Patent · US Expired

Asymmetrical field emitter

US5457355A · kind A · utility

19Cited by
3References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 1, 1993
Grant dateOct 10, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 1, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J1/3042
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Providing a field emitter with an asymmetrical emitter structure having a very sharp tip in close proximity to its gate. One preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an asymmetrical emitter and a gate. The emitter having a tip and a side is coupled to a substrate. The gate is connected to a step in the substrate. The step has a top surface and a side wall that is substantially parallel to the side of the emitter. The tip of the emitter is in close proximity to the gate. The emitter is at an emitter potential, and the gate is at a gate potential such that with the two potentials at appropriate values, electrons are emitted from the emitter. In one embodiment, the gate is separated from the emitter by an oxide layer, and the emitter is etched anisotropically to form its tip and its asymmetrical structure.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.