Abstract: An electron gun includes a field emission cold cathode (1) having a first electric potential, a primary gate electrode (2) having a first opening around the top of the cathode (1) and having a second electric potential which is higher than the first electric potential for causing an electron emission from the top of the cathode (1), and a second gate electrode (3) having a second opening around the top of the cathode (1) and having a third electric potential which is higher than the first electric potential and lower than the second electric potential, wherein a first voltage defined as a difference between the first and the second electric potentials varies in proportion to a second voltage defined as a difference between the first and the third electric potentials so as to provide a current-voltage characteristic having an apparent gamma-property. The apparent gamma-property is such that the luminous output of a fluorescent substance (7) of an anode (8) is directly proportional to a signal voltage.

Abstract: In a field emission electron gun including emitters (104) on predetermined parts of a substrate (409), an insulator film (105) on a remaining part of the substrate, a first gate electrode (101) on the insulator film so as to surround the emitters with a space left between each emitter and the first gate electrode, the emitters are formed on the substrate except a center part of the substrate. The first gate electrode has an inner peripheral surface which defines a hole (107) exposing a center portion of the insulator film that is positioned on the center part of the substrate. A second gate electrode (102) is formed on the insulator film to surround an outer peripheral surface of the first gate electrode with a distance left between the outer peripheral surface of the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode.

Abstract: A device for emitting electrons, comprising a substrate, an insulating film formed on a surface of the substrate and having a recess, an emitter electrode formed on the insulating film and having an edge portion located at the recess, the edge portion of the emitter electrode being formed in the form of an arch within a plane perpendicular to the surface of the substrate so as to be sharpened toward a distal end of the emitter electrode, the edge portion of the emitter electrode being sharpened also in a planar direction parallel to the surface of the substrate toward the distal end of the emitter electrode so as to have a linear portion at the distal end, and the edge portion of the emitter electrode being adapted to emit electrons from the linear portion when an electric field is applied to the edge portion of the emitter electrode, and a gate electrode formed on the insulating structure and having an edge portion located at the recess and opposing the edge portion of the emitter electrode via a gap, the ed

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 cathode device comprising a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor cathode electrode layer, emitter tips formed on the cathode electrode layer to emit electrons therefrom, and a gate electrode layer formed on an insulating layer. Each of the emitter tips is arranged in the aligned apertures of the gate electrode layer and the insulating layer. To electrically isolate two adjacent cathode electrode lines from each other, the cathode electrode layer is made of a semiconductor having a conductivity type different from that of the substrate. Alternatively, the cathode electrode is made of a semiconductor having the same conductivity type as that of the substrate, and in this case, a portion between two adjacent cathode electrode lines is made of a heavily doped semiconductor so as to electrically isolate two adjacent cathode electrodes.

Abstract: A field emission display with focus mesh, and the method of making such a display, is described. There is a glass substrate acting as a face for a faceplate of the display. A conductive layer is formed over the glass substrate. A focus mesh dielectric that is formed over the conductive layer comprises a pattern of intersecting lines formed perpendicularly to one another. A focus mesh conductor overlays the focus mesh dielectric. Phosphor elements are formed within and separated from the pattern of intersecting lines, and over the conductive layer. During operation of the display, a first voltage is applied to the conductive layer, and a second voltage is applied to the focus mesh conductor. The first and second voltages create an electric field that focuses electrons emitted from field emission microtips, located at the baseplate, on to the phosphor elements.

Abstract: The excitation device comprises a plurality of rod-like electrode elements. Each electrode element is enclosed by a chemically and thermally stable protective casing, which can be exposed to high electric fields. The electrode elements are held in vertically extending crosspieces. This results in a setup of several modules, each of which consists of a plurality of electrode elements and two cross pieces. The electrode elements of each module are electrically connected to a conductive bar and have equal potential. Consecutive modules are alternately connected to ground or phase, respectively.

Abstract: A semiconductor vacuum device including a semiconductor substrate 3, an insulator film 2 formed on the substrate 3, and a single crystal semiconductor film 1 formed on the insulator film 2. The single crystal semiconductor film 1 has a first and a second tapered edge opposite to one another but spaced apart over a gap formed in the insulator film 2. The first tapered edge acts 6 as a cathode and the second tapered edge acts as a gate 7, the substrate 1 acting as an anode into which said electrons emitted from the cathode above.

Abstract: A non-power generating current limiting device such as a field effect transistor is provided to output a regulated current in dependence upon a control voltage. An electron field emitter is connected to a drain or output of the non-power generating current limiting device to receive the regulated current. A tip of the electron field emitter emits electrons towards a collector anode. An extractor gate can be provided between the electron field emitter and the collector anode to control the rate of electron emission from the electron field emitter. Because the non-power generating current limiting device regulates the current to the electron field emitter, a maximum current output of the electron field emitter is limited to the regulated current from the voltage controlled current source. The electron field emitter is thus protected from destruction due to excess current. The non-power generating current limiting device can also be used to modulate electron emission from the field emitter.

Abstract: A field-emitter-array device includes layers of conductive material and irvening layers of insulating material. The lateral edges of the layers form a field-emitter array including a field emitter edge electrode interposed between a pair of control electrodes. The control electrode edges produce an electric field causing the flow of field emitted electrons to be substantially parallel to the plane of the control and field emitter edge electrodes. The direction of electron flow can be further controlled by additional electrodes in the form of additional conductive layers or external electrodes.

