Abstract:
A method is provided for reducing power and audible noise during discharging of dielectric surfaces (137) of a field emission display (100, 200). The method comprises reading (302) a distribution parameter of one or more frames of video data and if (312) the distribution parameter exceeds a threshold, lowering (314) the voltage on an anode (124) and impacting electrons from a plurality of emitters (114) upon the dielectric surfaces (137).
Abstract:
An apparatus is provided for growing high aspect ratio emitters (26) on a substrate (13). The apparatus comprises a housing (10) defining a chamber and includes a substrate holder (12) attached to the housing and positioned within the chamber for holding a substrate having a surface for growing the high aspect ratio emitters (26) thereon. A heating element (17) is positioned near the substrate and being at least one material selected from the group consisting of carbon, conductive cermets, and conductive ceramics. The housing defines an opening (15) into the chamber for receiving a gas into the chamber for forming the high aspect ratio emitters (26).
Abstract:
A method of removing, or otherwise rendering non-conductive, unwanted carbon nanotubes (132) from an electronic device (100) includes exposing at least a portion of the device to light emitted by one or more of light sources (202) that emit light. Those regions of the device that have wanted carbon nanotubes formed thereon can be selectively masked, by various methods, from the emitted light.
Abstract:
An apparatus (10) for, and method of, placing a plurality of spacers (12) between a parallel opposed anode and cathode (20) of an emissive display includes temporarily securing, by applying a vacuum for example, a first side of one of the anode or cathode to a base (14) having a plurality of electromagnets (16) positioned therein. The electromagnets (16) attract a first side of each of the plurality of spacers (12), thereby positioning each of the spacers (12) in a desired location on a second side of the one of the anode or cathode (20). The spacers (12) may be provided from a shuffling tray (40) having a plurality of openings (42), each opening (42) approximately aligned with one of the electromagnets (16) and shaped so as to present the first side to the electromagnet (16) to the one of the anode or cathode (20).
Abstract:
A field emission device (100) is provided for reducing power and audible noise during discharging of dielectric surfaces (137, 138). The field emission device (100) comprises an anode (122) and a first substrate (111) including a cathode plate (110) comprising a plurality of active display devices (114) and dielectric surfaces (137, 138). The plurality of active display devices (114) emit electrons (132) to strike the anode during a scanning mode, and emit electrons (135) to strike the dielectric surfaces (137, 138) during a discharge mode. At least one of a plurality of spacers (136) positioned between the anode (122) and the cathode plate (110) comprise a first sense electrode (142) positioned proximate to the anode (122), and a second sense electrode (144) positioned proximate to the cathode plate (110) and spaced apart from the first sense electrode (142). A circuit (222, 224, 226) for sensing a difference in charge between the first and second sense electrodes (142, 144) is coupled to the anode (122) and cathode plate (110) for alternately initiating the scanning mode and the discharge mode in response to the difference in charge reaching a threshold.
Abstract:
A field emission display (100) includes a cathode plate (110) having a plurality of electron emitters (114), and anode plate (122) having an anode (124) connected to a potential source (126), and an anode voltage pull-down circuit (127) having an input (106) and an output (104). Output (104) is connected to anode (124), and input (106) is connected to potential source (126). Preferably, anode voltage pull-down circuit (127) causes an anode voltage (120) at anode (124) to drop to about ground potential prior to generation of a discharge current by electron emitters (114) for neutralizing positively electrostatically charged surfaces (137, 138) within field emission display (100).