Patent Grant
7129642
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of emitting electrons from an electron emitter having a first electrode and a second electrode formed on an emitter section.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, electron emitters having a cathode electrode and an anode electrode have been used in various applications such as field emission displays (FEDs) and backlight units. In an FED, a plurality of electron emitters are arranged in a two-dimensional array, and a plurality of fluorescent elements are positioned at predetermined intervals in association with the respective electron emitters.
Conventional electron emitters are disclosed in Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 1-311533, Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 7-147131, Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2000-285801, Japanese patent publication No. 46-20944, and Japanese patent publication No. 44-26125, for example. All of these disclosed electron emitters are disadvantageous in that since no dielectric body is employed in the emitter section, a forming process or a micromachining process is required between facing electrodes, a high voltage needs to be applied between the electrodes to emit electrons, and a panel fabrication process is complex and entails a high panel fabrication cost.
It has been considered to make an emitter section of a dielectric material. Various theories about the emission of electrons from a dielectric material have been presented in the documents: Yasuoka and Ishii, “Pulsed electron source using a ferroelectric cathode”, J. Appl. Phys., Vol. 68, No. 5, p. 546–550 (1999), V. F. Puchkarev, G. A. Mesyats, “On the mechanism of emission from the ferroelectric ceramic cathode”, J. Appl. Phys., Vol. 78, No. 9, 1 November, 1995, p. 5633–5637, and H. Riege, “Electron emission ferroelectrics—a review”, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A340, p. 80–89 (1994).
In the conventional electron emitters, electrons trapped on the surface of the dielectric material, at the interface between the dielectric material and the upper electrode, and in the dielectric material by the defect level are released (emitted) when polarization reversal occurs in the dielectric material. The number of the electrons emitted by the polarization reversal does not change substantially depending on the voltage level of the applied voltage pulse.
However, the electron emission is not performed stably, and the number of emitted electrons is merely tens of thousands. Therefore, conventional electron emitters are not suitable for practical use. Advantages of an electron emitter having an emitter section made of a dielectric material have not been achieved.
In particular, the difference of electron emission characteristics depending on the emitter section formed of different materials, such as piezoelectric materials, anti-ferroelectric materials, and electrostrictive materials has not yet been researched.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of emitting electrons from an electron emitter having an emitter section made of a piezoelectric material in which the electron emitter emits electrons efficiently, and can be utilized easily in displays or light sources.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of emitting electrons from an electron emitter having an emitter section made of an anti-ferroelectric material in which the electron emitter emits electrons efficiently, and can be utilized easily in displays or light sources.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of emitting electrons from an electron emitter having an emitter section made of an electrostrictive material in which the electron emitter emits electrons efficiently, and can be utilized easily in displays or light sources.
The present invention provides a method of emitting electrons from an electron emitter including an emitter section made of a piezoelectric material, a first electrode in contact with the emitter section, and a second electrode in contact with the emitter section, the method comprising the steps of:
polarizing the emitter section in one direction; and
applying an electric field beyond a coercive field rapidly to the emitter section through the first and second electrodes to reverse polarization of the emitter section for emitting electrons. In the method, the electric field beyond the coercive field may be applied to the emitter section within a certain period for emitting electrons.
Thus, an electric field is applied between the first electrode and the second electrod, causing the first electrode to have a potential lower than a potential of the second electrode, thereby reversing the polarization of at least a portion of the emitter section. The polarization reversal causes emission of electrons in the vicinity of the first electrode. The polarization reversal generates a locally concentrated electric field on the first electrode and the positive poles of dipole moments in the vicinity the first electrode, emitting primary electrons from the first electrode. The primary electrons emitted from the first electrode impinge upon the emitter section, causing the emitter section to emit secondary electrons.
When the first electrode, the emitter section, and a vacuum atmosphere define a triple point, primary electrons are emitted from a portion of the first electrode in the vicinity of the triple point. The emitted primary electrons impinge upon the emitter section to induce emission of secondary electrons from the emitter section. The secondary electrons herein include electrons emitted from the solid emitter section under an energy that has been generated by a coulomb collision with primary electrons, Auger electrons, and primary electrons which are scattered in the vicinity of the surface of the emitter section (reflected electrons). If the first electrode is very thin, having a thickness of 10 nm or less, electrons are emitted from the interface between the first electrode and the emitter section.
Since the electrons are emitted according to the principle as described above, the electron emission is stably performed, and the number of emitted electrons would reach 2 billion or more. Thus, the electron emitter is advantageously used in practical applications. The number of emitted electrons is increased substantially proportional to the voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode. Thus, the number of the emitted electrons can be controlled easily. The embodiments of the present invention as described later can be advantageously operated in the similar manner.
According to the present invention, the electric field beyond the level of the coercive field is applied to the emitter section which is polarized in one direction within a certain period. Therefore, the electrons are emitted efficiently, and the electron emitter can be utilized easily in displays or light sources.
The electric field for inducing electron emission is beyond the level of the coercive field. The level of the electric field inducing the emission of electrons does not change substantially from polarization reversal until the polarization change is almost completed. Therefore, the electron emitter has digital-like electron emission characteristics. The level of the electric field for electron emission depends on the coercive field. When the level of the coercive field is small, the electron emitter can be operated at a low voltage.
According to the present invention, the polarization of the emitter section in one direction may be performed by applying a first voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode for causing the first electrode to have a potential higher than a potential of the second electrode in a first period, and
the polarization reversal of the emitter section for emitting electrons may be performed by applying a second voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode for causing the first electrode to have a potential lower than a potential of the second electrode in a second period.
