MEMS field emission device
AssigneeSI Diamond Technology, Inc.
InventorsZvi Yaniv, Richard Fink
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A ceramic actuator array is utilized to move a field emitter material for each pixel or subpixel to a level where an electric field causes electrons to be emitted from the emitter material towards a phosphor layer in an anode for that particular pixel. When the actuator is in an off state, then the field emitter material is removed to a different level where electrons are not urged to escape from the field emitter material. Thus, a display can be created using such an actuator array with field emitter materials deposited on each actuator element where each actuator element is individually controlled.
Claims11
A field emission cathode comprising:
- an actuator;
- a field-emitter material on a surface of the actuator;
- and
- circuitry for causing the actuator to move between first and second positions, where in the first position the field emitter material is not emitting electrons, and where in the second position the field emitter material is emitting electrons.
A field emission display comprising:
- a cathode;
- an actuator on the cathode;
- a field emitter material on the actuator;
- a phosphor material;
- and
- circuitry for moving the actuator to first and second positions, wherein in the first position the field emitter material is caused to emit electrons towards the phosphor material which emits light in response to receipt of the electrons, and wherein in the second position the field emitter material is caused to not emit electrons towards the phosphor material.
A data processing system comprising:
- a processor;
- a memory device;
- an input device;
- a display device;
- and
- a bus system coupling the processor to the memory device, the input device, and the display device, wherein the display device further includes:
- an anode having a transparent substrate with a phosphor layer deposited thereon;
- a cathode positioned a predetermined distance from the anode, wherein the cathode further includes an array of actuators, each having a field emitter deposited on a surface thereof;
- circuitry for establishing an electric field;
- and
- circuitry for independently controlling movement of each of the actuators.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.