US5449970A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Diode structure flat panel display
Assignee: Applied Nanotech Holdings Inc
•
Filing: 1992-12-23
•
Granted: 1995-09-12
•
Expires: 2012-12-23
Abstract
Abstract A matrix-addressed diode flat panel display of field emission type is described, utilizing a diode (two terminal) pixel structure. The flat panel display includes a cathode assembly having a plurality of cathodes, each cathode including a layer of cathode conductive material and a layer of a low effective work-function material deposited over the cathode conductive material and an anode assembly having a plurality of anodes, each anode including a layer of anode conductive material and a layer of cathodoluminescent material deposited over the anode conductive material, the anode assembly located proximate the cathode assembly to thereby receive charged particle emissions from the cathode assembly, the cathodoluminescent material emitting light in response to the charged particle emissions. The flat panel display further includes the capability for selectively varying field emission between the plurality of corresponding light-emitting anodes and field-emission cathodes to thereby effect an addressable grey-scale operation of the flat panel display.
Inventors
- 👤 Nalin Kumar
- 👤 Chenggang Xie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:53
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J1/00; H01J1/02; H01J1/30; H01J1/304; H01J1/54; H01J1/62; G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/22; H01J1/3042; H01J29/00; H01J29/02; H01J29/08; H01J29/085; H01J31/00; H01J31/08; H01J31/10; H01J31/12; H01J31/123; H01J31/125; H01J31/127; H01J61/00; H01J61/02; H01J61/04; H01J61/06; H01J61/067; H01J61/0675; H01J61/0677; H01J63/00; H01J63/06; H01J9/00; H01J9/02; H01J9/022; H01J9/027; H01J2201/00; H01J2201/30; H01J2201/304; H01J2201/30403; H01J2201/30426; H01J2201/30446; H01J2201/30453; H01J2201/30457; H01J2201/319; H01J2329/00; H01J2329/86; H01J2329/8625; H01J2329/864
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A diode structure flat panel display, comprising: a cathode assembly having a plurality of cathodes, each cathode including a layer of cathode conductive material and a layer of a low effective work-function material disposed over said cathode conductive material; and an anode assembly having a plurality of anodes, each anode including a layer of anode conductive material layer of cathodoluminescent material disposed over said anode conductive material, said anode assembly located proximate said cathode assembly to thereby receive charged particle emissions from said cathode assembly, said cathodoluminescent material emitting light in response to said charged particle emissions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A diode structure flat panel display, comprising: a cathode assembly having a plurality of cathodes, each cathode including a layer of cathode conductive material and a layer of a low effective work-function material disposed over said cathode conductive material; and an anode assembly having a plurality of anodes, each anode including a layer of anode conductive material layer of cathodoluminescent material disposed over said anode conductive material, said anode assembly located proximate said cathode assembly to thereby receive charged particle emissions from said cathode assembly, said cathodoluminescent material emitting light in response to said charged particle emissions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The display as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of cathodes have a relatively flat emission surface comprising said low effective work-function material arranged to form a plurality of micro-crystallites.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The display as recited in claim 2 wherein said micro-crystallites function as charged particle emission sites.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The display as recited in claim 3 wherein said emission sites contain dopant atoms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The display as recited in claim 4 wherein said dopant atom is carbon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The display as recited in claim 3 wherein said emission sites contain of an element different from said low effective work-function material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The display as recited in claim 3, wherein said charged particle emission sites are located on said relatively flat emission surface a distance away from any edges of said relatively flat emission surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The display as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of cathodes have micro-tipped emission surfaces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The display as recited in claim 8 wherein said plurality of cathodes are randomly fabricated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The display as recited in claim 8 wherein said plurality of cathodes are photolithographically fabricated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The display as recited in claim 1 wherein said low effective work-function material is amorphic diamond film.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The display as recited in claim 1 wherein said display comprises only two terminals located proximate to said charged particle emissions, selected ones of said cathodes constituting one such terminal and corresponding selected ones of said anodes constituting the other such terminal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The display as recited in claim 1 wherein electrical potentials which control said charged particle emissions are applied solely from selected corresponding ones of said cathodes and anodes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
