Abstract: A driving method of a plasma display panel for achieving a high-quality image display by preventing an erroneous discharge light emission between row electrodes during a light emission sustaining step. In each subfield, a pixel data writing step and the light emission sustaining step are performed, and an address pulse, having the same polarity as the polarity of a sustain pulse first applied during the light emission sustaining step, is applied to the respective column electrodes concurrently with the first-applied sustain pulse.

Abstract: The present application discloses a characteristic adjusting method of executing a step of changing the characteristics of display devices in an image display apparatus. In particular, the present invention discloses a configuration in which target values for changes in characteristics are obtained by reducing the high-frequency components of the spatial distribution of the characteristics of the display devices.

Abstract: An electron source comprises a plurality of electron-emitting devices and a drive means for driving the devices. The drive means applies a voltage above a threshold level to selected ones of the plurality of electron-emitting devices according to an image signal to cause the selected devices to emit electrons. The drive means also applies a voltage pulse for bringing the plurality of electron-emitting devices into a high resistance state. The voltage pulse for bringing into a high resistance state has a polarity reverse to that of the voltage for causing electron emission and has a voltage rising rate of greater than 10 V/sec.

Abstract: A signal line driving circuit which includes a digital signal sampling circuit, a storage circuit, a time setting circuit and a constant current circuit, is fabricated of TFTs on an insulating substrate which is made of the same substance as that of a pixel portion substrate. Thus, in a passive type EL display device, the problem of a distortion in the case of bonding the signal line driving circuit onto the pixel portion substrate can be eliminated. Besides, in an active type EL display device, each pixel is constructed of one transistor and an EL element. Thus, the aperture factor of the EL display device is enlarged.

Abstract: An image displaying apparatus includes a transparent film adhered to an outer surface of a face plate, and a transparent conductive film formed on an outer surface of the transparent film. When a potential difference is formed between the transparent conductive film and an inner surface of the face plate, a reduction in voltage of the transparent film becomes greater than a reduction in voltage of the face plate.

Abstract: A current controlled field emission display includes a controller that provides a pair of pulsed clocking signals that allows current to flow from ground potential to an emitter in the field emission display during each clocking signal pulse. The number of electrons, and thus the intensity of the light will depend upon the number N of clocking signal pulses during an activation interval. In one embodiment, each of the pulsed signals includes a number N of pulses that corresponds to a desired intensity of pixels. The pulsed signals are formed by gating a clock signal in response to digital data applied to the display such that the transfer of electrons is controlled directly by the digital data. In another embodiment, the pulsed signals are produced by comparing a decoded image signal to counts from a high speed counter.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a display panel having an electron source, an acceleration electrode for accelerating electrons emitted from the electron source and phosphors for emitting light by collision of electrons accelerated by the acceleration electrode, and a detector for detecting a current flowing through the acceleration electrode during a non-display period. In addition, a controller is provided to decrease the luminance level, stop display driving or transmit warning information when the current detected becomes more than a predetermined value.

Abstract: Process and device for control of an electron source with matrix structure, regulated by the emitted charge.

Abstract: A flat display screen including a.cathode provided with field effect electron emission means, a cathodoluminescent anode placed opposite to the cathode, an extraction grid associated with the cathode, and at least one filtering grid, permeable to electron bombardment and biased to forbid parasitic ions, generated on one side of this filtering grid, to reach the cathode or the anode located on the other side.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a driving method and a driving apparatus for a field emission device that controls emission current with stability regardless of how long the device is driven. The field emission device driving method and driving apparatus of the present invention set the actual emission current at a reference level by adjusting the amount of current which is supplied to the emitter to a reference level. The amount of current supplied to the emitter is adjusted to the reference level by increasing the driving voltage in response to driving time elapsing in a state in which the electron emission performance is sustained above the reference level.

