Abstract: A matrix addressable flat panel display includes a flat cathode operable for emitting electrons to an anode when an electric field is produced across the surface of the flat cathode by two electrodes placed on each side of the flat cathode. The flat cathode may consist of a cermet or amorphic diamond or some other combination of a conducting material and an insulating material such as a low effective work function material. The electric field produced causes electrons to hop on the surface of the cathode at the conducting-insulating interfaces. An electric field produced between the anode and the cathode causes these electrons to bombard a phosphor layer on the anode.

Abstract: A field emission cathode for use in flat panel displays is disclosed comprising a layer of conductive material and a layer of amorphic diamond film, functioning as a low effective work-function material, deposited over the conductive material to form emission sites. The emission sites each contain at least two sub-regions having differing electron affinities. Use of the cathode to form a computer screen is also disclosed along with the use of the cathode to form a fluorescent light source.

Abstract: A system and method for producing thin, uniform powder phosphors for field emission display screens features a planarization of the phosphor powder layer. That planarization is accomplished by placing the deposited phosphor layer in an anode plate between two optical flats, which are then mounted within a mechanical press.

Abstract: A field emission cathode for use in flat panel displays is disclosed comprising a layer of conductive material and a layer of amorphic diamond film, functioning as a low effective work-function material, deposited over the conductive material to form emission sites. The emission sites each contain at least two sub-regions having differing electron affinities. Use of the cathode to form a computer screen is also disclosed along with the use of the cathode to form a fluorescent light source.

Abstract: A matrix addressable flat panel display includes a flat cathode operable for emitting electrons to an anode when an electric field is produced across the surface of the flat cathode by two electrodes placed on each side of the flat cathode. The flat cathode may consist of a cermet or amorphic diamond or some other combination of a conducting material and an insulating material such as a low effective work function material. The electric field produced causes electrons to hop on the surface of the cathode at the conducting-insulating interfaces. An electric field produced between the anode and the cathode causes these electrons to bombard a phosphor layer on the anode.

Abstract: A field emission cathode for use in flat panel displays is disclosed comprising a layer of conductive material and a layer of amorphic diamond film, functioning as a low effective work-function material, deposited over the conductive material to form emission sites. The emission sites each contain at least two sub-regions having differing electron affinities. Use of the cathode to form a computer screen is also disclosed along with the use of the cathode to form a fluorescent light source.

Abstract: A display device for use in conjunction with a computer system includes a cathode having a layer of conductive material and a layer of low-effective work function material deposited over the conductive material wherein the low-effective work function material has an emission surface comprising a plurality of distributed localized electron emission sites. The emission sites may have electrical properties which are discontinuous from each other. The emission surface may be relatively flat.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a display cathode which includes forming a conductive line adjacent a face of a substrate. A region of amorphic diamond is formed adjacent a selected portion of the conductive line.

Abstract: A system and method is available for fabricating a field emitter device, where in an emitter material, such as copper, is deposited over a resistive layer which has been deposited upon a substrate. Two ion beam sources are utilized. The first ion beam source is directed at a target material, such as molybdenum, for sputtering molybdenum onto the emitter material. The second ion beam source is utilized to etch the emitter material to produce cones or micro-tips. A low work function material, such as amorphous diamond, is then deposited over the micro-tips.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a display cathode which includes forming a conductive line adjacent a face of a substrate. A region of amorphic diamond is formed adjacent a selected portion of the conductive line.

Abstract: A matrix-addressed diode flat panel display of field emission type is described, utilizing a diode (two terminal) pixel structure. The flat panel display comprises a cathode assembly having a plurality of cathodes, each cathode including a layer of cathode conductive material and a layer of a low effective work-function material deposited over the cathode conductive material and an anode assembly having a plurality of anodes, each anode including a layer of anode conductive material and a layer of cathodoluminescent material deposited over the anode conductive material, the anode assembly located proximate the cathode assembly to thereby receive charged particle emissions from the cathode assembly, the cathodoluminescent material emitting light in response to the charged particle emissions.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a display cathode which includes forming a conductive line adjacent a face of a substrate. A region of amorphic diamond is formed adjacent a selected portion of the conductive line.

Abstract: A field emission cathode for use in flat panel displays comprises a layer of conductive material and a layer of amorphic diamond film, functioning as a low effective work-function material, deposited over the conductive material to form emission sites. The emission sites each contain at least two sub-regions having differing electron affinities. The cathode may be used to form a computer screen or a fluorescent light source.

Abstract: A field emission cathode is provided which includes a substrate and a conductive layer disposed adjacent the substrate. An electrically resistive pillar is disposed adjacent the conductive layer, the resistive pillar having a substantially flat surface spaced from and substantially parallel to the substrate. A layer of diamond is disposed adjacent the flat surface of the resistive pillar.

Abstract: A flat panel display of a field emission type having a triode (three terminal) structure and useful as a device for displaying visual information is disclosed. The display includes a plurality of corresponding light-emitting anodes and field-emission cathodes, each of the anodes emitting light in response to emission from each of the corresponding cathodes, each of the cathodes including a layer of low work function material having a relatively flat emission surface which includes a plurality of distributed localized electron emission sites and a grid assembly positioned between the corresponding anodes and cathodes to thereby control emission levels to the anodes from the corresponding cathodes. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the layer of low work function material is amorphic diamond film.

Abstract: A field emission cathode is provided which includes a substrate and a conductive layer disposed adjacent the substrate. An electrically resistive pillar is disposed adjacent the conductive layer, the resistive pillar having a substantially flat surface spaced from and substantially parallel to the substrate. A layer of diamond is disposed adjacent the surface of the resistive pillar.

Abstract: A field emitter comprising an exposed wide band gap emission area in contact with and protruding from a planar surface of a conductive metal, and a method of making is disclosed. Suitable wide band gap materials (2.5-7.0 electron-volts) include diamond, aluminum-nitride and gallium-nitride; suitable conductive metals include titanium, tungsten, gold and graphite. The method includes disposing the wide band gap material on a substrate, disposing the conductive metal on the wide band gap material, and etching the conductive metal to expose wide band gap emission areas. The emission areas are well suited for large area flat panel displays.

Abstract: A system and method for producing thin, uniform powder phosphors for field emission display screens wherein a planarization of the phosphor powder layer is accomplished by placing the deposited phosphor layer in an anode plate between two optical flats, which are then mounted within a mechanical press.

Abstract: Lateral luminescent field emitter devices for use in flat panel displays and a method of manufacturing are described. The device comprises a flat substrate, an anode disposed on the substrate, and a cathode disposed on the substrate, the cathode providing an electron emission surface capable of emitting electrons laterally across a gap to a major portion of an adjacent surface of the anode.

Abstract: A maskless process for forming a protected metal feature in a planar insulating layer of a substrate is disclosed. A first barrier material is disposed in a recess in an insulating layer, a conductive metal is disposed on the first barrier material such that the entire metal feature is positioned within the recess below the top of the recess, a second barrier material is disposed on the metal feature such that the second barrier material occupies the entire portion of the recess above the-metal feature and extends above the top surface of the insulating layer, and the second barrier material is then polished until the top of the second barrier material is in and aligned with the top of the insulating layer. As a result, the metal feature is surrounded and protected by the first and second barrier materials, and the substrate is planarized.