Patent ID: 7459839
Filing Date: 2008-12-02
Classification: B82Y,H01J

Abstract:
1. An emission electron source comprising: a cathode electrode disposed on a substrate, the cathode electrode for providing a source of electrons; an emitter layer disposed over said cathode electrode and formed from a composition of an embedding material and one or a plurality of nano-structures embedded therein, the embedding material having a surface above which portions of the nano-structures protrude to emit electrons; an insulator disposed over the emitter layer, the insulator having one or a plurality of apertures, each exposing at least the ends of the nano-structures in the emitter layer; and a gate electrode disposed over the insulator and having one or a plurality of apertures, wherein each aperture exposes a single nano-structure and is concentrically self-aligned with the end of the nano-structure, the gate electrode being operative to control the emission of electrons through the apertures from the exposed nano-structures; wherein the insulator and the embedding material are composed of the same dielectric material.