Electron emission display spacer and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

An electron emission display is provided to prevent electron beams around the spacers from being distorted and to prevent arc discharging due to the spacers. The electron emission display includes first and second substrates facing each other to form a vacuum vessel, an electron emission unit provided on the first substrate, a light emission unit provided on the second substrate, and a plurality of spacers disposed between the first and the second substrates. Each spacer has a spacer body with a surface roughness, a resistance layer placed on a lateral side of the spacer body, and a flattening layer covering the resistance layer. The flattening layer has a thickness larger than the thickness of the resistance layer and a surface roughness smaller than the surface roughness of the spacer body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C schematically illustrate the steps of manufacturing spacers according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of an electron emission display according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial exploded perspective view of an FEA type electron emission display according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of an FEA type electron emission display according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of an SCE type electron emission display according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A spacer locatable between a first substrate and a second substrate, the first substrate and the second substrate together with a sealing member forming a vacuum vessel subject to pressure applied to the vacuum vessel, the spacer comprising: a spacer body with a surface roughness;a resistance layer placed on at least one lateral side of the spacer body; anda flattening layer covering the resistance layer, the flattening layer having a thickness larger than a thickness of the resistance layer and having a surface roughness smaller than a surface roughness of the spacer body.

2. The spacer of claim 1, wherein the resistance layer has a specific resistance of 105-108 Ωcm, and has a thickness of 0.5-1 μm.

3. The spacer of claim 1, wherein the flattening layer has a thickness of 1-1.5 μm, and has a surface roughness of 0.01-0.1 μm.

4. The spacer of claim 1, wherein the flattening layer is formed from an insulating material or a resistant material having a specific resistance greater than a specific resistance of the resistance layer.

5. A method of manufacturing a spacer, the method comprising: forming a spacer body having a surface with a surface roughness by patterning a spacer body material;forming a resistance layer covering at least one lateral side of the spacer body by coating a resistant material onto the lateral side of the spacer body; andforming a flattening layer over the resistance layer, the flattening layer having a thickness larger than a thickness of the resistance layer and having a surface roughness smaller than a surface roughness of the spacer body.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the resistance layer has a specific resistance of 105-108 Ωcm, and has a thickness of 0.5-1 μm.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the flattening layer has a thickness of 1-1.5 μm, and has a surface roughness of 0.01-0.1 μm.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the flattening layer is formed either by spraying or by dipping, and forming the flattening layer further comprises surface-treating the flattening layer.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the flattening layer is formed from an insulating material or a material having a specific resistance greater than a specific resistance of the resistance layer.

10. An electron emission display comprising: a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other and together with a sealing member forming a vacuum vessel;an electron emission unit provided on the first substrate;a light emission unit provided on the second substrate; anda plurality of spacers disposed between the first and the second substrates;wherein each spacer includes a spacer body having a surface roughness, a resistance layer placed on a lateral side of the spacer body, and a flattening layer covering the resistance layer, the flattening layer having a thickness larger than a thickness of the resistance layer and having a surface roughness smaller than a surface roughness of the spacer body.

11. The electron emission display of claim 10, wherein the resistance layer has a specific resistance of 105-108 Ωcm, and has a thickness of 0.5-1 μm.

12. The electron emission display of claim 10, wherein the flattening layer has a thickness of 1-1.5 μm, and a surface roughness of 0.01-0.1 μm.

13. The electron emission display of claim 10, wherein the flattening layer is formed from an insulating material or a resistant material having a specific resistance greater than a specific resistance of the resistance layer.

14. The electron emission display of claim 10, wherein the electron emission unit includes cathode electrodes and gate electrodes insulated from each other, and electron emission regions electrically connected to the cathode electrodes.

15. The electron emission display of claim 14, wherein the electron emission unit further comprises a focusing electrode placed over the cathode electrodes and the gate electrodes such that the focusing electrode is insulated from the cathode electrodes and the gate electrodes.

16. The electron emission display of claim 10, wherein the electron emission unit comprises: a first conductive thin film and a second conductive thin film spaced from each other;first electrodes electrically connected to the first conductive thin film;second electrodes electrically connected to the second conductive thin film, andelectron emission regions disposed between the first conductive thin film and the second conductive thin film.

17. The electron emission display of claim 10, wherein the light emission unit comprises: phosphor layers,a black layer disposed between the phosphor layers; andan anode electrode placed on a surface of the phosphor and the black layers.

18. The electron emission display of claim 10, wherein: the first substrate and the second substrate include: an active area having the electron emission unit and the light emission unit, respectively;a non-active area placed external to the active area, and the spacers include:first spacers placed at the active area; andsecond spacers placed at the non-active area.