Abstract: An electron-emitting device comprises a pair of oppositely disposed electrodes and an electroconductive film inclusive of an electron-emitting region arranged between the electrodes. The electric resistance of the electroconductive film is reduced after forming the electron-emitting region in the course of manufacturing the electron-emitting device.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electron source includes an activation operation for repetitively applying a pulse voltage to a plurality of electron-emitting devices in an atmosphere containing an organic material to form a film containing carbon from the organic material existing in the atmosphere. An activation operation is divided into a plurality of steps from a first activation step to a final activation step, with the plurality of electron-emitting devices being divided into operation units each comprising a plurality of device groups, each of which includes a plurality of electron-emitting devices. The first activation step of the activation operation is sequentially executed from an arbitrary operation unit wherein, in the first activation step, a pulse voltage is applied to each of the plurality of groups sequentially, and the sequential applying of the voltage is repeated.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electron emitting device including electrodes disposed with a space therebetween on a surface of a substrate, a carbon film disposed between the electrodes and connected to one of the electrodes, and a gap disposed between the carbon film and the other electrode. In the gap, the distance between the edge of the carbon film connected to one of the electrode and the edge of the other electrode at an upper position apart from the surface of the substrate is smaller than that at the surface of the substrate. The present invention also provides an electron source and an image display device each including the electron emitting device.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electron-emitting device has a step of forming a pair of conductors on a substrate, the conductors being spaced from each other, and an activation process of depositing carbon or carbon compound on at least one side of the pair of conductors in an atmosphere of carbon compound gas. The activation process includes a plurality of processes of two or more stages including a first process and a second process. The first process is executed in an atmosphere of the carbon compound gas having a partial pressure higher than a partial pressure of the gas in the second process, with the second process being the last activation process.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electron-emitting device has a step of forming a pair of conductors on a substrate, the conductors being spaced from each other, and an activation process of depositing carbon or carbon compound on at least one side of the pair of conductors in an atmosphere of carbon compound gas The activation process includes a plurality of processes of two or more stages including a first process and a second process. The first process is executed in an atmosphere of the carbon compound gas having a partial pressure higher than a partial process of the second process used as a last activation process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing an electron source which exhibits improved uniformity of electron emitting devices and electron emission properties, and a method of manufacturing an image forming apparatus which exhibits an excellent display quality for a long time. An electron source having a plurality of electron emitting devices is manufactured by disposing a plurality of units, each comprising a pair of electrodes and a polymer film for connecting the electrodes, on a substrate, disposing a plurality of wirings for connection to the pair of electrodes of the plurality of each unit, and decreasing the resistances of all polymer films respectively of the units. A next step includes applying a voltage to films formed by decreasing the resistances of the polymer films, through the wirings, to form a gap in each of the films formed by decreasing the resistance of the polymer films.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an image forming apparatus is provided for increasing the uniformity of an electron-emitting device, improving the electron-emitting characteristics, and permitting the manufacture of an image forming apparatus having an excellent display quality to be retained for a long time. The image forming apparatus is manufactured by forming a plurality of pairs of electrodes (2, 3) on a first substrate (1), forming a polymer film containing a photosensitive material such that the polymer film makes a connection between the electrodes (2, 3), patterning the polymer film into a desired configuration by the irradiation of light, lowering the resistance of the patterned polymer film to form a conductive film (6′), and forming a gap (5′) in a part of the conductive film (6′) by the flow of a current between the electrodes (2, 3).

Abstract: It relates to a method of manufacturing an electron source. In an activation process, a set value of an activation gas partial pressure is switched at multi-stages and an application of a compensation voltage is not conducted for a predetermined period after switching of the set value. Alternatively, the activation is repeated plural times while a row wiring or a column wiring is switched, and the application of the compensation voltage is not conducted for the predetermined period after switching of the row wiring or the column wiring. Thus, activation processing can be uniformly performed for all electron emitting devices.

Abstract: When manufacturing an electron-beam source, an activation is performed. To generate activation material at a plurality of electron-emitting devices; by dividing the plurality of electron-emitting devices into plural groups and sequentially applying voltage to each group.

