Display spacer structure for a field emission device

A field emission display comprising:

• a first display plate having an inner surface having a peripheral region defining an active region, the active region having a plurality of slots being formed therein;
• a second display plate having an inner surface having a peripheral region defining an active region, the inner surface of the first display plate opposing and being spaced apart from the inner surface of the second display plate;
• a plurality of spacers having first and second opposed edges, the first opposed edges being rounded and being received within the plurality of slots, the second opposed edges being in abutting engagement with the active region of the second display plate, the plurality of spacers being substantially perpendicular to the first and second display plates, each of the plurality of spacers having a height within a range of 0.5-3 millimeters and a width within a range of 50-300 micrometers, each of the plurality of spacers having a length being less than the length of the active regions of the first and second display plates whereby the shorter spacer length provides uniform vacuum conditions within the field emission display;
• a frame having first and second opposed surfaces, the first opposed surface being in abutting engagement with the peripheral region of the inner surface of the first display plate, the second opposed surface being in abutting engagement with the peripheral region of the inner surface of the second display plate;
• the active region of the first display plate, the active region of the second display plate, and the frame defining an interspace region, the plurality of spacers being disposed within the interspace region, the interspace region being evacuated;
• and
• a plurality of field emission devices being disposed within the interspace region and defining a plurality of pixels and a plurality of inter-pixel regions therebetween
• whereby the standoff provided by the plurality of spacers and the frame prevents implosion of the first and second display plates when vacuum conditions are provided within the interspace region.