The level of the second voltage may be controlled so that the electric field beyond the coercive field is applied to the emitter section for emitting electrons within a certain period from the beginning of the second period. In this case, the level of the second voltage may be controlled in the following manner. If the second voltage has a pulse waveform having a falling edge (ramp), for example, the maximum amplitude or a transition time (a period from the beginning of the second period until the voltage reaches the maximum amplitude) of the second voltage is controlled, and if the second voltage has a rectangular pulse waveform, only the maximum amplitude is controlled. The certain period should be as small as possible for efficiently emitting electrons. Preferably, the certain period is 1 msec or less, and more preferably, the certain period is 10 μsec or less.
Further, the present invention provides a method of emitting electrons from an electron emitter including an emitter section made of an anti-ferroelectric material, a first electrode in contact with the emitter section, and a second electrode in contact with the emitter section, the method comprising the step of applying an electric field to the emitter section through the first electrode and the second electrode to induce phase transition of the emitter section into a ferroelectric material, and change polarization of the emitter section for emitting electrons.
In this method, the electric field applied to the emitter section may have a level for inducing phase transition of the emitter section into a ferroelectric material within a certain period, and changing polarization of the emitter section for emitting electrons.
An electric field is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode such that the first electrode has a potential lower than a potential of the second electrode, changing the polarization of at least a portion of the emitter section. The polarization change causes emission of electrons in the vicinity of the first electrode. The polarization change generates a locally concentrated electric field on the first electrode and the positive poles of dipole moments in the vicinity the first electrode, emitting primary electrons from the first electrode. The primary electrons emitted from the first electrode impinge upon the emitter section, causing the emitter section to emit secondary electrons. If the first electrode is very thin having a thickness of 10 nm or less, electrons are emitted from the interface between the first electrode and the emitter section.
The electric field is applied to the emitter section rapidly for inducing phase transition of the emitter section into a ferroelectric material and polarization of the emitter section. Therefore, the electrons are emitted efficiently, and the electron emitter can be utilized easily in displays or light sources.
The level of the electric field inducing the emission, of electrons does not change substantially from polarization reversal until the polarization change is almost completed. Therefore, the electron emitter has digital-like electron emission characteristics. The electric field for electron emission depends on the electric field for inducing phase transition of the emitter section into the ferroelectric material. When the level of the electric field for inducing phase transition is small, the electron emitter is operated at a low voltage.
According to the present invention, the polarization of the emitter section in one direction may be performed by applying a first voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode for causing the first electrode to have a potential higher than a potential of the second electrode in a first period, and
phase transition of the emitter section into a ferroelectric material is induced, and polarization of the emitter section is changed for emitting electrons by applying a second voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode for causing the first electrode to have a potential lower than a potential of the second electrode in a second period.
In the electron emission method using the emitter section made of an anti-ferroelectric material, when the first voltage applied in the first period is 0V, the polarization of the emitter section is reset. Electron emission in the second period can be carried out by the single polarity operation. Thus, the driving circuit system is, simplified. The electron emitter can be operated by small energy consumption at a low cost with a compact structure.
A level of the second voltage may be controlled so that phase transition of the emitter section into a ferroelectric material is induced within a certain period from the beginning of the second period, and polarization of the emitter section is changed.
The level of the second voltage may be controlled in the following manner. If the second voltage has a pulse waveform having a falling edge (ramp), for example, the maximum amplitude or a transition time of the second voltage is controlled, and if the second voltage has a rectangular pulse waveform, only the maximum amplitude is controlled. The certain period should be as small as possible for efficiently emitting electrons. Preferably, the certain period is 10 msec or less, and more preferably, the certain period is 10 μsec or less.
The level of the second voltage applied at the beginning of the second period may be controlled to repeat a series of cycle in which the voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode reaches a level required for electron emission and the voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode drops due to electron emission to a threshold level for resetting polarization of the emitter section.
When the phase transition from the anti-ferroelectric material to the ferroelectric material occurs, the potential difference between the voltage level for inducing electron emission and the voltage level (threshold level) for resetting polarization is small. Therefore, the emission of electrons causes a drop in the voltage level between the first electrode and the second electrode that is similar to the voltage drop caused by the application of OV. This voltage drop easily resets the polarization of the emitter section.
In the second period, since the second voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, the voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode rapidly reaches the voltage level required for electron emission, and the electron emission starts to occur.
Therefore, by controlling the level of the second voltage in the second period, the above sequential operation is repeated successively. Electron emission in the second period can be carried out by the single polarity operation. Thus, the driving circuit system is simplified. The electron emitter can be operated by small energy consumption at a low cost with a compact structure.
Further, the present invention provides a method of emitting electrons from an electron emitter including an emitter section made of an electrostrictive material, a first electrode in contact with the emitter section, and a second electrode in contact with the emitter section, the method comprising the step of applying an electric field to the emitter section to control the amount of polarization of the emitter section for emitting electrons.
An electric field is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode such that the first electrode has a potential lower than a potential of the second electrode, reversing the polarization of at least a portion of the emitter section. The polarization reversal causes emission of electrons in the vicinity of the first electrode. The polarization reversal generates a locally concentrated electric field on the first electrode and the positive poles of dipole moments in the vicinity the first electrode, emitting primary electrons from the first electrode. The primary electrons emitted from the first electrode impinge upon the emitter section, causing the emitter section to emit secondary electrons. If the first electrode is very thin, having a thickness of 10 nm. or less, electrons are emitted from the interface between the first electrode and the emitter section.
