US5557159A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Field emission microtip clusters adjacent stripe conductors
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
•
Filing: 1994-11-18
•
Granted: 1996-09-17
•
Expires: 2014-11-18
Abstract
Abstract The emitter plate 60 of a field emission flat panel display device includes a layer 68 of a resistive material and a mesh-like structure 62 of an electrically conductive material. A conductive plate 78 is also formed on top of resistive coating 68 within the spacing defined by the meshes of conductor 62. Microtip emitters 70, illustratively in the shape of cones, are formed on the upper surface of conductive plate 78. With this configuration, all of the microtip emitters 70 will be at an equal potential by virtue of their electrical connection to conductive plate 78. In one embodiment, a single conductive plate 82 is positioned within each mesh spacing of conductor 80; in another embodiment, four conductive plates 92 are symmetrically positioned within each mesh spacing of conductor 90. Also disclosed is an arrangement of emitter clusters comprising conductive plates 102 having a plurality of microtip emitters 104 formed thereon, each cluster adjacent and laterally spaced from a stripe conductor 100 by a region 106 of a resistive material. The conductive stripes 100 are substantially parallel to each other, are spaced from one another by two conductive plates 102, and are joined by bus regions 110 outside the active area of the display.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert H. Taylor
- 👤 Kenneth G. Vickers
- 👤 Bruce E. Gnade
- 👤 Arthur M. Wilson
- 👤 Charies E. Primm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:06
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J1/00; H01J1/02; H01J1/30; H01J1/304; H01J1/3042; H01J2201/00; H01J2201/30; H01J2201/319
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 62
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
Electron emission apparatus comprising: a conductive plate having a plurality of microtip emitters thereon; a conductive layer overlying said conductive plate and spaced apart from said plate, said conductive layer having apertures formed therein, each of said emitters formed within a corresponding one of said apertures in said conductive layer; a stripe conductor laterally spaced from said plate; and a resistive layer electrically coupled to said stripe conductor and said plate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
Electron emission apparatus comprising: a conductive plate having a plurality of microtip emitters thereon; a conductive layer overlying said conductive plate and spaced apart from said plate, said conductive layer having apertures formed therein, each of said emitters formed within a corresponding one of said apertures in said conductive layer; a stripe conductor laterally spaced from said plate; and a resistive layer electrically coupled to said stripe conductor and said plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said conductive plate and said stripe conductor are positioned adjacent the same surface of said resistive layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said conductive plate and said stripe conductor are positioned adjacent opposite surfaces of said resistive layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further including means for applying a potential between said stripe conductor and said conductive layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said stripe conductor comprises a cathode electrode and said conductive layer comprises a gate electrode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said apertures are formed in said conductive layer as an array.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said apertures in said conductive layer are generally circular and said microtip emitters are generally cone-shaped.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said resistive layer comprises amorphous silicon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said microtip emitters comprise molybdenum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the material of said conductive plate is selected from the group comprising aluminum, chromium, molybdenum and niobium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the material said stripe conductor is selected from the group comprising aluminum, chromium, molybdenum and niobium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said conductive layer comprises niobium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
113 words
Electron emission apparatus comprising: an insulating substrate; a layer of an electrically resistive material on said substrate; a conductor formed as plural stripes on said layer of electrically resistive material, said stripes being electrically interconnected; conductive plates on said layer of electrically resistive material, each conductive plate occupying a region laterally spaced from one of said stripe conductors; an electrically insulating layer on said conductive plates; a conductive layer on said insulating layer overlying said conductive plates, said conductive layer having a plurality of apertures formed therein and extending through said insulating layer; microtip emitters on said conductive plates, each emitter formed within a corresponding one of said apertures in said conductive layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
113 words
Electron emission apparatus comprising: an insulating substrate; a layer of an electrically resistive material on said substrate; a conductor formed as plural stripes on said layer of electrically resistive material, said stripes being electrically interconnected; conductive plates on said layer of electrically resistive material, each conductive plate occupying a region laterally spaced from one of said stripe conductors; an electrically insulating layer on said conductive plates; a conductive layer on said insulating layer overlying said conductive plates, said conductive layer having a plurality of apertures formed therein and extending through said insulating layer; microtip emitters on said conductive plates, each emitter formed within a corresponding one of said apertures in said conductive layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said stripe conductors are substantially parallel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein each of said plurality of conductive plates includes an equal number of emitters.