Field-effect storage tube

Claim 1

In a viewing storage tube using field-effect conductivity control to locally control the conductivity of semiconductor material therein in response to selected charge patterns created by the electron beam of an electron write gun, the improvement comprising: tube faceplate means having an outer surface and an inner surface with said inner surface having an array of conducting lines in contact therewith and arranged to form a grid pattern of conducting lines on said inner surface; a layer of semiconductor material of a single conductivity type in contact with both the lines of said array of conducting lines and the said inner surface of said faceplate means between the lines of said array of conducting lines; a charge storage means disposed adjacent to said layer of semiconductor material for producing in response to said electron beam selected charge patterns which vary the local conductivity of the adjacent layer of semiconductor material in accordance with said charge pattern; an array of conductive pins extending through said tube faceplate means with each pin of said array of conductive pins terminating at the outer surface of said faceplate means with a conductive cap, each of the said conductive pins of said array of conductive pins extending from points contacting said layer of semiconductor material between respective ones of said grid lines to its associated conductive cap on the said outer surface of said faceplate means; display means including a layer of transparent conductor means and a layer including electroluminescent phosphor material with said layer including electroluminescent phosphor material having one side thereof in contact with said layer of transparent conductor means and the other side thereof adhered by an insulating adhesive to said conductive caps such that local electroluminescence may be effected in said electroluminescent phosphor material in accordance with the pattern of local conductivity in said layer of semiconductor material; and means for making electrical contact to said array of conducting lines and said layer of transparent conducor means.