In the electron emission method, the emitter section is polarized gradually according to the change of the electric field. When the amount of polarization per unit time is large, the number of emitted electrons is large. Therefore, the electrons are emitted efficiently by controlling the amount of polarization in the emitter section, and the electron emitter can be utilized easily in displays or light sources.
In the present invention, polarization of the emitter section in one direction may be performed by applying a first voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode, causing the first electrode to have a potential higher than a potential of the second electrode in a first period, and polarization of the emitter section may be changed for emitting electrons by applying a second voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode for causing the first electrode to have a potential lower than a potential of the second electrode in a second period.
In the electron emission method using the emitter section made of an electrostrictive material, when the first voltage applied in the first period is 0V, the polarization of the emitter section is reset. Electron emission in the second period can be carried out by the single polarity operation. Thus, the driving circuit system is simplified. The electron emitter can be operated by small energy consumption at a low cost with a compact structure.
The level of the second voltage may be controlled so that an amount of polarization in the emitter section within a certain period from the beginning of the second period is controlled, and the number of emitted electrons is controlled.
The level of the second voltage may be controlled in the following manner. If the second voltage has a pulse waveform having a falling edge (ramp), for example, the maximum amplitude or a transition time of the second voltage is controlled, and if the second voltage has a rectangular pulse waveform, only the maximum amplitude is controlled. Preferably, the certain period is 10 msec or less, and more preferably, the certain period is 10 μsec or less.
The level of the second voltage applied at the beginning of the second period may be controlled so that electron emission is continued by a slight fluctuation of the voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode.
The emitter section is polarized gradually by the change of the electric field. When the amount of polarization per unit time is large, the number of emitted electrons is large. However, the potential difference between the voltage level for inducing electron emission and the voltage level (threshold level) for resetting polarization is small.
Therefore, the emission of electrons causes a drop in the voltage level between the first electrode and the second electrode that is similar to the voltage drop caused by the application of OV. This voltage drop easily resets the polarization of the emitter section.
In the second period, the second voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, rapidly, increasing the voltage between the electrodes and resulting in the polarization changing rapidly. Thus, electrons are emitted at a voltage lower than the voltage for the first electron emission.
The second electron emission causes a drop in the voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode, thereby easily resetting the polarization of the emitter section. Thereafter, by continuously applying the second voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode, the voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode is increased again to polarize the emitter section. Again, the change in the polarization progresses rapidly, and the electron emission occurs at a voltage substantially same as the voltage for the second electron emission.
By controlling the level of the second voltage in the second period, the voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode needs only to fluctuate slightly, to continue the electron emission. Electron emission in the second period can be tarried out by the single polarity operation. Thus, the driving circuit system is simplified. The electron emitter can be operated by small energy consumption at a low cost with a compact structure.
In the electron emission methods of the present invention, the first electrode may be formed in contact with the emitter section;
the second electrode may be formed in contact with the emitter section; and
a slit may be formed between the first electrode and the second electrode.
In this case, polarization reversal or polarization change may occur in an electric field E applied to the emitter section represented by E=Vak/d, where d is a width of the slit, and Vak is a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode.
In the electron emission methods of the present invention, the first electrode may be formed on a first surface of the emitter section, and the second electrode may be formed on a second surface of the emitter section. In this case, polarization reversal or polarization change may occur in an electric field E applied to the emitter section represented by E=Vak/h, where h is a thickness of the emitter section between the first electrode and the second electrode, and Vak is a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode.
Preferably, the voltage Vak between the first electrode and the second electrode is less than a dielectric breakdown voltage of the emitter section.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Methods of emitting electrons from electron emitters according to embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to
The electron emitters according to embodiments of the present invention can be used in displays, electron beam irradiation apparatus, light sources, alternatives to LEDs, and apparatus for manufacturing electronic parts.
Electron beams in electron beam irradiation apparatus have a high energy and a good absorption capability in comparison with ultraviolet rays in ultraviolet ray irradiation apparatus that are presently in widespread use. The electron emitters are used to solidify insulating films in superposing wafers for semiconductor devices, harden printing inks without irregularities for drying prints, and sterilize medical devices while being kept in packages.
The electron emitters are also used as high-luminance, high-efficiency light sources such as a projector having a high pressure mercury lamp. The electron emitter according to the present embodiment is suitably used as a light source. The light source using the electron emitter according to the present embodiment is compact, has a long service life, has a fast response speed for light emission. The electron emitter does not use any mercury, and the electron emitter is environmentally friendly.
The electron emitters are also used as alternatives to LEDs in indoor lights, automobile lamps, surface light sources for traffic signal devices, chip light sources, and backlight units for traffic signal devices, small-size liquid-crystal display devices for cellular phones.
The electron emitters are also used in apparatus for manufacturing electronic parts, including electron beam sources for film growing apparatus such as electron beam evaporation apparatus, electron sources for generating a plasma (to activate a gas or the like) in plasma CVD apparatus, and electron sources for decomposing gases. The electron emitters are also used as vacuum micro devices such as high speed switching devices operated at a frequency on the order of Tera-Hz, and large current outputting devices. Further, the electron emitter are used suitably as parts of printers, such as light emitting devices for emitting light to a photosensitive drum, and electron sources for charging a dielectric material.
The electron emitters are also used as electronic circuit devices including digital devices such as switches, relays, and diodes, and analog devices such as operational amplifiers. The electron emitters are used for realizing a large current output, and a high amplification ratio.
