Abstract: A method for creating a faceplate of a display provides a faceplate substrate with a faceplate interior side and a faceplate exterior side. A plurality of barriers are formed on the faceplate interior side, with the barriers defining a plurality of subpixel volumes. Phosphor containing photopolymerizable material mixtures of red, green and blue, are deposited into subpixel volumes, and create a faceplate interior side/phosphor interface. At least a portion of the phosphor containing photopolymerizable material mixture is exposed with sufficient actinic light through the faceplate interior side/phosphor interface to polymerize a selected depth of the phosphor containing photopolymerizable material mixture in the subpixel volumes, and form a polymerized phosphor containing material in a plurality of subpixel volumes. Non-polymerized phosphor containing photopolymerizable material is removed from the polymerized phosphor containing material.

Abstract: A gated electron-emitter having a lower non-insulating emitter region (42), an overlying insulating layer (44), and a gate layer (48A, 60A, 60B, 120A, or 180A/184) is fabricated by a process in which particles (46) are distributed over the insulating layer, the gate layer, a primary layer (50A, 62A, or 72) provided over the gate layer, a further layer (74) provided over the primary layer, or a pattern-transfer layer (182). The particles are utilized in defining gate openings (54, 66, 80, 122, or 186/188) through the gate layer. Spacer material is provided along the edges of the gate openings to form spacers (102A, 110A, 124A, 140, or 150B). Dielectric openings (80, 114, 128, 144, or 154) are formed through the insulating layer. The dielectric openings can be created before or after creating the spacers.

Abstract: An electron-emitting device contains an electron focusing system (37 or 37A) formed with a base focusing structure (38 or 38A) and a focus coating (39 or 39A) that penetrates partway into a focus opening (40) extending through the base focusing structure above an electron-emissive element (24). The focus coating is normally of lower resistivity than the base focusing structure and thereby provides most of the focus control over electrons emitted by the electron-emissive element. The focus coating is typically formed by an angled deposition technique.

Abstract: An electron-emitting device employs a multi-layer resistor (46). A lower layer (48) of the resistor overlies an emitter electrode (42). A set of electron-emissive elements (54) overlie an upper layer (50) of the resistor. Each resistive layer extends continuously from a location below each electron-emissive element to a location below each other electron-emissive element. The two resistive layers are of different chemical composition. The upper resistive layer is typically formed with cermet. The lower resistive layer is typically formed with a silicon-carbon compound.

Abstract: An electron-emitting device utilizes an emitter electrode (12) shaped like a ladder in which a line of emitter openings (18) extend through the electrode. In fabricating the device, the emitter openings can be utilized to self-align certain edges, such as edges (38C) of a focusing system (37), to other edges, such as edges (28C) of control electrodes (28), to obtain desired lateral spacings. The self-alignment is typically achieved with the assistance of a backside photolithographic exposure operation. The ladder shape of the emitter electrode also facilitates the removal of short-circuit defects involving the electrode.

Abstract: A flat-panel device is fabricated by a process in which a pair of plate structures (40 and 42) are sealed along their interior surfaces (40A and 42B) to opposite edges (44A and 44B) of an outer wall (44) to form a compartment. Subsequently, exterior support structure (64) is attached to the exterior surface of one of the plate structures (40) to significantly increase resistance of the compartment to bending. Exterior support structure (66) is normally likewise attached to the exterior surface of the other plate structure (42) after the sealing operation. The compartment is then typically pumped down to a high vacuum through a suitable pump-out port (46) and closed.

Abstract: An electron-emitting device contains an electron focusing system (37 or 37A) formed with a base focusing structure (38 or 38A), a focus coating (39 or 39A), and an access conductor (106 or 116). The focus coating overlies the base focusing structure and extends into a focus opening (40). The access conductor is electrically coupled to the lower surface of the focus coating. A potential for controlling the focusing of electrons that travel through the focus opening is provided to the focus coating via the access conductor. The focus coating is typically formed by an angled deposition technique.

Abstract: An impedance-assisted electrochemical method is employed for selectively removing certain material from a structure without significantly electrochemically removing certain other material of the same chemical type as the removed material.

Abstract: A gated electron-emitter is fabricated by a process in which particles (26) are deposited over an insulating layer (24). Gate material is provided over the insulating layer in the space between the particles after which the particles and any overlying material are removed. The remaining gate material forms a gate layer (28A or 48A) through which gate openings (30 or 50) extend at the locations of the removed particles. When the gate material deposition is performed so that part of the gate material extends into the spaces below the particles, the gate openings are beveled. The insulating layer is etched through the gate openings to form dielectric openings (32 or 52). Electron-emissive elements (36A or 56A) are formed in the dielectric openings. This typically involves introducing emitter material through the gate openings into the dielectric openings and using a lift-off layer (34), or an electrochemical technique, to remove excess emitter material.

Abstract: A gated electron-emitter having a lower non-insulating emitter region (42), an overlying insulating layer (44), and a gate layer (48A, 60A, 60B, 120A, or 180A/184) is fabricated by a process in which particles (46) are distributed over the insulating layer, the gate layer, a primary layer (50A, 62A, or 72) provided over the gate layer, a further layer (74) provided over the primary layer, or a pattern-transfer layer (182). The particles are utilized in defining gate openings (54, 66, 80, 122, or 186/188) through the gate layer. Spacer material is provided along the edges of the gate openings to form spacers (110A, 124A, 140, or 150B) but leave corresponding apertures (112A, 126A, 142, or 152) through the spacer material. The insulating layer is etched through the apertures to form dielectric openings (114, 128, 144, or 154) through the insulating layer. Emitter material is introduced into the dielectric openings to form electron-emissive elements (116B, 130A, 146A, or 156B) typically filamentary in shape.