Abstract: To provide a method for manufacturing an electron source having electron-emitting devices with excellent electron-emitting property arranged on a substrate and enabling an image-forming apparatus capable of displaying an image with high brightness and uniformity to be enhanced in terms of screen size and production scale. The method for manufacturing the electron source includes a step of disposing a plurality of units and a plurality of wirings connected to the plurality of units on a substrate, each unit including a polymer film and a pair of electrodes with the polymer film interposed therebetween, and a step of forming electron-emitting devices from the plurality of units by repeatedly performing a process including a selecting substep of selecting a desired number of units from the plurality of units, a resistance-reducing substep of reducing resistance of the polymer films of the selected units and a gap-forming substep of forming a gap in each of the films formed by the resistance-reducing substep.

Abstract: A method for adjusting characteristics of an electron source having a plurality of electron-emitting devices, and a method for manufacturing the electron source include the step of applying a pulse of a voltage for adjustment to an electron-emitting device to be adjusted one or more times according to a characteristic of the electron-emitting device, wherein the voltage for adjustment is selected from a plurality of voltages having discrete values according to the characteristic of the electron-emitting device, and a number of applying times of the pulse is determined according to the characteristic of the electron-emitting device and the selected voltage.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an electron source includes the steps of fixing a first sealing member to a substrate disposed with an electroconductive member, the first sealing member surrounding the electroconductive member excepting a portion of the electroconductive member, abutting a chamber on the first sealing member to cover the electroconductive member excepting the portion of the electroconductive member and form a hermetically sealed atmosphere between the substrate and the chamber, supplying power to the portion of the electroconductive member to give part of the electroconductive member covered with the chamber an electron-emitting function, and removing the chamber from the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing an electron-emitting device, comprising a process for forming a pair of electric conductors spaced from each other on a substrate, and an activation process for forming a film of carbon or a carbon compound on at lease one of the pair of electric conductors, wherein the activation process is sequentially performed within plural containers having different atmospheres.

Abstract: In a manufacturing step for forming an organic EL element, the organic EL element is provided so as to have an anode and a cathode with a luminescent layer having an organic luminescent material interposed therebetween. Then, an aging treatment is performed. In the aging treatment, a curve of change in luminance with time is measured in driving the organic EL element at constant current. Then, the curve of change in luminance with time is divided into a component having a slowest luminance age-deterioration rate and other components by analyzing the curve and forming a fitting curve having a plurality of members that is fitted to the curve of change in luminance with time. Moreover, the aging treatment is conducted until a luminance of the element becomes approximately equal to an initial value A1 of the component having a slowest luminance age-deterioration rate.

Abstract: An electron-emitting device comprises a pair of electrodes and an electroconductive thin film therebetween having an electron-emitting region. The electroconductive thin film is coated with an additional film at the electron-emitting region to provide an additional resistance within a range from 500&OHgr; to 100 k&OHgr;.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electron-emitting device includes a process for forming a pair of electric conductors spaced from each other on a substrate, and an activation process for forming a film of carbon or a carbon compound on at least one of the pair of electric conductors. The activation process is sequentially performed within plural containers having different atmospheres.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a cathode comprises the steps of: a process for applying onto a substrate a fluid mixture comprising polymers or precursors to the polymers, fine particles of electroconductive material or organic metal compound, and solvent; a process for removing the solvent by heating the fluid mixture applied on the substrate, thereby obtaining an electroconductive organic film comprising the polymers and the electroconductive material; and a process for forming a gap at a portion of the electroconductive organic film by applying an electrical current thereto. Accordingly, a simple method for manufacturing cathodes, electron sources, and image forming apparatuses with excellent electron emitting properties can be realized.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electron source with electron emitting elements is provided. The method has a process of depositing a deposit substance in an area including at least an area of the electron emitting element from which area electrons are emitted. The depositing process is performed in an atmosphere of a gas containing at least a source material of the deposit substance, the gas having a mean free path allowing the gas to take a viscous flow state.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing an electron-emitting device, comprising a step for forming a polymer film between a pair of electrodes formed on a substrate, a step for giving conductivity to the polymer film by heating, and a step for providing potential difference between the pair of electrodes.

Abstract: In manufacturing or adjusting an electron-emitting device which has at least two electrodes and emits electrons by applying a voltage between the two electrodes, or before performing normal driving, a voltage V1 is applied which has the following relationship with a maximum voltage value V2 applied as a normal driving voltage to the electron-emitting device between the two electrodes.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electron emission element comprising, between its electrodes, a conductive film having an electron emission section. The method comprising the steps of forming a gap in the conductive film located between the electrodes, and applying a voltage between the electrodes in an atmosphere that has an aromatic compound with a polarity or a polar group and in which the partial pressure ratio of water to the aromatic compound is 100 or less.

