Abstract: The present invention discloses a fluorescent lamp that includes a cathode electrode covered with an electron-emitting layer composed of a nanotube layer. In a preferred embodiment, the nanotube layer in the fluorescent lamp is a carbon nanotube layer. In another preferred embodiment, the fluorescent lamp further includes a positive electrode formed as a thin film layer covering an external tube surface of the fluorescent tube. In another preferred embodiment, the positive electrode for drawing and directing electrons emitted from the nanotube layer is a net electrode with openings for the free electrons to pass through.

Abstract: A backlight module for transflective liquid crystal display includes an LCD panel and a Cold Cathode Flat Fluorescent Lamp (CCFFL) installed on the back side of the LCD panel. The CCFFL lamp can be electrified and illuminated itself, and the lamp's surface having high reflectivity is smooth, thereby, the illumination is high and uniform. Therefore, the backlight module for transflective liquid crystal display can make the most of ambient light source to attain the object of conserving power.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a color display system. The color display system includes a plurality of light emitting polymer (LEP) optical fibers each formed as plurality of light-emitting segments for emitting a specific color by using a special light emitting polymer. The light emitting segments are arranged as a two-dimensional array with each of the light emitting segments controlled to turn on and off for presenting a color image by turning on a plurality of the light emitting segments. In a preferred embodiment, each of the light emitting segments includes an indium/tin oxide (ITO) layer segment covering the LEP optical fiber wherein each of the ITO segments is connected to an ITO control voltage for turning on and off the light emitting segment.

Abstract: A synchronous switching device. The switching device includes a common electrode, distributed electrodes, voltage converters and a signal generator. The distributed electrodes are aligned in a straight line facing the common electrode. Each distributed electrode has a length smaller than the common electrode. Each voltage converter is electrically coupled to the common electrode as well as one distributed electrode. All voltage converters are electrically coupled to the signal generator. A first panel, a second panel and two side panels together form a planar lamp with a hollow space inside. A layer of fluorescent coating is deposited on the interior surface of the first and the second panel. The distributed electrodes and the common electrodes are mounted on each side of the hollow space. Through high voltage synchronous signals generated by the signal generator and the voltage converters, the planar fluorescent lamp is lit.

Abstract: A vacuum seal suitable for use with field emission arrays is described. This seal has high reliability because the expansion coefficients of the metal and the glass are closely matched. Materials traditionally used for cathode and gate lines continue to be employed. To achieve this, a gap is introduced into each conductive line near the edges of the display. This gap is bridged by a material having an expansion coefficient that more closely matches that of the glass used for the seal and is the only material that contacts the seal. The bridge may be in the form of a deposited layer or it may be a discrete wire. A description of how the structure is manufactured is also provided.

Abstract: A thermally insulating evacuated glass panel comprises two spaced apart glass sheets separated and bonded by a mesh-like supporting structure. The mesh-like supporting structure is formed by a plurality of elongated spacers arranged in orthogonal directions for enclosing a plurality of small evacuated spaces. The elongated spacer contains a mixture of a glass sealing material and a number of glass spheres. The evacuated spaces provide efficient insulation for the glass panel. The glass panel can be cut into smaller pieces of desired size and shape without losing its insulating property.

Abstract: A design for a field emission device comprising a cold cathode emitter, a control gate and a focus gate, is discussed. The focus gate is connected to the emitter voltage source and a ballast resistor is inserted between this connection point and the emitter. This ensures that the focus gate will always be more negative than the emitter, this difference in potential increasing with increasing emitter current. This leads to a linear current-voltage characteristic for the device and also makes for a tighter electron beam than that provided by designs of the prior art, A physical realization of the design is described along with a cost effective method for manufacturing said physical realization.

Abstract: A display element selection timing method applied in conjunction with an array of Field Emission Devices employs circuitry to select the elements of the array of Field Emission Devices such that the power dissipation in the array of Field Emission Devices and its attendant circuitry is minimized and the brightness is not degraded significantly.

Abstract: A vacuum seal suitable for use with field emission arrays is described. This seal has high reliability because the expansion coefficients of the metal and the glass are closely matched. Materials traditionally used for cathode and gate lines continue to be employed. To achieve this, a gap is introduced into each conductive line near the edges of the display. This gap is bridged by a material having an expansion coefficient that more closely matches that of the glass used for the seal and is the only material that contacts the seal. The bridge may be in the form of a deposited layer or it may be a discrete wire. A description of how the structure is manufactured is also provided.

Abstract: The design of a large area display made up of a plurality of field emission display modules is described. The modules have been modified in several ways relative to prior art designs. The cathode and gate lines near the module's edge have been substantially shortened. This feature, in combination with the use of a rabbet joint for attaching thinner than usual edge plates, allows the modules to be butted up against each other such that pixels in adjoining modules are no further apart than pixels in the same module. Because of the thinner edge plates and the general compatibilty of the process, the use of internal supports between the front and rear plates becomes mandatory. Vacuum piping for the modules is located near an edge in dark space or under a green pixel, with the gettering layer being formed inside the piping. The modules all plug into a printed circuit board which includes a custom chip for driving the display.