Abstract: A current controlled field emission display includes a controller that provides a pair of pulsed clocking signals that allows current to flow from ground potential to an emitter in the field emission display during each clocking signal pulse. The number of electrons, and thus the intensity of the light will depend upon the number N of clocking signal pulses during an activation interval. In one embodiment, each of the pulsed signals includes a number N of pulses that corresponds to a desired intensity of pixels. The pulsed signals are formed by gating a clock signal in response to digital data applied to the display such that the transfer of electrons is controlled directly by the digital data. In another embodiment, the pulsed signals are produced by comparing a decoded image signal to counts from a high speed counter.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel and a lighting device. The lighting device is supplied with alternately a first current during a period t1 and a second current during a second period t2 such that electric power E1 is lower than electric power E2. E1 is defined as (t1×ip-p(1)×Vp-p(1))/2+(t2×ip-p(2)×Vp-p(2))/2, where ip-p(1)=a peak-to-peak value of the first current, Vp-p(1)=a peak-to-peak value of a voltage across the light source during the period t1, ip-p(2)=a peak-to-peak value of the second current, and Vp-p(2)=a peak-to-peak value of a voltage across the light source during the period t2. E2 is defined as (t1+t2)×Ieff×Veff, where Ieff and Veff are effective values of the current and voltage of the light source, respectively.

Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide an electron generating apparatus which eliminates, with a simple process, variations in electron-emitting characteristics of electron sources caused by various factors, a method of adjusting the characteristics of the electron generating apparatus, a method of manufacturing the electron generating apparatus, and an image forming apparatus using the electron generating apparatus. Characteristic measuring voltages are applied from pulse generators (6, 7) to each surface-conduction emission device of a display panel (1), so that the electron-emitting characteristics are measured by a current detector (12). A pulse peak value setting circuit (8) is controlled to output a voltage signal having a peak value determined in the above manner, and characteristic shift voltages are applied from the pulse generators (6, 7) to the surface-conduction emission device. With this process, the electron-emitting characteristics of the surface-conduction emission devices are equalized.

Abstract: A display apparatus capable of reducing power consumption comprising a display element, said display element comprising a first substrate, and a second substrate having phosphors; said first substrate comprising a plurality of transistor elements, a plurality of electron emitter elements, a plurality of first signal lines stretched in a first direction, and a plurality of second signal lines stretched in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction; each of said electron emitter elements being provided for one of said transistor elements, having a structure comprising a base electrode, an insulator and a top electrode stacked as layers placed one on another in this order of enumeration, and emitting electrons when a positive-polarity voltage is applied to said top electrode; wherein each of said transistor elements and each of said electron emitter elements are provided in each intersection region of said plurality of first signal lines and said plurality of second signal lines.

Abstract: An electron-beam generating device, in which a number of cold cathode elements are matrix-wired, as well as a method of driving the device, is applied to an image forming apparatus. Statistical calculations are performed in advance with regard to a required electron-beam output, and loss produced in the matrix wiring is analyzed. Drive signals are corrected by deciding optimum correction values based upon the analytical results. As a result, when rows of the matrix are driven successively row by row, the intensity of the outputted electron beams can made accurate for any driving pattern.

Abstract: There is a driving circuit disclosed for a field emission display which can reduce the power consumption and thus improve the reliability of high voltage elements by reducing the swing width of the driving voltage necessary for driving the gate, cathode and anode lines arranged to the field emission display.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which performs pulsewidth modulation with a pulsewidth set by counting a clock. Especially, for grayscale level correction by setting the frequency of the clock, the periodic clock is counted, and an output pattern is changed in accordance with a count value of the clock. Otherwise, information corresponding to a clock pattern is stored in advance, and the information is sequentially read and used as a clock. Otherwise, a clock source in which the frequency is controlled by a control signal is used.

Abstract: A field emission display (100) includes a cathode plate (104) having a plurality of electron emitters (112), ballast resistors (118), an anode plate (120) having an anode (124), and a scan mode control circuit (130). The scan mode control circuit (130) is coupled to a video control circuit (160) via a scan mode switching circuit (150). The scan mode control circuit (130) cooperates with the scan mode switching circuit (150) and the video control circuit (160) to automatically switch between a single scan mode of operation and a multi-scan mode of operation.

Abstract: A method for determining functionality of pixels comprising the addressing of at least one but not more than ten pixels at a time, thereby producing a current. The pixels are comprised of cathode emitters. The current is collected on an anode disposed opposite the pixels, and the current is measured.

Abstract: There are provided a data register (8) for driving an EL element (6) by a current flowing in a data line (3) via a TFT (5) while sequentially capturing input digital video data for each data line, a latch circuit (10) for holding the data received in the data register (8) during 1 H period, and n analog switches (120 to 123) provided between each data line (3) and a power supply line (11), to which n bit of digital video data for each one data line is input bit by bit as each control signal. The transistors constituting each switch are made different sizes. As the current amount flowing in each switch therefore differs, the EL element emits light with a luminance in accordance with the digital video data.

Abstract: An image display apparatus performs color adjustment such that the emission luminances of emission substances of respective colors that emit light upon reception of electrons emitted by electron-emitting devices are controlled by controlling the electron amount emitted by the electron-emitting devices. A pulse width-modulated signal corresponding to an image signal is input to the column wiring of a display panel having an electron source with a plurality of electron-emitting devices and fluorescent substances laid out in stripes in correspondence with the respective colors. A horizontal scanning signal for driving a row wiring is input to the row wiring in synchronism with image display. The pulse width-modulated signal is driven by voltages from different power sources in units of the respective colors.

Abstract: In an image display apparatus which has a multi-electron beam source in which a plurality of electron emission elements are connected in a matrix pattern using a plurality of data electrodes and a plurality of scanning electrodes, and a fluorescent screen having phosphors of three primary colors R, G, and B corresponding to the electron emission elements, natural white color emission is obtained while suppressing a decrease in G luminance, using, e.g., a checkerboard layout which has a G spatial resolution higher than the R or B spatial resolution and includes more G phosphors than the R or B phosphors.

Abstract: An electron source comprises a plurality of electron-emitting devices and a drive means for driving the devices. The drive means applies a voltage above a threshold level to selected ones of the plurality of electron-emitting devices according to an image signal to cause the selected devices to emit electrons. The drive means also applies a voltage pulse for bringing the plurality of electron-emitting devices into a high resistance state. The voltage pulse for bringing into a high resistance state has a polarity reverse to that of the voltage for causing electron emission and has a voltage rising rate of greater than 1OV/sec.

Abstract: Method and structure for reducing crosstalk between adjacent column conductors in a field emission display (50) that has a plurality of column conductors (57, 59) on which electron emission structures (64) are disposed. The field emission display (50) also includes a plurality of row conductors (67, 68). A field termination structure (58) is formed between adjacent column conductors. The field termination structure (58) attenuates a voltage glitch created by a switching column conductor, thereby preventing the voltage glitch from affecting adjacent nonswitching column conductors.

Abstract: An electron emission device comprises an electron emission electrode with a pointed end and a counter electrode positioned opposite to the pointed end, both formed by fine working of a conductive layer laminated on an insulating substrate.

Abstract: An active matrix display that does not require a transistor or similar current switching device at each pixel. Instead, the display employs in each pixel a temperature-controlled current source that provides to the field emitters of the pixel an amount of electrical current which varies in response to the temperature of a temperature sensor. Each pixel further includes a thermoelectric heat transfer circuit which transfers heat to or from the sensor in an amount which varies in response to the video signal. Consequently, the video signal controls the temperature of the sensor within a pixel's temperature-controlled current source, which controls the current flow through the pixel's field emitters.