82 words
A diode structure flat panel display, comprising: a cathode assembly having a plurality of cathodes, each cathode including a layer of cathode conductive material and a layer of a low effective work-function material disposed over said cathode conductive material; an anode assembly having a plurality of anodes, each anode including a layer of anode conductive material and a layer of cathodoluminescent material disposed over said anode conductive material; and means for maintaining a relatively constant gap between said cathode and anode assemblies.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
82 words
A diode structure flat panel display, comprising: a cathode assembly having a plurality of cathodes, each cathode including a layer of cathode conductive material and a layer of a low effective work-function material disposed over said cathode conductive material; an anode assembly having a plurality of anodes, each anode including a layer of anode conductive material and a layer of cathodoluminescent material disposed over said anode conductive material; and means for maintaining a relatively constant gap between said cathode and anode assemblies.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The display as recited in claim 14 wherein said gap maintaining means comprises a plurality of spacers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The display as recited in claim 15 wherein each of said spacers corresponds with ones of said pluralities of cathodes and anodes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The display as recited in claim 16 wherein said cathode assembly further comprises a cathode substrate under said cathode conductive material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The display as recited in claim 17 wherein said cathode conductive material contains a plurality of recesses in a surface proximate said anode assembly.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The display as recited in claim 18 wherein said plurality of spacers are spaced-apart from said plurality of cathodes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The display as recited in claim 19 wherein said recesses are adapted to receive said spacers.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
180 words
A flat panel display, comprising: a cathode assembly having a plurality of cathodes, each cathode including a layer of cathode conductive material and a layer of low effective work-function material disposed over said cathode conductive material, wherein said cathode assembly further comprises a cathode substrate under said cathode conductive material; an anode assembly having a plurality of anodes, each anode including a layer of anode conductive material and a layer of cathodoluminescent material disposed over said anode conductive material; and means for maintaining a relatively constant gap between said cathode and anode assemblies, wherein said gap maintaining means comprises a plurality of spacers, wherein each of said spacers corresponds with ones of said pluralities of cathodes and anodes, and wherein said plurality of spacers are spaced-apart from said plurality of cathodes, wherein said cathode conductive material contains a plurality of recesses in a surface proximate said anode assembly, wherein said recesses are adapted to receive said spacers, and wherein said recesses and said spacers form a circuitous path to thereby minimize electron-induced conduction between said plurality of cathodes and anodes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
180 words
A flat panel display, comprising: a cathode assembly having a plurality of cathodes, each cathode including a layer of cathode conductive material and a layer of low effective work-function material disposed over said cathode conductive material, wherein said cathode assembly further comprises a cathode substrate under said cathode conductive material; an anode assembly having a plurality of anodes, each anode including a layer of anode conductive material and a layer of cathodoluminescent material disposed over said anode conductive material; and means for maintaining a relatively constant gap between said cathode and anode assemblies, wherein said gap maintaining means comprises a plurality of spacers, wherein each of said spacers corresponds with ones of said pluralities of cathodes and anodes, and wherein said plurality of spacers are spaced-apart from said plurality of cathodes, wherein said cathode conductive material contains a plurality of recesses in a surface proximate said anode assembly, wherein said recesses are adapted to receive said spacers, and wherein said recesses and said spacers form a circuitous path to thereby minimize electron-induced conduction between said plurality of cathodes and anodes.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
142 words
A diode structure flat panel display, comprising: a cathode assembly having a plurality of cathodes, each cathode including a layer of cathode conductive material and a layer of a low effective work-function material disposed over said cathode conductive material; an anode assembly having a plurality of anodes, each anode including a layer of anode conductive material and a layer of cathodoluminescent material disposed over said anode conductive material, said anode assembly located proximate said cathode assembly to thereby receive charged particle emissions from said cathode assembly, said cathodoluminescent material emitting light in response to said charged particle emissions; and means for maintaining a relatively constant gap between said cathode and anode assemblies, wherein said gap maintaining means comprises a plurality of spacers, and wherein said spacers form a circuitous path to thereby minimize electron-induced conduction between said plurality of cathodes and anodes.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
