Spacers for a flat panel display and method

A method for affixing a plurality of spacers within a flat panel display having first and second display plates each having a major surface, the display further including a plurality of phosphor deposits and a plurality of field emitters, the method including steps of:

• providing a plurality of spacers having first and second edges;
• forming a metallic bonding pad on the major surface of the first display plate;
• physically contacting the first edge of each spacer with a portion of the metallic bonding pad to provide a plurality of pairs of contacting surfaces;
• and
• applying a potential difference within a range of 500-2000 volts over the plurality of pairs of contacting surfaces, the metallic bonding pad being biased positively with respect to the plurality of spacers;
• and
• concurrent with the step of applying the potential difference, heating the plurality of pairs of contacting surfaces to a temperature within a range of 300-500 degrees Celsius for a period of time sufficient to form an anodic bond at each of the plurality of pairs of contacting surfaces.

A method for fabricating a flat panel display having a plurality of field emitters and a plurality of phosphor deposits including steps of:

• providing first and second display plates each having a major surface and a perimeter;
• providing a plurality of spacers having first and second edges;
• forming a metallic bonding pad on the major surface of the first display plate;
• physically contacting the first edge of each spacer with a portion of the metallic bonding pad to provide a plurality of contacting surfaces;
• applying a potential difference with a range of 500-200 volts over the plurality of contacting surface, the metallic bonding pad being biased positively with respect to the plurality of spacers;
• and
• concurrent with the step of applying the potential difference, heating the plurality of contacting surfaces to a temperature within a range of 300-500 degrees Celsius for a period of time sufficient to form an anodic bond between the first edge of each spacer and the portion of the metallic bonding pad at each of the plurality of contacting surfaces;
• positioning the second display plate in parallel spaced relationship to the first display plate, the major surface of the second display plate being in abutting engagement with the second edge of the plurality of spacers;
• providing a plurality of side walls between the first and second display at their perimeters to provide an envelope;
• and
• evacuating the envelope.