Multipointed Or Serrated Edge Electrode Patents (Class 313/351)
  • Patent number: 9006964
    Abstract: The present invention relates to afield emission cathode, comprising an at least partly electrically conductive base structure, and a plurality of electrically conductive micrometer sized sections spatially distributed at the base structure, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of micrometer sized sections each are provided with a plurality of electrically conductive nanostructures. Advantages of the invention include lower power consumption as well as an increase in light output of e.g. a field emission lighting arrangement comprising the field emission cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Lightlab Sweden AB
    Inventor: Qiu-Hong Hu
  • Patent number: 8933864
    Abstract: A flat panel display including a plurality of electrically addressable pixels; using a passive matrix on a first substrate, a passivating layer on at least partially around the pixels; a conductive frame on the passivating layer, and a plurality of cold cathode emitters on select portions of the conductive frame within the display, wherein exciting the conductive frame and addressing one of the pixels using the associated passive matrix causes electrons to strike at least one of the pixels and result in the emission of light from those pixels. Using a metal layer (ML) on a second substrate the extent of electrons emitted is enhanced through the incorporation of a noble gas or mixture thereof, causing a multiplication of the electrons emitted by the cold cathode when the gas is ionized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: CopyTele, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank J. DiSanto, Denis Krusos
  • Patent number: 8900029
    Abstract: The present application relates to a method for making a carbon nanotube field emitter. A carbon nanotube film is drawn from the carbon nanotube array by a drawing tool. The carbon nanotube film includes a triangle region. A portion of the carbon nanotube film closed to the drawing tool is treated into a carbon nanotube wire including a vertex of the triangle region. The triangle region is cut from the carbon nanotube film by a laser beam along a cutting line. A distance between the vertex of the triangle region and the cutting line can be in a range from about 10 microns to about 5 millimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Peng Liu, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 8766522
    Abstract: Improved field emission cathodes comprise a fiber of highly aligned and densely packed single-wall carbon nanotubes, double-wall carbon nanotubes, multi-wall carbon nanotubes, grapheme nanoribbons, carbon nanofibers, and/or carbon planar nanostructures. The fiber cathodes provide superior current carrying capacity without degradation or adverse effects under high field strength testing. The fibers also can be configured as multi-fiber field emission cathodes, and the use of low work function coatings and different tip configurations further improves their performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Steven B Fairchild, Benji Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8710727
    Abstract: A field emission cathode structure includes a first carbon nanotube structure including a plurality of first carbon nanotubes, and a second carbon nanotube structure located on the surface of the first carbon nanotube structure. The second carbon nanotube structure includes a plurality of second carbon nanotubes substantially perpendicular to the first carbon nanotubes structure. The second carbon nanotube structure includes a peak. The heights of the second carbon nanotubes at the peak are tallest. The heights of the carbon second carbon nanotubes gradually decrease along the direction away from the peak. A method for fabricating the field emission cathode structure is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Peng Liu, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 8624477
    Abstract: The present application relates to a carbon nanotube field emitter. The carbon nanotube field emitter includes a carbon nanotube structure. The carbon nanotube structure includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes joined end-to-end by van der waals attractive force. The carbon nanotube structure has two joined portions, one portion is a triangle shaped carbon nanotube film, which is an electron emitting portion, the other portion is a carbon nanotube wire, which is a support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Peng Liu, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 8614581
    Abstract: A vacuum ionization gauge includes a cold cathode, a shield electrode, an anode ring, and a collector. The shield electrode includes a receiving space. The anode ring is located in the receiving space of the shield electrode. The cold cathode includes a field emission unit and a grid electrode corresponding to the field emission unit. The field emission unit includes at least one emitter. Each of the at least one emitter includes a carbon nanotube pipe. The carbon nanotube pipe has a first end, a second end, and a main body connecting to the first end and the second end. The second end has a plurality of carbon nanotube peaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yang Wei, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 8593047
    Abstract: A pixel tube for field emission display includes a sealed container, an anode, a phosphor, and a cathode. The sealed container has a light permeable portion. The anode is located in the sealed container and spaced from the light permeable portion. The phosphor layer is located on the anode. The cathode is spaced from the anode and includes a cathode emitter. The cathode emitter includes a carbon nanotube pipe. One end of the carbon nanotube pipe has a plurality of carbon nanotube peaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yang Wei, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 8536775
    Abstract: A field emission lamp, capable of increasing the number of electron emitting points thereof, and of increasing the uniformity and the intensity of the light output therefrom by installing a mesh cathode is disclosed. The field emission lamp comprises: an outer shell having an inner surface, a mesh cathode unit surrounded by the outer shell, an anode unit formed on a portion of the inner surface of the outer shell, and a phosphor layer formed on a portion of the anode unit. Wherein, the light generated by the phosphor layer, due to the bombardment of the electrons, can output from the field emission lamp of the present invention, through the outer shell where none of the anode unit is formed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Tatung Company
    Inventor: Tzung-Han Yang
  • Patent number: 8531097
    Abstract: Disclosed is a field emitter, including: a cathode electrode in a shape of a tip; an emitter having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the cathode electrode and formed on the cathode electrode; and a gate electrode having a single hole and located above the emitter while maintaining a predetermined distance from the emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Jin Woo Jeong, Jun Tae Kang, Yoon Ho Song, Jae Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 8519608
    Abstract: Provided is an electron source which outputs a stable electron beam even when vibration is applied from the external to an apparatus which uses the electron source. The electron source is provided with an insulator (5); two conductive terminals (4) arranged at an interval on the insulator (5); a long filament (3) stretched between the conductive terminals (4); and a needle-like cathode (1) having an electron emitting section attached to the filament (3). The vertical cross-section shape of the filament (3) in the axis direction has a long direction and a short direction, and the maximum length in the long direction is 1.5 times or more but not more than 5 times the maximum length in the short direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Denki Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryozo Nonogaki, Yoshinori Terui
  • Patent number: 8476819
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a triode field emission display with anode and gate on the same substrate, comprising anode-gate substrate and cathode substrate, parallel and adapted in the size; a number of strip-like cathode conducting layers arranged alternating on the cathode substrate; resistor layer for current limiting and dielectric layer for cathode protection are arranged alternately on the cathode conducting layer in the longitudinal direction; the electron emission materials are arranged on the resistor layer for current limiting; wherein the strip-like anode conducting layer and strip-like gate conducting layer on the anode-gate substrate are perpendicular to the strip-like cathode conducting layer on the cathode substrate, dielectric layer for isolation is arranged between the anode-gate and the cathode substrates, one end of the dielectric layer for isolation is connected to the dielectric layer for gate protection, the other end is connected to the dielectric layer for cathode protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Inventors: Tailiang Guo, Yongai Zhang, Zhixian Lin, Liqin Hu, Yun Ye, Yuxiang You
  • Patent number: 8450920
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a field emission electronic device. The field emission electronic device includes an insulating substrate, a first electrical conductor located on surface of the insulating substrate, a number of electron emitters connected to the first electrical conductor, a second electrical conductor spaced apart from and insulated from the first electrical conductor. Each of the number of electron emitters includes at least one electron emitter. Each of the electron emitters includes a carbon nanotube pipe. The carbon nanotube pipe includes a first end, a second end and a main body connecting the first end and the second end. The first end of the carbon nanotube pipe is electrically connected to one of the plurality of row electrodes. The second end of the carbon nanotube pipe has a number of carbon nanotube peaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yang Wei, Peng Liu, Hai-Yan Hao, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 8446088
    Abstract: A field emission device for emitting white light is provided. The device includes a cathode plate assembly (1), an anode plate assembly (2) which is opposite to and spaced from the cathode plate assembly (1), and a supporting body (3) for tight coupling the cathode plate assembly (1) with the anode plate assembly (2). The anode plate assembly (2) includes a transparent substrate (203) which can emit yellow light when excited by blue light. An anode (202) and a blue cathode ray luminescent material layer (201) are provided on the surface of the transparent substrate (203). The blue cathode ray luminescent material layer (201) contains blue cathode ray luminescent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Ocean's King Lighting Science & Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mingjie Zhou, Wenbo Ma
