Patent ID: 7379037

Claim:
A display apparatus having a plurality of electron emitters arrayed in association with a plurality of pixels, for emitting electrons from the electron emitters to display an image, each electron emitter including a first electrode and a second electrode in direct contact with said electron emitter; and a drive circuit for scanning all the electron emitters to apply necessary voltages to the electron emitters, wherein: necessary charges are accumulated in all the electron emitters in a first period; a voltage required to emit electrons is applied to all the electron emitters to cause a plurality of electron emitters which correspond to pixels to emit light therefrom, for emitting light from said pixels, in a second period after said first period; light is emitted from said pixels only during said second period; and wherein one image is displayed in a period as one frame, said one frame including said first period and said second period; wherein said drive circuit scans all said electron emitters and applies accumulation voltages depending on the luminance levels of corresponding pixels to the electron emitters which correspond to pixels to emit light therefrom in said first period, and applies a constant emission voltage to all the electron emitters in the second period after said first period; wherein charges in amounts depending on the luminance levels of corresponding pixels are accumulated in the electron emitters which correspond to pixels to emit light therefrom in said first period; and wherein electrons are emitted in amounts depending on the luminance levels of corresponding pixels from the electron emitters which correspond to pixels to emit light therefrom in said second period, thereby emitting light from the pixels.