Abstract: A field emissive display (40) having an anode plate (10) coupled to a cathode plate (20) and a method for manufacturing the field emissive display (40). A substrate (21) of the cathode plate (20) is manufactured or selected such that its coefficient of thermal expansion substantially matches that of the anode plate (10), i.e., the coefficients of thermal expansion of the cathode plate (20) and the anode plate (10) are within ten percent of each other. The cathode plate (20) is coupled to the anode plate (10) by means of a frit structure (41) whose coefficient of thermal expansion preferably substantially matches that of the cathode plate (20) and the anode plate (10). A control circuit can be mounted to the bottom surface of the field emissive display (40).

Abstract: A field emissive display (40) having an anode plate (10) coupled to a cathode plate (20) and a method for manufacturing the field emissive display (40). A substrate (21) of the cathode plate (20) is manufactured or selected such that its coefficient of thermal expansion substantially matches that of the anode plate (10), i.e., the coefficients of thermal expansion of the cathode plate (20) and the anode plate (10) are within ten percent of each other. The cathode plate (20) is coupled to the anode plate (10) by means of a frit structure (41) whose coefficient of thermal expansion preferably substantially matches that of the cathode plate (20) and the anode plate (10). A control circuit can be mounted to the bottom surface of the field emissive display (40).

Abstract: A field emission display (100, 200, 300) includes a plurality of offset phosphors (126) and a cathode plate (110). Cathode plate (110) has a plurality of non-electron-emissive structures (112), a plurality of electron-emissive pixels (108), and a plurality of focusing electrodes (106). Offset phosphors (126) are aligned one each with non-electron-emissive structures (112) of cathode plate (110). Focusing electrodes (106) are disposed to cause a plurality of emission currents (134), which are generated by electron-emissive pixels (108), to be directed one each toward offset phosphors (126). Ions liberated from offset phosphors (126) are received by non-electron-emissive structures (112) of cathode plate (110), thereby ameliorating ion bombardment of electron-emissive pixels (108).

Abstract: A field emission display (100) includes a dielectric layer (132) having a plurality of emitter wells (134), a plurality of electron emitters (136) disposed one each within the plurality of emitter wells (134), a plurality of conductive rows (138, 140, 142) disposed on the dielectric layer (132) and having sacrificial portions (154), an ion shield (139) disposed on the dielectric layer (132) and spaced apart from the sacrificial portions (154) of the plurality of conductive rows (138, 140, 142), and an anode (121) opposing the plurality of electron emitters (136) and defining a projected area (122) at the plurality of conductive rows (138, 140, 142). The sacrificial portions (154) of the plurality of conductive rows (138, 140, 142) extend beyond the projected area (122) of the anode (121).

Abstract: A gridded spacer assembly (130, 230) for a field emission display (100, 200) includes a plurality of spacers (135, 235), a focusing grid (132, 232) having a plurality of spacer apertures (133) in which the spacers (135, 235) are disposed and to which the spacers (135, 235) are affixed adjacent their lower end, a stabilization grid (138, 238) having a plurality of spacer apertures (137) in registration with the spacer apertures (133) of the focusing grid (132, 232), the spacers (135, 235) being disposed therein and affixed thereto adjacent their upper end, the focusing grid (132, 232) and the stabilization grid (138, 238) having a plurality of focusing apertures (139) for collimating and focusing a beam of electrons (150).

Abstract: A stand-alone spacer for use in a flat-panel display includes a plurality of members being joined at a common axis. A first one of the members is a load-bearing member; a second one of the members is a stabilizing member. The load bearing member extends into the face plate and backplate of the display to provide standoff of mechanical forces. The load bearing member has an aspect ratio within the range of 2:1 to 20:1. The stand-alone spacer has a tipping angle within the range of 20 to 90 degrees so that, after placement on one of the display plates, the spacer is able to remain upright throughout the subsequent packaging and evacuation steps in the fabrication of the display.

Abstract: A charge dissipation field emission device (200, 300, 400) includes a supporting substrate (210, 310, 410), a cathode (215, 315, 415) formed thereon, a dielectric layer (240, 340, 440) formed on the cathode (215, 315, 415) and having emitter wells (260, 360, 460) and a charge dissipation well (252, 352, 452, 453) exposing a charge-collecting surface (248, 348, 448, 449), for bleeding off gaseous positive charge generated during the operation of the charge dissipation field emission device (200, 300, 400), an electron emitter (270, 370, 470) formed in each of the emitter wells (260, 360, 460), and an anode (280, 380, 480) spaced from the dielectric layer (240, 340, 440) for collecting electrons emitted by the electron emitters (270, 370, 470).

Abstract: A field emission display (100, 200, 300) and a method of making the same are disclosed. The field emission display (100, 200, 300) includes an anode (110, 210, 310) having a plurality of cathodoluminescent deposits (120, 220, 320), a back plate (185, 285, 385) including a cathode (130, 230, 330) having a plurality of field emitters (140, 240, 340) and being affixed to a cathode reinforcement member (170, 270, 370), and a plurality of side members (150, 250, 350) disposed between the anode (110, 210, 310) and the cathode (130, 230,330) and hermetically affixed thereto. The thicknesses of the anode (110, 210, 310) and the back plate (185, 285, 385) are sufficient to provide the structural support necessary to maintain the mechanical integrity of the field emission display (100, 200, 300).

