Field emitter display baseplate and method of fabricating same

A field emission display baseplate, comprising:

• a substrate;
• a first generally conductive layer formed on at least a portion of said substrate, said first generally conductive layer being formed of a material having a first conductivity;
• a generally insulative layer overlying at least a portion of said first conductive layer, said first insulative layer having at least one opening formed therein over said first conductive layer to expose said first conductive layer through said opening;
• a second generally conductive layer overlying at least a portion of said insulative layer, said second generally conductive layer being formed of a material having a second conductivity that is less than said first conductivity;
• an electrical contact coupling said first and second conductive layers to each other through the at least one opening formed in said generally insulative layer;
• and
• at least one emitter in electrical contact with said second conductive layer.

A field emission display baseplate, comprising:

• a substrate having a generally planar working surface;
• a first layer of generally conductive material coating at least a portion of the working surface of said substrate, said first layer of generally conductive material having a first conductivity;
• a first layer of generally insulative material overlying at least a portion of said first layer of generally conductive material;
• a second layer of generally conductive material overlying at least a portion of said first layer of generally insulative material, said second layer of generally conductive material having a surface on which at least one emitter is formed, said second layer of generally conductive material being capacitively coupled to said first layer of generally conductive material through said first layer of generally insulative material, said second layer of generally conductive material having a second conductivity that is less than said first conductivity;
• a second layer of generally insulative material overlying a substantial portion of said second layer of generally conductive material, said second layer of generally insulative material having formed an opening surrounding said emitter;
• and
• a third layer of generally conductive material overlying at least a portion of said second layer of generally insulative material, said third layer of generally conductive material having formed therein an opening surrounding said emitter, said third layer of generally conductive material forming an extraction grid for said field emission display baseplate.

A field emission display baseplate, comprising:

• a non-conductive substrate having a generally rectangular, generally planar working surface;
• a first layer of metal coating at least a portion of the working surface of said substrate, said first metal layer forming a plurality of column lines extending along a substantial portion of the working surface of said substrate, said first layer of metal having a first conductivity;
• a first oxide layer overlying at least a substantial portion of said column lines and at least a portion of the working surface of said substrate, said first oxide layer having respective openings formed therein over a plurality of said column lines to expose said column lines through said openings;
• a first layer of polysilicon material overlying at least a portion of said first oxide layer including said openings, said first polysilicon layer extending into said openings to contact said column lines, said first polysilicon layer having a surface on which a plurality of emitters are formed in rows and columns with the emitters in one column being isolated from the emitters in other columns and the emitters in each column being coupled to a respective column line through a respective opening in said first oxide layer said polysilicon material having a conductivity that is less than said first conductivity;
• a second oxide layer overlying a substantial portion of said first polysilicon layer, said second oxide layer having formed therein respective openings surrounding a plurality of said emitters;
• and
• a layer of generally conductive material overlying at least a portion of said second oxide layer, said layer of conductive material having formed therein respective openings surrounding a plurality of said emitters, said layer of conductive material forming an extraction grid for said field emission display baseplate with the extraction grids in each row being coupled to each other and isolated from the extraction grids in other rows.

A field emission display, comprising:

• a viewing screen, comprising:
• a generally planar, transparent panel having a generally planar surface;
• a layer of generally transparent conductive material coating the generally planar surface of said transparent panel to form an anode;
• and
• a layer of cathodoluminescent material coating said anode;
• a baseplate, comprising:
• a substrate;
• a first generally conductive layer formed on at least a portion of said substrate, said first generally conductive layer being formed of a material having a first conductivity;
• a generally insulative layer overlying at least a portion of said first conductive layer, said first insulative layer having at least one opening formed therein over said first conductive layer to expose said first conductive layer through said opening;
• a second generally conductive layer overlying at least a portion of said insulative layer, said second generally conductive layer being formed of a material having a second conductivity that is less than said first conductivity;
• an electrical contact coupling said first and second conductive layers to each other through the at least one opening formed in said generally insulative layer;
• and
• at least one emitter in electrical contact with said second conductive layer;
• and
• a mounting structure connected to said baseplate and said viewing screen, said mounting structure positioning said viewing screen a fixed distance from said substrate.

