Electric lamp and discharge devices – Discharge devices having a multipointed or serrated edge...
Patent
1999-04-13
2000-05-30
Day, Michael H.
Electric lamp and discharge devices
Discharge devices having a multipointed or serrated edge...
313336, 445 24, H01J 1924
Patent
active
060694351
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method for connecting, both electrically and mechanically, a field emission fiber to a substrate and particularly to the use of such a connection in a field emitter cathode used in display panels.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Display panels are used in a wide variety of applications such as home and commercial televisions, laptop and desktop computers and indoor and outdoor advertising and information presentations. Flat panel displays are only a few inches thick in contrast to the deep cathode ray tube monitors found on most televisions and desktop computers. Flat panel displays are a necessity for laptop computers, but also provide advantages in weight and size for many of the other applications. Currently laptop computer flat panel displays use liquid crystals which can be switched from a transparent state to an opaque one by the application of small electrical signals. It is difficult to reliably produce these displays in sizes larger than that suitable for laptop computers. Plasma displays have been proposed as an alternative to liquid crystal displays. A plasma display uses tiny pixel cells of electrically charged gases to produce an image and requires relatively large electrical voltages and power to operate.
Flat panel displays having a cathode using a field emission electron source, i.e., a field emission material or field emitter, and a phosphor capable of light emission upon bombardment by electrons, have been proposed. Such displays have the potential for providing the visual display advantages of the conventional cathode ray tube and the depth, weight and power consumption advantages of the other flat panel displays. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,857,799 and 5,015,912 disclose matrix-addressed flat panel displays using micro-tip cathodes constructed of tungsten, molybdenum or silicon. WO 94/15352, WO 94/15350 and WO 94/28571 disclose flat panel displays wherein the cathodes have relatively flat emission surfaces.
It has been discovered, see for example WO 95/22169, that a cathode comprised of fibrous electron field emitters, wherein the fibers lie essentially in the plane of the cathode and emission is achieved at desired regions along the length of the fiber, have advantages over previously disclosed cathodes. The fibrous cathode is supported by a substrate and further improved performance is achieved when the portions of the fibrous cathode addressed, and from which electron emission occurs, are suspended and not in direct physical contact with the substrate.
The instant invention provides a method for connecting, both electrically and mechanically, a field emission fiber to a substrate. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the detailed description and drawings which follow hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a method for connecting, both mechanically and electrically, a field emission fiber to a substrate. This method comprises: field emission fiber over the area where connection is to be made; of the metal ribbon essentially perpendicular to the axis of the field emission fiber and such that the metal ribbon extends over the field emission fiber with each end portion of the metal ribbon in direct contact with the substrate; and fiber by ultrasonic, thermocompression or compression bonding.
Preferably the metal ribbon is gold, aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The length of the metal ribbon is not critical. However, it must be sufficiently long to contour over the field emission fiber and have adequate portions on both sides of the field emission fiber to allow connection to the substrate. Typically, the width of the metal ribbon is from about 2 mil (0.05 mm) to about 40 mil (1 mm) and the thickness is from about 0.25 mil (0.006 mm) to about 2 mil (0.05 mm).
This invention also provides an improved fibrous cathode and an improved flat panel display containing a fibrous cathode wherein in each instance the improvement comprises a field emission fiber
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Amey, Jr. Daniel Irwin
Milgazo Henry Florentino
Day Michael H.
E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
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