Cone and lateral thin-film field emitter displays

Abstract

Summary form only given. The field emitter array display is essentially a flat CRT. It is a two-dimensional array of matrix-addressable electron sources, proximity focused on a phosphor screen. The devices are fabricated using integrated circuit and micro-machining technologies. The display adds thinness and random addressability to the high brightness, high luminous efficiency and good angular viewability of the CRT. The author describes the operating principles of field emitter display, competing design approaches, fabrication technology and results of research efforts to demonstrate the feasibility of the technology. The talk will focus on two field emitter display technologies. The design, fabrication and characterization of lateral thin film edge emitter displays will be reported. The talk will also report on-going efforts to reduce the gate operating voltage of cone field emitter displays and driver circuit voltages by scaling the gate aperture. The possibility for integrating MOSFETs on the same substrate as the field emitters.