Ngk Insulators, Inc.

Hirokazu Nakamura

Iwao Ohwada

Takayoshi Akao

Tetsuyuki Kameji

An electron emitting apparatus includes a lower electrode, an emitter section made of a dielectric material, a plurality of upper electrodes having micro through holes, and a collector electrode opposing the upper electrodes. In this electron-emitting apparatus, electrons are accumulated in the emitter section by controlling the potential difference (drive voltage) between the lower and upper electrodes with respect to the potential of the lower electrode to a negative predetermined voltage. At this time, the collector electrode of the electron-emitting apparatus is grounded. Thus, unnecessary electron-emitting is suppressed. Subsequently, the drive voltage is changed to a positive predetermined voltage. As a result, polarization reversal occurs in the emitter section, and accumulated electros are emitted through the micro through holes in the upper electrodes by Coulomb repulsion. At this time, a positive voltage Vc is applied to the collector electrode to give large energy to accelerate the electrons.

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Nagoya, Japan

Hirokazu Nakamura