Patent ID: 6084245
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
A field emitter cell comprising:an electrically conductive substrate layer;an insulating layer directly upon said electrically conductive substrate layer; said insulating layer having a perforation therethrough, said perforation having at least one essentially vertical sidewall and a bottom surface defined by said electrically conductive substrate layer;an electrically conductive gate layer directly upon said insulating layer, said electrically conductive gate layer having a second perforation therein, said second perforation being coincident with said underlying first perforation;an electrically conductive thin film edge emitter, electrically insulated from said gate layer and in electrical contact with said substrate layer, said emitter extending upward from within said first perforation and essentially parallel to said essentially vertical side walls, said emitter having an upper electron-emitting edge in close proximity to said gate layer, said electrically conductive thin film edge emitter forming a shell having said upper electron-emitting edge as an open upper end of said shell; anda standoff (or spacer) layer between and in physical contact with said emitter and said essentially vertical sidewall.