A field emission display, comprising:

• a viewing screen, comprising:
• a generally planar, transparent panel having a generally planar surface;
• a layer of generally transparent conductive material coating the generally planar surface of said transparent panel to form an anode;
• and
• a layer of cathodoluminescent material coating said anode;
• a baseplate, comprising:
• a substrate;
• a first generally conductive layer formed on at least a portion of said substrate, said first generally conductive layer being formed of a material having a first conductivity;
• a generally insulative layer overlying at least a portion of said first conductive layer;
• a second generally conductive layer overlying at least a portion of said insulative layer, said second generally conductive layer being capacitively coupled to said first generally conductive layer through said generally insulative layer, said second generally conductive layer being formed of a material having a second conductivity that is less than said first conductivity;
• and
• at least one emitter in electrical contact with said second conductive layer;
• and
• a mounting structure connected to said baseplate and said viewing screen, said mounting structure positioning said viewing screen a fixed distance from said substrate.

A field emission display, comprising:

• a viewing screen, comprising:
• a generally planar, transparent panel having a generally planar surface;
• a layer of generally transparent conductive material coating the generally planar surface of said transparent panel to form an anode;
• and
• a layer of cathodoluminescent material coating said anode;
• a baseplate, comprising:
• a generally planar substrate positioned in parallel with said viewing screen, said substrate having a generally planar working surface facing said anode;
• a first layer of generally conductive material coating at least a portion of the working surface of said substrate, said first layer of generally conductive material having a first conductivity;
• a first layer of generally insulative material overlying at least a portion of said first layer of generally conductive material, said first layer of generally insulative material having an opening formed therein over said first layer of generally conductive material to expose said first layer of generally conductive material through said opening;
• a second layer of generally conductive material overlying at least a portion of said first layer of generally insulative material including said opening, said second layer of generally conductive material extending into said opening to contact said first layer of generally conductive material, said second layer of generally conductive material having a surface on which at least one emitter is formed, said second layer of generally conductive material having a second conductivity that is less that said first conductivity;
• a second layer of generally insulative material overlying a substantial portion of said second layer of generally conductive material, said second layer of generally insulative material having formed therein an opening surrounding said emitter;
• and
• a third layer of generally conductive material overlying at least a portion of said second layer of generally insulative material, said third layer of generally conductive material having formed therein an opening surrounding said emitter, said third layer of generally conductive material forming an extraction grid for said field emission display baseplate;
• and
• a mounting structure connected to said baseplate and said viewing screen, said mounting structure positioning said viewing screen a fixed distance from said substrate.

A field emission display, comprising:

• a viewing screen, comprising:
• a generally planar, transparent panel having a generally planar surface;
• a layer of generally transparent conductive material coating the generally planar surface of said transparent panel to form an anode;
• and
• a layer of cathodoluminescent material coating said anode;
• a baseplate, comprising:
• a generally planar substrate positioned in parallel with said viewing screen;;
• a first generally conductive layer formed on at least a portion of said substrate;
• said layer of generally conductive material forming a plurality of column lines extending along a substantial portion of the working surface of said substrate with the column lines being electrically isolated from each other, said first generally conductive layer having a first conductivity;
• a generally insulative layer overlying at least a portion of said first generally conductive layer, said generally insulative layer having respective openings formed therein over a plurality of said column lines to expose said column lines through said openings;
• a second generally conductive layer overlying at least a portion of said generally insulative layer, said second generally conductive layer forming a plurality of column lines that are electrically isolated from each other, said second generally conductive layer having a second conductivity that is less than said first conductivity;
• an electrical contact coupling at least some of the column lines in said first generally conductive layer to a respective column line in said second generally conductive layers through a respective opening formed in said generally insulative layer;
• and
• a plurality of emitters are in electrical contact with each of the column lines of said second generally conductive layer, the emitters of all of said column lines being arranged in an array of rows and columns;
• and
• a mounting structure connected to said baseplate and said viewing screen, said mounting structure positioning said viewing screen a fixed distance from said substrate.

