Patent ID: RE40490

Claim:
A cathodoluminescent element comprising: at least one emitter; a first transistor having a first terminal coupled said at least one emitter, a second terminal coupled to a ground potential, and a gate terminal, said first transistor being responsive to a first voltage applied to said gate terminal to selectively establish a first conductive path for a first current between said at least one emitter and said ground potential; a programmable element having a first terminal coupled to a first select line to receive a first select signal, a second terminal coupled to said gate terminal of said transistor, and a gate terminal coupled to a second select line, said programmable element being responsive to assertion of a second select signal on said second select line to selectively establish a second conductive path for a second current between said first select line and said gate terminal of said transistor, thereby applying said first voltage to said gate terminal of said transistor; wherein said programmable element comprises a charge storage element for storing a level of electrical charge; and wherein the conductivity of said second conductive path varies in relation to said level of electrical charge such that the magnitude of said first voltage relative to the magnitude of said second select signal varies in relation to said level of electrical charge.