Controlling pixel brightness in a field emission display using circuits for sampling and discharging

A method of controlling current flow to an emitter set in a field emission display wherein the field emission display includes a current driving circuit coupled between a first reference potential and the emitter set, the current driving circuit having a voltage controlled input terminal and a predetermined capacitance between the input terminal and a second reference potential, the predetermined capacitance consisting solely of a parasitic capacitance, comprising the steps of:

• providing an image signal to the display;
• charging the parasitic capacitance to a first driving voltage in response to the image signal;
• electrically isolating the parasitic capacitance while retaining the first driving voltage across the parasitic capacitance;
• and
• passing current from the emitter set to the first reference potential in response to the retained first driving voltage across the parasitic capacitance.