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein each of said plurality of conductive plates are substantially equally spaced from the corresponding adjacent stripe conductor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein each of said plurality of conductive plates has a substantially equal resistance path to the corresponding adjacent stripe conductor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 13 further including means for applying a potential between said stripe conductors and said conductive layer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said stripe conductors comprise a cathode electrode and said conductive layer comprises a gate electrode.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said emitters are formed on each of said conductive plates as an array.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said apertures in said conductive layer are generally circular and said microtip emitters are generally cone-shaped.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said electrically resistive material comprises amorphous silicon.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said microtip emitters comprise molybdenum.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The emission apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said conductive layer comprises niobium.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein the material of said conductive plate is selected from the group comprising aluminum, chromium, molybdenum and niobium.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein the material said stripe conductors is selected from the group comprising aluminum, chromium, molybdenum and niobium.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
113 words
Electron emission apparatus comprising: an insulating substrate; a conductor formed as plural stripes on said substrate, said stripes being electrically interconnected; a layer of an electrically resistive material on said substrate in electrical contact with said stripe conductors; conductive plates on said resistive layer, each conductive plate occupying a region laterally spaced from one of said stripe conductors; an electrically insulating layer on said conductive plates; a conductive layer on said insulating layer overlying said conductive plates, said conductive layer having a plurality of apertures formed therein and extending through said insulating layer; microtip emitters on said conductive plates, each emitter formed within a corresponding one of said apertures in said conductive layer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
113 words
Electron emission apparatus comprising: an insulating substrate; a conductor formed as plural stripes on said substrate, said stripes being electrically interconnected; a layer of an electrically resistive material on said substrate in electrical contact with said stripe conductors; conductive plates on said resistive layer, each conductive plate occupying a region laterally spaced from one of said stripe conductors; an electrically insulating layer on said conductive plates; a conductive layer on said insulating layer overlying said conductive plates, said conductive layer having a plurality of apertures formed therein and extending through said insulating layer; microtip emitters on said conductive plates, each emitter formed within a corresponding one of said apertures in said conductive layer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 27 wherein said stripe conductors are substantially parallel.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 27 wherein each of said plurality of conductive plates includes an equal number of emitters.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 27 wherein each of said plurality of conductive plates are substantially equally spaced from the corresponding adjacent stripe conductor.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 27 wherein each of said plurality of conductive plates has a substantially equal resistance path to the corresponding adjacent stripe conductor.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 27 further including means for applying a potential between said stripe conductors and said conductive layer.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 27 wherein said stripe conductors comprise a cathode electrode and said conductive layer comprises a gate electrode.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 27 wherein said emitters are formed on each of said conductive plates as an array.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 27 wherein said apertures in said conductive layer are generally circular and said microtip emitters are generally cone-shaped.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 27 wherein said electrically resistive material comprises amorphous silicon.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 27 wherein said microtip emitters comprise molybdenum.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 27 wherein the material of said conductive plate is selected from the group comprising aluminum, chromium, molybdenum and niobium.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electron emission apparatus in accordance with claim 27 wherein the material said stripe conductors is selected from the group comprising aluminum, chromium, molybdenum and niobium.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for fabricating an electron emission apparatus comprising the steps of: providing an insulating substrate; forming a layer of an electrically resistive material on said substrate; depositing a layer of conductive material on said resistive layer and forming therefrom conductive stripes, conductive plates laterally spaced from said stripes, and bus regions interconnecting said stripes at the ends thereof; forming an electrically insulating layer on said conductive plates; forming a conductive layer on said insulating layer overlying said conductive plates; forming apertures in said conductive layer over said conductive plates, said apertures extending through said insulating layer; forming microtip emitters on said conductive plates, each emitter formed within a corresponding one of said apertures in said conductive layer.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for fabricating an electron emission apparatus comprising the steps of: providing an insulating substrate; forming a layer of an electrically resistive material on said substrate; depositing a layer of conductive material on said resistive layer and forming therefrom conductive stripes, conductive plates laterally spaced from said stripes, and bus regions interconnecting said stripes at the ends thereof; forming an electrically insulating layer on said conductive plates; forming a conductive layer on said insulating layer overlying said conductive plates; forming apertures in said conductive layer over said conductive plates, said apertures extending through said insulating layer; forming microtip emitters on said conductive plates, each emitter formed within a corresponding one of said apertures in said conductive layer.