Abstract: With the present invention, there is provided a driving method that favorably drives an electron source, which is driven in a passive matrix manner, without being affected by a disturbance. There is also provided an image-forming apparatus that uses this electron source. An anode electrode having a constant potential is arranged over a plurality of electron-emitting devices including gate electrodes and cathode electrodes. During passive matrix driving of the electron source where the amount of electrons to be emitted is adjusted by modulating potentials between the cathode electrodes and the gate electrodes, a predetermined time difference is maintained between the driving of signal lines in a group and the driving of signal lines in another group during the driving of signal lines divided into N groups after selection of scanning lines.

Abstract: A PDP drive method capable of restraining the generation of contour noise and making to be high a brightness level. In the PDP drive method, discharging cells on the plasma display panel start simultaneously on a radio frequency discharge by row lines. Next, the radio frequency discharge, which is caused in each discharging cell on the row line, is erased by applying an erasing pulse corresponding to a brightness level of video to the discharging cells on a row line.

Abstract: An electron source comprises a plurality of electron-emitting devices and a drive means for driving the devices. The drive means applies a voltage above a threshold level to selected ones of the plurality of electron-emitting devices according to an image signal to cause the selected devices to emit electrons. The drive means also applies a voltage pulse for bringing the plurality of electron-emitting devices into a high resistance state. The voltage pulse for bringing into a high resistance state has a polarity reverse to that of the voltage for causing electron emission and has a voltage rising rate of greater than 10V/sec.

Abstract: A circuit and method for displaying both interlaced and non-interlaced video information on a flat panel display. The flat panel display is a field emission display (FED) screen. Within the FED screen, a matrix of rows and columns is provided and emitters are situated within each row-column intersection. Rows are activated (e.g., enabled) sequentially and separate gray scale information (voltages) is presented to the columns. When the proper voltage is applied across the cathode and anode of the emitters, they release electrons toward a phosphor spot, e.g., red, green, blue, causing an illumination point. The present invention includes circuitry for enabling the rows in one of two different modes. In a first mode, the rows are enabled sequentially with each pulse width of the sufficient duration (“long pulse”) to perceptively energize the row for displaying image data thereon. In this mode, the rows are enabled for the display of non-interlaced video information.

Abstract: A method is provided for driving a luminescent display which includes a plurality of luminescent units adapted to be selected for light emission, so as to display an image. This method is characterized in that during a predetermined period, a reverse voltage having a direction opposite to that of a voltage to be applied for light emission of a luminescent unit, is applied to each luminescent unit.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electron source substrate free from any short-circuiting between upper and lower wires, and an image-forming apparatus in which discharge is suppressed. The electron source substrate includes a substrate, a Y-direction wire formed on the substrate by a printing method, an X-direction wire formed on the Y-direction wire by the printing method so as to intersect the Y-direction wire, an insulating layer for insulating the Y-direction wire and X-direction wire at the intersection part, and a plurality of electron-emitting devices connected to the X-direction wire and Y-direction wire, wherein at least one of the Y-direction wire and X-direction wire has a surface shape with a surface roughness Ra of 0.3 &mgr;m or less and a surface roughness Rz of 3 &mgr;m or less.

Abstract: An electron emission device comprises an electron emission electrode with a pointed end and a counter electrode positioned opposite to the pointed end, both formed by fine working of a conductive layer laminated on an insulating substrate.

Abstract: A method for improving life of a field emission display (100), which has a plurality of electron emitters (118) and an anode (124), includes the steps of causing plurality of electron emitters (118) to emit electrons, applying a first anode voltage to anode (124), thereafter applying a second anode voltage to anode (124), and thereafter applying a third anode voltage to anode (124). The first anode voltage and the second anode voltage are selected to cause electrons emitted by plurality of electron emitters (118) to be attracted toward anode (124). The third anode voltage is selected to cause electrons emitted by plurality of electron emitters (118) to not be attracted toward anode (124). Furthermore, the second anode voltage is selected to be less than the first anode voltage.