An electronic system for providing a visible image to a user, said electronic system comprising:

• a video signal generator generating a video signal corresponding to said image,
• row and column drivers receiving said video signal from said video signal generator, said row and column drivers generating respective sets of row and column signals with each set of column signals corresponding to the modulation of the video signal during each line of the video signal and each set of row signal corresponding to a respective line of the video signal;
• and
• a field emission display coupled to said row and column drivers, said field emission display comprising:
• a viewing screen, comprising:
• a generally planar, transparent panel having a generally planar surface;
• a layer of generally transparent conductive material coating the generally planar surface of said transparent panel to form an anode;
• and
• a layer of cathodoluminescent material coating said anode;
• a baseplate, comprising:
• a generally planar substrate positioned in parallel with said viewing screen, said substrate having a generally planar working surface facing said anode;
• a first layer of generally conductive material coating at least a portion of the working surface of said substrate, said layer of generally conductive material forming a plurality of column lines extending along a substantial portion of the working surface of said substrate with the column lines being electrically isolated from each other and connected to respective outputs of said column drivers said first layer of generally conductive material having a first conductivity;
• a first layer of generally insulative material overlying at least a portion of said first layer of generally conductive material, said first layer of generally insulative material having respective openings formed therein over a plurality of said column lines to expose said column lines through said openings;
• a second layer of generally conductive material overlying at least a portion of said first layer of generally insulative material including said openings, said second layer of generally conductive material forming a plurality of column lines that are electrically isolated from each other and extend into respective openings in said layer of generally insulative material to contact respective column lines of said first layer of generally conductive material, said second layer of generally conductive material having a surface on which a plurality of emitters are formed, said second layer of generally conductive material having a conductivity that is less than the first conductivity;
• a second layer of generally insulative material overlying a substantial portion of said second layer of generally conductive material, said second layer of generally insulative material having formed therein respective openings surrounding a plurality of said emitters;
• and
• a third layer of generally conductive material overlying at least a portion of said second layer of generally insulative material, said third layer of generally conductive material having formed therein respective openings surrounding a plurality of said emitters, said third layer of generally conductive material forming a plurality of rows of extraction grids for said field emission display baseplate with the extraction grids in each row being coupled to each other and to a respective output of said row driver and isolated from other rows of extraction grids;
• and
• a mounting structure connected to said baseplate and said viewing screen, said mounting structure positioning said viewing screen a fixed distance from said substrate.

An electronic system for providing a visible image to a user, said electronic system comprising:

• a video signal generator generating a video signal corresponding to said image,
• row and column drivers receiving said video signal from said video signal generator, said row and column drivers generating respective sets of row and column signals with each set of column signals corresponding to the modulation of the video signal during each line of the video signal and each set of row signal corresponding to a respective line of the video signal;
• and
• a field emission display coupled to said row and column drivers, said field emission display comprising:
• a viewing screen, comprising:
• a generally planar, transparent panel having a generally planar surface;
• a layer of generally transparent conductive material coating the generally planar surface of said transparent panel to form an anode;
• and
• a layer of cathodoluminescent material coating said anode;
• a baseplate, comprising:
• a generally planar substrate positioned in parallel with said viewing screen, said substrate having a generally planar working surface facing said anode;
• a first layer of generally conductive material coating at least a portion of the working surface of said substrate, said layer of generally conductive material forming a plurality of column lines extending along a substantial portion of the working surface of said substrate with the column lines being electrically isolated from each other and connected to respective outputs of said column drivers, said first layer of generally conductive material having a first conductivity;
• a first layer of generally insulative material overlying at least a portion of said first layer of generally conductive material;
• a second layer of generally conductive material overlying at least a portion of said first layer of generally insulative material, said second layer of generally conductive material forming a plurality of column lines that are electrically isolated from each other and capacitively coupled to said first layer of generally conductive material through said first layer of generally insulative material, said second layer of generally conductive material having a surface on which a plurality of emitters are formed, said second layer of generally conductive material having a second conductivity that is less than said first conductivity;
• a second layer of generally insulative material overlying a substantial portion of said second layer of generally conductive material, said second layer of generally insulative material having formed therein respective openings surrounding a plurality of said emitters;
• and
• a third layer of generally conductive material overlying at least a portion of said second layer of generally insulative material, said third layer of generally conductive material having formed therein respective openings surrounding a plurality of said emitters, said third layer of generally conductive material forming a plurality of rows of extraction grids for said field emission display baseplate with the extraction grids in each row being coupled to each other and to a respective output of said row driver and isolated from other rows of extraction grids;
• and
• a mounting structure connected to said baseplate and said viewing screen, said mounting structure positioning said viewing screen a fixed distance from said substrate.

