Radioactive cathode emitter for use in field emission display devices
AssigneeSt. Clair Intellectual Property Consultants, Inc.
InventorJohn L. Janning
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Cathodoluminescent field emission display devices features a radioactive cathode emitter which is used to produce primary electron emissions to drive the FED device. Radioactive emitters eliminate the need for complex emitter structures, such as conventional Spindt cathodes. In addition, the use of a radioactive emitter allows for an “all-firm” FED, and thus represents an improvement over existing devices by reducing emitter to phosphor spacing, as well as eliminating the use of internal vacuums.
Claims44
A cathodoluminescent display device, which comprises:
- a faceplate through which emitted light is transmitted from an inside surface to an outside surface of the faceplate for viewing;
- a cathode electron emitter, for primary field emissions of electrons, where said cathode electron emitter comprises a radioactive material of an amorphous silicon film formed using tritium doped silane that decays to provide a source of primary electron emissions with which the display device is activated;
- an anode, comprising a layer of electrically conductive material disposed between the inside surface of the faceplate and the cathode electron emitter;
- and
- a light emitter layer of cathodoluminescent material capable of emitting light through the faceplate in response to bombardment by electrons emitted within the device, disposed between the anode and the cathode emitter.
A cathodoluminescent display device, which comprises:
- a faceplate through which emitted light is transmitted from an inside surface to an outside surface of the faceplate for viewing;
- a cathode emitter for providing primary emission of electrons, where said cathode electron emitter comprises a radioactive material that decays to provide a source of primary electron emissions with which the display device is activated;
- an anode, comprising a layer of electrically conductive material disposed between the inside surface of the faceplate and the cathode emitter;
- a light emitter layer of cathodoluminescent material capable of emitting light through the faceplate in response to bombardment by electrons emitted within the device, disposed between the anode and the cathode emitter;
- an amplification layer disposed between said light emitting layer and said cathode emitter;
- a cavity in said amplification layer, having a top wall formed by said light emitting layer, a bottom wall formed by said cathode emitter, and at least one side wall formed by said amplification layer;
- and
- at least one amplification protrusion extending from said amplification layer into said cavity, said protrusion having an exposed edge surface positioned to be bombarded by primary electrons to produce secondary emissions of electrons within said device.
A cathodoluminescent display device which comprises:
- a faceplate through which emitted light is transmitted from an inside surface to an outside surface of the faceplate for viewing;
- a cathode electron emitter, for primary field emissions of electrons, where said cathode electron emitter comprises a radioactive material of a film of tritiated metal that decays to provide a source of primary electron emissions with which the display device is activated;
- an anode, comprising a layer of electrically conductive material disposed between the inside surface of the faceplate and the cathode electron emitter;
- and
- a light emitter layer of the cathodoluminescent material capable of emitting light through the faceplate in response to bombardment by electrons emitted within the device, disposed between the anode and the cathode electron emitter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.