As shown in
For using the electron emitter 10A according to the embodiment of the present invention as a pixel of a display, a third electrode (collector electrode) 24 is provided above the emitter section 14 at a position facing the slit 18, and the collector electrode 24 is coated with a fluorescent layer 28. The collector electrode 24 is connected to a bias voltage source 102 (bias voltage Vc) through a resistor R3.
The electron emitter 10A according to the first embodiment of the present invention is placed in a vacuum space. As shown in
The vacuum level in the atmosphere is preferably in the range from 102 to 10−6 Pa and more preferably in the range from 10−3 to 10−5 Pa.
The range of the vacuum level is determined for the following reason. In a lower vacuum, (1) many gas molecules would be present in the space, and a plasma can easily be generated and, if the plasma were generated excessively, many positive ions would impinge upon the cathode electrode 16 and damage the cathode electrode 16, and (2) emitted electrons would impinge upon gas molecules prior to arrival at the collector electrode 24, failing to sufficiently excite the fluorescent layer 28 with electrons that are sufficiently accelerated by the collector potential (Vc).
In a higher vacuum, though electrons are smoothly emitted from the electric field concentration points A and B, structural body supports and vacuum seals would be large in size, posing difficulty in making a small electron emitter.
The emitter section 14 is made of a dielectric material. The dielectric material should preferably have a high relative dielectric constant (relative permittivity), e.g., a dielectric constant of 1000 or higher. Dielectric materials of such a nature may be ceramics including barium titanate, lead zirconate, lead magnesium niobate, lead nickel niobate, lead zinc niobate, lead manganese niobate, lead magnesium tantalate, lead nickel tantalate, lead antimony stannate, lead titanate, lead magnesium tungstenate, lead cobalt niobate, etc. or a material whose principal component contains 50 weight % or more of the above compounds, or such ceramics to which there is added an oxide of lanthanum, calcium, strontium, molybdenum, tungsten, barium, niobium, zinc, nickel, manganese, or the like, or a combination of these materials, or any of other compounds.
For example, a two-component material nPMN-mPT (n, m represent molar ratios) of lead magnesium niobate (PMN) and lead titanate (PT) has its Curie point lowered for a larger relative dielectric constant at room temperature if the molar ratio of PMN is increased.
Particularly, a dielectric material where n=0.85–1.0 and m=1.0−n is preferable because its relative dielectric constant is 3000 or higher. For example, a dielectric material where n=0.91 and m=0.09 has a relative dielectric constant of 15000 at room temperature, and a dielectric material where n=0.95 and m=0.05 has a relative dielectric constant of 20000 at room temperature.
For increasing the relative dielectric constant of a three-component dielectric material of lead magnesium niobate (PMN), lead titanate (PT), and lead zirconate (PZ), it is preferable to achieve a composition close to a morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) between a tetragonal system and a quasi-cubic system or a tetragonal system and a rhombohedral system, as well as to increase the molar ratio of PMN. For example, a dielectric material where PMN:PT:PZ=0.375:0.375:0.25 has a relative dielectric constant of 5500, and a dielectric material where PMN:PT:PZ=0.5:0.375:0.125 has a relative dielectric constant of 4500, which is particularly preferable. Furthermore, it is preferable to increase the dielectric constant by introducing a metal such as platinum into these dielectric materials within a range to keep them insulative. For example, a dielectric material may be mixed with 20 weight % of platinum.
As described above, the emitter section 14 may be formed of a piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer or an anti-ferroelectric layer. If the emitter section 14 is a piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer, then it may be made of ceramics such as lead zirconate, lead magnesium niobate, lead nickel niobate, lead zinc niobate, lead manganese niobate, lead magnesium tantalate, lead nickel tantalate, lead antimony stannate, lead titanate, barium titanate, lead magnesium tungstenate, lead cobalt niobate, or the like, or a combination of any of these materials.
The emitter section 14 may be made of chief components including 50 weight % or more of any of the above compounds. Of the above ceramics, the ceramics including lead zirconate is most frequently used as a constituent of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer of the emitter section 14.
If the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer is made of ceramics, then oxides of lanthanum, calcium, strontium, molybdenum, tungsten, barium, niobium, zinc, nickel, manganese, or the like, or a combination of these materials, or any of other compounds may be added to the ceramics.
For example, the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer should preferably be made of ceramics including as chief components lead magnesium niobate, lead zirconate, and lead titanate, and also including lanthanum and strontium.
The piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer may be dense or porous. If the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer is porous, then it should preferably have a porosity of 40% or less.
If the emitter section 14 is formed of an anti-ferroelectric layer, then the anti-ferroelectric layer may be made of lead zirconate as a chief component, lead zirconate and lead stannate as chief components, lead zirconate with lanthanum oxide added thereto, or lead zirconate and lead stannate as components with lead zirconate and lead niobate added thereto.
The anti-ferroelectric layer may be porous. If the anti-ferroelectric layer is porous, then it should preferably have a porosity of 30% or less.
Strontium bismuthate tantalate is used suitably for the emitter section 14. The emitter section 14 made of strontium bismuthate tantalate is not damaged by the polarization reversal easily. For preventing damages due to the polarization reversal, lamellar ferroelectric compounds represented by a general formula (BiO2)2+(Am−1BmO3m+1)2− are used. The ionized metal A includes Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, Pb2+, Bi3+, La3+, and the ionized metal B includes Ti4+, Ta5+, Nb5+. Piezoelectric/electrostrictive/anti-ferroelectric ceramics is mixed with glass components such as lead borosilicate glass or other compounds having a low melting point such as bismuth oxide to lower the firing temperature.
