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. 12, 2002
Filed:
Aug. 16, 2000
David A. Cathey, Boise, ID (US);
Glen E. Hush, Boise, ID (US);
Manny K. F. Ma, Boise, ID (US);
Craig M. Dunham, Boise, ID (US);
David A. Zimlich, Boise, ID (US);
Micron Technology, Inc., Boise, ID (US);
Abstract
A field emission display includes electrostatic discharge protection circuits coupled to an emitter substrate and an extraction grid. In the preferred embodiment, the electrostatic discharge circuit includes diodes reverse biased between grid sections and a first reference potential or between row lines and a second reference potential. The diodes provide a current path to discharge static voltage and thereby prevent a high voltage differential from being maintained between the emitter sets and the extraction grids. The diodes thereby prevent the emitter sets from emitting electrons at a high rate that may damage or destroy the emitter sets. In one embodiment, the diodes are coupled directly between the grid sections and the row lines. In one embodiment, the diodes are formed in an insulative layer carrying the grid sections. In another embodiment, the diodes are integrated into the emitter substrate.