Patent ID: 7524227

Claim:
A method of producing an electron emission device comprising a first conductive film having an electron emission part and a second conductive film spaced apart from the first conductive film, the electron emission device capable of being driven by applying a higher electric potential to the second conductive film than an electric potential of the first conductive film, the method comprising: (A) a first step of preparing a first conductive film, second conductive film, and a material which constitutes an electron emission part and is connected at least to the first conductive film, and (B) a second step of setting a threshold electric field strength, which is needed to start electron emission in a situation where a higher electric potential is applied to the first conductive film than that applied to the second conductive film, to a value greater than a threshold electric field strength, which is needed to start electron emission in a situation where a higher electric potential is applied to the second conductive film than that applied to the first conductive film, by performing electron emission by applying a voltage between the first conductive film and the second conductive film in a forward direction such that an electric potential of the second conductive film is higher than an electric potential of the first conductive film, and by performing electron emission by applying a voltage between the first conductive film and the second conductive film in a reverse direction such that an electric potential of the first conductive film is higher than an electric potential of the second conductive film, after the first step, wherein a maximum value of an absolute value of the voltage in the reverse direction is greater than a maximum value of an absolute value of the voltage in the forward direction and is greater than an absolute value of a voltage applied between the first conductive film and the second conductive film when the electron emission device is driven.