Electron-emitting element and field emission display using the same

• US 6,936,972 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2002
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NGK Insulators Limited
• Original Assignee: NGK Insulators Limited
• Inventors: Horiuchi, Tomoya, Takeuchi, Yukihisa, Nanataki, Tsutomu, Ohwada, Iwao
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Chuc
• Application Number:
  US10/286,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20030098656A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 315/169.3, 3151691-169, 315/169.4, 313/309, 313/351, 313/336, 445/6, 445/24, 445/51
• 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 is provided, including 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 formed on the surface and forming a slit in cooperation with the first electrode, and which is formed on a substrate.

Claims

1. An electron-emitting element comprising:

an electric field applying portion comprising a dielectric;

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

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

wherein a conductive coating portion is applied to said first electrode, said second electrode and said slit; and

wherein said electric field applying portion has a relative dielectric constant of not less than 1000.

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

3. The 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 said voltage source and said third electrode.

4. An electron-emitting element comprising:

an electric field applying portion comprising a dielectric;

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

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

wherein a first conductive coating portion is provided on said first electrode, and a second conductive coating portion is provided on said second electrode;

wherein, a non-contact condition is provided between said first conductive coating portion and said second conductive coating portion; and

wherein said electric field applying portion has a relative dielectric constant of not less than 1000.

5. The electron-emitting element according to claim 4, further comprising a high resistance portion provided on said slit, said high resistance portion having a higher resistance than those of said first and said second conducting coating portions and said high resistance portion being in electrical contact with said first and said second conducting coating portions.

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

7. The electron-emitting element according to claim 6, further comprising:

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

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

8. An electron-emitting element comprising:

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

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

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

wherein a conductive coating portion is applied to said first electrode, said second electrode and said slit.

9. The electron-emitting element according to claim 8, further comprising a third electrode arranged at a certain space with respect to said first and second electrodes, wherein said space between said first and second electrodes and said third electrode is a vacuum.

10. The electron-emitting element according to claim 9, 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.

11. The 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 said voltage source and said third electrode.

12. An electron-emitting element comprising:

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

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

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

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

a second conductive coating portion is provided on said second electrode; and

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

13. The electron-emitting element according to claim 12, further comprising a high resistance portion with a high resistance being provided on said slit, said high resistance portion having a higher resistance than those of said first and said second conducting coating portions and said high resistance portion being in electrical contact with said first and said second conducting coating portions.

14. The electron-emitting element according to claim 12, further comprising a third electrode arranged at a certain space with respect to said first and second electrodes, wherein said space between said first and second electrodes and said third electrode is a vacuum.

15. The electron-emitting element according to claim 12, 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.

16. The electron-emitting element according to claim 14, further comprising:

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

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

17. 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 with respect to each of said electron-emitting elements;

wherein each of said electron-emitting elements comprises;

an electric field applying portion made of a dielectric,

a first electrode formed on one surface of said electric field applying portion, and

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

wherein a conductive coating portion is applied to said first electrode, said second electrode and said slit; and

wherein said electric field applying portion has a relative dielectric constant of not less than 1000.

18. The field emission display according to claim 17, further comprising a third electrode arranged on an opposite surface to a surface of each of said phosphors facing said first and second electrodes, and said space between said first and second electrodes and said phosphor is a vacuum.

19. The field emission display according to claim 18, wherein each of said electron-emitting elements further comprises:

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

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

20. 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 with respect to each of said electron-emitting elements;

wherein each of said electron-emitting elements comprises;

an electric field applying portion made of a dielectric,

a first electrode formed on one surface of said electric field applying portion, and

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

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

a second conductive coating portion is provided on said second electrode;

wherein, a non-contact condition is provided between said first conductive coating portion and said second conductive coating portion; and

wherein said electric field applying portion has a relative dielectric constant of not less than 1000.

21. The field emission display according to claim 20, wherein each of said electron-emitting elements further comprises:

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

22. The field emission display according to claim 20, further comprising a third electrode arranged on an opposite surface to a surface of each of said phosphors facing said first and second electrodes, and said space between said first and second electrodes and said phosphor is a vacuum.

23. The field emission display according to claim 22, wherein each of said electron-emitting elements further comprises:

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

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

24. 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 with respect to each of said electron-emitting elements;

wherein each of said electron-emitting elements comprises

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

a first electrode formed on one surface of said electric field applying portion, and

a second electrode foamed on said one surface of said electric field applying portion and forming a slit in cooperation with said first electrode;

wherein a conductive coating is applied to said first electrode, said second electrode and said slit.

25. The field emission display according to claim 24, further comprising a third electrode arranged on an opposite surface to a surface of each of said phosphors facing said first and second electrodes, and said space between said first and second electrodes and said phosphor is a vacuum.

26. The field emission display according to claim 24, 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.

27. The field emission display according to claim 25, wherein each of said electron-emitting elements further comprises:

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

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

28. 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 with respect to each of said electron-emitting elements;

wherein each of said electron-emitting elements comprises

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

a first electrode formed on one surface of said electric field applying portion, and

a second electrode formed on said one surface of said electric field

applying portion and forming a slit in cooperation with said first electrode;

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

a second conductive coating portion is provided on said second electrode; and

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

29. The field emission display according to claim 28, wherein each of said electron-emitting elements further comprises:

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

30. The field emission display according to claim 28, further comprising a third electrode arranged on an opposite surface to a surface of each of said phosphors facing said first and second electrodes, and said space between said first and second electrodes and said phosphor is a vacuum.

31. The field emission display according to claim 28, 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.

32. The field emission display according to claim 30, wherein each of said electron-emitting elements further comprises:

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

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