Patent ID: 6445367
Filing Date: 2002-09-03
Classification: G09G,H01J

Abstract:
An electron-beam generating device comprising:a plurality of cold cathode elements arrayed in the form of rows and columns on a substrate; m-number of row wires and n-number of column wires for wiring said plurality of cold cathode elements into a matrix; and drive signal generating means for generating signals which drive said plurality of cold cathode elements one row at a time, wherein said drive signal, generation means includes: current-value determining means for determining a current value, which will be passed through each of the n-number of column wires, on the basis of an externally entered electron-beam demand value, current applying means for passing the current, which has been determined by said current-value determining means, through each column wire; and voltage applying means for applying a first voltage from a voltage source to a selected row wire of said m-number of row wires and applying a second voltage from a voltage source to unselected row wires of said m-number of row wires, while the first voltage is being applied to the selected row wire, where the first voltage is different from the second voltage, wherein the second voltage applied to the unselected row wires causes a leakage current of the current supplied to each column wire to become constant.