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:
Mar. 23, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 23, 1996
Orlando H Auciello, Cary, NC (US);
Alan R Krauss, Naperville, IL (US);
Gary E McGuire, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
Dieter M Gruen, Downer Grove, IL (US);
The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
A method and system for manufacturing a field emission cathode having enhanced electron emission properties. The field emission cathode is prepared by providing a field emission substrate, an alkali metal alloy is formed at and below the exposed surface of the substrate, and a surface layer of alkali metal atoms are formed on the exposed surface by Gibbsian diffusion segregation action. If the monolayer, or surface layer, is desorbed, the diffusion action reestablishes the alkali metal surface layer thereby providing a stable alkali metal layer and enhanced electron emission characteristics.