  • Patent number: 8421327
    Abstract: An emitter includes an electrode, and a number of carbon nanotubes fixed on the electrode. The carbon nanotubes each have a first end and a second end. The first end is electrically connected to the substrate and the second end has a needle-shaped tip. Two second ends of carbon nanotubes have a larger distance therebetween than that of the first ends thereof, which is advantageous for a better screening affection. Moreover, the needle-shaped tip of the second ends of the carbon nanotube has a lower size and higher aspect ratio than the conventional carbon nanotube, which, therefore, is attributed to bear a larger emission current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignees: Tsingua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yang Wei, Peng Liu, Liang Liu, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 8421330
    Abstract: A carbon film of the present invention has an elongated needle shape whose radius decreases toward a tip. The shape is, preferably, a shape in which a field concentration coefficient ? in the Fowler-Nordheim equation is expressed by h/r where r denotes the radius in an arbitrary position and h denotes height from the arbitrary position to the tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Pureron Japan Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Masanori Haba, Nan Jiang, Hong-Xing Wang, Akio Hiraki
  • Patent number: 8410678
    Abstract: Described is a micro-fabricated charged particle emission device including a substrate and a plurality of charged particle emission sites formed in the substrate. A path extends between each emission site and a source of liquid metal. Each path is coated with a wetting layer of non-oxidizing metal for wetting the liquid metal. Exemplary non-oxidizing metals that may be used to make the wetting layer include gold and platinum. The wetting layer is sufficiently thin such that some liquid metal is able to flow to each emission site despite any chemical interaction between the liquid metal and the non-oxidizing metal of the wetting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Christopher E. Holland, Paul R. Schwoebel, Charles A. Spindt, Eric M. Pearson, Victor M. Aguero
  • Patent number: 8395309
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electron emitter. The electron emitter includes a carbon nanotube pipe. One end of the carbon nanotube pipe has a plurality of carbon nanotube peaks. The present disclosure also provides an electron emission element. The electron emission element comprises a conductive base and a carbon nanotube pipe. The carbon nanotube pipe includes a first end electrically connected with the conductive base and a second end opposite to the first end. The second end defines an opening and includes a plurality of tapered carbon nanotube bundles located around the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yang Wei, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 8368295
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electron emitter. The electron emitter includes a carbon nanotube linear compound. The carbon nanotube linear compound includes a conductive linear support and a carbon nanotube pipe. The conductive linear support is located in the carbon nanotube pipe. A plurality of carbon nanotube peaks extends from one end of the electron emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yang Wei, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 8319414
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a face plate including a low-potential electrode and a plate-like spacer including a longitudinal-direction end. The low-potential electrode is set at a lower potential than that of a resistive anode and is disposed between the resistive anode and a feed electrode. The longitudinal-direction end of the plate-like spacer is disposed between the resistive anode and the feed electrode so as to overlap the low-potential electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Date
  • Patent number: 8319415
    Abstract: A pixel tube for field emission display includes a sealed container, an anode, a phosphor, and a cathode. The sealed container has a light permeable portion. The anode is located on the light permeable portion. The phosphor layer is located on the anode. The cathode is spaced from the anode and includes a cathode emitter. The cathode emitter includes a carbon nanotube pipe. One end of the carbon nanotube pipe has a plurality of carbon nanotube peaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yang Wei, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 8304975
    Abstract: There is provided a new electron beam apparatus which improves the instability of an electron emission characteristic and provides a high efficient electron emission characteristic. The electron beam apparatus includes: an insulating member having a recess on its surface; a cathode having a protruding portion extending over the outer surface of the insulating member and the inner surface of the recess; a gate positioned at the outer surface of the insulating member in opposition to the protruding portion; and an anode positioned in opposition to the protruding portion through the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeo Tsukamoto, Ouichi Kubota
