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:
Sep. 18, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 03, 1999
David A. Zimlich, Boise, ID (US);
Thomas W. Voshell, Boise, ID (US);
David A. Cathey, Jr., Boise, ID (US);
Micron Technology, Inc., Boise, ID (US);
Abstract
A method and a control circuit for controlling a field emission display to reduce emission to grid during turn on and turn off are provided. In an illustrative embodiment, the control circuit includes a threshold detector that receives an input signal proportional to an anode voltage (V,) for the display and produces a high or low output signal dependent on the level of V,. An output low corresponding to a high voltage at the display screen enables a gate element of a pass transistor that controls current flow to the grid. Alternately, an output high corresponding to a low voltage at the display screen enables a pull down transistor that controls discharge of the grid to ground. The control circuit can also include a fault detection circuit for detecting a sharp decrease in the anode voltage and discharging the grid. In an alternate embodiment, the control circuit shorts the emitter sites together during turn on and turn off and provides a high source impedance to restrict current flow to any one emitter site. The high source impedance can be permanent or switchable by a relay or switching circuit.