Matrix-addressed flat panel display

A flat panel display comprising:

• A. a backing structure of a semiconductive material of a first conductivity type;
• B. a transparent face structure;
• C. support means for maintaining said backing structure and said transparent face structure in a spaced apart and hermetically sealed relationship relative to one another, the volume defined therebetween evacuated relative ambient pressure;
• D. a matrix array of individually addressable cathodes positioned between said backing structure and said face structure;
• E. luminescing means at said transparent face structure which reacts to bombardment by electrons emanating from said cathodes by emitting visible light, said luminescing means including electrically conductive means for attracting electrons;
• F. electrical drive means for energizing selected cathodes in said array;
• and
• G. electrical connections for each of said light generating means extending through said backing structure and fabricated of a semiconductive material of a second conductivity type opposite the conductivity type of said first-mentioned semiconductive material.
• H. the distance between said array and said conductive means being equal to or less than the mean free path of electrons at the pressure in the interelectrode space.

A flat panel display comprising:

• A. a backing structure of a semiconductive material of an n conductivity type;
• B. a transparent face structure having luminescing means which reacts to bombardment by electrons by emitting visible light, said luminescing means including electrically conductive means at said face structure for attracting electrons;
• C. a matrix array of individually addressable cathodes positioned between said backing structure and said face structure to provide electrons for said bombardment of said luminescing means, each of said cathodes including:
• 1. an electrically conductive base at said backing structure having one or a multitude of spaced apart electron emitting tips projecting therefrom;
• 2. an electrically conductive gate positioned adjacent said tips to generate and control electron emission therefrom, said gate including apertures through which electrons emitted by said tips pass;
• and
• 3. a dielectric insulating layer electrically separating said base from said gate;
• D. electrical drive means for supplying electrical energy to selected cathodes of said array;
• E. support means for maintaining said backing structure and said transparent face structure in a spaced apart and hermetically sealed relationship relative to one another, the volume defined therebetween evacuated relative ambient pressure;
• F. electrical connections extending through said backing structure for each of said cathodes, each of said electrical connections being of a p type conductive section, a reverse bias pn junction being formed between the p and n conductivity materials to electrically isolate each p type conductive section from adjacent n type conductive sections of said backing to thereby provide an insulation barrier;
• and
• G. spacer elements for maintaining the electrically conductive means at said transparent face of said luminescing means at a fixed spacing relative to said cathode array equal to or less than the mean free path of electrons travelling between said cathode array and said conductive means.