Motorola Corporation

Thomas L Credelle

Babu R Chalamala

Charles A Rowell

Arthur J Ingle

A method for in situ cleaning of electron emitters (126, 226, 326, 526) in a field emission device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) includes the steps of controllably providing hydrogen gas (142, 242, 342, 542) within the field emission device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) at a time during the operational life of the field emission device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) and, thereafter, emitting electrons from the electron emitters (126, 226, 326, 526), thereby forming hydrogen free radicals, which decontaminate and condition the emissive surfaces of the electron emitters (126, 226, 326, 526).

Method for in situ cleaning of electron emitters in a field emission

A field emission device (100, 200) includes a cathode plate (110, 210), an anode plate (112, 212) spaced from the cathode plate (110, 210) to define an interspace region (114, 214) therebetween, a hole (144, 244) defined by the device package and in communication with the interspace region (114, 214), and a hydrogen-selective membrane (140, 240) disposed in registration with the hole (144, 244).

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Phoenix, AZ, United States of America

Thomas L Credelle