ELECTRON-EMITTING DEVICE, ELECTRON SOURCE, IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS AND TELEVISION APPARATUS

Abstract

An electron-emitting device comprises: (A) a first electrode; (B) an electron-emitting film which is provided on the first electrode; and (C) a second electrode which is provided above the electron-emitting film across a distance H from the electron-emitting film, and includes an opening which exposes at least a part of the electron-emitting film, wherein an area of the second electrode is at least four times larger than an area of the opening, and a ratio H/W of the distance H to a width W of the opening is not less than 0.07 but not more than 0.6.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a cross sectional view exemplarily showing a structure of an electron-emitting device according to a first embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a plan view exemplarily showing the structure of the electron-emitting device.

FIG. 2A is a cross sectional view exemplarily showing a structure of an electron-emitting device according to a second embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a plan view exemplarily showing the structure of the electron-emitting device.

FIG. 3A is an exemplary diagram of an electron-emitting device that is connected to an electrical circuit, and FIG. 3B is a diagram showing the relationship between the gate voltage Vg and the anode current I1.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the anode current I1 and the gate voltage Vg, when the anode voltage Va is changed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between a ratio H/W and a swing voltage.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between a ratio Sg/Sc and the swing voltage Vswing.

FIG. 7A to FIG. 7E are diagrams for explaining an example of a method of manufacturing the electron-emitting device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of layout in which the gate electrode has an area that is at least four times larger than that of the opening.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of layout in which the gate electrode has an area that is at least four times larger than that of the opening.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of layout in which the gate electrode has an area that is at least four times larger than that of the opening.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an electron source including a plurality of electron-emitting devices arranged therein.

FIG. 12 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a display panel of an image display apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a television apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of an image display apparatus.

FIG. 15 is an exemplary diagram of a Spindt-type electron-emitting device as an example of an FE-type electron-emitting device.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an electron-emitting device which emits an electron by providing an appropriate positive potential to an electrode 212 facing an emitter electrode 211.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a carbon nano-tube 315 formed in a small hole.

Claims

1. An electron-emitting device comprising: (A) a first electrode;(B) an electron-emitting film which is provided on said first electrode; and(C) a second electrode which is provided above said electron-emitting film at a distance H from said electron-emitting film, and includes an opening which exposes at least a part of said electron-emitting film, whereinan area of said second electrode is at least four times larger than an area of said opening, anda ratio H/W of said distance H to a width W of said opening is not less than 0.07 but not more than 0.6.

2. An electron-emitting device comprising: (A) a first electrode;(B) a plurality of electron emitters which are provided on said first electrode; and(C) a second electrode which is provided above said first electrode at a distance H from said first electrode, and includes an opening which exposes at least a part of said first electrode and at least a part of said plurality of electron emitters, whereinan area of said second electrode is at least four times larger than an area of said opening, anda ratio H/W of said distance H to a width W of said opening is not less than 0.07 but not more than 0.6.

3. The electron-emitting device according to claim 1, further comprising an insulating layer between said first electrode and said second electrode.

4. The electron-emitting device according to claim 2, further comprising an insulating layer between said first electrode and said second electrode.

5. The electron-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the ratio H/W of the distance H to the width W of the opening is not less than 0.2 but not more than 0.36.

6. The electron-emitting device according to claim 2, wherein the ratio H/W of the distance H to the width W of the opening is not less than 0.2 but not more than 0.36.

7. The electron-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein said opening has a circular form, anda relationship between the width W representing a diameter of the opening and a width W″ of said second electrode around the opening is W″>(51/2−1)/2×W.

8. The electron-emitting device according to claim 2, wherein said opening has a circular form, anda relationship between the width W representing a diameter of the opening and a width W″ of said second electrode around the opening is W″>(51/2−1)/2×W.

9. The electron-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein said opening has a oval form, anda relationship between a major diameter “a” of the opening, a minor diameter W thereof and a width W″ of said second electrode around the opening is W″>0.25×{−(a+W)+(a2+W2+18aW)1/2}.

10. The electron-emitting device according to claim 2, wherein said opening has a oval form, anda relationship between a major diameter “a” of the opening, a minor diameter W thereof and a width W″ of said second electrode around the opening is W″>0.25×{−(a+W)+(a2+W2+18aW)1/2}.

11. The electron-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein said opening has a rectangular form, anda relationship between a length N in a longitudinal direction of the opening, a width W in a short-side direction thereof and a width W″ of said second electrode around the opening is W″>0.25×{((N+W)2+16W×N)1/2−(W+N)}.

12. The electron-emitting device according to claim 2, wherein said opening has a rectangular form, anda relationship between a length N in a longitudinal direction of the opening, a width W in a short-side direction thereof and a width W″ of said second electrode around the opening is W″>0.25×{((N+W)2+16W×N)1/2−(W+N)}.

13. The electron-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein said opening has a square form,a relationship between a width W of one side of the opening and a width W″ of said second electrode around the opening is W″>0.25×{(20W2)1/2−2W}.

14. The electron-emitting device according to claim 2, wherein said opening has a square form,a relationship between a width W of one side of the opening and a width W″ of said second electrode around the opening is W″>0.25×{(20W2)1/2−2W}.

15. The electron-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein said electron-emitting film includes carbon or a carbon compound.

16. The electron-emitting device according to claim 2, wherein each of said electron emitters includes carbon or a carbon compound.

17. The electron-emitting device according to claim 15, wherein the carbon or the carbon compound includes at least any one of diamond-like carbon, graphite, diamond, a carbon nano-tube, a graphite nano-fiber and fullerene.

18. The electron-emitting device according to claim 16, wherein the carbon or the carbon compound includes at least any one of diamond-like carbon, graphite, diamond, a carbon nano-tube, a graphite nano-fiber and fullerene.

19. An electron source comprising: a plurality of electron-emitting devices; anda wiring for commonly connecting said plurality of electron-emitting devices, whereineach of said electron-emitting devices is the electron-emitting device according to claim 1.

20. An electron source comprising: a plurality of electron-emitting devices; anda wiring for commonly connecting said plurality of electron-emitting devices, whereineach of said electron-emitting devices is the electron-emitting device according to claim 2.

21. An image display apparatus comprising: the electron source according to claim 19;a third electrode which faces said electron source; anda luminescent member which is arranged on a side of said third electrode.

22. An image display apparatus comprising: the electron source according to claim 20;a third electrode which faces said electron source; anda luminescent member which is arranged on a side of said third electrode.

23. A television apparatus comprising: the image display apparatus according to claim 21; anda receiving unit which receives a television signal and outputs image data to said image display apparatus.

24. A television apparatus comprising: the image display apparatus according to claim 22; anda receiving unit which receives a television signal and outputs image data to said image display apparatus.