Electron-emitting element and field emission display using the same

• US 20030098656A1
• Filed: 11/01/2002
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NGK Insulators Limited
• Original Assignee: NGK Insulators Limited
• Inventors: Nanataki, Tsutomu, Takeuchi, Yukihisa, Ohwada, Iwao, Horiuchi, Tomoya
• Granted Patent: US 6,936,972 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/169.3
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0439 Pixel structures
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/06 Details of flat display driving waveforms
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/043 Preventing or counteracting the effects of ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/04 Display protection
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2011 by amplitude modulation
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/22 using controlled light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 1/304 Field-emissive cathodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 1/316 having an electric field parallel to the surface, e.g. thin film cathodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 2329/00 Electron emission display panels, e.g. field emission display panels

Abstract

An electron-emitting element includes an electric field applying portion composed of a dielectric, a first electrode formed on one surface of the electric field applying portion, and a second electrode being formed on the surface and forming a slit in cooperation with the first electrode, and is formed on a substrate.

Claims

1. An electron-emitting element comprising:

an electric field applying portion composed of a dielectric;

a first electrode formed on one surface of this electric field applying portion; and

a second electrode formed on said one surface of the electric field applying portion, and forming a slit in cooperation with said first electrode.

2. An electron-emitting element according to claim 1, further comprising a third electrode arranged at a certain space to said first and second electrodes, wherein space between said first and second electrodes and said third electrode is vacuum.

3. An electron-emitting element according to claim 2, further comprising:

a voltage source for applying a direct offset voltage to said third electrode; and

a resistor arranged in series between this voltage source and said third electrode.

4. An electron-emitting element according to claim 1, wherein a conductive coating portion is applied to said first electrode, said second electrode and said slit.

5. An electron-emitting element according to claim 4, further comprising a third electrode arranged at a certain space to said first and second electrodes, wherein space between said first and second electrodes and said third electrode is vacuum.

6. An electron-emitting element according to claim 5, further comprising:

a voltage source for applying a direct offset voltage to said third electrode; and

a resistor arranged in series between this voltage source and said third electrode.

7. An electron-emitting element according to claim 1, wherein further comprising a first conductive coating portion provided on said first electrode;

and

a second conductive coating portion provided on said second electrode;

wherein, there is non-contact condition between said first conductive coating portion and said second conductive coating portion.

8. An electron-emitting element according to claim 7, wherein a portion with a high resistance being provided on said slit, said portion having a higher resistance than those of said first and said second conducting coating portions and being in contact with said first and said second conducting coating portions electrically.

9. An electron-emitting element according to claim 7, further comprising a third electrode arranged at a certain space to said first and second electrodes, wherein space between said first and second electrodes and said third electrode is vacuum.

10. An electron-emitting element according to claim 9, further comprising:

a voltage source for applying a direct offset voltage to said third electrode; and

a resistor arranged in series between this voltage source and said third electrode.

11. An electron-emitting element according to claim 1, wherein a pulse voltage is applied to said first electrode and a direct offset voltage is applied to said second electrode.

12. An electron-emitting element according to claim 1, further comprising a capacitor arranged in series between said first electrode and said voltage source.

13. An electron-emitting element according to claim 1, further comprising a fourth electrode formed on the other surface of said electric field applying portion and facing to said first electrode.

14. An electron-emitting element according to claim 13, wherein a pulse voltage is applied to said fourth electrode and a direct offset voltage is applied to said second electrode.

15. An electron-emitting element according to claim 1, further comprising a resistor arranged in series between said second electrode and a direct offset voltage source.

16. An electron-emitting element according to claim 1, wherein said electric field applying portion has the relative dielectric constant not less than 1000.

17. An electron-emitting element according to claim 1, wherein said slit has the width not more than 500 μ

m.

18. An electron-emitting element according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first electrode and said second electrode has an angular part with an acute angle.

19. An electron-emitting element according to claim 1, wherein said first electrode and said second electrode each have carbon nanotubes.

20. An electron-emitting element comprising:

an electric field applying portion composed of at least one of a piezoelectric material, an electrostrictive material and an antiferroelectric material;

a first electrode formed on one surface of this electric field applying portion; and

a second electrode formed on said one surface of the electric field applying portion, and forming a slit in cooperation with said first electrode.

21. An electron-emitting element according to claim 20, further comprising a third electrode arranged at a certain space to said first and second electrodes, wherein space between said first and second electrodes and said third electrode is vacuum.

22. An electron-emitting element according to claim 21, wherein said electric field applying portion also acts an actuator and controls the quantity of emitted electrons by the displacement motion of said electric field applying portion.

23. An electron-emitting element according to claim 21, further comprising:

a voltage source for applying a direct offset voltage to said third electrode; and

a resistor arranged in series between this voltage source and said third electrode.

24. An electron-emitting element according to claim 20, wherein a conductive coating portion is applied to said first electrode, said second electrode and said slit.

25. An electron-emitting element according to claim 24, further comprising a third electrode arranged at a certain space to said first and second electrodes, wherein space between said first and second electrodes and said third electrode is vacuum.

