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:
Apr. 07, 2009
Filed:
Apr. 28, 2004
Hiroyuki Hirakawa, Nara, JP;
Tadashi Iwamatsu, Nara, JP;
Nobuyoshi Koshida, Tokyo, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Nobuyoshi Koshida, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
Provided are an electron emitter continuously emitting electrons stably even in the atmosphere, a charger using the electron emitter, and a charging method using the charger. The electron emitter includes a electron emitting element consisting of a first electrode, a second electrode, and a semiconductor layer formed therebetween, and a power supply for alternately applying a positive voltage enabling electron emission and a negative voltage having a polarity opposite to the positive voltage. At least a part of the surface on the first electrode side of the semiconductor layer is formed of a porous semiconductor layer. Electrons captured in the porous semiconductor layer in the course of electron emission with application of a positive voltage disturb electron emission from the electron emitting element. Such electrons, however, are removed by application of a negative voltage.