The emitter section 14 may be made of a material which does not contain any lead, i.e., made of a material having a high melting temperature, or a high evaporation temperature. Thus, the emitter section 14 is not damaged easily when electrons or ions impinge upon the emitter section 14.
The emitter section 14 may be formed on the substrate 12 by any of various thick-film forming processes including screen printing, dipping, coating, electrophoresis, etc., or any of various thin-film forming processes including an ion beam process, sputtering, vacuum evaporation, ion plating, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), plating, etc.
In the embodiment, the emitter section 14 is formed on the substrate 12 suitably by any of various thick-film forming processes including screen printing, dipping, coating, electrophoresis, etc.
These thick-film forming processes are capable of providing good piezoelectric operating characteristics as the emitter section 14 can be formed using a paste, a slurry, a suspension, an emulsion, a sol, or the like which is chiefly made of piezoelectric ceramic particles having an average particle diameter ranging from 0.01 to 5 μm, preferably from 0.05 to 3 μm.
In particular, electrophoresis is capable of forming a film at a high density with high shape accuracy, and has features described in technical documents such as “Electrochemistry Vol. 53. No. 1 (1985), p. 63–68, written by Kazuo Anzai”, and “The 1st Meeting on Finely Controlled Forming of Ceramics Using Electrophoretic Deposition Method, Proceedings (1998), p. 5–6, p. 23–24”. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive/anti-ferroelectric material may be formed into a sheet, or laminated sheets. Alternatively, the laminated sheets of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive/anti-ferroelectric material may be laminated on, or attached to another supporting substrate. Any of the above processes may be chosen in view of the required accuracy and reliability.
The width d of the slit 18 between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20 is determined so that polarization reversal occurs in the electric field E represented by E=Vak/d (Vak is a voltage measured between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20 when the drive voltage Va outputted from the pulse generation source 22 is applied between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20). If the width d of the slit 18 is small, the polarization reversal occurs at a low voltage, and electrons are emitted at the low voltage (e.g., less than 100V). Preferably, the dielectric breakdown voltage of the emitter section 14 is at least 10 kV/mm or higher. In the embodiment, when the width d of the slit 18 is 70 μm, even if the drive voltage of −100V is applied between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20, the portion of the emitter section 14 which is exposed through the slit 18 does not break down dielectrically.
The cathode electrode 16 is made of materials described below. The cathode electrode 16 should preferably be made of a conductor having a small sputtering yield and a high evaporation temperature in vacuum. For example, materials having a sputtering yield of 2.0 or less at 600 V in Ar+ and an evaporation temperature of 1800 k or higher at an evaporation pressure of 1.3×10−3 Pa are preferable. Such materials include platinum, molybdenum, tungsten, etc. Further, the cathode electrode 16 is made of a conductor which is resistant to a high-temperature oxidizing atmosphere, e.g., a metal, an alloy, a mixture of insulative ceramics and a metal, or a mixture of insulative ceramics and an alloy. Preferably, the cathode electrode 16 should be composed chiefly of a precious metal having a high melting point, e.g., platinum, iridium, palladium, rhodium, molybdenum, or the like, or an alloy of silver and palladium, silver and platinum, platinum and palladium, or the like, or a cermet of platinum and ceramics. Further preferably, the cathode electrode 16 should be made of platinum only or a material composed chiefly of a platinum-base alloy. The electrode should preferably be made of carbon or a graphite-base material, e.g., diamond thin film, diamond-like carbon, or carbon nanotube. Ceramics to be added to the electrode material should preferably have a proportion ranging from 5 to 30 volume %.
Further, preferably, organic metal pastes which produce a thin film after firing, such as platinum resinate paste are used. Further, for preventing damages due to polarization reversal, oxide electrode is used. The oxide electrode is made of any of ruthenium oxide, iridium oxide, strontium ruthenate, La1−xSrxCoO3 (e.g., x=0.3 or 0.5), La1−xCaxMnO3, La1−xCaxMn1−yCoyO3 (e.g, x=0.2, y=0.05).
Alternatively, the oxide electrode is made by mixing any of these materials with platinum resinate paste, for example.
The cathode electrode 16 may be made of any of the above materials by an ordinary film forming process which may be any of various thick-film forming processes including screen printing, spray coating, dipping, coating, electrophoresis, etc., or any of various thin-film forming processes including sputtering, an ion beam process, vacuum evaporation, ion plating, CVD, plating, etc. Preferably, the cathode electrode 16 is made by any of the above thick-film forming processes. Dimensions of the cathode electrode 16 will be described with reference to
The anode electrode 20 is made of the same material by the same process as the cathode electrode 16. Preferably, the anode electrode 20 is made by any of the above thick-film forming processes. Preferably, the anode electrode 20 has a thickness of 20 μm or less, or more preferably 5 μm or less. In
In the embodiment of the present invention, the width d of the slit 18 between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20 is 70 μm.
The substrate 12 should preferably be made of an electrically insulative material in order to electrically isolate the line electrically connected to the cathode electrode 16 and the line electrically connected to the anode electrode 20 from each other.
Thus, the substrate 12 may be made of a highly heat-resistant metal or a metal material such as an enameled metal whose surface is coated with a ceramic material such as glass or the like. However, the substrate 12 should preferably be made of ceramics.