Abstract: The present invention generates a cell driving apparatus of a field emission display capable of increasing a grey level and minimizing an area problem by designing a current mode DAC which contains low voltage devices.

Abstract: A field emission display having an improved operational life. In one embodiment of the present invention, the field emission display comprises a plurality of row lines, a plurality of column lines, and a plurality of electron emissive elements disposed at intersections of the plurality of row lines and column lines, a column driver circuit, and a row driver circuit. The column driver circuit is coupled to drive column voltage signals over the plurality of column lines; and, the row driver circuit is coupled to activate and deactivate the plurality of row lines with row voltage signals. Significantly, according to the present invention, operational life of the field emission display is substantially extended when the electron emissive elements are intermittently reverse-biased by the column voltage signals and the row voltage signals. In another embodiment, the row driver circuit is responsive to a SLEEP signal.

Abstract: An image-forming device having, in an envelope, an electron-emitting element, an image-forming member for forming an image by irradiation of an electron beam emitted from the electron-emitting element, and an electroconductive supporting member for supporting the envelope. The potential of the supporting member is controlled to not be higher than the maximum potential applied to the electron-emitting element. The electron-emitting element and the image-forming member can be placed in juxtaposition on the same substrate, an electroconductive substrate can be additionally provided in opposition to the face of the substrate, and the supporting member can be connected electrically to one of the electrodes and also to the electroconductive 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 current controlled field emission display includes a controller that provides a pair of pulsed clocking signals that allows current to flow from ground potential to an emitter in the field emission display during each clocking signal pulse. The number of electrons, and thus the intensity of the light will depend upon the number N of clocking signal pulses during an activation interval. In one embodiment, each of the pulsed signals includes a number N of pulses that corresponds to a desired intensity of pixels. The pulsed signals are formed by gating a clock signal in response to digital data applied to the display such that the transfer of electrons is controlled directly by the digital data. In another embodiment, the pulsed signals are produced by comparing a decoded image signal to counts from a high speed counter.

Abstract: The image rendered by a field emission display is altered. The display includes emitter tips, an extraction grid, and conductive elements in a display screen. A first voltage is applied to at least one emitter tip, a second voltage is applied to the extraction grid at a location proximate the emitter tip to which the first voltage is applied, and a third voltage is applied to a portion of the display screen. The second and third voltages are separately variable so that an adjustment causing a voltage increase in one of the second and third voltages can take effect concurrently with another adjustment causing a voltage decrease in the other of the second and third voltages. The first, second, and third voltages cooperate with the structure to generate an electron emission stream impinging upon a first area of the display screen. The area of the display screen impinged by the electron emission stream is changed.

Abstract: A lightweight, thin, small size adhesion type area sensor is provided. A pixel of the area sensor has an EL element as a light source, and a photodiode as a photoelectric conversion element. A TFT is used with the adhesion type area sensor for controlling the operation of the EL element and the photodiode.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes an image-forming device in an envelope. The image-forming device includes a member (e.g. thin film electrode) which is carried on the inner surface of the envelope and is adapted to application of electron-accelerating voltage Va. The member-carrying part, such as a transparent face plate) of the envelope also includes on its outer surface a structure for applying a voltage substantially equal to the voltage Va (e.g. electroconductive layer connected to the thin-film electrode by way of a certain resistance). The electric field across the part is significantly reduced to thereby prevent migration of sodium ions contained in the part, which can be made of soda lime glass.

