Abstract: A thin gel for separating and detecting a target molecule, (e.g., an analyte) and methods of use thereof is described. The gel can be optionally reinforced to facilitate removal from an electrophoretic apparatus, wherein the gel matrix comprises immobilized (e.g., covalently bound) capture probes capable of specifically hybridizing with, or binding to, the analyte to be detected. The gel is thin and very short assay times can be achieved facilitating rapid detection of analytes. An assay apparatus is suitable for use with an electrophoretic assay system for the detection of, or separation and detection of an analyte in a biological sample is also described.

Abstract: A method of sharpening a tapered or pointed silicon structure, such as a silicon field emitter. The method includes oxidizing the silicon field emitter to form an oxide layer thereon and removing the oxide layer. Oxidizing occurs at a low temperature and forms a relatively thin (e.g., about 20 Å to about 40 Å) oxide layer on the silicon field emitter. The oxide layer may be removed by etching. The method may be employed to sharpen existing silicon structures or in fabricating tapered or pointed silicon structures. A silicon field emitter that has been sharpened or fabricated in accordance with the method is substantially free of crystalline defects and includes an emitter tip having a diameter as small as about 40 Å to about 20 Å or less.

Abstract: A method is provided for immobilizing a ligand, e.g., a nucleic acid, on a solid support. The method includes providing a solid support containing an immobilized latent thiol group, activating the thiol group, contacting the activated thiol group with a nucleic acid comprising an acrylamide functional group, and forming a covalent bond between the two groups, thereby immobilizing the nucleic acid to the solid support. Kits containing the solid supports and method of utilizing the solid supports are also provided.

Abstract: A method for making an electrode structure and an electrode structure for a display device comprising a gate electrode proximate to an emitter and a focusing electrode separated from the gate electrode by an insulating layer containing a ridge. When the focusing electrode is an aperture-type electrode, the upper surface of the ridge protrudes closer to the emitter than the sidewall of the gate electrode or the sidewall of the focusing electrode. When the focusing electrode is a concentric-type electrode, the ridge protrudes above the upper surface of the gate electrode or the upper surface of the focusing electrode.

Abstract: A field emission display apparatus includes a plurality of emitters formed on a substrate. Each of the emitters includes a titanium silicide nitride outer layer so that the emitters are less susceptible to degradation. A dielectric layer is formed on the substrate and the emitters, and an opening is formed in the dielectric layer surrounding each of the emitters. A conductive extraction grid is formed on the dielectric layer substantially in a plane defined by the emitters, and includes an opening surrounding each of the emitters. A cathodoluminescent faceplate having a planar surface is disposed parallel to the substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing hydrophilic monomers which are particularly useful for electrophoresis and to electrophoresis compositions and coating compositions. The electrophoresis gel compositions and electrophoresis polymer compositions are hydrolytically stable and have high resolution. The method uses the steps of reacting a (meth)acryloyl with an aminoalcohol in the presence of a base in a polar solvent, optionally filtering an aqueous solution of the reaction product, deionizing an aqueous solution of the reaction product, and removing the solvent.

Abstract: A method of sharpening a tapered or pointed silicon structure, such as a silicon field emitter. The method includes oxidizing the silicon field emitter to form an oxide layer thereon and removing the oxide layer. Oxidizing occurs at a low temperature and forms a relatively thin (e.g., about 20 Å to about 40 Å) oxide layer on the silicon field emitter. The oxide layer may be removed by etching. The method may be employed to sharpen existing silicon structures or in fabricating tapered or pointed silicon structures. A silicon field emitter that has been sharpened or fabricated in accordance with the method is substantially free of crystalline defects and includes an emitter tip having a diameter as small as about 40 Å to about 20 Å or less.