Abstract: An electrochemical technique is employed for removing certain material from a partially finished structure without significantly chemically attacking certain other material of the same chemical type as the removed material. The partially finished structure contains a first electrically non-insulating layer (52C) consisting at least partially of first material, typically excess emitter material that accumulates during the deposition of the emitter material to form electron-emissive elements (52A) in an electron emitter, that overlies an electrically insulating layer (44). An electrically non-insulating member, such as an electron-emissive element, consisting at least partially of the first material is situated at least partly in an opening (50) extending through the insulating layer.

Abstract: A method for creating a solid layer (36A or 52A) through which openings (38 or 54) extend entails subjecting particles (30) suspended in a fluid (26) to an electric field (E.sub.A) to cause a number of the particles to move towards, and accumulate over, a structure placed in the fluid. The structure, including the so-accumulated particles, is removed from the fluid. Solid material is deposited over the structure at least in the space between the so-accumulated particles. The particles, including any overlying material (36B or 52B), are removed. The remaining solid material forms the solid layer through which openings extend at the locations of the so-removed particles. The structure is typically a layer is then typically either a gate layer for the electron-emitting device or a layer used in forming the gate layer.

Abstract: A backplate structure for a field emission display includes a transparent backplate substrate, a plurality of opaque electrodes, a plurality of field emitters geometrically located in the opaque electrodes, and a focusing electrode. The focusing electrode has an exterior surface with a conductive layer disposed substantially over the exterior surface, and the focusing electrode is electrically isolated from the opaque electrodes. The faceplate structure can further include a plurality of transparent electrodes that are orthogonal to the opaque electrodes.

Abstract: A backplate structure for a field emission display includes a transparent backplate substrate, a plurality of opaque electrodes, a plurality of field emitters geometrically located in the opaque electrodes, and a focusing electrode. The focusing electrode has an exterior surface with a conductive layer disposed substantially over the exterior surface, and the focusing electrode is electrically isolated from the opaque electrodes. The faceplate structure can further include a plurality of transparent electrodes that are orthogonal to the opaque electrodes.

Abstract: A field emission display device has a faceplate and a backplate. The faceplate includes a faceplate interior side with an active region made of a plurality of phosphor pixel elements; and the backplate has a backplate interior side with a plurality of field emitters. Sidewalls are positioned between the faceplate and the backplate, to form an enclosed sealed envelope between the sidewalls, backplate interior side and the faceplate interior side. At least one spacer wall in the envelope supports the backplate and the faceplate against forces acting in a direction toward the envelope. At least one internal structure fixes and constrains the faceplate and the backplate, and aligns a plurality of phosphor pixels with corresponding field emitters. Additionally, the faceplate can include at least one faceplate fiducial, and the backplate include a corresponding backplate fiducial. The faceplate fiducial is optically aligned with the backplate fiducial. First, the spacer wall is positioned in the wall gripper.

Abstract: A faceplate for a field emission display includes a substrate defining a faceplate interior side. Pluralities of phosphor pixels are disposed on the faceplate interior side. A black matrix grid is formed of column and row guard bands on the faceplate interior side. At least one wall gripper is formed in a column or row guard band, with the wall gripper adapted to receive a spacer wall and mount it relative to the pluralities of phosphor pixels. The faceplate can include a faceplate fiducial that optically aligns to a corresponding backplate fiducial. A spacer wall is positioned in the wall gripper and mounted relative to a corresponding locator formed on a backplate interior side. The wall gripper includes a receiving trench that is positioned adjacent to a plurality of deformation accommodation gaps.

Abstract: A high-efficiency optical system for use in a liquid-crystal light-valve video projector. High intensity, unpolarized white light is separated into primary color components by color-selective filters transmitting light containing both first and second polarization states. Light of each primary color is characterized by a wavelength passband whereby the endpoints of the passband are defined by first and second wavelengths. The second passband endpoint of the first polarization state of the first primary color overlaps the first passband endpoint of the second polarization state of the second primary color, and the second passband endpoint of the second polarization state of the second primary color overlaps the first passband endpoint of the first polarization state of the third primary color. In addition, the video projector design utilizes low f/# optics in conjunction with absorptive polarizers to remove residual light of an unwanted polarization state allowed into the system by the low f/# optics.

Abstract: A liquid crystal light valve, comprising a layer of liquid crystal for storing image information and a photoconductor aligned with the liquid crystal and positioned in closed proximity thereto for effecting an electric field applied across the liquid crystal. Apparatus is provided for simultaneously applying an electric field across the liquid crystal and photoconductor while impinging optical image information on the photoconductor, the photoconductor and applied field combining to produce a modified electric field across the liquid crystal which impresses the image information on the photoconductor into the liquid crystal.

Abstract: A light scattering liquid crystal transducer in which the degree of light scattering is controlled by impressing an electric field across the cell during and immediately after the application of a high-energy short duration thermal pulse applied to the entire viewed region of the cell. This allows full gray scale to be achieved as a function of applied voltage.

Abstract: A liquid crystal cell (40) for an electron beam-addressed liquid crystal light valve has a rigid glass substrate (16) and target substrate (44) formed of thin flexible material. The cell (40) is constructed so that the spacing between the flexible substrate (44) and the rigid substrate (16) is precisely maintained. A fixture (72) is employed for attaching the target substrate (44) to the rim (102) of the light valve body (14) prior to assembly of the cell (40).