Abstract: Structures for field emission displays and methods of making and using such structures are provided. In one implementation, a cathode plate of a field emission display includes a cathode substrate of the field emission display and a plurality of emitter lines formed on the cathode substrate. In another implementation, an anode plate of a field emission display includes a transparent piece of the field emission display and a plurality of phosphor lines formed on the transparent piece. The plurality of phosphor lines are to be aligned with and receive electrons from a plurality of emitter lines of a cathode substrate of the field emission display.

Abstract: Electrophoretic deposition provides an inexpensive, efficient process for manufacturing a field emission cathode. Particles of a resistive material are deposited by electrophoretic deposition on a conducting layer overlying an insulating layer. An electron emitting layer is then applied over the resistive material to produce the cathode. By controlling the composition of the deposition bath, an electrophoretic deposition process can be used to efficiently produce field emission cathodes that provide a spatially and temporally stable emission field. The deposition bath for the field emission cathode includes an alcohol, a charging salt, water, and a dispersant. The field emission cathodes can be used as an electron source in a field emission display device.

Abstract: A cathode structure for use in field emission display (FED) devices includes four layers. A first layer consists of conducting lines supported on an insulating substrate. A second layer consists of thin non-conducting lines crossing the conducting lines. A third layer consists of a thick layer of non-conducting material with holes centered between the thin non-conducting lines of the second layer and extending over a portion of the thin non-conducting lines. A fourth layer consists of conducting lines containing holes of the same dimension as and aligned with the holes in the third layer exposing portions of the conducting lines of the first layer and of the non-conducting lines of the second layer. Emissive material is deposited on the exposed portions of the conducting lines of the first layer to produce a cathode for an FED device. The four-layer cathode structure improves emission characteristics such as current density and uniformity for planar edge emitters and surface emitters.

Abstract: Electrophoretic deposition provides an efficient process for manufacturing a field emission cathode. Particles of an electron emitting material mixed with particles of an insulating material are deposited by electrophoretic deposition on a conducting layer overlying an insulating layer to produce the cathode. By controlling the composition of the deposition bath and by mixing insulating particles with emitting particles, an electrophoretic deposition process can be used to efficiently produce field emission cathodes that provide spatially and temporally stable field emission. The deposition bath for the field emission cathode includes an alcohol, a charging salt, water, and a dispersant. The field emission cathodes can be used as an electron source in a field emission display device.