Abstract: An electrode structure for a display device comprising a gate electrode proximate to an emitter and a focusing electrode separated from the gate electrode by an insulating layer containing a ridge. When the focusing electrode is an aperture-type electrode, the upper surface of the ridge protrudes closer to the emitter than the sidewall of the gate electrode or the sidewall of the focusing electrode. When the focusing electrode is a concentric-type electrode, the ridge protrudes above the upper surface of the gate electrode or the upper surface of the focusing electrode. A method for making the aperture-type and concentric-type electrode structures is described. A display device containing such electrode structures is also described. By forming an insulating ridge between the gate and focusing electrodes, shorting between the two electrodes is reduced and yield enhancement increased.

Abstract: A field emission display apparatus includes a plurality of emitters formed on a substrate. Each of the emitters includes a titanium silicide nitride outer layer so that the emitters are less susceptible to degradation. A dielectric layer is formed on the substrate and the emitters, and an opening is formed in the dielectric layer surrounding each of the emitters. A conductive extraction grid is formed on the dielectric layer substantially in a plane defined by the emitters, and includes an opening surrounding each of the emitters. A cathodoluminescent faceplate having a planar surface is disposed parallel to the substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for programmable field emission display comprising an array of cathodoluminescent elements. Each cathodoluminescent element in the array is responsive to separate select signals to cause light to be emitted from said display at a location in the array corresponding to each separate cathodoluminescent element. In one embodiment, to account for processing variation and the like, each cathodoluminescent element is provided with a programmable element for adjusting the operating level of the associated cathodoluminescent element in response to select signals of predetermined voltage levels. Each programmable element includes a charge storage device and is initially programmed by storing a level of electric charge thereon such that uniformity of operation among the plurality of cathodoluminescent elements in the array is improved. In one embodiment the programmable element comprises a floating gate transistor.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a substrate and a plurality of emitters formed on the substrate. The apparatus also includes a dielectric layer formed on the substrate. The dielectric layer includes a plurality of openings each formed about one of the plurality of emitters. The dielectric layer and extraction grid together have a thickness, measured perpendicular to the substrate, similar to a height of the emitters above the substrate. The apparatus also includes an extraction grid formed on the dielectric layer. The extraction grid is formed substantially in a plane of tips of the plurality of emitters and includes openings each formed about and in close proximity to a tip of one of the plurality of emitters. The extraction grid includes germanium so that photons incident on exposed portions of the extraction grid are absorbed and are not transmitted to depletion regions associated with the emitters. This reduces distortion in operation of the display.

Abstract: A multilayer structure is provided which suppresses hillock formation due to post-heat treatment steps in thin aluminum films deposited on other substrates by sandwiching the aluminum film between thin layers of aluminum titanium nitride. The first aluminum titanium nitride layer acts as a compatibilizing layer to provide a better match between the coefficients of thermal expansion of the substrate and aluminum metal layer. The second aluminum titanium nitride layer acts as a cap layer to suppress hillock formation.

Abstract: An electrode structure for a display device comprising a gate electrode proximate to an emitter and a focusing electrode separated from the gate electrode by an insulating layer containing a ridge. When the focusing electrode is an aperture-type electrode, the ridge protrudes closer to the emitter than the sidewall of the gate electrode or the sidewall of the focusing electrode. When the focusing electrode is a concentric-type electrode, the ridge protrudes above the upper surface of the gate electrode or the upper surface of the focusing electrode. A method for making the aperture-type and concentric-type electrode structures is described. A display device containing such electrode structures is also described. By forming an insulating ridge between the gate and focusing electrodes, shorting between the two electrodes is reduced and yield enhancement increased.

Abstract: A field emission display apparatus includes a plurality of emitters formed on a substrate. Each of the emitters includes a titanium silicide nitride outer layer so that the emitters are less susceptible to degradation. A dielectric layer is formed on the substrate and the emitters, and an opening is formed in the dielectric layer surrounding each of the emitters. A conductive extraction grid is formed on the dielectric layer substantially in a plane defined by the emitters, and includes an opening surrounding each of the emitters. A cathodoluminescent faceplate having a planar surface is disposed parallel to the substrate.