Ceramics which the substrate 12 is made of include stabilized zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, titanium oxide, spinel, mullite, aluminum nitride, silicon nitride, glass, or a mixture thereof. Of these ceramics, aluminum oxide or stabilized zirconium oxide is preferable from the standpoint of strength and rigidity. Stabilized zirconium oxide is particularly preferable because its mechanical strength is relatively high, its tenacity is relatively high, and its chemical reaction with the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20 is relatively small. Stabilized zirconium oxide includes stabilized zirconium oxide and partially stabilized zirconium oxide. Stabilized zirconium oxide does not develop a phase transition as it has a crystalline structure such as a cubic system.
Zirconium oxide develops a phase transition between a monoclinic system and a tetragonal system at about 1000° C. and is liable to suffer cracking upon such a phase transition. Stabilized zirconium oxide contains 1 to 30 mol % of a stabilizer such as calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, yttrium oxide, scandium oxide, ytterbium oxide, cerium oxide, or an oxide of a rare earth metal. For increasing the mechanical strength of the substrate 12, the stabilizer should preferably contain yttrium oxide. The stabilizer should preferably contain 1.5 to 6 mol % of yttrium oxide, or more preferably 2 to 4 mol % of yttrium oxide, and furthermore should preferably contain 0.1 to 5 mol % of aluminum oxide.
The crystalline phase may be a mixed phase of a cubic system and a monoclinic system, a mixed phase of a tetragonal system and a monoclinic system, a mixed phase of a cubic system, a tetragonal system, and a monoclinic system, or the like. The main crystalline phase which is a tetragonal system or a mixed phase of a tetragonal system and a cubic system is optimum from the standpoints of strength, tenacity, and durability.
If the substrate 12 is made of ceramics, then the substrate 12 is made up of a relatively large number of crystalline particles. For increasing the mechanical strength of the substrate 12, the crystalline particles should preferably have an average particle diameter ranging from 0.05 to 2 μm, or more preferably from 0.1 to 1 μm.
Each time the emitter section 14, the cathode electrode 16, or the anode electrode 20 is formed, the assembly is heated (sintered) into a structure integral with the substrate 12. After the emitter section 14, the cathode electrode 16, and the anode electrode 20 are formed, they may simultaneously be sintered so that they may simultaneously be integrally coupled to the substrate 12. Depending on the process by which the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20 are formed, they may not be heated (sintered) so as to be integrally combined with the substrate 12.
The sintering process for integrally combining the substrate 12, the emitter section 14, the cathode electrode 16, and the anode electrode 20 may be carried out at a temperature ranging from 500 to 1400° C., preferably from 1000 to 1400° C. For heating the emitter section 14 which is in the form of a film, the emitter section 14 should be sintered together with its evaporation source while their atmosphere is being controlled.
The emitter section 14 may be covered with an appropriate member for preventing the surface thereof from being directly exposed to the sintering atmosphere when the emitter section 14 is sintered. The covering member should preferably be made of the same material as the substrate 12.
The principles of electron emission of the electron emitter 10A will be described below with reference to
The preparatory period T1 is a period in which the first voltage Va1 is applied between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20 to polarize the emitter section 14, as shown in
Preferably, the voltage levels of the first voltage Va1 and the second voltage Va2 are determined so that the polarization to the positive polarity and the negative polarity can be performed reliably. For example, if the dielectric material of the emitter section 14 has a coercive voltage, preferably, the absolute values of the first voltage Va1 and the second voltage Va2 are the coercive voltage or higher.
The electron emission period T2 is a period in which the second voltage Va2 is applied between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20. When the second voltage Va2 is applied between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20, as shown in
Because of the reversed polarization, a locally concentrated electric field is generated on the cathode electrode 16 and the positive poles of dipole moments in the vicinity thereof, emitting primary electrons from the cathode electrode 16. As shown in
In the present embodiment, the triple point A is defined by the cathode electrode 16, the emitter section 14, and the vacuum. The primary electrons are emitted from the cathode electrode 16 near the triple point A, and the primary electrons thus emitted from the triple point A impinge upon the emitter section 14, causing the emitter section 14 to emit secondary electrons. If the thickness of the cathode electrode 16 is very small (up to 10 nm), then electrons are emitted from the interface between the cathode electrode 16 and the emitter section 14.
Since the electrons are emitted according to the principle as described above, the electron emission is stably performed, and the number of emitted electrons would reach 2 billion or more. Thus, the electron emitter is advantageously used in the practical applications. The number of emitted electrons is increased substantially proportional to the amplitude Vin of the drive voltage Va applied between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20. Thus, the number of the emitted electrons can be controlled easily.
Of the emitted secondary electrons, some are emitted to the collector electrode 24 to excite the fluorescent layer 28, which produces a fluorescent emission directed outwardly. Other secondary electrons and the primary electrons are emitted to the anode electrode 20.
A distribution of emitted secondary electrons will be described below. As shown in
The pattern or the potential of the collector electrode 24 may be changed suitably depending on the application. If a control electrode (not shown) or the like is provided between the emitter section 14 and the collector electrode 24 for arbitrarily setting the electric field distribution between the emitter section 14 and the collector electrode 24, the emission path of the emitted secondary electrons can be controlled easily. Thus, it is possible to change the size of the electron beam by converging and expanding the electron beam, and to change the shape of the electron beam easily.
As described above, the electron source emitting a straight electron beam is produced, and the emission path of emitted secondary electrons is controlled easily.
Therefore, the electron emitter 10A according to the first embodiment can be utilized advantageously as a pixel of a display with an aim to decrease the pitch between the pixels.
As can be seen from
If the thickness of the cathode electrode 16 is greater than 10 nm, then almost all of the reflected electrons are directed toward the anode electrode 20. The secondary electrons referred herein include both the reflected electrons and Auger electrons.
