Electron generating apparatus, image forming apparatus, and method of manufacturing and adjusting the same

A method of manufacturing an image forming apparatus having an electron generating apparatus, and a phosphor which is excited and emits light upon irradiation of an electron beam, wherein said electron generating apparatus having a multi-electron-beam source in which a plurality of surface conduction electron-emitting devices are arranged and driving means for applying a driving voltage to said multi-electron-beam source on the basis of an input image signal, the method comprising the steps of:

• forming an electron in rotary of each of the plurality of surface conduction electron-emitting devices;
• and
• applying a characteristic shift voltage having a value larger than a voltage value corresponding to a sum of a maximum value of the driving voltage and a noise voltage generated by said driving means to the electron emitting portion of each of said plurality of surface conduction portions of said plurality of surface conduction electron-emitting devices have been formed.

A method of adjusting an electron generating apparatus having a multi-electron-beam source in which a plurality of surface conduction electron-emitting devices are arranged, and driving means for applying a driving voltage to said multi-electron-beam source on the basis of an input image signal, comprising the step of:

• applying a characteristic shift voltage having a value larger than a voltage value corresponding to a sum of a maximum value of the driving voltage and a noise voltage generated by said driving means to said plurality of surface conduction electron-emitting devices, before the driving voltage is applied.

A method of adjusting an image forming apparatus having an electron generating apparatus, and a phosphor which is excited and emits light upon irradiation of an electron beam, wherein said electron generating apparatus having a multi-electron-beam source in which a plurality of surface conduction electron-emitting devices are arranged, and driving means for applying a driving voltage to said multi-electron-beam source on the basis of an input image signal, comprising the step of:

• applying a characteristic shift voltage having a value larder than a voltage value corresponding to a sum of a maximum value of the driving voltage and a noise voltage generated by said driving means to said plurality of surface conduction electron-emitting device, before the driving voltage is applied.

A method of adjusting an image forming apparatus having an electron generating apparatus, and a phosphor which is excited and emits light upon irradiation of an electron beam, wherein said electron generating apparatus having a multi-electron-beam source in which a plurality of surface conduct on electron-emitting devices are arranged and driving means for applying a driving voltage to said multi-electron-beam-source on the basis of an input image signal, comprising the step of:

• applying a characteristic shift voltage having a value larger than a voltage value corresponding to a sum of a maximum value of the driving voltage and a noise voltage generated by said driving means to said plurality of surface conduction electron-emitting devices, before the driving voltage is applied, wherein the characteristic shift voltage is applied in an atmosphere in which a partial pressure of an organic gas is not more than 10.sup.-8 Torr.

A method of adjusting an image forming apparatus having an electron generating apparatus, and a phosphor which is excited and emits light upon irradiation of an electron beam, wherein said electron generating apparatus having a multi-electron beam source in which a plurality of surface conduction electron-emitting devices are arranged, and driving means for applying a driving voltage to said multi-electron beam source on the basis of an input image signal, comprising the step of:

• applying a characteristic shift voltage having a value larger than a voltage value corresponding to a sum of a maximum value of the driving voltage and a noise voltage generated by said driving means to said plurality of surface conduction electron-emitting devices, before the driving voltage is applied, wherein the characteristic shift voltage is 1.05 to 1.5 times the maximum value of the driving voltage.

A method of manufacturing an electron generating apparatus having an electron emitting device, comprising the steps of:

• applying a voltage having a value of 1.05 to 1.5 times the maximum value of a driving voltage of the electron emitting device to the electron emitting device, wherein said applying step is performed in an atmosphere, in which a partial pressure of an organic gas in which the electron emitting device is placed is less than 10.sup.-8 torr.