Patent ID: 6149480
Filing Date: 2000-11-21
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
A method of fabricating an image forming device having an electron source substrate, a plurality of electron-emitting elements disposed on the electron source substrate, and a luminescent display plate separated from the electron source substrate by a vacuum portion, the method comprising the steps of:selectively exhausting or maintaining a vacuum state of the vacuum portion, using a getter;applying signals to selected ones of the electron-emitting elements; andcontrollably varying at least one characteristic of the signals applied to the selected electron-emitting elements, while selectively exhausting or maintaining the vacuum state of the vacuum portion, so as to cause an aging condition in the image forming device,wherein the step of controllably varying the at least one characteristic of the signals is performed by gradually increasing a pulse width of each signal up to a predetermined maximum drive pulse width, over a predetermined time period, while maintained a frequency of the signal substantially constant.