Field emitter array and cleaning method of the same
US5587720A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 19, 1994 |
| Grant date | Dec 24, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 19, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J1/3042
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A field emitter array includes electron-beam source elements, each including a cathode for emitting electrons and a gate provided in the vicinity of the cathode. To emit electrons from the cathode by the field emission effect, a cathode voltage is applied to the cathode and a gate voltage is applied to the gate. An anode is arranged in proximity to the cathode and supplied with a positive anode voltage to capture electrons from the cathode in a first (e.g., normal or display) mode of operation. In a second (e.g., cleaning) mode of operation of the field emitter array, a negative anode voltage is supplied to the anode to urge electrons emitted by a first cathode, back toward a second cathode supplied with a cathode voltage which attracts electrons, to clean the second cathode.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.