Method of making field emission display having a mechanical support/getter assembly

A method for fabricating a field emission display comprising the steps of:

• providing a cathode plate having an active major surface;
• providing an anode plate having an active major surface opposing the active major surface of the cathode plate;
• providing a layer of a photosensitive glass having inter-spacer regions and a getter frame region and having a thickness;
• selectively crystallizing the inter-spacer regions of the layer of the photosensitive glass, thereby forming crystallized inter-spacer regions;
• reducing the thickness of the layer of the photosensitive glass at the getter frame region, thereby forming a getter land;
• removing the crystallized inter-spacer regions, thereby forming a plurality of apertures and further realizing a unitary spacer/frame assembly;
• providing a getter frame at the getter land, thereby forming a mechanical support/getter assembly having first and second opposed surfaces;
• affixing the cathode plate to the first opposed surface of the mechanical support/getter assembly;
• and
• affixing the anode plate to the second opposed surface of the mechanical support/getter assembly.