Drive device for image display device

Claim 1

A drive device for an image display device including a plurality of stripe-like gate electrodes and a plurality of stripe-like cathode electrodes which are arranged so as to form a matrix by cooperation with each other, emitters arranged on said cathode electrodes so as to be positioned at intersections between said gate electrodes and said cathode electrodes on said matrix, said emitters field-emitting electrons by application of a predetermined voltage between said gate electrodes and said cathode electrodes, and an anode upwardly spaced from said gates for capturing electrons emitted from said emitters, said drive device comprising: means for successively driving said cathode electrodes by a drive pulse so as to scan said cathode electrodes; means for applying an image signal to each of said gate electrodes, resulting in luminescence of said phosphors for display of an image; means for applying a precharge voltage to the cathode electrodes prior to application of said drive pulse in a precharge period during which said cathode electrodes are precharged; and means for blanking application of said image signal applied to each of said gate electrodes during said precharge period to prevent said image signal from being applied to said gate electrodes during said precharge period.