Abstract: The present invention includes a low voltage, high current density, large area cathode for scrubbing of cathodoluminescent layers. The cathodoluminescent layers are formed on a transparent conductive layer formed on a transparent insulating viewing screen to provide a faceplate. An electrical coupling is formed to the transparent conductive layer to provide a return path for electrons. The faceplate and the cathodoluminescent layers are placed on a conveyer in a vacuum. The cathodoluminescent layers are irradiated with an electron beam having a density of greater than one hundred microamperes/cm2. The electron beam may be provided by a cathode including an insulating base, a first post secured to the insulating base near a first edge of the insulating base and a second post including a spring-loaded tip secured to the insulating base near a second edge of the insulating base.

Abstract: The present invention includes a low voltage, high current density, large area cathode for scrubbing of cathodoluminescent layers. The cathodoluminescent layers are formed on a transparent conductive layer formed on a transparent insulating viewing screen to provide a faceplate. An electrical coupling is formed to the transparent conductive layer to provide a return path for electrons. The faceplate and the cathodoluminescent layers are placed on a conveyer in a vacuum. The cathodoluminescent layers are irradiated with an electron beam having a density of greater than one hundred microamperes/cm2. The electron beam may be provided by a cathode including an insulating base, a first post secured to the insulating base near a first edge of the insulating base and a second post including a spring-loaded tip secured to the insulating base near a second edge of the insulating base.

Abstract: The present invention includes a low voltage, high current density, large area cathode for scrubbing of cathodoluminescent layers. The cathodoluminescent layers are formed on a transparent conductive layer formed on a transparent insulating viewing screen to provide a faceplate. An electrical coupling is formed to the transparent conductive layer to provide a return path for electrons. The faceplate and the cathodoluminescent layers are placed on a conveyer in a vacuum. The cathodoluminescent layers are irradiated with an electron beam having a density of greater than one hundred microamperes/Cm2. The electron beam may be provided by a cathode including an insulating base, a first post secured to the insulating base near a first edge of the insulating base and a second post including a spring-loaded tip secured to the insulating base near a second edge of the insulating base.

Abstract: A process is provided for forming spacers useful in large area displays. The process comprises steps of: forming bundles or boules comprising fiber strands which are held together with a binder; slicing the bundles or boules into slices; adhering the slices on an electrode plate of the display; and removing the binder. In the step of forming bundles or boules comprising fiber strands, the function of the binder is initially or fully performed by glass tubings surrounding the glass fibers. The clad glass of the envelopes etches more readily than the core glass.

Abstract: A field emission display with raised conductive features at bonding locations, and methods of forming the raised conductive features. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a plurality of applicators are arranged in a pattern corresponding to a pattern of bonding locations on either a baseplate or a faceplate of a field emission display. The bonding locations and respective applicators are aligned with each other, and then a predetermined quantity of a thick film conductive bonding material is deposited substantially simultaneously through each applicator onto each bonding location. The thick film conductive bonding material forms a conductive pad at each bonding location. The pads of thick film conductive bonding material are subsequently fired to form a raised feature at each bonding location.

Abstract: A process is provided for forming spacers useful in large area displays. The process comprises steps of: forming bundles or boules comprising fiber strands which are held together with a binder; slicing the bundles or boules into slices; adhering the slices on an electrode plate of the display; and removing the binder. In the step of forming bundles or boules comprising fiber strands, the function of the binder is initially or fully performed by glass tubings surrounding the glass fibers. The clad glass of the envelopes etches more readily than the core glass.

Abstract: An inventive spacing structure is a unitary structure of uniform height including a multitude of rail members framed by and interconnected with a multitude of frame members. The frame and rail members project between a flat panel display's face and base panels across a substantial area of their facing surfaces. As a result, the unitary spacing structure spaces a substantial portion of the face panel away from the base panel in a substantially parallel spaced apart relationship with the base panel. Because the inventive spacing structure is a unitary structure, it can be conveniently manufactured apart from the flat panel display and then easily aligned with the image generating apparatus of the display. Thus, the unitary spacing structure can help to make flat panel displays less difficult, time-consuming and costly to manufacture.

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 phosphor composition selected from a range of phosphor compositions is provided for discharging spent electrons from a display screen of a luminescent display. The selected phosphor composition is a mixture of phosphor species, including a dielectric phosphor species capable of emitting visible green, blue or red light when subjected to excitation electrons at a relatively high voltage and a conductive phosphor species capable of emitting visible green, blue or red light when subjected to energized excitation electrons at a relatively low voltage. The display screen of the luminescent display is coated with the selected phosphor composition to form a cathodoluminescent layer on the screen. The cathodoluminescent layer is then selectively subjected to excitation electrons having a voltage within a predetermined broad range. The excitation electrons impart their energy to the phosphor composition causing it to emit visible green, blue or red light, thereby creating an image on the screen.