Abstract: A plane type display device having a plurality of electric field emitting type cathodes (K), a high-tension electrode which fixedly gives on a surface of the plurality of cathodes (K) a strong electric field forming a Schottky barrier capable of making possible electron emission from the plurality of cathodes (K), a two-dimensional MOS gate array which is connected to the plurality of cathodes (K) and controls presence or absence of the electron emission from the plurality of cathodes (K) and a fluorescent substance layer (P) made to brighten by bombarding of the electrons selectively emitted from among the plurality of cathodes (K), whereby in a plane type displaying apparatus comprising a plurality of electric field emitting type cathodes and a fluorescent substance layer made to brighten by bombarding of electrons emitted from a cathode selected out of the plurality of electric field emitting type cathodes, a plane type displaying apparatus which is capable of making lower a driving voltage for having the

Abstract: In order to cause a multi-electron source having electron emitters wired in the form of a matrix to emit electrons without any variations, there is provided an electron generating device including a multi-electron source (601) having a plurality of electron emitters (1002) wired in the form of a matrix through a plurality of data wiring layers (1004) and a plurality of scanning wiring layers (1003), and a driving circuit for driving the multi-electron source (601), the driving circuit including a first driving means (603) for applying a first voltage (Vs) to a scanning wiring layer to which an electron emitter which is to emit electrons is connected, and applying a second voltage (Vns) to a scanning wiring layer to which an electron emitter which is not to emit electrons is connected, and a second driving means (602) for applying a third voltage (Ve) to a data wiring layer to which an electron emitter which is to emit electrons is connected, and applying a fourth voltage (Vg) to a data wiring layer to which a

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus comprises an image-forming means in an envelope. The image-forming means includes a member (e.g. thin film electrode) which is carried on the inner surface of the envelope and is adapted to application of electron-accelerating voltage Va. The member-carrying part (usu. transparent face plate) of the envelope also carries on its outer surface a means for applying a voltage substantially equal to the voltage Va (e.g. electroconductive layer connected to the thin-film electrode by way of a certain resistance). The electric field across the part is significantly reduced to thereby prevent migration of sodium ions contained in the part (usu. made of soda lime glass).

Abstract: An image display device incorporating a quick-action electron source is disclosed. After the power source of the device is turned on, drive signals are outputted from an RGB output circuit to each of the RGB electron sources after it is detected that sufficient deflection current is flowing from horizontal/vertical deflection circuit to the deflection yoke to enable the electron beam to adequately scan the screen.

Abstract: A magnetic matrix display device has a grid electrode in which differing first grid (G1) and second grid (G2) apertures are used. A sensor element and a second grid electrode are combined as a single structure. Other aspects of the invention relate to a deflection anode having reduced capacitance, the use of a polyimide coating for the grid electrodes, the use of a compliant mounting and adjustment for a grid assembly and the provision of an illuminated border on a magnetic matrix display.

Abstract: An electron source is constituted of a substrate, and an electron-emitting element provided on the substrate. The electron-emitting element comprises a plurality of electrode pairs having an electroconductive film between each of the electrode pairs. An electron-emitting region is formed on the electroconductive film of selected ones of the electrode pairs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flat display screen including a light-emitting source organized in a first array of strips generally parallel in a first direction, and at least one second opaque array, interposed between the light-emitting source and a display surface, and organized in a second direction generally non-perpendicular to the first direction, at least one of the arrays exhibiting, along an axis parallel to the general direction of the first array and whatever the position of this axis in a perpendicular direction, a constant proportion of transparent surface for an elementary pattern.

Abstract: An electron-emitting apparatus according to the present invention comprises (A) a substrate, which has a first major surface and a second major surface that are positioned opposite each other, (B) an electron-emitting device, which includes a first electrode, to which a first voltage is applied, and a second electrode, to which a voltage Vf is applied, that are mounted, with an intervening interval, on the first major surface, (C) an anode electrode, which is located opposite and at a distance H from the first major surface, (D) first voltage application means, for applying to the second electrode the voltage Vf that is higher than the first voltage, and (E) second voltage application means, for applying to the anode electrode a voltage Va that is higher than the voltage Vf, wherein a space defined between the anode electrode and the electron-emitting device is maintained in a reduced-pressure condition, and wherein, when a value Xs=H*Vf/(&pgr;*Va) is established for a plane that is substantially per