Patent ID: 7513814

Claim:
A method of manufacturing an electron-emitting device comprising a voltage applying step of applying a voltage between a first electroconductive film and a second electroconductive film opposed to each other forming a gap therebetween in an atmosphere including a gas containing carbon, wherein the voltage applying step includes: (A-1) a first measuring step of applying a first set voltage and a second set voltage different from the first set voltage between the first electroconductive film and the second electroconductive film, and measuring a first measuring current and a second measuring current flowing between the first electroconductive film and the second electroconductive film in response to the first set voltage and the second set voltage; (B-1) a first calculating step of calculating a first effective voltage and a second effective voltage, which are effectively applied to the gap according to the applying of the first and second set voltages, based on the first and second measuring currents and the first and second set voltages, and, based on the calculating result, calculating a value β effect satisfying a following equation (1); wherein, when there is a difference between the effective field enhancement factor value β effect calculated and a predetermined set field enhancement factor value β set , the first and second set voltages to be applied between the first electroconductive film and the second electroconductive film are set newly so as to reduce the difference, (A-2) a second measuring step of applying the newly set first set voltage and the newly set second set voltage between the first electroconductive film and the second electroconductive film, and measuring a new first measuring current and a new second measuring current flowing between the first electroconductive film and the second electroconductive film in response to the newly set first set voltage and the newly set second set voltage; and (B-2) a second calculating step of calculating a new first effective voltage and a new second effective voltage, which are effectively applied to the gap according to the applying of the newly set first and second set voltages, based on the new first and second measuring currents and the newly set first and second set voltages, and, based on the new calculating result, calculating a new value β effect satisfying a following equation (1), wherein β effect ={(1/first effective voltage)−(1/second effective voltage)}/{ln(second measuring current/second effective voltage 2 )−ln(first measuring current/first effective voltage 2 )} (1).