US 5,697,827 A · Emissive flat panel display with improved regenerative cathode

Abstract

Method and apparatus are presented for the generation, regeneration, and transplantation of field enhancing whiskers to provide for an improved cathode in flat panel displays in particular, and in other applications. Such applications comprise devices in which there is an emissive cathode structure for producing electrons. There are dear advantages for the instant invention in the case of a flat panel display which requires a relatively large cathode area, because the present invention avoids excessive power loss due to radiation and conduction loss by permitting operation of the cathode at a significantly lower temperature than if it operated solely as a thermionic emitter. The combination of moderately elevated temperature and enhanced electric field allows the advantages of thermo-field assisted emission.

Claims21

Dependent claims

An electron orbiting whisker generative structure, comprising:

(a) a first anodic electrode for whisker generation;
(b) a second cathodic electrode surrounding said first electrode to form an annular space therebetween;
(c) means to provide a potential difference between said first and second electrodes;
(d) means for introducing a stream of emitted electrons into the vacuum annular electric field space between said first and second electrodes with sufficient angular momentum to cause the emitted electrons to go into spiral orbits in the said annular space, whereby capture of said emitted electrons at said first electrode is due to loss of angular momentum of said emitted electrons;
and
(e) means for heating said first electrode independent of electron capture.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Emissive flat panel display with improved regenerative cathode

Life of this patent

Emissive flat panel display with improved regenerative cathode

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21