Abstract: A field emission display having a plurality of cathodes; a cathodoluminescent anode; a plurality of control electrodes for controlling the flow of electrons between the cathodes and the anode; a focus grid comprising an apertured, conductive sheet; and a dielectric material is disposed on the focus grid between the conductive sheet and the control electrodes. With such an arrangement, the dielectric material prevents the focus grid from electrically contacting the control electrodes. Further, it has been discovered that high angle electrons emitted by each pixel are inhibited from passing through the focus grid associated with an adjacent pixel to reduce cross-talk. It is believed that surface charge forms on the dielectric material and acts as an additional focusing structure that reduces the number of high angle electrons emitted from one pixel from passing through an adjacent focus grid aperture resulting in a “cross-talk” image on the cathode.

Abstract: A method for forming images on a display having a matrix of rows and columns of pixels is provided. Such method comprises the steps of: successively addressing the rows of pixels, each one of the rows of pixels being addressed for a predetermined addressing period of time. During each predetermined addressing period of time, a voltage level is applied to each one of the columns of pixels for a time duration in accordance with image intensity data and changing to a different voltage level during the remaining period of the addressing period of time. The voltage level changes only once during each predetermined addressing period of time. The anode of the display is coupled to a power supply adapted to couple either a relatively high voltage to the anode when such display is to operate in a relatively bright environment or a relatively low voltage when such display is to operate with relatively dim environment. The images are characterized by a gray scale level at each one of the pixels.