  • Patent number: 8274205
    Abstract: The system and method provided herein for limiting the effects of arcing in field-type electron emitter arrays improves the robustness of such arrays. Field-type electron emitter arrays generally have a substrate, an insulator, and a gating electrode. By including a resistive substance in the gate of the emitter array, arcing events may be isolated to a single emitter such that the remaining emitters of an array can continue electron emission and/or the short circuit current of the arc can be limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Colin R. Wilson, Ji-Ung Lee
  • Patent number: 8212465
    Abstract: Provided is a field emission device. The field emission device includes an insulated cathode substrate facing an anode substrate, a plurality of cathodes arranged on the cathode substrate and separated from each other, and an emitter formed on each of the cathodes. In order to prevent accumulation of charges on an exposed area of the cathode substrate between the cathodes due to electrons discharged from the emitter, the distance between the cathodes is equal to or smaller than a first threshold value, and the distance from the emitter to the end of the cathode is equal to or greater than a second threshold value. Accordingly, in the field emission device in which a plurality of cathodes are separated from each other on the same plane, it is possible to prevent abnormal field emission and arc generation due to accumulated charges between the cathodes, thereby performing stable operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Jin Woo Jeong, Yoon Ho Song
  • Patent number: 8193692
    Abstract: Surface field electron emitters using a carbon nanotube yarn and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. To fabricate the carbon nanotube yarn for use in fabrication of simple and efficient carbon nanotube field electron emitters, the method performs densification of the carbon nanotube yarn during rotation of a plying unit and heat treatment of the carbon nanotube yarn that has passed through the plying unit without using organic or inorganic binders or polymer pastes. The method fabricates the carbon nanotube yarn with excellent homogeneity and reproducibility through a simple process. The carbon nanotube yarn-based surface field electron emitters can be applied to various light emitting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Korea University Industrial & Academic Collaboration Foundation
    Inventors: Cheol-Jin Lee, Seung-Il Jung, Guohai Chen
  • Patent number: 8188644
    Abstract: A nanostructured composite electrode is provided that includes a pair of conductive metal foils and a multiplicity of ordered nanostructures formed on each conductive metal foil. The ordered nanostructures include functionalized carbon multi-walled nanotubes electrophoretically deposited onto the metal foils. The ordered nanostructures also include synthesized nanoparticles electrophoretically deposited onto each of the carbon multi-walled nanotubes and the metal foils in proportion to the concentration of the carbon multi-walled nanotubes while in a stable colloidal suspension with the synthesized nanoparticles during electrophoretic deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Mytitek, Inc.
    Inventor: Kwang Jeff Yeh
  • Patent number: 8169134
    Abstract: A field emission device includes: a first substrate on which a gate electrode line, a cathode line, and an electron emission source are formed; a second substrate disposed to face the first substrate, and on which an anode and a phosphor layer are formed; and a side frame surrounding an area between the first substrate and the second substrate, and forming a sealed internal space, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate respectively comprise a first protrusion part and a second protrusion part that protrude outside the side frame in the same direction, wherein a rear terminal part for applying a voltage to the gate electrode line and the cathode line is formed on the first protrusion part, wherein an anode terminal for applying a voltage to the anode is formed on the second protrusion part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-seung Cho, Hak-cheol Yang, Jun-ho Sung, Ki-bum Seong
  • Patent number: 8148685
    Abstract: A transmission electron microscope (TEM) micro-grid includes a base and a plurality of electron transmission portions. The base includes a plurality of first carbon nanotubes and the first carbon nanotubes have a first density. Each electron transmission portions includes a hole defined in the base and a plurality of second carbon nanotubes located in the hole. The second carbon nanotubes have a second density. The second density is less than the first density. The base and the electron transmission portions form the TEM micro-grid for observation of a sample using a TEM microscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Beijing FUNATE Innovation Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Li Qian, Li Fan, Liang Liu, Chen Feng, Yu-Quan Wang
  • Patent number: 8138665