Abstract: A field emission device (200, 300, 400, 500) includes a supporting substrate (210, 310, 410, 510), a cathode (215, 315, 415, 515) formed thereon, a plurality of electron emitters (270, 370, 470, 570) and a plurality of gate extraction electrodes (250, 350, 450, 550) proximately disposed to the plurality of electron emitters (270, 370, 470, 570) for effecting electron emission therefrom, a major dielectric surface (248, 348, 448, 548) disposed between the plurality of gate extraction electrodes (250, 350, 450, 550), a charge dissipation layer (252, 352, 452, 552) formed on the major dielectric surface (248, 348, 448, 548), and an anode (280, 380, 480, 580) spaced from the gate extraction electrodes (250, 350, 450, 550).

Abstract: A process for manufacturing of a field emission device (100, 200) including the steps of i) providing a substrate (101, 201), ii) forming a conductive row (106, 206), ii) forming a dielectric layer (102, 202), iv) forming a resist layer (116, 216), v) forming a self-assembled monolayer (112, 212) of a self-assembled monolayer-forming molecular species on the resist layer (116, 216) so that the self-assembled monolayer (112, 212) defines an etch pattern for an emitter well (107, 207), vi) etching the resist layer (116, 216), vii) etching the dielectric layer ((102, 202), viii) forming conductive column (103, 203), and ix) forming the electron-emitter structure (105, 208) within the emitter well (107, 207).

Abstract: An apparatus (95) and method for patterning a surface of an article (30), the apparatus (95) including a large-area stamp (50) for forming a self-assembled monolayer (36) (SAM) of a molecular species (38) on the surface (34) of a layer (32) of resist material, which is formed on the surface of the article (30). The large-area stamp (50) includes a layer (52) of an elastomer and has, embedded within it, mechanical structures (68, 80) which stiffen the large-area stamp (50) and deform it to control the stamped patterns. The method includes the steps of: forming a layer (32) of resist material is on the surface of the article (30), utilizing the large-area stamp (50) to form the SAM (36) on the surface (34) of the layer (32) of resist material, etching the layer (32) of resist material, and thereafter etching or plating the surface of the article (30).

Abstract: An optical correction layer for a light emitting apparatus having gaps in brightness at the light-emitting surface. The optical correction layer includes a plurality of optical correction regions centered over the gaps, and a plurality of optically transparent regions which overlay the remainder of the light-emitting surface. The optical correction regions include appropriately formed grooves which collect and redirect light adjacent the gap. The light is redirected to cover and effectively conceal the gap. The optically transparent regions permit light to travel through, without redirection.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) including a support structure (104), a flexible stamp (106) having a stamping surface (110) including a predetermined pattern disposed opposite the support structure (104), a pressure controlled chamber (112) disposed above the support structure (104), and a mechanical attachment (114) affixed to the flexible stamp (106).

Abstract: A an electron source utilizes a novel extraction grid conductor (20,40,41) to assist in focusing an electron beam emitted by the electron source. The extraction grid conductor (20,40,41) has a collimating conductor (29,31) that separate an extraction grid section (17,21,22) of the extraction grid conductor from conducting strips (26,24,32,33) that electrically connect the extraction grid section (17,21,22) to an external voltage source. The collimating conductor (29,31) creates an electric field that prevents emitted electrons from being attracted to the conducting strips (26,24,32,33) thereby maintaining the emitted electron beam in a substantially column-like configuration.

Abstract: A field emission device (10) has a gate (17) including an opening (22) for the communication of electrons from an emitter (14) to an anode (16). A resistive layer (18) is disposed at least on the inner surface (23) of the gate (17) surrounding the opening (22). The field emission device (10) may further include an insulating, dielectric layer (19). The resistive layer (18) and the dielectric layer (19) reduce arcing between the emitter (14) and the gate (17) in the field emission device (10).

Abstract: A field emission display includes an insulating layer and an emitting layer disposed on the faceplate. A vacuum chamber is disposed between a backplane and the emitting layer and contains a getter. Apertures are defined through the insulating layer and the emitting layer for communicating contaminates from the faceplate to the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: An electron source is formed to have a redundant conductor extraction grid (17) and redundant column conductor (38, 39). Grid (17) has a plurality of conductor strips (21, 22) that overlay the column conductors (38, 39). When one conductor strip (21, 22) of the grid (17) is shorted to an underlying conductor, the non-shorted conductor remains usable. Similarly, the column conductors (38, 39) each have a plurality of column conductor strips (14, 25, 41, 42) that underlie the grid (17). When one column conductor strip (14, 25, 41, 42) is shorted to the grid (17), the non-shorted column conductor strip remains usable.

Abstract: A display device (10) positions emitters (34,36,37,38,41,42,43,44,46, and 47) equidistant from a meander conductor (26). The meander conductor (26) is formed with a pattern that facilitates such equidistant placement. The equidistant placement results in approximately equal ballast resistor values for each emitter (34,36,37,38,41,42,43,44,46, and 47).

Abstract: A ballistic charge transport device including an edge electron emitter defining an elongated central opening therethrough with a receiving terminal (e.g. an anode) at one end of the opening and a getter at the other end. A suitable potential is applied between the emitter and the receiving terminal to attract emitted electrons to the receiving terminal and a different suitable potential is applied between the emitter and the getter so that contaminants, such as ions and other undesirable particles, are accelerated toward and absorbed by the getter.

Abstract: A heterostructure electron emitter including a substrate having a surface with a predetermined potential barrier and a quantum well formed in the substrate adjacent the surface. Contacts are positioned on the substrate for coupling free electrons to the substrate and into the quantum well. An acoustic wave device is positioned on the substrate so as to direct acoustic waves to strike the free electrons in the quantum well and excite the free electrons sufficiently to cause the free electrons to overcome the potential barrier and to be emitted from the surface of the substrate.