Abstract:
A flat-panel display contains a pair of plate structures (20, 22) separated by a spacer (24) having a rough face (54, 56). When electrons strike the spacer, the roughness in the spacer's face causes the number of secondary electrons that escape the spacer to be reduced, thereby alleviating positive charge buildup on the spacer. As a result, the image produced by the display is improved. The spacer facial roughness can be achieved in various ways such as depressions and/or protuberances. Various techniques are presented for manufacturing the display, including the rough-faced spacer.
Abstract:
A cathode structure (200, 203, 204) suitable for a flat panel display is provided with coated emitters (229, 239, 230). The emitters are formed with material, typically nickel, capable of growing to a high aspect ration. These emitters are then coated with carbon containing material (240, 241) for improving the chemical robustness and reducing the work function. One coating process is a DC plasma deposition process in which acetylene is pumped through a DC plasma reactor (301, 305, 313, and 315) to create a DC plasma for coating the cathode structure. An alternative coating process is to electrically deposit raw carbon-based material onto the surface of the emitters, and subsequently reduce the raw carbon-based material to the carbon containing material. Work function of coated emitters is typically reduced by about 0.8 to 1.0 eV.
Abstract:
A liquid chemical formulation suitable for making a thin solid polycarbonate film contains polycarbonate material and a liquid typically capable of dissolving the polycarbonate to a concentration of at least 1 %. The liquid also typically has a boiling point of at least 80 DEG C. Examples of the liquid include pyridine, a ring-substituted pyridine derivative, pyrrole, a ring-substituted pyrrole derivative, pyrrolidine, a pyrrolidine derivative, chlorobenzene, and cyclohexanone. A liquid film (36A) of the liquid chemical formulation is formed over a substructure (30) and processed to remove the liquid. In subsequent steps, the resultant solid polycarbonate film can serve as a track layer through which charged particles (70) are passed to form charged-particle tracks (72). Apertures (74) are created through the track layer by a process that entails etching along the tracks. The aperture-containing polycarbonate track layer is typically employed in fabricating a gated electron-emitting device.
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 layer is then typically either a gate layer for the electron-emitting device or a layer used in forming the gate layer.\!
Abstract:
A FLAT-PANEL DISPLAY CONTAINS A PAIR OF PLATE STRUCTURES (20 AND 22) SEPARATED BY A SPACER (24) HAVING A ROUGH FACE (54 OR 56). WHEN ELECTRONS STRIKE THE SPACER (24), THE ROUGHNESS IN THE SPACE’S FACE CAUSES THE NUMBER OF SECONDARY ELECTRONS THAT ESCAPE THE SPACER (24) TO BE REDUCED, THEREBY ALLEVIATING POSITIVE CHARGE BUILDUP ON THE SPACER (24). AS A RESULT, THE IMAGE PRODUCED BY THE DISPLAY IS IMPROVED. THE SPACER FACIAL ROUGHNESS CAN BE ACHIEVED IN VARIOUS WAYS SUCH AS DEPRESSIONS (60, 62, 64. 66, 70, 74, OR 80) OR/AND PROTUHERANCES (82, 84, 88, AND 92). VARIOUS TECHNIQUES ARE PRESENTED FOR MANUFACTURING THE DISPLAY, INCLUDING THE ROUGH-FACED SPACER. (FIGURE 2)