Field emission cathode based flat panel display having polyimide spacers

• US 5,063,327 A
• Filed: 01/29/1990
• Issued: 11/05/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Coloray Display Corporation
• Original Assignee: Coloray Display Corporation
• Inventors: Brodie, Ivor, Gernick, Henry R., Holland, Christopher E., Moessner, Helmut A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Application Number:
  US07/471,927
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 313/482, 313/422, 313/495, 313/351, 313/309
• US Class Current: 313/482
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 2329/864 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 29/864 Spacers between faceplate and backplate of flat panel cathode ray tubes
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 31/127 using large area or array sources, i.e. essentially a source for each pixel group
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 9/242 Spacers between faceplate and backplate

Abstract

A flat panel display of the field emission cathode type having polyimide spacers or pillars separating the emitting surface and display face of the same and a method of forming the spacers by integrated circuit techniques.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

an array of field emission cathodes providing an electron emitting surface;

a display panel having a face including an anode opposing said surface; and

a plurality of prebaked spacers of uniform height of an organic polymer and substantially free of volatile material, said spacers extending between said surface of said face;

said electron emitting surface and said display panel being sandwiched together with said spacers defining a space therebetween, said space being subjected to a vacuum during emission of electrons from said field emitting surface to said display panel.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said organic polymer is a polyimide.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 wherein the precursor of said polyimide is a polyamic ester.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said field emission cathodes provide a plurality of electron generating sites forming a matrix of the same, said display panel is transparent at said opposing face, and said face includes phosphor coatings forming pixels, whereby said device is a matrix addressable, flat panel display.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 wherein said spacers are located between pixels of said matrix addressable, flat panel display.