Abstract: A thin flat panel display is formed from two substrates uniformly spaced apart by a plurality of spacer members. The spacer members are formed into bundles, held together by binder material, and sliced into a plurality of thin discs. One opposing face of one of the substrates is provided with patterned arrays of first and second arrays of different adhesives. The discs are placed on the adhesives and processed to activate the adhesives, remove the binder and the second adhesive thereby reducing the number of spacers remaining in the assembly to only those adhered by the first adhesive. The second substrate is then juxtapositioned on the first substrate assembly and bonded thereto.

Abstract: Powder phosphors are activated while their particle size is limited in growth to approximately 1 micron or less. The powder phosphors are rapidly annealed with one of a number of methods, including rapid thermal annealing, laser annealing, microwave annealing, and RF annealing.

Abstract: A field emission display has an anode with a grille made at least in part of a getter material. The grille defines regions that are coated with phosphor to form pixels, and also getters free molecules within a sealed display. The getter material can alternatively be formed directly on at least a part of the grille, or over the grille on an intermediate layer.

Abstract: A multi-stage process for preparing a phosphor product includes the stages of selecting precursors of a dopant and a host lattice as the phosphor starting materials, grinding the starting materials in an initial grinding stage for an initial grinding time period to produce an initial ground material having a smaller particle size distribution than the starting materials, firing the initial ground material in an initial firing stage at an initial firing temperature for an initial firing time period to produce an initial fired material, grinding the initial fired material in an intermediate grinding stage for an intermediate grinding time period to produce an intermediate ground material having a smaller particle size than the initial fired material, wherein the intermediate grinding time period is substantially less than the initial grinding time period, firing the intermediate ground material in an intermediate firing stage at an intermediate firing temperature for an intermediate firing time to produce an in

Abstract: A method for aligning and sealing two plates in a field emission display (FED) is performed in two steps, with a first aligning step being done at atmospheric conditions and using an adhesive to hold the alignment, with a next step of sealing the device, typically in an oven under heated vacuum conditions.

Abstract: An anode of a flat panel display has a glass substrate, a patterned black grille on the substrate, a conductive layer covering the grille and the substrate, a phosphor layer covering, and one or more additional transparent layers that reduce the reflectance of the flat panel display from 14% down to 1%-4%. These additional layers are placed between the black matrix grille and the substrate, and between the conductive layer and phosphor layer. The two additional layers are selected and designed to reduce the reflectance that occurs at these respective interfaces.

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 display includes a magnetic material for focusing electrons onto a faceplate or phosphors of each pixel on a screen. In one embodiment, a display screen includes a faceplate having a magnetic material (30) deposited thereon. In an alternate embodiment, a field emission display including a substrate (11) with a cathode conductor (12); electron emitting tips (13) disposed over the cathode conductor (12); an insulator (14) disposed around the electron emitting tips (13); a conductive gate (15) over the insulator (14); and a magnetic material layer (19) for focusing electrons emitted from the emitting tips (13).

Abstract: A thin flat panel display is formed from two substrates uniformly spaced apart by a plurality of spacer members. The spacer members are formed into bundles, held together by binder material, and sliced into a plurality of thin discs. One opposing face of one of the substrates is provided with patterned arrays of first and second arrays of different adhesives. The discs are placed on the adhesives and processed to activate the adhesives, remove the binder and the second adhesive thereby reducing the number of spacers remaining in the assembly to only those adhered by the first adhesive. The second substrate is then juxtapositioned on the first substrate assembly and bonded thereto.

Abstract: A field emission display has an anode with a grille made at least in part of a getter material. The grille defines regions that are coated with phosphor to form pixels, and also getters free molecules within a sealed display. The getter material can alternatively be formed directly on at least a part of the grille, or over the grille on an intermediate layer.

Abstract: A process is provided for manufacturing high-purity phosphors having utility in field emission displays. The high-purity phosphor is a host lattice infiltrated by a dopant that activates luminescent properties therein. The lattice and dopant are initially milled together to reduce their average particle size while simultaneously achieving complete mixing between the lattice and the dopant. The resulting mixture is maintained free of a flux or substantially any other treatment agent capable of contaminating the phosphor and placed in a heating vessel formed from a substantially impervious contaminant-free material. The mixture is heated to a high temperature effectuating thorough infiltration of the dopant into the lattice structure. The use of an impervious contaminant-free heating vessel and the exclusion of flux or other treatment agents from the mixture avoids undesirable contamination and undue particle size growth of the phosphor product during the manufacture thereof.