Electron source having short-avoiding extraction electrode and method of making same

A display comprising:

• a plurality of column conductors;
• a plurality of field emission emitters on each column conductor;
• and
• a plurality of row conductors overlying the plurality of column conductors and crossing the plurality of column conductors forming a pixel at an intersection therewith, each row conductor having a first longitudinal element along a major axis, a second longitudinal element juxtaposed to the first longitudinal element, a first extraction section within the pixel and extending from the first longitudinal element toward the second longitudinal element wherein the first extraction section overlays a first portion of the plurality of field emission emitters, a second extraction section within the pixel and extending from the second longitudinal element toward the first extraction section wherein the second extraction section overlays a second portion of the plurality of field emission emitters, a space separating the first extraction section and the second extraction section, and a plurality of transverse connectors extending from the first longitudinal element to the second longitudinal element wherein each transverse connector is spaced longitudinally from the pixel and each of the plurality of column conductors.

A method of forming an electron source comprising:

• forming a column conductor having a plurality of emitters;
• forming a row conductor having a plurality of conductor strips traversing the column conductor and defining extraction elements positioned adjacent the emitters;
• and
• electrically coupling the plurality of conductor strips together with a plurality of transverse conductors that extend between the plurality of conductor strips sufficiently far from the column conductor that severing one of the plurality of conductor strips does not damage the column conductor while maintaining the electrical coupling between the plurality of conductor strips.