Abstract: A device providing electric-field induced electron emission includes an annular edge for emission of charged particles. Particle emission is induced, at least in part, by the presence of a conducting or semi-conducting post within the periphery of the emitting edge.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the generation of a plasma by means of circularly polarized high frequency waves. These high frequency waves are generated by means of voltages having a phase rotation of 90.degree..

Abstract: An arc discharge lamp which can be operated in any orientation without significant variation in performance includes an even number of electrodes at least equal to four, a discharge vessel including a spherical central portion and electrode mounting portions. The electrodes are mounted in the electrode mounting portions and have a substantially uniform three-dimensional distribution with respect to the central portion. The discharge lamp can be used in a lamp assembly including a switch apparatus for coupling electrical energy to a pair of the electrodes that is closest to a horizontal plane. An automatic switch apparatus includes orientation-sensitive switches, one having the same direction as each of the electrodes. The switches are interconnected such that electrical energy is coupled to a pair of electrodes in response to the orientation of the switch apparatus relative to a gravity field. The switch apparatus can be mounted in the base or within the lamp envelope of the lamp assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for plasma treatment of long continuous materials, typically sheet materials, which comprises a plasma treatment chamber, an electric power introducing member positioned in the central portion of the chamber, a plurality of antenna electrodes radially extending from the vicinity of the electric power introducing member, a plurality of grounded electrodes facing a treating surface of the antenna electrodes, the electric power introducing member being connected with the respective ends of the antenna electrodes closest thereto, and a guide means, i.e., guide rolls, for passing treating materials through gaps between the antenna and grounded electrodes. The antenna electrodes preferably have curved surfaces bulging out with respect to the direction of travel of the treating materials.

Abstract: A field emission device wherein two collecting electrodes are provided to selectively collect electrons that are emitted from an emitting electrode as induced by a gate electrode.

Abstract: A lamp system which erases selected portions of an electrically charged photoconductive member. The lamp has a transparent housing defining a chamber filled with a gaseous medium. A charge is induced across a selected region of the gaseous medium. This causes the gaseous medium to ionize in the selected region so as to emit light rays thereat. The light rays illuminate the electrically charged photoconductive member in the selected region to discharge the charge thereat.

Abstract: A plasma generator for exciting electrons in the plasma to a uniform energy evel. In a perferred embodiment, two sets of mutually perpendicular electrodes surround a container of gas, with one set being driven through a ninety degree phase shifter to establish a circularly polarized field in the space within the container. Alternative means are disclosed for launching circularly polarized RF waves into the container of gas. A desired level of uniform electron energy is achieved by establishing the proper relationship between the frequency and magnitude of the applied circularly polarized field and the mean free path of the electrons in the plasma.

Abstract: A self starter neon lamp is provided and contains a screw-in base to fit conventional screw sockets, substitutes neon gas for mercury and argon gas and utilizes flat metal ring-shaped cathodes within. In a modification the lamp is in a U-shaped configuration and utilizes two sets of curved flat metal ring-shaped cathodes within to enhance arc discharge therethrough.

Abstract: An integrated circuit including a plurality of active devices each including a thermionic cathode or a cold cathode, an anode, and a grid element, all coplanarly disposed on an insulating substrate in a vacuum. A plurality of electrostatic lens elements also are exposed on the substrate to produce electric fields that control the trajectories of electrons emitted by the cathodes to prevent the electrons from migrating to and charging up exposed portions of the substrate and the inner surface of the vacuum envelope and thereby preventing such charge buildup from altering the electrical characteristics of the active devices.

Abstract: A triggered spark gap discharger having a small auxiliary gap in the trigger pulse path. The auxiliary gap provides ultraviolet radiation to liberate electrons at the trigger probe and allow prompt firing of the trigger gap and primary gap, particularly in aged discharger units.

Abstract: The invention provides a laser arrangement including in its discharge circuit a switching thyratron which is capable of conduction normally in one direction and protectively in the reverse direction. The thyratron has an anode formed as a hollow body which is adapted to retain plasma generated during a pulse of forward conduction so that the anode is provided to act as a cathode permitting protective reversal of the thyratron when this is subject to reversal of voltage.

Abstract: A cylindrical, multiple-anode proportional counter is provided for counting of low-energy photons (<60 keV) at count rates of greater than 10.sup.5 counts/sec. A gas-filled proportional counter cylinder forming an outer cathode is provided with a central coaxially disposed inner cathode and a plurality of anode wires disposed in a cylindrical array in coaxial alignment with and between the inner and outer cathodes to form a virtual cylindrical anode coaxial with the inner and outer cathodes. The virtual cylindrical anode configuration improves the electron drift velocity by providing a more uniform field strength throughout the counter gas volume, thus decreasing the electron collection time following the detection of an ionizing event. This avoids pulse pile-up and coincidence losses at these high count rates. Conventional RC position encoding detection circuitry may be employed to extract the spatial information from the counter anodes.

Abstract: A flat cathode ray tube device is provided for display of information by response to an electron beam of a phosphor coating on a face plate. A monolithic structure includes an x-y matrix of electron source cathodes and a pair of grid arrays successively spaced from the matrix with holes therethrough adjacent to and aligned with the cathodes selectively to form and individually control the intensity of an electron beam from each of said cathodes. Deflection control structure has holes through which the beams may pass with a set of x-y deflection electrodes associated with each of the holes for x-y control of the trajectory of each of the beams. A support plate forms the base of the monolithic structure with the cathodes mounted thereon and a face plate structure marginally sealed to the support plate provides a vacuum tight envelope housing the monolithic structure.