26. An electron-emitting element according to claim 25, wherein said electric field applying portion also acts an actuator and controls the quantity of emitted electrons by the displacement motion of said electric field applying portion.

27. An electron-emitting element according to claim 25, further comprising:

a voltage source for applying a direct offset voltage to said third electrode; and

a resistor arranged in series between this voltage source and said third electrode.

28. An electron-emitting element according to claim 20, wherein further comprising a first conductive coating portion provided on said first electrode;

and

a second conductive coating portion provided on said second electrode;

wherein, there is non-contact condition between said first conductive coating portion and said second conductive coating portion.

29. An electron-emitting element according to claim 28, wherein a portion with a high resistance being provided on said slit, said portion having a higher resistance than those of said first and said second conducting coating portions and being in contact with said first and said second conducting coating portions electrically.

30. An electron-emitting element according to claim 28, further comprising a third electrode arranged at a certain space to said first and second electrodes, wherein space between said first and second electrodes and said third electrode is vacuum.

31. An electron-emitting element according to claim 28, wherein said electric field applying portion also acts an actuator and controls the quantity of emitted electrons by the displacement motion of said electric field applying portion.

32. An electron-emitting element according to claim 28, further comprising:

a voltage source for applying a direct offset voltage to said third electrode; and

a resistor arranged in series between this voltage source and said third electrode.

33. An electron-emitting element according to claim 20, wherein a pulse voltage is applied to said first electrode and a direct offset voltage is applied to said second electrode.

34. An electron-emitting element according to claim 20, further comprising a capacitor arranged in series between said first electrode and said voltage source.

35. An electron-emitting element according to claim 20, further comprising a fourth electrode formed on the other surface of said electric field applying portion and facing to said first electrode.

36. An electron-emitting element according to claim 35, wherein a pulse voltage is applied to said fourth electrode and a direct offset voltage is applied to said second electrode.

37. An electron-emitting element according to claim 20, further comprising a resistor arranged in series between said second electrode and a direct offset voltage source.

38. An electron-emitting element according to claim 20, wherein said electric field applying portion has the relative dielectric constant not less than 1000.

39. An electron-emitting element according to claim 20, wherein said slit has the width not more than 500 μ

m.

40. An electron-emitting element according to claim 20, wherein at least one of said first electrode and said second electrode has an angular part with an acute angle.

41. An electron-emitting element according to claim 20, wherein said first electrode and said second electrode each have carbon nanotubes.

42. A field emission display comprising:

a plurality of electron-emitting elements arranged in two dimensions; and

a plurality of phosphors each being arranged with a certain space to each of these electron-emitting elements, each of said electron-emitting elements having;

an electric field applying portion made of a dielectric;

a first electrode formed on one surface of this electric field applying portion; and

a second electrode formed on said one surface of the electric field applying portion, and forming a slit in cooperation with said first electrode.

43. A field emission display according to claim 42, wherein a third electrode is arranged on the opposite surface to a surface of each of said phosphors facing said first and second electrodes, and the space between said first and second electrodes and said phosphor is vacuum.

44. A field emission display according to claim 42, wherein each of said electron-emitting elements comprises:

a voltage source for applying a direct offset voltage to said third electrode; and

a resistor arranged in series between this voltage source and said third electrode.

45. A field emission display according to claim 42, wherein a conductive coating portion is applied to said first electrode, said second electrode and said slit.

46. A field emission display according to claim 45, wherein a third electrode is arranged on the opposite surface to a surface of each of said phosphors facing said first and second electrodes, and the space between said first and second electrodes and said phosphor is vacuum.

47. A field emission display according to claim 42, wherein each of said electron-emitting elements comprises:

a voltage source for applying a direct offset voltage to said third electrode; and

a resistor arranged in series between this voltage source and said third electrode.

48. A field emission display according to claim 42, wherein each of said electron-emitting elements comprises:

a first conductive coating portion provided on said first electrode; and

a second conductive coating portion provided on said second electrode;

wherein, there is non-contact condition between said first conductive coating portion and said second conductive coating portion.

49. A field emission display according to claim 42, wherein each of said electron-emitting elements comprises:

a portion with a high resistance provided on said slit, said portion having a higher resistance than those of said first and said second conducting coating portions and being in contact with said first and said second conducting coating portions electrically.

50. A field emission display according to claim 48, wherein a third electrode is arranged on the opposite surface to a surface of each of said phosphors facing said first and second electrodes, and the space between said first and second electrodes and said phosphor is vacuum.

51. A field emission display according to claim 48, wherein each of said electron-emitting elements comprises:

a voltage source for applying a direct offset voltage to said third electrode; and

a resistor arranged in series between this voltage source and said third electrode.

52. A field emission display according to claim 42, wherein a pulse voltage is applied to said first electrode and a direct offset voltage is applied to said second electrode.

53. A field emission display according to claim 42, wherein each of said electron-emitting elements further comprises a capacitor arranged in series between said first electrode and said voltage signal source.