Abstract: A method of producing an electron-emitting device including the steps of forming a pair of electrodes and an electrically-conductive thin film on a substrate in such a manner that the pair of electrodes are in contact with the electrically-conductive thin film and forming an electron emission region using the electrically-conductive thin film, wherein a solution containing a metal element is supplied in a droplet form onto the substrate thereby forming the electrically-conductive thin film.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a cathode comprises the steps of: a process for applying onto a substrate a fluid mixture comprising polymers or precursors to the polymers, fine particles of electroconductive material or organic metal compound, and solvent; a process for removing the solvent by heating the fluid mixture applied on the substrate, thereby obtaining an electroconductive organic film comprising the polymers and the electroconductive material; and a process for forming a gap at a portion of the electroconductive organic film by applying an electrical current thereto. Accordingly, a simple method for manufacturing cathodes, electron sources, and image forming apparatuses with excellent electron emitting properties can be realized.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electron source includes the steps of covering a substrate provided with a first electrode and a second electrode by a container, introducing a gas composed of a carbon compound into the container, and forming a carbon film by applying a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode. The relationship 1/(4/Cx−1/Cz)≧Sout≧4Sact−Cin is satisfied, where Cin is the conductance from the gas inlet to the position of the substrate nearest to the gas inlet, Cx is the conductance from the position of the substrate nearest to the gas inlet to the position of the substrate nearest to the gas outlet, Sout is the effective exhaust rate, Sact is the consumption rate of the gas, and Cz is the conductance from the substrate to the gas outlet. An apparatus for manufacturing an electron source and a method for manufacturing an image-forming apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing an image display apparatus, a first member having an electron-emitting device and a second member having a phosphor which is irradiated with an electron emitted from the electron-emitting device to emit light are seal-bonded in a seal bonding chamber in which a vacuum atmosphere is realized. An aging step for the electron-emitting device is performed before the step of seal-bonding.

Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide a plasma display panel in which an aging process essential to the manufacturing process generates minimal phosphor deterioration, enabling a relatively high luminous efficiency and high quality color production to be produced.

Abstract: A method for producing an electron-emitting device comprising an electroconductive film having an electron-emitting region between electrodes, wherein a step of forming the electron-emitting region in the electroconductive film comprises a step of heating the electroconductive film and a step of energizing the electroconductive film, in an atmosphere in which a gas for promoting cohesion of the electroconductive film exists.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electron emission element comprising, between its electrodes, a conductive film having an electron emission section. The method comprising the steps of forming a gap in the conductive film located between the electrodes, and applying a voltage between the electrodes in an atmosphere that has an aromatic compound with a polarity or a polar group and in which the partial pressure ratio of water to the aromatic compound is 100 or less.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an image display device includes disposing the first substrate, on which conductors and wires connected to the conductors are formed, on a supporting member and covering a part of the first substrate with a container to thereby dispose the conductors within a space formed between the first substrate and the container. Part of the wires is disposed outside of the space. The method also includes the steps of providing the space with a desired atmosphere, applying a voltage to the conductors through the part of the wires disposed outside of the space, and connecting a second substrate including an image forming member via a connecting member to the first substrate, at a region of the first substrate different from a region where the container and the first substrate are connected together.

Abstract: When manufacturing an electron-beam source, an activation is performed to generate activation material at a plurality of electron-emitting devices. The activation is generated by dividing the plurality of electron-emitting devices into plural groups and sequentially applying voltage to each group.

