Field emission device with microchannel gain element

A method for providing gain to a field emission device comprising:

• selectively energizing a plurality of field emission cathodes each having a tapered emitter tip in a vacuum enclosure to generate a plurality of respective streams of electrons in the vacuum enclosure, the step of selectively energizing including defining an electric field for generating a stream of electrons on each of the tapered emitter tips by modulating a gate structure having a first gate side adjacent the plurality of field emission cathodes and a second side opposite the first gate side;
• applying a gain to each of the streams of electrons with a microchanneI gain element adjacent the second gate side, the microchannel gain element having a first dynode side, an opposing second dynode side and a plurality of microchannels extending between the first dynode side and the second dynode side, the step of locating including aligning respective openings of the microchannels that are on the first dynode side adjacent a respective of each the plurality of field emission cathodes;
• locating, in the vacuum enclosure, an anode adjacent the second dynode side;
• applying a bias voltage differential between the first dynode side and the second dynode side, the voltage differential being substantially equal with respect to each of the plurality of microchannels, to produce a gain in a current of each of the streams of electrons passing through each of the microchannels, the streams of electrons each increasing in current as the streams strike an emissive layer disposed continuously on each respective of the microchannels between the first dynode side and the second dynode side;
• and
• wherein each of the streams having a gain strikes the anode at a predetermined location thereon.

In a display device having an anode screen with a phosphor that is excited by electron streams corresponding to individual pixels and a plurality of field emission cathodes each having a tapered emitter tip that increases a local electric field for generating electron streams, a gain device for providing amplified electron streams to the screen comprising:

• a gate structure having a first gate side located adjacent the plurality of field emission cathodes and a second gate side opposite the plurality of field emission cathodes, the gate structure being constructed and arranged to individually modulate each of the electron streams to vary a current thereof;
• a microchannel structure, located in a vacuum enclosure between the field emission cathodes and the anode, the microchannel structure having a plurality of microchannels that include a continuous secondary electron-emissive layer therein the layer extending between a pair of opposing dynode sides, one of the dynode sides being located adjacent the gate structure and the other of the dynode sides being located adjacent the screen;
• and
• a microchannel-driving voltage source connected to each of the pair of dynode sides for providing a bias voltage differential to generate a gain in a current of each of the electron streams passing from the field emission cathodes through respective of the microchannels to the screen, and wherein the microchannel-driving voltage is substantially equal with respect to each microchannel.