(19)
(11) EP 0 971 386 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
17.05.2000 Bulletin 2000/20

(43) Date of publication A2:
12.01.2000 Bulletin 2000/02

(21) Application number: 99202988.4

(22) Date of filing: 06.12.1993
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: H01J 31/12
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB NL

(30) Priority: 23.12.1992 US 993863

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
94905334.2 / 0676084

(71) Applicant: SI Diamond Technology, Inc.
Houston, Texas 77098-5105 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Kumar, Nalin
    Austin, Texas 78727 (US)
  • Xie, Chenggang
    Cedar Park, Texas 78613 (US)

(74) Representative: Holmes, Matthew Peter et al
MARKS & CLERK, Sussex House, 83-85 Mosley Street
Manchester M2 3LG
Manchester M2 3LG (GB)

   


(54) Triode structure flat panel display employing flat field emission cathodes


(57) A flat panel display of a field emission type having a triode (three terminal) structure and useful as a device for displaying visual information is disclosed. The display comprises a plurality of corresponding light-emitting anodes and field-emission cathodes, each of the anodes emitting light in response to emission from each of the corresponding cathodes, each of the cathodes including a layer of low work function material having a relatively flat emission surface comprising a plurality of distributed localized electron emission sites and a grid assembly interspersed between the corresponding anodes and cathodes to thereby control emission levels to the anodes from the corresponding cathodes. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the layer of low work function material is amorphic diamond film. The grid assembly comprises a conductive layer deposited between the plurality of anodes and cathodes and over interstices between the cathodes, the conductive layer having apertures therein, the cathodes aligned with, and of the same size as, the apertures.






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