    Abstract: Described is a micro-fabricated charged particle emission device including a substrate and a plurality of charged particle emission sites formed in the substrate. A path extends between each emission site and a source of liquid metal. Each path is coated with a wetting layer of non-oxidizing metal for wetting the liquid metal. Exemplary non-oxidizing metals that may be used to provide the wetting layer include gold and platinum. The wetting layer is sufficiently thin such that some liquid metal is able to flow to each emission site despite any chemical interaction between the liquid metal and the non-oxidizing metal of the wetting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Christopher E. Holland, Paul R. Schwoebel, Charles A. Spindt, Eric M. Pearson, Victor M. Aguero
  • Patent number: 8129894
    Abstract: A structure includes a substrate and a metallized carbon nano-structure extending from a portion of the substrate. In a method of making a metallized carbon nanostructure, at least one carbon structure formed on a substrate is placed in a furnace. A metallic vapor is applied to the carbon nanostructure at a preselected temperature for a preselected period of time so that a metallized nanostructure forms about the carbon nanostructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Loucas Tsakalakos, Sung Su Han, John Aibangbee Osaheni, Vanita Mani
  • Patent number: 8120238
    Abstract: A large-area and high-luminance deep ultraviolet light source device is provided under circumstances where the scales of existing mercury lamps used as ultraviolet light sources cannot be reduced and light-emitting diodes of 365 nm or less do not reach the practical level. The deep ultraviolet light source device comprises at least an anode substrate having an ultraviolet phosphor thin film doped with rare-earth metal ions such as gadolinium (Gd) ions and containing with aluminum nitride as the host material, a cathode substrate having a field electron emission material thin film, a spacer for holding the anode substrate and the cathode substrate opposite to each other and maintaining the space between the substrates in a vacuum atmosphere, and a voltage circuit for applying an electric field to the space between the anode substrate and the cathode substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignees: National University Corporation KOBE University, Yumex, Inc.
    Inventor: Takashi Kita
  • Patent number: 8115207
    Abstract: Provided are a transistor and a method of manufacturing the transistor, and more particularly, a vacuum channel transistor emitting thermal cathode electrons and a method of manufacturing the vacuum channel transistor. The vacuum channel transistor includes: a motherboard; a micro heater member having a thin-film structure formed on the motherboard; a cathode member having a thin-film structure spaced apart from a center part of the micro heater member by a first interval and formed on the micro heater member; a gate member formed on both outer walls of upper parts of the cathode member; and an anode member spaced apart from the cathode member by a second interval through spacers disposed on the gate member, wherein a vacuum electron passing area is interposed between the cathode member and the anode member by the second interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Dae Yong Kim, Hyun Tak Kim
  • Patent number: 8106576
    Abstract: A pixel tube for field emission display includes a sealed container, three anodes, three phosphor layers, and a cathode. The sealed container has a light permeable portion. The three anodes are located in the sealed container. Each of the three phosphor layers is located corresponding to one of the three anodes. The cathode is spaced from the three anodes and includes three cathode emitters. Each of the three cathode emitters is located corresponding to one of the three phosphor layers and includes a carbon nanotube pipe. One end of the carbon nanotube pipe has a plurality of carbon nanotube peaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yang Wei, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 8080930
    Abstract: Spindt-type field-emission cathodes for use in electric propulsion (EP) systems having self-assembling nanostructures that can repeatedly regenerate damaged cathode emitter nanotips. A nanotip is created by applying a negative potential near the surface of a liquefied base metal to create a Taylor cone converging to a nanotip, and solidifying the Taylor cone for use as a field-emission cathode. When the nanotip of the Taylor cone becomes sufficiently blunted or damaged to affect its utility, the base metal is re-liquefied by application of a heat source, a negative potential is reapplied to the surface of the base metal to recreate the Taylor cone, and a new nanotip is generated by solidifying the base metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Michigan Technological University
    Inventor: Lyon Bradley King
  • Patent number: 8076834
    Abstract: A field emission device in which a protecting vapor is present in an evacuated space between a field emission cathode assembly and an anode. The protecting vapor may be one or more hydrogen-containing gases such as a gas containing M—H bonds where M may be C, Si, B, Al or P.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Adam Fennimore, David Herbert Roach
  • Patent number: 8075359