Abstract: A field emission display apparatus includes a plurality of emitters formed on a substrate. Each of the emitters includes a titanium silicide nitride outer layer so that the emitters are less susceptible to degradation. A dielectric layer is formed on the substrate and the emitters, and an opening is formed in the dielectric layer surrounding each of the emitters. A conductive extraction grid is formed on the dielectric layer substantially in a plane defined by the emitters, and includes an opening surrounding each of the emitters. A cathodoluminescent faceplate having a planar surface is disposed parallel to the substrate.

Abstract: A field emission display apparatus includes a plurality of emitters formed on a substrate. Each of the emitters includes a titanium silicide nitride outer layer so that the emitters are less susceptible to degradation. A dielectric layer is formed on the substrate and the emitters, and an opening is formed in the dielectric layer surrounding each of the emitters. A conductive extraction grid is formed on the dielectric layer substantially in a plane defined by the emitters, and includes an opening surrounding each of the emitters. A cathodoluminescent faceplate having a planar surface is disposed parallel to the substrate.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a substrate and a plurality of emitters formed on the substrate. The apparatus also includes a dielectric layer formed on the substrate. The dielectric layer includes a plurality of openings each formed about one of the plurality of emitters. The dielectric layer and extraction grid together have a thickness, measured perpendicular to the substrate, similar to a height of the emitters above the substrate. The apparatus also includes an extraction grid formed on the dielectric layer. The extraction grid is formed substantially in a plane of tips of the plurality of emitters and includes openings each formed about and in close proximity to a tip of one of the plurality of emitters. The extraction grid includes germanium so that photons incident on exposed portions of the extraction grid are absorbed and are not transmitted to depletion regions associated with the emitters. This reduces distortion in operation of the display.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a substrate and a plurality of emitters formed on the substrate. The apparatus also includes a dielectric layer formed on the substrate. The dielectric layer includes a plurality of openings each formed about one of the plurality of emitters. The dielectric layer and extraction grid together have a thickness, measured perpendicular to the substrate, similar to a height of the emitters above the substrate. The apparatus also includes an extraction grid formed on the dielectric layer. The extraction grid is formed substantially in a plane of tips of the plurality of emitters and includes openings each formed about and in close proximity to a tip of one of the plurality of emitters. The extraction grid includes germanium so that photons incident on exposed portions of the extraction grid are absorbed and are not transmitted to depletion regions associated with the emitters. This reduces distortion in operation of the display.

Abstract: An electrode structure for a display device comprising a gate electrode proximate to an emitter and a focusing electrode separated from the gate electrode by an insulating layer containing a ridge. When the focusing electrode is an aperture-type electrode, the upper surface of the ridge protrudes closer to the emitter than the sidewall of the gate electrode or the sidewall of the focusing electrode. When the focusing electrode is a concentric-type electrode, the ridge protrudes above the upper surface of the gate electrode or the upper surface of the focusing electrode. A method for making the aperture-type and concentric-type electrode structures is described. A display device containing such electrode structures is also described. By forming an insulating ridge between the gate and focusing electrodes, shorting between the two electrodes is reduced and yield enhancement increased.

Abstract: An electrode structure for a display device comprising a gate electrode proximate to an emitter and a focusing electrode separated from the gate electrode by an insulating layer containing a ridge. When the focusing electrode is an aperture-type electrode, the ridge protrudes closer to the emitter than the sidewall of the gate electrode or the sidewall of the focusing electrode. When the focusing electrode is a concentric-type electrode, the ridge protrudes above the upper surface of the gate electrode or the upper surface of the focusing electrode. A method for making the aperture-type and concentric-type electrode structures is described. A display device containing such electrode structures is also described. By forming an insulating ridge between the gate and focusing electrodes, shorting between the two electrodes is reduced and yield enhancement increased.