Patent ID: 6864624
Filing Date: 2005-03-08
Classification: B82Y,G11B,H01J

Abstract:
1. A storage apparatus comprising: a storage medium having at least one storage area, the storage area being in one of a plurality of states to represent the information stored in that storage area; at least one electron emission device to generate an electron beam current utilized to read and write the information stored in the storage areas, the electron emission device comprising: an emitter electrode; an extractor electrode; and a solid-state field controlled emitter comprising a Schottky metal layer formed on the emitter electrode and a semiconductor layer formed on the Schottky metal layer, the Schottky metal layer and the semiconductor layer forming a Schottky metal-semiconductor junction fabricated on the emitter electrode for enhancing electron emission of the emitter electrode and electrically coupled to the extractor electrode such that an electric potential placed between the emitter electrode and the extractor electrode results in field emission of electrons from an exposed surface of the semiconductor layer of the Schottky metal-semiconductor junction.