Lateral field emission devices for display elements and methods of fabrication

A display device comprising a substrate having a main surface and a plurality of field emission structures disposed thereabove, each field emission structure comprising:

• an anode disposed above said main surface of said substrate, said anode having a first surface;
• a phosphor layer disposed adjacent to said first surface of said anode, said phosphor layer comprising an insulating-type phosphor layer;
• and
• an emitter in spaced opposing relation to said first surface of said anode with said phosphor layer disposed therebetween such that said emitter has a tip pointing towards and physically contacting said phosphor layer, wherein a voltage potential applied between said anode and said emitter causes electrons to be directly injected into said insulating-type phosphor layer to emit electromagnetic energy, and wherein said the plurality of field emission structures are organized as a display matrix comprising said display device.

A method for forming a field emission device ("FED"), said FED being capable of emitting electromagnetic energy, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a substrate having a main surface;
• (b) forming an emitter above said main surface of said substrate, said emitter having a tip;
• (c) forming an insulating-type phosphor layer in physical contact with said tip of said emitter;
• and
• (d) forming an anode above said main surface of said substrate, said anode including a first surface, said first surface having said insulating-type phosphor layer adjacent thereto such that said insulating-type phosphor layer is disposed between said tip of said emitter and said first surface of said anode, wherein a voltage potential applied between said anode and said emitter causes electrons to be emitted from said tip of said emitter into said phosphor layer causing said phosphor layer to emit electromagnetic energy.

A method for forming a display device comprising the step of forming above a substrate having a main surface, a plurality of field emission structures into a display matrix, each field emission structure of said plurality of field emission structures being formed according to the steps of:

• (a) forming an emitter above said main surface of said substrate, said emitter having a tip;
• (b) forming a phosphor layer as an insulating-type phosphor layer such that said tip of said emitter points towards and physical contacts said insulating-type phosphor layer;
• and
• (c) forming an anode above said main surface of said substrate, said anode including a first surface, said first surface having said phosphor layer disposed thereon such that said insulating-type phosphor layer is disposed between said first surface of said anode and said tip of said emitter, and wherein a voltage potential applied between said anode and said emitter causes electrons to be directly injected into said insulating-type phosphor layer causing said phosphor layer to emit electromagnetic energy.