Patent ID: 6750470
Filing Date: 2004-06-15
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
A field emitter device disposed over a semiconductor substrate comprising:at least one field emitter tip disposed over the substrate; a conducting gate electrode layer disposed over the substrate; a protective electronic component disposed over and integral to the substrate and electrically connecting the conducting gate electrode layer to the substrate such that if the conducting gate electrode layer experiences a voltage greater than a breakdown voltage of the field emitter device, the protective electronic component conducts current between the conducting gate electrode layer and the substrate; and an intervening layer between the conducting gate electrode layer and the substrate, wherein the protective electronic component is disposed within a first section of the intervening layer, wherein the intervening layer further comprises an insulating material in a second section laterally adjacent the first section and to the at least one field emitter tip, wherein the first section comprises a third section and a fourth section laterally adjacent the third section, the third section comprising a third section top portion comprising p-type semiconductor material and a third section bottom portion comprising n-type semiconductor material, the fourth section comprising a fourth section top portion comprising n-type semiconductor material and a fourth section bottom portion comprising p-type semiconductor material.