54. A field emission display according to claim 42, wherein each of said electron-emitting elements further comprises a fourth electrode being formed on the other surface of said electric field applying portion and opposite to said first electrode.

55. A field emission display according to claim 54, wherein a pulse voltage is applied to said fourth electrode and a direct offset voltage is applied to said second electrode.

56. A field emission display according to claim 42, wherein each of said electron-emitting elements further comprises a resistor arranged in series between said second electrode and said direct offset voltage source.

57. A field emission display according to claim 42, wherein said electric field applying portion has the relative dielectric constant not less than 1000.

58. A field emission display according to claim 42, wherein said slit has the width not more than 500 μ

m.

59. A field emission display according to claim 42, wherein at least one of said first electrode and said second electrode has an angular part with an acute angle.

60. A field emission display according to claim 42, wherein said first electrode and said second electrode each have carbon nanotubes.

61. A field emission display according to claim 42, further comprising a substrate having a plurality of electron-emitting elements arranged in two dimensions and formed into one body with each other.

62. A field emission display comprising:

a plurality of electron-emitting elements arranged in two dimensions; and

a plurality of phosphors each being arranged with a certain space to each of these electron-emitting elements,

each of said electron-emitting elements having;

an electric field applying portion composed of at least one of a piezoelectric material, an electrostrictive material and an antiferroelectric material;

a first electrode formed on one surface of this electric field applying portion; and

a second electrode formed on said one surface of the electric field applying portion, and forming a slit in cooperation with said first electrode.

63. A field emission display according to claim 62, wherein a third electrode is arranged on the opposite surface to a surface of each of said phosphors facing said first and second electrodes, and the space between said first and second electrodes and said phosphor is vacuum.

64. A field emission display according to claim 62, wherein said electric field applying portion also acts as an actuator and controls the quantity of emitted electrons by the displacement motion of said electric field applying portion.

65. A field emission display according to claim 62, wherein each of said electron-emitting elements comprises:

a voltage source for applying a direct offset voltage to said third electrode; and

a resistor arranged in series between this voltage source and said third electrode.

66. A field emission display according to claim 62, wherein a carbon coating is applied to said first electrode, said second electrode and said slit.

67. A field emission display according to claim 66, wherein a third electrode is arranged on the opposite surface to a surface of each of said phosphors facing said first and second electrodes, and the space between said first and second electrodes and said phosphor is vacuum.

68. A field emission display according to claim 66, wherein said electric field applying portion also acts as an actuator and controls the quantity of emitted electrons by the displacement motion of said electric field applying portion.

69. A field emission display according to claim 66, wherein each of said electron-emitting elements comprises:

a voltage source for applying a direct offset voltage to said third electrode; and

a resistor arranged in series between this voltage source and said third electrode.

70. A field emission display according to claim 62, wherein each of said electron-emitting elements comprises:

a first conductive coating portion provided on said first electrode; and

a second conductive coating portion provided on said second electrode;

wherein, there is non-contact condition between said first conductive coating portion and said second conductive coating portion.

71. A field emission display according to claim 70, wherein each of said electron-emitting elements comprises:

a portion with a high resistance provided on said slit, said portion having a higher resistance than those of said first and said second conducting coating portions and being in contact with said first and said second conducting coating portions electrically.

72. A field emission display according to claim 70, wherein a third electrode is arranged on the opposite surface to a surface of each of said phosphors facing said first and second electrodes, and the space between said first and second electrodes and said phosphor is vacuum.

73. A field emission display according to claim 70, wherein said electric field applying portion also acts as an actuator and controls the quantity of emitted electrons by the displacement motion of said electric field applying portion.

74. A field emission display according to claim 70, wherein each of said electron-emitting elements comprises:

a voltage source for applying a direct offset voltage to said third electrode; and

a resistor arranged in series between this voltage source and said third electrode.

75. A field emission display according to claim 62, wherein a pulse voltage is applied to said first electrode and a direct offset voltage is applied to said second electrode.

76. A field emission display according to claim 62, wherein each of said electron-emitting elements further comprises a capacitor arranged in series between said first electrode and said voltage signal source.

77. A field emission display according to claim 62, wherein each of said electron-emitting elements further comprises a fourth electrode being formed on the other surface of said electric field applying portion and opposite to said first electrode.

78. A field emission display according to claim 77, wherein a pulse voltage is applied to said fourth electrode and a direct offset voltage is applied to said second electrode.

79. A field emission display according to claim 62, wherein each of said electron-emitting elements further comprises a resistor arranged in series between said second electrode and said direct offset voltage source.

80. A field emission display according to claim 62, wherein said electric field applying portion has the relative dielectric constant not less than 1000.

81. A field emission display according to claim 62, wherein said slit has the width not more than 500 μ

m.

82. A field emission display according to claim 62, wherein at least one of said first electrode and said second electrode has an angular part with an acute angle.

83. A field emission display according to claim 62, wherein said first electrode and said second electrode each have carbon nanotubes.

84. A field emission display according to claim 62, further comprising a substrate having a plurality of electron-emitting elements arranged in two dimensions and formed into one body with each other.