrode structures is described. A display device containing such electrode structures is also described. By forming an insulating ridge between the gate and focusing electrodes, shorting between the two electrodes is reduced and yield enhancement increased.

Abstract: Signs including electroluminescent lamps are described. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, electroluminescent lamps are coupled to a sign by first forming a rear electrode on a front surface of the sign. After forming the rear electrode on the sign, a dielectric layer is screen printed over the rear electrode, and a phosphor layer is screen printed over the dielectric layer. A layer of indium tin oxide ink is then screen printed to the phosphor layer to form an EL lamp.

Abstract: A PDP does not suffer from dielectric breakdown though a dielectric layer is thin, with the problems of conventional PDPs, such as cracks appearing in the glass substrates during the production of the PDP being avoided. To do so, the surface of silver electrodes of the PDP is coated with a 0.1-10 &mgr;m layer of a metallic oxide, on whose surface OH groups exist, such as ZnO, ZrO2, MgO, TiO2, Al2O3, and Cr2O3. The metallic oxide layer is then coated with the dielectric layer. It is preferable to form the metallic oxide layer with the CVD method. The surface of a metallic electrode can be coated with a metallic oxide, which is then coated with a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer can be made of a metallic oxide with a vacuum process method or the plasma thermal spraying method. The dielectric layer formed on electrodes with the CVD method is remarkably thin and flawless.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electron-emitting device includes a process for forming a pair of electric conductors spaced from each other on a substrate, and an activation process for forming a film of carbon or a carbon compound on at least one of the pair of electric conductors. The activation process is sequentially performed within plural containers having different atmospheres.

Abstract: Faceplates for field emission displays having novel cathodoluminescent layers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a faceplate includes a cathodoluninescent layer exposed to electrons (scrubbed) in a vacuum, the electron's having a current density of greater than one hundred microamperes per square centimeter. The cathodoluninescent layer may be reversibly darkened by the scrubbing. In one alternate aspect, the cathodoluninescent layers are irradiated with an electron beam having a duty cycle duty cycle of between ten and one hundred percent. In alternate aspects, an accelerating voltage may be maintained between the cathodoluminescent layer and a source of electrons, and the accelerating voltage may be dithered to treat the cathodoluminescent layer to varying depths. Significantly, the scrubbed faceplate has significantly enhanced performance and increased usefull life compared to faceplates that have not been scrubbed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electron source with electron emitting elements is provided. The method has a process of depositing a deposit substance in an area including at least an area of the electron emitting element from which area electrons are emitted. The depositing process is performed in an atmosphere of a gas containing at least a source material of the deposit substance, the gas having a mean free path allowing the gas to take a viscous flow state.

Abstract: Field emission displays having novel cathodoluminescent layers are disclosed. In one embodiment, the cathodoluminescent layers are exposed to electron irradiation with an electron current having a duty cycle in excess of ten percent. In alternate aspects, the electron irradiation (scrubbing) may be performed in a vacuum, and an accelerating voltage may be maintained between the cathodoluminescent layer and an source of electrons. The cathodoluminescent layer may be reversibly darkened by the scrubbing. The cathodoluminescent layers may be formed on a transparent conductive layer formed on a transparent insulating viewing screen to provide a faceplate. In one aspect, the cathodoluminescent layers are irradiated with electrons having a density of greater than one hundred microamperes/cm2. Significantly, this results in improved emitter life in a field emission display.

Abstract: A pair of plate structures (40 and 44), such as a baseplate structure and a faceplate structure of a flat-panel display, are sealed to each other by first attaching the plate structures to each other, typically at multiple attachment locations, in a non-vacuum environment. The plate structures are then hermetically sealed to each other, typically through an outer wall (44) or/and typically by gap jumping, in a vacuum environment.

Abstract: A vacuum envelope of a cathode-ray tube includes a panel and a funnel section opposed to the panel. The funnel section has two funnels each having a cone section. Each of the funnels is formed by cutting one side portion of a base funnel which is formed by pressing. The two funnels are joined together at sections thereof so as to form the funnel section and also joined to the panel into the vacuum envelope. A neck containing an electron gun is joined to each of the cone sections. A phosphor screen formed on the inner surface has two scanning regions which are divided scanned by electron beams emitted from the electron guns.

Abstract: Improved methods and structures are provided for an array of vertical geometries which may be used as emitter tips, as a self aligned gate structure surrounding field emitter tips, or as part of a flat panel display. The present invention offers controlled size in emitter tip formation under a more streamlined process. The present invention further provides a more efficient method to control the gate to emitter tip proximity in field emission devices. The novel method of the present invention includes implanting a dopant in a patterned manner into the silicon substrate and anodizing the silicon substrate in a controlled manner causing a more heavily doped region in the silicon substrate to form a porous silicon region. Controlling the anodization of the silicon substrate further regulates and defines the shape to less heavily doped regions in the silicon substrate which form vertical geometries that can be used as emitter tips.

