# US 7,990,068 B2 · Field emission light emitting device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,990,068 B2 - Document ID: US7990068B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/041,870 - Filed: 2008-03-04 - Published: 2009-09-10 - Granted: 2011-08-02 - Earliest claimed: 2008-03-04 - Assignees: Xerox Corporation - Inventors: David H. Pan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7990068B2 ## CPC - H01J 1/304: Field-emissive cathodes - H01J 31/123: {Flat display tubes} - H01J 63/02: Details, e.g. electrode, gas filling, shape of vessel - H01J 2201/30419: Pillar shaped emitters - H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H) ## Abstract In accordance with the invention, there are nanoscale electron emitters, field emission light emitting devices, and methods of forming them. The nanoscale electron emitter can include a first electrode electrically connected to a first power supply and a second electrode electrically connected to a second power supply. The nanoscale electron emitter can also include a nanocylinder electron emitter array disposed over the second electrode, the nanocylinder electron emitter array having a plurality of nanocylinder electron emitters disposed in a dielectric matrix, wherein each of the plurality of nanocylinder electron emitters can include a first end connected to the second electrode and a second end positioned to emit electrons, the first end being opposite to the second end. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A nanoscale electron emitter comprising: a first electrode electrically connected to a first power supply; a second electrode electrically connected to a second power supply; and a nanocylinder electron emitter array disposed over the second electrode, the nanocylinder electron emitter array comprising: a plurality of nanocylinder electron emitters disposed in a dielectric matrix such that an average nanocylinder to nanocylinder distance is at least about one and a half times an average diameter of the nanocylinder, wherein each of the plurality of nanocylinder electron emitters comprises a first end connected to the second electrode and a second end positioned to emit electrons, the first end being opposite to the second end; and a third electrode disposed over the dielectric matrix and electrically connected to a third power supply such that a distance between the third electrode and the second end of the nanocylinder is less than about five times an average nanocylinder diameter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The nanoscale electron emitter of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of nanocylinder electron emitters has an aspect ratio of more than about 2. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The nanoscale electron emitter of claim 1, wherein the dielectric matrix comprises one or more materials selected from a group consisting of a polymer, a block co-polymer, a polymer blend, a crosslinked polymer, a track-etched polymer, and an anodized aluminum. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The nanoscale electron emitter of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of nanocylinder electron emitters is disposed in the dielectric matrix, such that an average nanocylinder electron emitter to nanocylinder electron emitter distance is equal to or greater than an average height of the nanocylinder electron emitters. ### Claim 5 A field emission light emitting device comprising: a substantially transparent substrate; a plurality of spacers, wherein each of the plurality of spacers connects the substantially transparent substrate to a backing substrate; and a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels separated by one or more spacers, wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises: one or more first electrodes disposed over the substantially transparent substrate, wherein each of the one or more first electrodes comprises a substantially transparent conductive material; a light emitting layer disposed over the one of the one or more first electrodes; one or more second electrodes disposed over each of the plurality of spacers, wherein the second electrodes are disposed at an angle to the first electrodes; and one or more nanocylinder electron emitter arrays disposed over each of the one or more second electrodes, the nanocylinder electron emitter array comprising a plurality of nanocylinder electron emitters disposed in a dielectric matrix, wherein each of the plurality of nanocylinder electron emitters comprises a first end connected to the second electrode and a second end positioned to emit electrons, wherein the one or more second electrodes and the one or more first electrode are disposed at a predetermined gap in a low pressure region, and wherein each of the plurality of pixels is connected to a power supply and is adapted to be operated independent of the other pixels. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The field emission light emitting device of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of nanocylinder electron emitters has an aspect ratio of more than about 2. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The field emission light emitting device of claim 5, wherein an average nanocylinder electron emitter to nanocylinder electron emitter distance is at least about an average height of the nanocylinder electron emitter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The field emission light emitting device of claim 5, wherein the dielectric matrix comprises one or more materials selected from a group consisting of a polymer, a block co-polymer, a polymer blend, a crosslinked polymer, a track-etched polymer, and an anodized aluminum. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The field emission light emitting device of claim 5, wherein each of the one or more nanocylinder electron emitter arrays comprises: a plurality of nanocylinder electron emitters disposed in a dielectric matrix such that an average nanocylinder electron emitter to nanocylinder electron emitter distance is at least about one and a half times an average diameter of the nanocylinder electron emitter; a third electrode disposed over the dielectric matrix such that a distance between the third electrode and the second end of the nanocylinder electron emitter is less than about five times the diameter of the nanocylinder electron emitter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The field emission light emitting device of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of pixels further comprises one or more fourth electrodes disposed over the backing substrate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The field emission light emitting device of claim 5, wherein the light emitting layer comprises a light emitting phosphor material having a light emitting color selected from a group consisting of red, green, blue, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The field emission light emitting device of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of spacers comprises one or more contrast enhancing materials. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) The field emission light emitting device of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of voltage withstand layers, wherein each of the plurality of voltage withstand layers is disposed over the light emitting layer. ### Claim 14 A field emission light emitting device comprising: a substantially transparent substrate; a plurality of spacers, wherein each of the plurality of spacers connects the substantially transparent substrate to a backing substrate and comprises one or more contrast enhancing materials; and a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels separated by one or more spacers, wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises: one or more first electrodes disposed over the substantially transparent substrate, wherein the one or more first electrodes comprises a substantially transparent conductive material; a light emitting layer disposed over the first electrode; one or more second electrodes disposed over the substantially transparent substrate; one or more nanocylinder electron emitter arrays disposed over the one or more second electrodes, the plurality of nanocylinder electron emitter arrays comprising a plurality of nanocylinder electron emitters, wherein each of the plurality of nanocylinder electron emitters comprises a first end connected to the second electrode and a second end positioned to emit electrons, wherein each of the plurality of pixels is connected to a power supply and is adapted to be operated independent of the other pixels. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The field emission light emitting device of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of nanocylinder electron emitters has an aspect ratio of more than about 2. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The field emission light emitting device of claim 14, wherein an average nanocylinder electron emitter to nanocylinder electron emitter distance is at least about an average height of the nanocylinder electron emitter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The field emission light emitting device of claim 14, wherein the plurality of nanocylinder electron emitters is disposed in a dielectric matrix, wherein the dielectric matrix comprises one or more materials selected from a group consisting of a polymer, a block co-polymer, a polymer blend, a crosslinked polymer, a track-etched polymer, and an anodized aluminum. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The field emission light emitting device of claim 14, wherein each of plurality of the nanocylinder electron emitter arrays comprises: a plurality of nanocylinder electron emitters disposed in a dielectric matrix such that an average nanocylinder electron emitter to nanocylinder electron emitter distance is at least about one and a half times an average diameter of the nanocylinder electron emitter; a third electrode disposed over the dielectric matrix such that a distance between the third electrode and the second end of the nanocylinder electron emitter is less than about five times the nanocylinder electron emitter diameter. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The field emission light emitting device of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of pixels further comprises one or more third electrodes disposed over the backing substrate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The field emission light emitting device of claim 14, wherein the light emitting layer comprises a light emitting phosphor material having a light emitting color selected from a group consisting of red, green, blue, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The field emission light emitting device of claim 14 further comprising a plurality of voltage withstand layers, wherein each of the plurality of voltage withstand layers is disposed over the light emitting layer. ### Claim 22 A field emission light emitting device comprising: a substantially transparent substrate; a plurality of spacers, wherein each of the plurality of spacers connects the substantially transparent substrate to a backing substrate; and a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels separated by one or more spacers, wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises: one or more first electrodes disposed over the substantially transparent substrate, wherein the one or more first electrodes comprises a substantially transparent conductive material; a light emitting layer disposed over the first electrode; one or more second electrodes disposed over the substantially transparent substrate; one or more nanocylinder electron emitter arrays disposed over the one or more second electrodes, the plurality of nanocylinder electron emitter arrays comprising a plurality of nanocylinder electron emitters, wherein each of the plurality of nanocylinder electron emitters comprises a first end connected to the second electrode and a second end positioned to emit electrons, wherein each of the plurality of pixels is connected to a power supply and is adapted to be operated independent of the other pixels; and a plurality of voltage withstand layers, wherein each of the plurality of voltage withstand layers is disposed over the light emitting layer.