Field emission image display and method of driving the same

• US 6,175,344 B1
• Filed: 08/12/1998
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Futaba Denshi Kogyo KK
• Original Assignee: Futaba Denshi Kogyo KK
• Inventors: Tanaka, Mitsuru
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US09/132,993
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 345/74, 345/75, 345/74.1, 345/75.1, 345/75.2, 345/76
• US Class Current: 345/75.2
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/22 using controlled light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 31/127 using large area or array sources, i.e. essentially a source for each pixel group

Abstract

A field emission image display that can provide color blur-free, high brightness, high resolution images is provided. Patchlike cathode electrodes are connected in a zigzag pattern with cathode lead-out electrodes. Plural patchlike gate electrode pairs arranged in the row direction in two lines of patchlike gate electrodes adjacent to each gate lead-out electrode are connected to the gate lead-out electrode every other row. The right neighbor patchlike gate electrode and the left neighbor patchlike gate electrode with respect to the patchlike gate electrodes to be driven are set to a low potential. At the same time, the anode electrode area immediately above the driven patchlike gate electrode is driven. Anode electrodes neighbor to the driven anode electrode are set to a low potential.

Claims

1. A field emission image display comprising:

a first substrate;

plural patchlike cathode electrodes arranged in a matrix form on said first substrate, each of said patchlike cathode electrodes including emitters for field emission;

cathode lead-out electrodes each being connected in a zigzag pattern to two neighbor rows of patchlike cathode electrodes in a two-dimensional matrix formed of said patchlike cathode electrodes;

plural patchlike gate electrodes formed over said patchlike cathode electrodes;

gate lead-out electrodes connected to plural patchlike gate electrode pairs arranged in the row direction every other row, said plural patchlike gate electrode pairs being associated with two neighbor lines in a two-dimensional matrix formed of said patchlike gate electrodes;

a second substrate confronting said first substrate so as to be spaced from each other apart a predetermined distance;

plural stripe anode electrodes arranged on said second substrate so as to confront said patchlike gate electrodes;

fluorescent substance layers respectively coated on said anode electrodes;

first anode lead-out electrodes connected to odd-numbered ones of said anode electrodes; and

second anode lead-out electrodes for connected to even-numbered ones of said anode electrodes.