Abstract: Field emission displays having novel cathodoluminescent layers are disclosed. The cathodoluminescent layers are irradiated with electrons having a density of greater than one hundred microamperes/cm2. Significantly, this results in improved emitter life in a field emission display. The display including the scrubbed faceplate has significantly enhanced performance and increased useful life compared to displays including faceplates that have not been scrubbed.

Abstract: A multi-layered structure, and method for producing same, which may include at least one glass layer anodically bonded to an intermediate layer. The intermediate layer may function as a anodic bonding layer, an etch stop layer, and/or a hard mask layer. A template may be formed of the multi-layered structure by forming a desired pattern of openings therein by way of, for example, etching. Such a template may, for example, be used in the alignment and adherence of spacer structures to an electrode plate during the fabrication of flat panel displays. When used in this context, the construction of such a template results in more precise control of the patterning and sizing of the holes formed therein which thereby allows for more precise placement of spacer structures as well as the use of spacer structures exhibiting relatively higher aspect ratios during the fabrication of flat panel displays.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a face plate for a flat panel display such as a field emission cathode type display, the face plate having integral spacer support structures is disclosed. Also disclosed is a product made by the aforesaid process.

Abstract: Faceplates for field emission displays having novel cathodoluminescent layers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a faceplate includes a cathodoluminescent layer exposed to electron irradiation with an electron curt having a kinetic energy of less than one thousand electron volts, The electron irradiation (scrubbing) may be performed in a vacuum, and the cathodoluminescent layer may be reversibly darkened by the scrubbing. The cathodoluminescent layers may be formed on a transparent conductive layer formed on a transparent insulating viewing screen. In one aspect, the cathodoluminescent layers are irradiated with electrons having a density of greater than one hundred microamperes/cm2. In alternate aspects, an accelerating voltage may be maintained between the cathodoluminescent layer and a source of electrons, and the accelerating voltage may be dithered to treat the cathodoluminescent layer to vary depths.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of disassembling a plasma display panel (“PDP”) for reutilization. A first method uses a component, which is thermally not contractible at a softening temperature of bonding material used for hermetically bonding a front and back plates, and positioned between the plates. The above component maintains or widens a space provided between the two plates when the PDP is heated, thereby facilitating disassembly of the PDP. The invention also provides a groove on a surface of either or both plates for communicating the bonding material to an exterior of the PDP. Softened bonding material can be drawn out or absorbed through the groove. Heating and cooling of the PDP may be made through a laminated graphite sheet placed on a surface of the PDP for uniformalizing thermal distribution. A second method separates a PDP into two plates by immersing the PDP in etching solution capable of selectively dissolving only lead glass, and melting the bonding material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plastic shaped body with an integrated optoelectronic luminous element and to a method for the production thereof. To this end, translucent and cold-stretchable plastic film is three-dimensionally formed at least in the area of the luminous elements and subsequently sprayed with thermoplastic synthetic material. The luminous elements are screen printed onto the unshaped film in the form of luminous fields before the plastic film is formed.

Abstract: An electron source comprises a substrate, at least one row-directional wire, at least one column-directional wire intersecting the row-directional wire, at least one insulation layer arranged at the intersection of the row-directional wire and the column-directional wire, and at least one conductive film having an electron-emitting region also arranged at the intersection. The insulation layer is arranged between the row-directional wire and the column-directional wire and the conductive film is connected to both wires.

Abstract: Patterned ion-bombarded carbon electron emitters and the processes for producing them. The electron emitters are produced by forming a layer of composite of carbon particles and glass on a substrate then bombarding the composite with an ion beam. The electron emitters are useful in field emitter cathode assemblies which are fabricated into flat panel displays.

Abstract: In manufacturing or adjusting an electron-emitting device which has at least two electrodes and emits electrons by applying a voltage between the two electrodes, or before performing normal driving, a voltage V1 is applied which has the following relationship with a maximum voltage value V2 applied as a normal driving voltage to the electron-emitting device between the two electrodes.

Abstract: A spacer (44) for a flat-panel display is formed with a main spacer portion (60), typically shaped like a wall, and a face electrode (66) situated over a face of main spacer portion. The spacer is inserted between two opposing plate structures (40 and 42) of the display. The face electrode causes electrons moving from one of the plate structures to the other to be deflected in such a manner as to compensate for other electron deflection caused by the presence of the spacer. The face electrode is divided into multiple laterally separated segments (661-66N) to improve the accuracy of the compensation along the length of the spacer. A masking step is typically utilized in defining the widths of the segments of the face electrode.