A method of making a baseplate for a field emission display, comprising:

• providing a substrate having a generally planar working surface;
• forming a first layer of generally conductive material on at least a portion of the working surface of said substrate, said first layer of generally conductive material having a first conductivity;
• forming a first layer of generally insulative material on at least a portion of said first layer of generally conductive material;
• forming a second layer of generally conductive material on at least a portion of said first layer of generally insulative material, said second layer of generally conductive material having a second conductivity that is less than said first conductivity;
• forming a plurality of emitters on said second layer of generally conductive material;
• forming a second layer of generally insulative material on a substantial portion of said second layer of generally conductive material;
• forming a plurality of openings in said second layer of generally insulative material surrounding a respective plurality of said emitters;
• forming a third layer of generally conductive material on at least a portion of said second layer of generally insulative material;
• and
• forming a plurality of openings in said third layer of generally conductive material surrounding a respective plurality of said emitters, said third layer of generally conductive material forming an extraction grid for said field emission display baseplate.

A method of making a baseplate for a field emission display, comprising:

• providing a generally planar substrate;
• forming a first generally conductive layer on said substrate, said first generally conductive layer being a material having a first conductivity;
• forming a generally insulative layer over a portion of said first generally conductive layer, said generally insulative layer defining at least one opening therein;
• forming a second generally conductive layer in spaced, generally parallel relationship to said first generally conductive layer, said second generally conductive layer being a material having a second conductivity that is less than said first conductivity;
• forming an electrical contact at least partially within said opening, said contact electrically coupling said first and second generally conductive layers to each other;
• and
• forming at least one emitter in electrical contact with said second generally conductive layer.

A method of making a baseplate for a field emission display, comprising:

• providing a non-conductive substrate having a generally rectangular, generally planar working surface;
• forming a first layer of metal on at least a portion of the working surface of said substrate, said first metal layer being deposited to form a plurality of column lines that are isolated from each other and extend along a substantial portion of the working surface of said substrate, said first layer of metal having a first conductivity;
• depositing a first oxide layer on at least a substantial portion of said column lines, said step of depositing said first oxide layer including forming respective openings in said first oxide layer over a plurality of said column lines to expose said column lines through said openings;
• depositing a first layer of polysilicon material over at least a portion of said first oxide layer including said openings, said first polysilicon layer being deposited to form a plurality of column lines that are isolated from each other and extend into respective openings to contact respective column lines of said first layer of metal, said first layer of polysilicon material having a second conductivity that is less than said first conductivity;
• forming a plurality of emitters on said first polysilicon layer, said emitters being arranged in rows and columns with the emitters in one column being isolated from the emitters in other columns and the emitters in each column being coupled to a respective column line of said first metal layer through a respective opening in said first oxide layer;
• depositing a second oxide layer on a substantial portion of said first polysilicon layer;
• forming a plurality of openings in said second oxide layer surrounding a respective plurality of said emitters;
• depositing a layer of generally conductive material on at least a portion of said second oxide layer;
• and
• forming a plurality of openings in said layer of conductive material surrounding a respective plurality of said emitters, said layer of substantially conductive material forming a plurality of rows of extraction grids for said field emission display baseplate with the extraction grids in each row being coupled to each other and isolated from the extraction grids in other rows.