If the thickness of the cathode electrode 16 is very small (up to 10 nm), then primary electrons emitted from the cathode electrode 16 are reflected by the interface between the cathode electrode 16 and the emitter section 14, and directed toward the collector electrode 24.
Next, three specific examples of the electron emitter 10A according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. An electron emitter 10Aa according to a first specific example has substantially the same structure as the electron emitter 10A according to the first embodiment described above, but differs from the electron emitter 10A in that the emitter section 14 is made of a piezoelectric material.
A method of emitting electrons from the electron emitter 10Aa according to the first specific example will be described.
The hysteresis loop from a point p1, a point p2, to a point p3 will be described. When a positive electric field is applied to the piezoelectric material at the point p1, the piezoelectric material is polarized substantially in one direction. Thereafter, when the electric field is negatively increased to a level of a coercive field (about −700V/mm) at the point p2, polarization reversal starts to occur. At the point p3, polarization reversal is carried out completely.
In the first specific example, as shown in
Thereafter, in the electron emission period T2 shown in
As described above, the second voltage Va2 is applied between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20, for causing emission of the secondary electrons from the emitter section 14 or from the interface between the cathode electrode 16 and the emitter section 14.
After the electron emission, the voltage Vak between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20 is increased again by the second voltage Va2 applied to the cathode electrode 16. However, since the voltage drop at the time of the electron emission is small (about 20V), the electron emission does not occur after the first electron emission.
In the method of emitting electrons from the electron emitter 10Aa according to the first specific example, the electric field beyond the level of the coercive field is rapidly applied to the emitter section 14 which is polarized in one direction. Therefore, the electrons are emitted efficiently, and the electron emitter 10Aa can be utilized easily in displays or light sources.
The electric field for inducing electron emission (the electric field at the point p4) is beyond the level of the coercive field. In the electric field for electron emission, the polarization reversal is almost completed, and the levels of the electric fields do not change substantially. Therefore, the electron emitter 10Aa has digital-like electron emission characteristics. The level of the electric field for electron emission depends on the coercive field. When the level of the coercive field is small, the electron emitter can be operated at a low voltage.
In the electron emission method, the level of the second voltage Va2 applied between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20 is controlled for applying an electric field beyond the level of the coercive field to the emitter section 14 within a certain period tc1 (e.g., 10 μsec or less) from the beginning of the electron emission period T2 .
In this case, the level of the second voltage Va2 is controlled in the following manner. If the second voltage Va2 has a rectangular pulse waveform as shown in
In the electron emitter 10Aa according to the first specific example, if the electron emission needs to be repeated, a drive voltage Va having an alternating waveform including positive and negative pulses can be used for carrying out the successive electron emissions easily.
Next, an electron emitter 10Ab according to a second specific example will be described. The electron emitter 10Ab according to the second specific example has substantially the same structure as the electron emitter 10A according to the first embodiment described above, but differs from the electron emitter 10A in that the emitter section 14 is made of an anti-ferroelectric material.
A method of emitting electrons from the electron emitter 10Ab according to the second specific example will be described.
As shown in
The hysteresis loop in the positive electric field from a point p11, a point p12, to a point p13 will be described. The anti-ferroelectric material is polarized almost in one direction when the positive electric field is applied at the point p11. Then, the intensity of the electric field is decreased. From the point 12 to point 13, the amount of polarization decreases significantly. The anti-ferroelectric material functions as a dielectric material at the point p13 where the electric field is zero, and the polarization is reset. Then, when the negative electric field is applied, a phase transition occurs in the emitter section 14, and the emitter section 14 functions as a ferroelectric material. When the electric field is negatively increased beyond a level of about −2300 V/mm at the point p14, polarization reversal of the emitter section 14 is started. At the point p15, the emitter section 14 is polarized in the opposite direction.
In the second specific example, as shown in
Thereafter, in the electron emission period T2 , a second voltage Va2 is applied between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20 for rapidly applying an electric field (e.g., about −3000V/mm) to the emitter section 14 to change the polarization of the emitter section 14. At a point p16 before the point p15 shown in
As shown in
When the phase transition from the anti-ferroelectric material to the ferroelectric material occurs, the difference between the electric field for inducing electron emission (the electric field at the point p16) and the electric field for resetting polarization (the electric field at the point p17) is small. Therefore, the emission of electrons causes a drop in the voltage level between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20, easily resetting the polarization of the emitter section 14 as if the reference voltage 0V applied.
In the electron emission period T2 , since the second voltage Va2 is applied between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20, the voltage Vak between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20 rapidly reaches the voltage level required for electron emission, and the electron emission starts to occur again.
Therefore, by continuously applying the second voltage Va2 in the electron emission period T2 , the above sequential operation is repeated successively. By controlling the level of the second voltage Va2 , the number of the operations can be controlled. In the example of
As described above, in the method of emitting electrons from the electron emitter 10Ab according to the second specific example, the electric field is applied to the emitter section 14 rapidly for causing phase transition in the emitter section 14 into a ferroelectric material and changing polarization of the emitter section 14. Therefore, the electrons are emitted efficiently, and the electron emitter 10Ab can be utilized easily in displays or light sources.
In the electric field for inducing electron emission (the electric field at the point p16), the polarization reversal is almost completed, and the levels of the electric fields do not change substantially. Therefore, the electron emitter 10Ab has digital-like electron emission characteristics. The electric field for electron emission depends on the electric field for inducing phase transition of the emitter section 14 into the ferroelectric material. When the level of the electric field for inducing phase transition is small, the electron emitter is operated at a low voltage.