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for fabricating an electron emission apparatus comprising the steps of: providing an insulating substrate; depositing a first layer of conductive material on said substrate and forming therefrom conductive stripes and bus regions interconnecting said stripes at the ends thereof; forming a layer of an electrically resistive material on said substrate in electrical contact with said stripe conductors; depositing a second layer of conductive material on said resistive layer and forming therefrom conductive plates laterally spaced from said stripes; forming an electrically insulating layer on said conductive plates; forming a conductive layer on said insulating layer overlying said conductive plates; forming apertures in said conductive layer over said conductive plates, said apertures extending through said insulating layer; forming microtip emitters on said conductive plates, each emitter formed within a corresponding one of said apertures in said conductive layer.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for fabricating an electron emission apparatus comprising the steps of: providing an insulating substrate; depositing a first layer of conductive material on said substrate and forming therefrom conductive stripes and bus regions interconnecting said stripes at the ends thereof; forming a layer of an electrically resistive material on said substrate in electrical contact with said stripe conductors; depositing a second layer of conductive material on said resistive layer and forming therefrom conductive plates laterally spaced from said stripes; forming an electrically insulating layer on said conductive plates; forming a conductive layer on said insulating layer overlying said conductive plates; forming apertures in said conductive layer over said conductive plates, said apertures extending through said insulating layer; forming microtip emitters on said conductive plates, each emitter formed within a corresponding one of said apertures in said conductive layer.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus comprising: an elongated stripe conductor; a plurality of conductive plates, each conductive plate occupying a region which is laterally spaced from said stripe conductor; a resistive layer in electrical contact with said stripe conductor and said plurality of conductive plates; and microtip electron emitters located in said regions occupied by said conductive plates.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus comprising: an elongated stripe conductor; a plurality of conductive plates, each conductive plate occupying a region which is laterally spaced from said stripe conductor; a resistive layer in electrical contact with said stripe conductor and said plurality of conductive plates; and microtip electron emitters located in said regions occupied by said conductive plates.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 42 further including a conductive layer electrically isolated from said elongated stripe conductor, said conductive plates and said resistive layer, said conductive layer having apertures formed therein, each of said electron emitters formed within a corresponding one of said apertures in said conductive layer.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 43 further including means for applying a potential between said stripe conductor and said conductive layer.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 43 wherein said stripe conductor comprises a cathode electrode and said conductive layer comprises a gate electrode.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 43 wherein said apertures are formed in said conductive layer as an array.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 43 wherein said apertures in said conductive layer are generally circular and said microtip electron emitters are generally cone-shaped.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 43 wherein said conductive layer comprises niobium.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 42 wherein said resistive layer comprises amorphous silicon.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 42 wherein said microtip electron emitters comprise molybdenum.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 42 wherein the material of said conductive plates is selected from the group comprising aluminum, chromium, molybdenum and niobium.
Claim 58
Independent Claim
24 words
The apparatus in accordance with claims 42 wherein the material said stripe conductor is selected from the group comprising aluminum, chromium, molybdenum and niobium.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus comprising: a conductive plate having a plurality of microtip electron emitters thereon; a stripe conductor laterally spaced from said plate; and a resistive layer in electrical contact with said stripe conductor and said conductive plate.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus comprising: a conductive plate having a plurality of microtip electron emitters thereon; a stripe conductor laterally spaced from said plate; and a resistive layer in electrical contact with said stripe conductor and said conductive plate.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus comprising: an elongated stripe conductor; a conductive plate occupying a region which is laterally spaced from said stripe conductor; a resistive layer in electrical contact with said stripe conductor and said conductive plate; and a plurality of microtip electron emitters located in said region occupied by said conductive plate.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus comprising: an elongated stripe conductor; a conductive plate occupying a region which is laterally spaced from said stripe conductor; a resistive layer in electrical contact with said stripe conductor and said conductive plate; and a plurality of microtip electron emitters located in said region occupied by said conductive plate.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-09-17 | 2000-03-18 | 2000-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-09-17 | 2004-03-18 | 2004-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-09-17 | 2008-03-18 | 2008-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |