Abstract: Apparatus for ensuring that, in a portable, battery-powered communication package incorporating at least two communication devices, such as a combination cellular telephone and a pager, sufficient power is provided for extended operation of the communication device having the lowest continuous power consumption requirements when the device having a higher continuous power consumption rate has consumed a selected portion of the total power initially available to the combined devices.

Abstract: A high speed semiconductor device, such as a high speed dynamic random access memory (DRAM) includes an on-chip charge pump. The charge pump is based upon the flyback effect of an inductor, thereby permitting the charge pump to be switched at a frequency compatible with high performance semiconductor devices. The inductor of the charge pump comprises a plurality of serially connected metal spirals and is integrated into the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A phase-shifting lithographic mask, a method for its fabrication, and a method for its use in forming field-emission display emitters is described. The mask is made from a plate and has field and pattern regions that both transmit light of a given wavelength. The pattern region is a plurality of regularly spaced etched regions of the plate, with the optical path length of the pattern region differing from the optical path length of the field region by an odd integer multiple of one-half the light wavelength. Use of phase-shifting lithography improves depth-of-focus, and correspondingly relaxes planarity requirements. The pattern region of the mask is sized to expose a photoresist layer used in fabricating field-emission display emitters in just a single light exposure, thereby avoiding the disadvantages associated with conventional dual pass phase-shifting lithography.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for ensuring that, in a portable, battery-powered communication package incorporating at least two communication devices, such as a combination cellular telephone and a pager, sufficient power is provided for extended operation of the communication device having the lowest continuous power consumption requirements when the device having a higher continuous power consumption rate has consumed a selected portion of the total power initially available to the combined devices.

Abstract: A phase-shifting lithographic mask, a method for its fabrication, and a method for its use in forming field-emission display emitters is described. The mask is made from a plate and has field and pattern regions that both transmit light of a given wavelength. The pattern region is a plurality of regularly spaced etched regions of the plate, with the optical path length of the pattern region differing from the optical path length of the field region by an odd integer multiple of one-half the light wavelength. Use of phase-shifting lithography improves depth-of-focus, and correspondingly relaxes planarity requirements. The pattern region of the mask is sized to expose a photoresist layer used in fabricating field-emission display emitters in just a single light exposure, thereby avoiding the disadvantages associated with conventional dual pass phase-shifting lithography.

Abstract: A high speed semiconductor device, such as a high speed dynamic random access memory (DRAM) includes an on-chip charge pump. The charge pump is based upon the flyback effect of an inductor, thereby permitting the charge pump to be switched at a frequency compatible with high performance semiconductor devices. The inductor of the charge pump comprises a plurality of serially connected metal spirals and is integrated into the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A phase-shifting lithographic mask, a method for its fabrication, and a method for its use in forming field-emission display emitters is described. The mask is made from a plate and has field and pattern regions that both transmit light of a given wavelength. The pattern region is a plurality of regularly spaced etched regions of the plate, with the optical path length of the pattern region differing from the optical path length of the field region by an odd integer multiple of one-half the light wavelength. Use of phase-shifting lithography improves depth-of-focus, and correspondingly relaxes planarity requirements. The pattern region of the mask is sized to expose a photoresist layer used in fabricating field-emission display emitters in just a single light exposure, thereby avoiding the disadvantages associated with conventional dual pass phase-shifting lithography.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for modulating a conductive element in an FED device from a first level to a second level in which the charge on the display is conserved. In one embodiment, the apparatus has a primary modulator having a first input connected to a first signal representative of the second level, an output connected to the conductive element, and a second input connected to a first signal representative of the output; and a connector of a modifying voltage to the output, the connector having a first input connected to a second signal representative of the second level and a second input connected to a second signal responsive to the output.

Abstract: A current controlled field emission display includes a controller that provides a pair of pulsed clocking signals that allows current to flow from ground potential to an emitter in the field emission display during each clocking signal pulse. The number of electrons, and thus the intensity of the light will depend upon the number N of clocking signal pulses during an activation interval. In one embodiment, each of the pulsed signals includes a number N of pulses that corresponds to a desired intensity of pixels. The pulsed signals are formed by gating a clock signal in response to digital data applied to the display such that the transfer of electrons is controlled directly by the digital data. In another embodiment, the pulsed signals are produced by comparing a decoded image signal to counts from a high speed counter.

Abstract: A field emission display includes electrostatic discharge protection circuits coupled to an emitter substrate and an extraction grid. In the preferred embodiment, the electrostatic discharge circuit includes diodes reverse biased between grid sections and a first reference potential or between row lines and a second reference potential. The diodes provide a current path to discharge static voltage and thereby prevent a high voltage differential from being maintained between the emitter sets and the extraction grids. The diodes thereby prevent the emitter sets from emitting electrons at a high rate that may damage or destroy the emitter sets. In one embodiment, the diodes are coupled directly between the grid sections and the row lines. In one embodiment, the diodes are formed in an insulative layer carrying the grid sections. In another embodiment, the diodes are integrated into the emitter substrate.

Abstract: A current controlled field emission display includes a controller that provides a pair of pulsed clocking signals that allows current to flow from ground potential to an emitter in the field emission display during each clocking signal pulse. The number of electrons, and thus the intensity of the light will depend upon the number N of clocking signal pulses during an activation interval. In one embodiment, each of the pulsed signals includes a number N of pulses that corresponds to a desired intensity of pixels. The pulsed signals are formed by gating a clock signal in response to digital data applied to the display such that the transfer of electrons is controlled directly by the digital data. In another embodiment, the pulsed signals are produced by comparing a decoded image signal to counts from a high speed counter.

Abstract: A current controlled field emission display includes a controller that provides a pair of pulsed clocking signals that allows current to flow from ground potential to an emitter in the field emission display during each clocking signal pulse. The number of electrons, and thus the intensity of the light will depend upon the number N of clocking signal pulses during an activation interval. In one embodiment, each of the pulsed signals includes a number N of pulses that corresponds to a desired intensity of pixels. The pulsed signals are formed by gating a clock signal in response to digital data applied to the display such that the transfer of electrons is controlled directly by the digital data. In another embodiment, the pulsed signals are produced by comparing a decoded image signal to counts from a high speed counter.

Abstract: A method and a control circuit for controlling a field emission display to reduce emission to grid during turn on and turn off are provided. In an illustrative embodiment, the control circuit includes a threshold detector that receives an input signal proportional to an anode voltage (VAnode) for the display and produces a high or low output signal dependent on the level of VAnode. An output low corresponding to a high voltage at the display screen enables a gate element of a pass transistor that controls current flow to the grid. Alternately, an output high corresponding to a low voltage at the display screen enables a pull down transistor that controls discharge of the grid to ground. The control circuit can also include a fault detection circuit for detecting a sharp decrease in the anode voltage and discharging the grid.

Abstract: A field emission display includes an array of emitter sites, a grid for controlling electron emission from the emitter sites, and a display screen. The field emission display also includes a control circuit for controlling the grid for preventing emission to grid. The control circuit includes a high impedance grid bias path, and a low impedance grid bias path. In addition, the control circuit includes a sensing-switching circuit for sensing an anode voltage at the display screen, and switching from the high impedance to the low impedance grid bias path upon detection of a threshold anode voltage. An alternate embodiment control circuit is configured to provide a programmable delay during enabling of the grid to insure that the display screen reaches the threshold voltage prior to electron emission. An alternate embodiment field emission display includes a focus ring that is controlled to prevent emission to grid.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for ensuring that, in a portable, battery-powered communication package incorporating at least two communication devices, such as a combination cellular telephone and a pager, sufficient power is provided for extended operation of the communication device having the lowest continuous power consumption requirements when the device having a higher continuous power consumption rate has consumed a selected portion of the total power initially available to the combined devices. In the case of the aforestated exemplary device, cellular telephone function is disabled when a selected portion of the total power initially available is consumed. A first embodiment of the invention is implemented with a single electrochemical battery. The first embodiment of the invention may include a headroom-limited flyback power supply which powers the high-power consumption device. When headroom drops below a minimum set by a series-coupled diode string, power is cut off to the high-power-consumption device.

Abstract: A field emission display includes electrostatic discharge protection circuits coupled to an emitter substrate and an extraction grid. In the preferred embodiment, the electrostatic discharge circuit includes diodes reverse biased between grid sections and a first reference potential or between row lines and a second reference potential. The diodes provide a current path to discharge static voltage and thereby prevent a high voltage differential from being maintained between the emitter sets and the extraction grids. The diodes thereby prevent the emitter sets from emitting electrons at a high rate that may damage or destroy the emitter sets. In one embodiment, the diodes are coupled directly between the grid sections and the row lines. In one embodiment, the diodes are formed in an insulative layer carrying the grid sections. In another embodiment, the diodes are integrated into the emitter substrate.

Abstract: A field emission display device includes a baseplate having a set of field-induced electron emitters for each pixel in a display. Each set includes a plurality of emitters each carried by a supporting substrate and disposed within a respective aperture in an insulating layer deposited on the surface of the substrate. A conductive layer is deposited on the insulating layer peripherally about the apertures. A plurality of emitter conductors are each operatively coupled to the emitters of one of the sets of emitters. A conductive voltage applied to the conductive layer and a source voltage applied to one of the emitter conductors causes the emitters coupled to the emitter conductor to each emit an electron emission. The display device also includes a faceplate having a transparent viewing layer positioned in a parallel spaced-apart relationship with the baseplate. An anode is deposited on a planar surface of the viewing layer opposite the sets of emitters.

Abstract: A field emission display includes an array of emitter sites, a grid for controlling electron emission from the emitter sites, and a display screen. The field emission display also includes a control circuit for controlling the grid for preventing emission to grid. The control circuit includes a high impedance grid bias path, and a low impedance grid bias path. In addition, the control circuit includes a sensing-switching circuit for sensing an anode voltage at the display screen, and switching from the high impedance to the low impedance grid bias path upon detection of a threshold anode voltage. An alternate embodiment control circuit is configured to provide a programmable delay during enabling of the grid to insure that the display screen reaches the threshold voltage prior to electron emission. An alternate embodiment field emission display includes a focus ring that is controlled to prevent emission to grid.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for ensuring that, in a portable, battery-powered communication package incorporating at least two communication devices, such as a combination cellular telephone and a pager, sufficient power is provided for extended operation of the communication device having the lowest continuous power consumption requirements when the device having a higher continuous power consumption rate has consumed a selected portion of the total power initially available to the combined devices. In the case of the aforestated exemplary device, cellular telephone function is disabled when a selected portion of the total power initially available is consumed. A first embodiment of the invention is implemented with a single electrochemical battery. The first embodiment of the invention may include a headroom-limited flyback power supply which powers the high-power consumption device. When headroom drops below a minimum set by a series-coupled diode string, power is cut off to the high-power-consumption device.

Abstract: A field emission display includes an array of emitter sites, a grid for controlling electron emission from the emitter sites, and a display screen. The field emission display also includes a control circuit for controlling the grid for preventing emission to grid. The control circuit includes a high impedance grid bias path, and a low impedance grid bias path. In addition, the control circuit includes a sensing-switching circuit for sensing an anode voltage at the display screen, and switching from the high impedance to the low impedance grid bias path upon detection of a threshold anode voltage. An alternate embodiment control circuit is configured to provide a programmable delay during enabling of the grid to insure that the display screen reaches the threshold voltage prior to electron emission. An alternate embodiment field emission display includes a focus ring that is controlled to prevent emission to grid.