Abstract: A surface conduction electron-emitting device has an electroconductive film including an electron-emitting region between a pair of electrode on a substrate. The electroconductive film is formed by producing a precursor film of an organic metal compound or complex thereof and then turning the precursor film into the electroconductive film by keeping the temperature of the film above the decomposition temperature of the organic metal compound or the complex thereof and applying a voltage to the film. A plurality of such electron-emitting devices are arranged on a substrate in a matrix or ladder-like manner to constitute an electron source. Such an electron source is used with an image-forming member disposed vis-a-vis the electron source to form an image-forming member.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for fabricating a plasma display device are disclosed. The method for fabricating a plasma display device includes installing in a heating chamber a plasma display device assembly in which frit glass coats the peripheries of substrates; heating the heating chamber while evacuating the plasma display device assembly and the heating chamber via respective exhaust lines; stopping the evacuation and heating of the heating chamber so the frit glass bonds the substrates, and cooling the heating chamber; filling the heating chamber with a discharge gas to atmospheric pressure when the temperature of the heating chamber reaches a predetermined temperature; and filling the plasma display device assembly with the discharge gas when the temperature of the plasma display device assembly reaches room temperature, and sealing the plasma display device assembly.

Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp having a pair of electrodes with a space of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm inclusive between them and disposed in an arc tube. An electrical discharge takes place between the electrodes. Each of the electrodes has an electrode rod and a head that is provided at the discharge side end of the electrode rod and having a larger diameter than the electrode rod. A surface of the head being opposite to the other electrode is convexly curved and a protruding part is formed in the vicinity of the center portion of the end of the head.

Abstract: A method for cleaning by plasma at least one electrode of a field effect flat display screen, consisting of causing the generation of a plasma in an internal space separating two parallel plates respectively forming the screen bottom and surface, and each supporting at least one electrode, before placing this internal space under vacuum and definitively closing it.

Abstract: An electron-emitting device is provided with stable electron emission characteristics and with uniformity of electron emission. The present invention thus provides a method for producing an electron-emitting device having a pair of device electrodes opposed to each other and a thin film including an electron-emitting region, formed on a substrate, wherein a voltage is applied so that a potential of a front surface of the substrate becomes higher than a potential of the back surface thereof. On that occasion, the strength of the electric field is not more than 20 kV/cm between the front surface and the back surface of the substrate. The substrate is heated during the application of the voltage.

Abstract: A cathode structure comprising a getter material provided with a diamond film. The getter material may include zirconium, vanadium and iron. Cathode structures may have a substantially rounded configuration including a substantially straight portion. Other cathode structures may have a substantially flat portion, with the diamond film covering essentially the entire flat surface. Methods of manufacturing cathode structures may include conditioning the cathode structure by applying a voltage.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electron emission element comprising, between its electrodes, a conductive film having an electron emission section. The method comprising the steps of forming a gap in the conductive film located between the electrodes, and applying a voltage between the electrodes in an atmosphere that has an aromatic compound with a polarity or a polar group and in which the partial pressure ratio of water to the aromatic compound is 100 or less.

Abstract: In an electron source having a plurality of surfaceconduction electron-emitting devices, the electrical characteristics of the surfaceconduction electron-emitting devices are made, controllable, and uniform. For this purpose, the electron emission characteristic of a selected surfaceconduction electron-emitting device is adjusted with a correction process of applying a voltage higher than a practical driving voltage to the device.

Abstract: A method for making an electron emission device, which includes a conductive film having an electron emitting section disposed between a pair of electrodes, includes a removal step for removing impurities in a organic substance, and a voltage-applying step for applying an voltage to the conductive film through the electrodes in an atmosphere containing the organic substance. The electron emission device is suitable for an electron beam source in an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: In a method for producing an electron source substrate having a matrix of electron emitting elements formed by dispensing droplets of a solution containing a material for conductive thin film between each pair of element electrodes arranged in a matrix pattern on substrate, by use of an ink jet device, the ink jet device is the one having plural nozzles, delivery amounts of the respective nozzles are detected, the delivery amounts of the respective nozzles are adjusted based on the detection results, and thereafter dispensing of the droplets is carried out, during the dispensing of droplets, the substrate is moved relative to the ink jet device, and the droplets are dispensed from the plural nozzles to areas between each pair of element electrodes in plural rows or columns simultaneously and in parallel. An image forming apparatus is produced by placing at least a face plate equipped with fluorescent substance opposite the electron source substrate produced by the above method.

