Raytheon Company

Thomas A Roach

Seth A Berman

R Dennis Breen

A field emission display having a focusing grid disposed between the anode and a plurality of cathodes. The focusing grid comprises a conductive sheet having an array of apertures formed therein. Each one of the cathodes comprises a set of field emitters. Each aperture is associated with a corresponding set of field emitters. The conductive sheet is disposed over the corresponding set of field emitters. The sheet is supported at the periphery thereof by a frame with the interior portion of the sheet suspended in tension by the frame thereby supporting the grid substantially equidistant over the sets of field emitters. A method is provided for supporting the sheet in tension by the frame includes the steps of providing a clamp having a pair of apertured members. A first member has a groove disposed about the periphery of such member. A ring member is provided. A focusing grid, comprising an apertured, conductive sheet, has the peripheral portion thereof disposed between the groove formed in the first clamp member and the ring. The second clamp member is placed over the ring. A force is exerted to the clamp members and the ring onto the peripheral portion of the sheet, the ring urging the sheet into the groove while the periphery of the sheet is fixed to the clamp to stretch the inner region of the sheet to a predetermined tensional force. The tensioned focusing grid is then affixed to a frame by first applying a force to a resilient wall of the frame to deflect the wall inwardly, placing a peripheral portion of the sheet onto the deflected wall, affixing the placed sheet onto the deflected wall, and after such affixation, removing the applied force.

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West Wareham, MA, United States of America

Thomas A Roach