Abstract: A photoprinter is described, including a print head comprising parallel substrates. The bottom substrate supports an array of microtips that rest on cathode columns. Gate lines, orthogonally disposed relative to the cathode columns are located at the top level of the microtips and have openings through which the microtips can emit electrons, due to field emission, which bombard a nearby conductive phosphor layer, thereby emitting light. A bundle of transparent fibers, cast in a suitable medium, are permanently and transparently attached to the upper surface of the top substrate and are in one to one alignment with the microtips. The far side of the fiber bundle may be ground and polished to fit the contours of a rotatable photosensitive drum. A method for manufacturing the print head is also provided.

Abstract: A high efficiency field emission display, and a method for manufacturing such a display, having reduced driver circuit requirements, and which may be operated over a range of anode voltages while efficiently using existing phosphors, is described. A field emission display having a baseplate and an opposing face plate, includes a glass plate acts as a base for the faceplate. There is a patterned layer, having openings, of black matrix material over the glass plate. A plurality of phosphorescent elements are formed in and adjacent to the openings in the black matrix layer. A metal film overlays a portion of the top surface of each of the phosphorescent elements. The metal film may be patterned in a mesh or in other shapes, and provides for the highly efficient operation of the display of the invention. The baseplate, formed on a substrate, is mounted opposite and parallel to the faceplate, and has a conductive layer over the substrate.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp with multiple fluorescent surfaces including a hollow outer tube of any desirable shape, and at least one transparent inner tube or plate-like structure of any shape disposed inside the outer tube. The filaments are mounted at each end of the outer tube. The outer tube is filled with mercury vapor when it is in a vacuum state (less than 10.sup.-3 torr). The inner and outer wall surfaces of the inner tube or plate-like structure and the inner wall surface of the outer tube are all coated with fluorescent materials. When the filaments are supplied with electric currents to release electrons which collide with the mercury molecules to generate ultra-violet rays, much more fluorescent materials will be reached by the ultra-violet rays to generate visible light, thus increasing the luminosity of the fluorescent lamp. A method of manufacturing the fluorescent lamp is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cold cathode field emission display is described. A key feature of its design is that each group of microtips that constitute a pixel is located on the same equipotential surface and a reliable ballast resistor is interposed between the equipotential surface and the cathode line which powers the pixel. An efficient method for manufacturing the display is also described.

Abstract: A design for a field emission device comprising a cold cathode emitter, a control gate and a focus gate, is discussed. The focus gate is connected to the emitter voltage source and a ballast resistor is inserted between this connection point and the emitter. This ensures that the focus gate will always be more negative than the emitter, this difference in potential increasing with increasing emitter current. This leads to a linear current-voltage characteristic for the device and also makes for a tighter electron beam than that provided by designs of the prior art. A physical realization of the design is described along with a cost effective method for manufacturing said physical realization.

Abstract: A display element selection timing method applied in conjunction with an array of Field Emission Devices employs circuitry to select the elements of the array of Field Emission Devices such that the power dissipation in the array of Field Emission Devices and its attendant circuitry is minimized and the brightness is not degraded significantly.

Abstract: A flat panel display having a repair capability, a process for repairing such a display having defects involving short circuits between a field emission tip and an adjacent conductor, and a process for forming a flat panel display with repair capability, are described. The flat panel display has a dielectric base substrate, upon which are formed cathode columns of parallel, spaced conductors. Gate lines, also formed of parallel, spaced conductors, are located over and perpendicular to the cathode columns. A dielectric layer is formed between the cathode columns and the gate lines. Pixels of the display are located at the intersections of the cathode columns and the gate lines. A plurality of openings are formed in the gate lines and in the dielectric layer, at each of the pixels. A plurality of field emission microtips, at each of the pixels, connects to and extends up from the cathode columns and into the openings.

Abstract: A high efficiency field emission display, and a method for manufacturing such a display, having reduced driver circuit requirements, and which may be operated over a range of anode voltages while efficiently using existing phosphors, is described. A field emission display having a baseplate and an opposing face plate, includes a glass plate acts as a base for the faceplate. There is a patterned layer, having openings, of black matrix material over the glass plate. A plurality of phosphorescent elements are formed in and adjacent to the openings in the black matrix layer. A metal film overlays a portion of the top surface of each of the phosphorescent elements. The metal film may be patterned in a mesh or in other shapes, and provides for the highly efficient operation of the display of the invention. The baseplate, formed on a substrate, is mounted opposite and parallel to the faceplate, and has a conductive layer over the substrate.

Abstract: A field emission display having an ion pump, for removal of outgassed material, is described. The display has a baseplate and an opposing face plate. A substrate acts as a base for the baseplate. There are parallel, spaced conductors acting as cathode electrodes, over the substrate. An insulating layer covers the cathode electrodes and the substrate, and parallel, spaced conductors act as gate electrodes and overlay the insulating layer. There is a plurality of openings extending through the insulating layer and the gate electrodes. At each of the openings is a field emission microtip connected to and extending up from one of the cathode electrodes. The faceplate has a glass base and is mounted opposite and parallel to the baseplate. A conducting anode electrode covers the glass base.

Abstract: A microtip structure with high uniformity, low operating voltage and no resistive dissipation for a field emission display is described. A substrate is provided. A first conductive layer is formed on the substrate that acts as a cathode. A second conductive layer with a narrow circular opening acts as a gate. A first dielectric layer separates the cathode and the gate. The microtip extends up from the cathode and into the opening. A second dielectric layer is over the gate, with a circular opening that is larger than and concentric with the narrow circular opening in the gate. A means to provide a brief, charging voltage to the gate, followed by a longer operational voltage, wherein the amplitude of the operational voltage is lower than the amplitude of the charging voltage, is included.