Abstract:
A flat-panel display (100) including a substrate (102), a viewing screen (104), a non-conductive ring (106), many row conductive electrodes (120), conductive pads (122) and column buses (130). The ring vacuum-seals a cavity (108) between the substrate and the viewing screen. Coupled to one surface of the substrate, the row conductive electrodes have a conductivity that is higher than the conductive pads. Each pad is connected to one row electrode, and each pad extends through the ring to allow electrical coupling to its corresponding row electrode from outside the cavity while vacuum is maintained inside the cavity. The row electrodes are substantially parallel to each other, and are substantially perpendicular to the column buses. The conductive electrodes are protected from exposure to the ring. In one embodiment, the ring is a frit seal (106), the row conductive electrodes are made of aluminum, and the column buses and the pads are made of chromium.
Abstract:
A protected faceplate structure (900) includes a faceplate (100) and a barrier layer (902) of silica. The faceplate (100) may be made of soda glass, and the barrier layer (902) may be made of silica.
Abstract:
A flat panel display is disclosed which includes a faceplate with a faceplate interior side, and a backplate including a backplate interior side in an opposing relationship to the faceplate interior side. Side walls are positioned between the faceplate and the backplate. The side walls, faceplate and backplate form an enclosed sealed envelope. A plurality of phosphor subpixels are positioned at the faceplate interior side. A plurality of field emitters are positioned at the backplate interior side. The field emitters emit electrons which strike corresponding phosphor subpixels. A plurality of scattering shields surround each phosphor subpixel and define a subpixel volume. The scattering shields reduce the number of scattered electrons exiting from their corresponding subpixel volume. This reduces the number of scattered electrons from charging internal insulating surfaces in the envelope, as well as striking the non-corresponding phosphor subpixels.
Abstract:
An electron-emitting device employs a multi-layer resistor (46). A lower layer (48) of the resistor overlies an emitter electrode (42). An electron-emissive element (54) overlies an upper layer (50) of the resistor. The two resistive layers are of different chemical composition. The upper resistive layer is typically formed with cermet. The lower resistive layer is typically formed with a silicon-carbon compound. In fabricating the device, the upper resistive layer normally serves as an etch stop for protecting the lower resistive layer and the emitter electrode during the etch of an overlying dielectric layer (52) to form an opening (56) in which the electron-emissive element is later provided.
Abstract:
A method for creating a solid layer (36A or 52A) through which openings (38 or 54) extend entails subjecting particles (30) suspended in a fluid (26) to an electric field (EA) to cause a number of the particles to move towards, and accumulate over, a structure placed in the fluid. The structure, including the so-accumulated particles, is removed from the fluid. Solid material is deposited over the structure at least in the space between the so-accumulated particles. The particles, including any overlying material (36B or 52B), are removed. The remaining solid material forms the solid layer through which openings extend at the locations of the so-removed particles. The structure is typically a partially finished electron-emitting device. The solid layer is then typically either a gate layer for the electron-emitting device or a layer used in forming the gate layer.
Abstract:
A gated electron-emitter is fabricated by a process in which particles (26) are deposited over an insulating layer (24). Gate material is provided over the insulating layer in the space between the particles after which the particles and any overlying material are removed. The remaining gate material forms a gate layer (28A or 48A) through which gate openings (30 or 50) extend at the locations of the removed particles. When the gate material deposition is performed so that part of the gate material extends into the spaces below the particles, the gate openings are beveled. The insulating layer is etched through the gate openings to form dielectric openings (32 or 52). Electron-emissive elements (36A or 56A) are formed in the dielectric openings. This typically involves introducing emitter material through the gate openings into the dielectric openings and using a lift-off layer (34), or an electrochemical technique, to remove excess emitter material.
Abstract:
An electron-emitter having a lower non-insulating emitter region (42), an overlying insulating layer (44), and a gate layer (48A, 60A, 60B, 120A, or 180A/184) is fabricated by a process in which particles (46) are distributed over one of the following layers: the insulating layer, the gate layer, a primary layer (50A, 62A, or 72) provided over the gate layer, a further layer (74) provided over the primary layer, or a pattern-transfer layer (182). The particles are utilized in defining gate openings (54, 66, 80, 122, or 186/188) through the gate layer. The gate openings are then variously employed in forming dielectric openings (56, 58, 80, 114, 128, 144, or 154) through the insulating layer. Electron-emissive elements that can, for example, be shaped like cones (58A or 70A) or like filaments (106B, 116B, 130A, 146A, or 156B) are formed in the dielectric openings.
Abstract:
An impedance-assisted electrochemical procedure is employed for selectively removing certain material from a structure without significantly electrochemically attacking, and thus without significantly removing, certain other material of the same chemical type as the removed material.
Abstract:
An electron-emitting device contains an electron focusing system (37 or 37A) formed with a base focusing structure (38 or 38A) and a focus coating (39 or 39A) that penetrates, preferably only pathway, into a focus opening (40) extending through the base focusing structure. The focus coating, normally of lower resistivity than the base focusing structure, is typically formed by an angled deposition technique. An access conductor (106 or 106A) is preferably electrically coupled to the lower surface of the focus coating. A potential for controlling the focusing of electrons that travel through the focus opening is provided to the focus coating via the access conductor.