    Abstract: A phosphorus-doped diamond film, which contains phosphorus at a concentration of 1015 cm?3 or more, has a resistivity of 107 ?cm or less, and allows the voltage for initiation of electron emission to be 30V or less. A method for producing the phosphorus-doped diamond film by growing a diamond film on a diamond substrate by chemical vapor deposition method in an atmosphere containing methane and hydrogen gases and phosphorus with the use of tertiary butyl phosphorus as a source of addition of phosphorus. A diamond electron source having an electrode and a substrate which contains the phosphorous-doped diamond film and emitting electron beams from the phosphorous-doped diamond film when voltage is applied between the electrode and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Takatoshi Yamada, Shinichi Shikata
  • Patent number: 8076832
    Abstract: A method of forming an electron emitter structure for use in a field emission display, or as a field emission backlight for an LCD display is provided. The electron emitter structure is formed by depositing mask elements onto an laminar Al substrate, and etching the Al substrate chemically through gaps between the mask elements, such that a spikes are formed on the substrate. These spikes are then covered with an electron emitter material. The spikes can be formed with a desired pitch/height ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Okita
  • Publication number: 20110254432
    Abstract: A substrate for a field emitter suitable for use in computed tomography has a coating with carbon hybrid structures based on the allotropes graphite, graphene and nanotubes. The field emitters are based on graphite layer structures. A substrate for field emitters is achieved for the first time that uses “graphite combs” protruding and aligned essentially perpendicular to the substrate as well as hybrid materials from these combs with CNTs supported between them on a conductive substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventor: Heinrich Zeininger
  • Patent number: 8040034
    Abstract: An electron source producing an electron beam which is highly reliable and stable even when it is externally oscillated. The electron source comprises a cathode (1) having an electron emitting section which is so connected to be interposed between top ends of two filaments (3) which are respectively connected to two conductive pins (4) provided on an insulator member (5), an end of the cathode (1) which differs from the electron emitting section being fixed to the insulator member (5), wherein the two filaments (3) are being twofold symmetry with a center on a center axis of the cathode (1), and preferably, the end of the cathode (1) which differs from the electron emitting section is fixed to the insulator member (5) via a metallic member (6) brazed to the insulator member, and more preferably, a curved portion is provided to the filaments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Denki Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryozo Nonogaki, Yoshinori Terui
  • Patent number: 8035291
    Abstract: An electron emission film having a pattern of diamond in X-ray diffraction and formed of a plurality of diamond fine grains having a grain diameter of 5 nm to 10 nm is formed on a substrate. The electron emission film can restrict the field intensity to a low level when it causes an emission current to flow, and has a uniform electron emission characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignees: Kochi Industrial Promotion Center, Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhito Nishimura, Hideki Sasaoka
  • Patent number: 8026674
    Abstract: An electron source has an electron emitter with an electron emission cathode, a high voltage unit provided for power supply of the electron emission cathode, and a low voltage unit provided to control the high voltage unit. Data are transmitted non-electrically (in particular optically) between the high voltage unit and the low voltage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jan Berk, Josef Deuringer
  • Patent number: 8022609
    Abstract: A thermal field emission cathode which is employed in an electron microscope, a critical dimension examine tool, an electron beam lithograph machine, an electron beam tester and other electron beam related systems as an electron source is disclosed. Embodiments disclose changing coating shape, coating position and shorten emitter length to extend the lifetime of the field emission cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Hermes-Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhong-Wei Chen, Juying Dou
  • Patent number: 8013505
    Abstract: A field emission electron source includes a CNT needle and a conductive base. The CNT needle has an end portion and a broken end portion; the end portion is contacted with and electrically connected to a surface of the conductive base. The CNTs at the broken end portion form a taper-shape structure, wherein one CNT protrudes and is higher than the adjacent CNTs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yang Wei, Liang Liu, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 7976616
    Abstract: The invention is a discharge electrode in an electrostatic precipitator having a power supply connected to at least one collection electrode and a flow of gas across the collection electrode. The discharge electrode has a plurality of conductive fibers electrically connected to the power supply and fiber tips exposed to the flow of gas. The fiber tips preferably extend from a composite in which the fibers reinforce a matrix material, but alternatively can be a large number of filaments extending from a composite rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Ohio University
    Inventor: M. Khairul Alam
  • Patent number: 7923914
