Field emission display using gate wires

A device for use in a field emission display comprising:

• a cathode substrate having emitter lines;
• and
• a gate wire crossing over the emitter lines, wherein the gate wire has a cross section shaped to produce an electric field between the gate wire and an adjacent gate wire that is substantially uniform and substantially flat across a portion of an emitter line.

A gate device for use in a field emission display comprising:

• a wire adapted to cross over emitter lines of a cathode substrate;
• the wire having a length adapted to extend across at least a portion of the cathode substrate;
• the wire having a cross section adapted to produce an electric field between the wire and an adjacent wire that is substantially uniform and substantially flat across a portion of an emitter line upon the application of a voltage potential between the wire and the adjacent wire and the emitter line.