142 words
A diode structure flat panel display, comprising: a cathode assembly having a plurality of cathodes, each cathode including a layer of cathode conductive material and a layer of a low effective work-function material disposed over said cathode conductive material; an anode assembly having a plurality of anodes, each anode including a layer of anode conductive material and a layer of cathodoluminescent material disposed over said anode conductive material, said anode assembly located proximate said cathode assembly to thereby receive charged particle emissions from said cathode assembly, said cathodoluminescent material emitting light in response to said charged particle emissions; and means for maintaining a relatively constant gap between said cathode and anode assemblies, wherein said gap maintaining means comprises a plurality of spacers, and wherein said spacers form a circuitous path to thereby minimize electron-induced conduction between said plurality of cathodes and anodes.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
207 words
A diode structure flat panel display, comprising: a cathode assembly having a plurality of cathodes, each cathode including a layer of cathode conductive material and a layer of a low effective work-function material disposed over said cathode conductive material, wherein said cathode assembly further comprises a cathode substrate under said cathode conductive material; an anode assembly having a plurality of anodes, each anode including a layer of anode conductive material and a layer of cathodoluminescent material disposed over said anode conductive material; and means for maintaining a relatively constant gap between said cathode and anode assemblies, wherein said gap maintaining means comprises a plurality of spacers, wherein each of said spacers corresponds with ones of said pluralities of cathodes and anodes, wherein said cathode conductive material contains a plurality of recesses in a surface proximate said anode assembly, wherein said plurality of spacers are spaced-apart from said plurality of cathodes, wherein said recesses are adapted to receive said spacers, wherein said recesses are formed within said cathode substrate so that said spacers have lengths greater than said gap between said cathode and anode assemblies, and wherein said recesses and said spacers form a circuitous path to thereby minimize electron-induced conduction between said plurality of cathodes and anodes.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
207 words
A diode structure flat panel display, comprising: a cathode assembly having a plurality of cathodes, each cathode including a layer of cathode conductive material and a layer of a low effective work-function material disposed over said cathode conductive material, wherein said cathode assembly further comprises a cathode substrate under said cathode conductive material; an anode assembly having a plurality of anodes, each anode including a layer of anode conductive material and a layer of cathodoluminescent material disposed over said anode conductive material; and means for maintaining a relatively constant gap between said cathode and anode assemblies, wherein said gap maintaining means comprises a plurality of spacers, wherein each of said spacers corresponds with ones of said pluralities of cathodes and anodes, wherein said cathode conductive material contains a plurality of recesses in a surface proximate said anode assembly, wherein said plurality of spacers are spaced-apart from said plurality of cathodes, wherein said recesses are adapted to receive said spacers, wherein said recesses are formed within said cathode substrate so that said spacers have lengths greater than said gap between said cathode and anode assemblies, and wherein said recesses and said spacers form a circuitous path to thereby minimize electron-induced conduction between said plurality of cathodes and anodes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3947716A
Cited
US3970887A
Cited
US4008412A
Cited
US4075535A
Cited
US4164680A
Cited
US4139773A
Cited
US4933108A
Cited
US4350926A
Cited
US4307507A
Cited
US4588921A
Cited
US4728851A
Cited
US4578614A
Cited
US4663559A
Cited
US4498952A
Cited
US4710765A
Cited
US4594527A
Cited
US4763187B1
Cited
US4763187A
Cited
US4908539A
Cited
US4788472A
Cited
US4684353A
Cited
US5036247A
Cited
US4857161A
Cited
US4857799A
Cited
US5015912A
Cited
US4685996A
Cited
US4835438A
Cited
FR2608842A1
Cited
US4721885A
Cited
US4899081A
Cited
US4855636A
Cited
US4940916A
Cited
US4940916B1
Cited
US5055744A
Cited
US4874981A
Cited
US4923421A
Cited
US5063327A
Cited
US4882659A
Cited
US4990766A
Cited
US5243252A
Cited
US5038070A
Cited
US4964946A
Cited
US5194780A
Cited
FR2663462A1
Cited
US5075591A
Cited
US5063323A
Cited
US5103145A
Cited
US5089742A
Cited
US5103144A
Cited
US5141460A
Cited
US5180951A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-09-11 | 1999-03-13 | 1999-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-09-11 | 2003-03-13 | 2003-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-09-11 | 2007-03-13 | 2007-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |