The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 16, 1997
Filed:
Jul. 22, 1996
Richard F Greene, Charlotte, NC (US);
Stephen M Bobbio, Wake Forest, NC (US);
Farid M Tranjan, Charlotte, NC (US);
Kasra Daneshvar, Charlotte, NC (US);
Thomas D DuBois, Charlotte, NC (US);
University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC (US);
Abstract
A field emitter flat panel display and associated method of operation provides an electron emission path along which a beam of electrons emitted by a microelectronic field emitter travels such that the electrons impinge upon a light emitting element without passing through a mirror. The light emitting element is spaced apart from the microelectronic field emitter and includes a mirror and a luminescence layer on the mirror. The flat panel display can also include a deflector, such as a deflector electrode, which is spaced apart from both the microelectronic field emitter and the associated light emitting element and which controllably deflects the beam of electrons emitted by the microelectronic field emitter toward the luminescent layer of the associated light emitting element and along a curved electron emission path which is independent of the underlying mirror. Since the energy of the electrons is not dissipated by passing through a mirror prior to impinging upon the luminescent layer, the field emitter flat panel display and, more particularly, the microelectronic field emitter can be efficiently driven at relatively low voltage levels while still producing a relatively bright display.