Thermoelectric control for field emission display
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorJohn K. Lee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An active matrix display that does not require a transistor or similar current switching device at each pixel. Instead, the display employs in each pixel a temperature-controlled current source that provides to the field emitters of the pixel an amount of electrical current which varies in response to the temperature of a temperature sensor. Each pixel further includes a thermoelectric heat transfer circuit which transfers heat to or from the sensor in an amount which varies in response to the video signal. Consequently, the video signal controls the temperature of the sensor within a pixel's temperature-controlled current source, which controls the current flow through the pixel's field emitters.
Claims33
A field emission display, responsive to a video signal, comprising:
- a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel includes
- at least one field emitter;
- a temperature-controlled current source circuit including a temperature sensor having an electrical characteristic which changes in response to the temperature of the sensor, wherein the temperature-controlled current source is connected to said at least one field emitter of the pixel so as to supply to said at least one field emitter an amount of electrical current which varies in response to the temperature of the temperature sensor;
- and
- a thermoelectric heat transfer circuit, thermally coupled to the temperature sensor of the pixel and electrically coupled to the video signal, which transfers heat between the temperature sensor and the heat transfer circuit in an amount which varies in response to the video signal.
A field emission device, responsive to an electrical input signal, comprising:
- at least one field emitter;
- a temperature-controlled current source circuit including a temperature sensor having an electrical characteristic which changes in response to the temperature of the sensor, wherein the temperature-controlled current source is connected to said at least one field emitter so as to supply to said at least one field emitter an amount of electrical current which varies in response to the temperature of the temperature sensor;
- and
- a thermoelectric heat transfer circuit, thermally coupled to the temperature sensor and electrically coupled to the input signal, which transfers heat between the temperature sensor and the heat transfer circuit in an amount which varies in response to the input signal.
A method of controlling electron emission from at least one field emitter in response to an electrical input signal, comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one field emitter;
- providing a temperature sensor having an electrical characteristic whose value changes in response to the temperature of the sensor;
- transferring heat to the sensor in an amount which varies in response to an electrical input signal;
- and
- supplying to the at least one field emitter an amount of electrical current, and varying the amount of current in response to the value of said electrical characteristic of the sensor.
A method of controlling electron emission from at least one field emitter in response to an electrical input signal, comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one field emitter from which field emission of electrons can occur in response to an electric field;
- providing a semiconductor PN junction device comprising a PN junction between a P type semiconductor material and an N type semiconductor material;
- connecting said N type material to the at least one field emitter;
- connecting said P type material to a power supply voltage which reverse biases the PN junction;
- and
- transferring heat to the PN junction in an amount which varies in response to an electrical input signal.
A method of controlling electron emission from at least one field emitter in response to an electrical input signal, comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one field emitter from which field emission of electrons can occur in response to an electric field;
- providing a temperature sensor comprising a PN junction between a P type semiconductor material and an N type semiconductor material;
- connecting said N type material to the at least one field emitter;
- connecting said P type material to a power supply voltage which reverse biases the PN junction;
- and
- transferring heat to the sensor in an amount which varies in response to an electrical input signal.
A field emission device, responsive to an electrical input signal, comprising:
- at least one field emitter,
- a semiconductor PN junction device comprising a PN junction between a P type semiconductor material and an N type semiconductor material, wherein the N type material is connected to the at least one field emitter;
- a power supply connected to apply to the P type material of the PN junction device a voltage which reverse biases the PN junction;
- and
- a thermoelectric heat transfer circuit, thermally coupled to the PN junction and electrically coupled to the input signal, wherein the heat transfer circuit transfers heat between the PN junction and the heat transfer circuit in an amount which varies in response to the input signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.