    Abstract: The field emission cathode device includes an insulating substrate with a number of cathodes mounted thereon. A number of field emission units are mounted on the cathodes. A dielectric layer is disposed on the insulating substrate and defines a number of voids corresponding to the field emission units. The dielectric layer has an upper and lower section and disposed on the insulating substrate. The dielectric layer defining a plurality of voids corresponding to the field emission units. A number of grids disposed between the upper and lower sections, and wherein each grid are secured by the upper and lower sections of the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hai-Yan Hao, Li Qian, Peng Liu, Liang Liu, Qi Cai, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 7875195
    Abstract: The presently disclosed invention provides for the fabrication of porous anodic alumina (PAA) films on a wide variety of substrates. The substrate comprises a wafer layer and may further include an adhesion layer deposited on the wafer layer. An anodic alumina template is formed on the substrate. When a rigid substrate such as Si is used, the resulting anodic alumina film is more tractable, easily grown on extensive areas in a uniform manner, and manipulated without danger of cracking. The substrate can be manipulated to obtain free-standing alumina templates of high optical quality and substantially flat surfaces. PAA films can also be grown this way on patterned and non-planar surfaces. Furthermore, under certain conditions, the resulting PAA is missing the barrier layer (partially or completely) and the bottom of the pores can be readily accessed electrically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Oded Rabin, Paul R. Herz, Mildred S. Dresselhaus, Akintunde I. Akinwande, Yu-Ming Lin
  • Publication number: 20110005191
    Abstract: Described herein are improved ion thruster components and ion thrusters made from such components. Further described are methods of making and using the improved ion thruster components and ion thrusters made therefrom. An improved cathode includes an emitter formed from a plurality of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. An ion thruster can include the improved cathode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: William Judson Ready, Mitchell L.R. Walker, II
  • Patent number: 7863805
    Abstract: It is possible to provide an electron emission cathode, an electron emission source having a high-luminance and narrow energy width by using diamond and an electronic device using them. The diamond electron discharge cathode has a monocrystal diamond at least at a part of it. The diamond electron emission cathode has a columnar shape including a sharpened section and a heating section. The sharpened section has an electron emission section. The electron emission section and the heating section are formed by diamond semiconductor, which is formed by a p-type semiconductor containing 2×1015 cm?3 of p-type impurities or above. The electron emission section has the semiconductor. A metal layer is formed on the surface of the electron emission cathode. The metal layer exists at least at a part of the heating section. The distance from the electron emission section to the position nearest to the end of the metal layer is 500 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yamamoto, Akihiko Ueda, Yoshiki Nishibayashi, Takahiro Imai
  • Patent number: 7850447
    Abstract: A combined igniter and flame sense electrode for a dual stage gas burner that includes a first burner and a second burner is disclosed. The electrode includes a first conductive element mounted on the shaft and positioned closer to the first burner than to the second burner; a second conductive element mounted on the shaft and positioned closer to the second burner than to the first burner; and one or more electrical connectors connected to the conductive elements. An electrode according to the invention can also be used with a single stage gas burner, by placing the first conductive element at the position of high level flame from the burner and by placing the second conductive element at the position of low level flame from the burner. A gas burner assembly incorporating such an electrode, and a gas appliance incorporating such a gas burner assembly, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Wolf Appliance, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Wylie, Richard Hauser, Ben Hanson
  • Patent number: 7847596
    Abstract: An electronic device is presented for performing at least one logic function. The device comprises an electron emission based electrode arrangement associated with an electron extractor. The electrode arrangement comprises at least one basic unit including a photocathode, an anode, and one or more gates arranged aside a cavity defined between the photocathode and the anode. Said one or more gates are connectable to a voltage supply unit to be operated by one or more input voltages signals corresponding to one or more logical values, respectively. Said anode is operable as a floating electrode from which an electrical output of the device indicative of a resulted logic function is read. The anode is electrically connected to a photocathode of another cathode-anode unit of the same device, or is connected to an electrode of another electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: NovaTrans Group SA
    Inventors: Erez Halahmi, Tamar Ravon, Gilad Diamant