Patent · US Expired

Low-voltage cathode for scrubbing cathodoluminescent layers for field emission displays and method

US6417618B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
10References
33Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 19, 2001
Grant dateJul 9, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 19, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J2329/00
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Field emission displays having novel cathodoluminescent layers are disclosed. In one embodiment, the cathodoluminescent layers are exposed to electron irradiation with an electron current having a duty cycle in excess of ten percent. In alternate aspects, the electron irradiation (scrubbing) may be performed in a vacuum, and an accelerating voltage may be maintained between the cathodoluminescent layer and an source of electrons. The cathodoluminescent layer may be reversibly darkened by the scrubbing. The cathodoluminescent layers may be formed on a transparent conductive layer formed on a transparent insulating viewing screen to provide a faceplate. In one aspect, the cathodoluminescent layers are irradiated with electrons having a density of greater than one hundred microamperes/cm2. Significantly, this results in improved emitter life in a field emission display. The display including the scrubbed faceplate has significantly enhanced performance and increased useful life compared to displays including faceplates that have not been scrubbed.

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