Abstract: In an electron-emitting device including, between electrodes, an electroconductive film having an electron emitting region, the electroconductive film has a film formed in the electron emitting region and made primarily of a material having a higher melting point than that of a material of the electrdconductive film. Alternatively, the electroconductive film has a film formed in the electron emitting region and made primarily of a material having a higher temperature at which the material develops a vapor pressure of 1.3×10−3 Pa, than that of a material of the electroconductive film. A manufacturing method of an electron-emitting device includes a step of forming a film made primarily of a metal in the electron emitting region of the electroconductive film. The electron-emitting device has stable characteristics and improved efficiency of electron emission. An image-forming apparatus comprising the electron-emitting devices has high luminance and excellent stability in operation.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electron source and an image forming apparatus each of which particularly comprises a surface conduction type electron emitting element as an electron emitting element, a method of manufacturing an electron source and an image forming apparatus, in which the energization forming treatment step of the surface conduction type electron emitting element is performed by applying a voltage to an electron emitting portion formation thin film via a nonlinear element connected in series with the thin film and having nonlinear voltage/current characteristics, an electron source and an image forming apparatus in each of which the nonlinear element is connected in series with the surface conduction type electron emitting element, and a method of driving the same.

Abstract: An electron source comprises one or more electron-emitting devices, especially of surface conduction type, and is provided with means for supplying an activating substance to the device(s). The means comprises preferably a substance source and a heater or electron beam generator for gasifying the substance source. The electron source can be combined with an image-forming member (e.g. fluorescent body) to constitute an image-forming apparatus. The means is used for in situ activation or re-activation of the electron-emitting device(s).

Abstract: There are provided a highly reliable fabrication method and apparatus for an image forming device which can avoid element deterioration along with elimination of gas molecules from panel constituents.An image forming device having an electron source substrate with a large number of electron sources each having an electron-emitting element and a luminescent display plate facing the electron source substrate via a vacuum portion is fabricated by performing the aging step of aging the interior of the vacuum portion while exhausting or maintaining with a getter the vacuum state of the vacuum portion. This aging step is performed by drive duty control of gradually increasing the drive duty of the image forming device.

Abstract: Diamond microtip field emitters are used in diode and triode vacuum microelectronic devices, sensors and displays. Diamond diode and triode devices having integral anode and grid structures can be fabricated. Ultra-sharp tips are formed on the emitters in a fabrication process in which diamond is deposited into mold cavities in a two-step deposition sequence. During deposition of the diamond, the carbon graphite content is carefully controlled to enhance emission performance. The tips or the emitters are treated by post-fabrication processes to further enhance performance.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an electron source constituted by a plurality of x-direction wirings arranged on a substrate, a plurality of y-direction wirings crossing the x-direction wirings, an insulating layer for electrically insulating the x- and y-direction wirings, and a plurality of conductive films each of which is electrically connected to the x- and y-direction wirings and has a gap, comprises a conductive film formation step of forming a plurality of conductive films to be connected to the pluralities of x- and y-direction wirings, a grouping step of dividing all the x-direction wirings into a plurality of groups, and a forming step of sequentially performing, for all the groups, a step of simultaneously applying a voltage to all wirings assigned to the same group, thereby forming gaps in the plurality of conductive films. The grouping step includes the steps of assigning a plurality of wirings to each group, and arranging wirings constituting a group between wirings constituting other groups.

Abstract: A getter in a tube body is heated in an exhaust process of a cathode ray tube, and during the time gas is emitted due to the heating of the getter, electrons are emitted from the cathode. Then the exhaust tube of the tube body is sealed to maintain a high vacuum by utilizing the absorbing function of the getter.

Abstract: In a method of operating an electron tube including a plurality of emitters formed on a substrate and having sharp tips, gate electrodes surrounding the plurality of emitters, and a peripheral electrode surrounding an electron emission region constituted by the plurality of emitters and the gate electrodes and insulated from the plurality of emitters and the gate electrodes, the voltage applied to the peripheral electrode is set to be lower than the voltage applied to the gate electrode.

Abstract: When manufacturing an electron-beam source, an activation is performed to generate activation material at a plurality of electron-emitting devices. The activation is generated by dividing the plurality of electron-emitting devices into plural groups and sequentially applying voltage to each group.

Abstract: Multiple procedures are presented for removing contaminant material (12) from electron-emissive elements (10) of an electron-emitting device (30). One procedure involves converting the contaminant material into gaseous products (14), typically by operating the electron-emissive elements, that move away from the electron-emissive elements. Another procedure entails converting the contaminant material into further material (16) and removing the further material. An additional procedure involves forming surface coatings (18 or 20) over the electron-emissive elements. The contaminant material is then removed directly from the surface coatings or by removing at least part of each surface coating.