In the electron emission method, polarization is reset without applying the positive electric field. Electron emission in the electron emission period T2 can be carried out by the single polarity operation (negative polarity). Thus, the driving circuit system is simplified. The electron emitter can be operated by small energy consumption at a low cost with a compact structure.
The level (the maximum amplitude or phase transition period ta) of the second voltage Va2 applied between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20 is controlled for applying an electric field to induce the phase transition of the emitter section 14 within a certain period tc2 (e.g., 10 μsec or less) from the beginning of the electron emission period T2 , and polarize the emitter section 14.
Next, an electron emitter 10Ac according to a third specific example will be described. The electron emitter 10Ac according to the third specific example has substantially the same structure as the electron emitter 10A according to the first embodiment described above, but differs from the electron emitter 10A in that the emitter section 14 is made of an electrostrictive material.
A method of emitting electrons from the electron emitter 10Ac according to the third specific example will be described. As shown in
The characteristics curve from a point p21 to a point p23 will be described. At the point p21, where a positive electric field is applied, the electrostrictive material of the emitter section 14 is polarized almost in one direction. Then, as the intensity of the electric field is decreased from the point p21 to the point 22, the amount of the polarization is decreased corresponding to the intensity of the positive electric field. At the point p22 where the intensity of the electric field is 0, the electrostrictive material functions as a dielectric material. Thereafter, as the intensity of the negative electric field is increased from the point p22 to the point p23, the polarization is reversed gradually into the opposite direction. At the point p23, the emitter section 13 is almost polarized in the opposite direction. The amount of the polarization in the emitter section 14 is proportional to the intensity of the applied electric field.
In the third specific example, as shown in
Thereafter, in the electron emission period T2 , a second voltage Va2 is applied between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20 for rapidly applying an electric field (e.g., about −2000V/mm) to the emitter section 14 to change the polarization of the emitter section 14. At the point p23, electron emission starts to occur. As shown in
In the electron emitter 10Ac according to the third specific example, the emitter section 14 is polarized gradually according to the change of the electric field. When the amount of polarization per unit time is large, the number of emitted electrons is large. Therefore, the electron emitter 10Ac has analog-like electron emission characteristics.
The potential difference between the electric field for inducing electron emission (the electric field at the point p23) and the electric field for resetting polarization (the electric field at the point p22) is small. Therefore, the emission of electrons causes a drop in the voltage level between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20 easily resetting the polarization of the emitter section, as if the reference voltage 0V was applied.
In the electron emission period T2, the second voltage Va2 is applied between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20, rapidly increasing the voltage between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20, resulting in the polarization changing rapidly. Thus, the electrons are emitted at a voltage lower than the voltage for the first electron emission.
The second electron emission causes a drop in the voltage between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20, thereby easily resetting the polarization of the emitter section 14. Thereafter, by continuously applying the second voltage Va2 between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20, the voltage Vak between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20 is increased again to polarize the emitter section 14. Again, the change in the polarization progresses rapidly, and the electron emission occurs at a voltage substantially the same as the voltage for the second electron emission.
After the first electron emission, the voltage Vak between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20 only needs to fluctuate slightly to continue the electron emission. By controlling the level of the second voltage Va2, it is possible to control the duration of the electron emission.
As described above, in the method of emitting electrons from the electron emitter 10Ac according to the third specific example, the amount of polarization in the emitter section 14 is controlled for efficiently emitting the electrons. Thus, the electron emitter 10Ac can be utilized easily in displays or light sources.
As described above, when the amount of the polarization per unit time is large, the intensity of the electric field can be small. Therefore, the electron emitter can be operated at a low voltage.
In the electron emission method, polarization is reset without applying the positive electric field. Electron emission in the electron emission period T2 can be carried out by the single polarity operation (negative polarity). Thus, the driving circuit system is simplified. The electron emitter can be operated by small energy consumption at a low cost with a compact structure.
The level (the maximum amplitude or phase transition period ta) of the second voltage Va2 applied between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20 is controlled for controlling the amount of polarization in the emitter section 14 within a certain period tc3 (e.g., 10 μsec or less) from the beginning of the electron emission period T2 and controlling the number of emitted electrons.
Next, an electron emitter 10B according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to
The electron emitter 10B according to the second embodiment has substantially the same structure as the electron emitter 10A according to the first embodiment described above, but differs from the electron emitter 10A in that the cathode electrode 16 is formed on a front surface of the emitter section 14 having a plate shape, and the anode electrode 20 is formed on a back surface of the emitter section 14.
As shown in
For using the electron emitter 10B as a pixel of a display, a collector electrode 24 is positioned above the cathode electrode 16, and the collector electrode 24 is coated with a fluorescent layer 28.
The thickness h (see
The cathode electrode 16 may have an oval shape as shown in a plan view of
When the cathode electrode 16 having a ring shape or a comb teeth shape in a plan view is used, the number of triple points (electric field concentration points A) of the cathode electrode 16, the emitter section 14, and the vacuum is increased, and the efficiency of electron emission is improved.
Preferably, the cathode electrode 16 has a thickness tc (see
The anode electrode 20 is made of the same material by the same process as the cathode electrode 16. Preferably, the anode electrode 20 is made by any of the above thick-film forming processes. Preferably, the anode electrode 20 has a thickness tc of 20 μm or less, or more preferably 5 μm or less.
The principles of electron emission of the electron emitter 10B will be described below with reference to
The preparatory period T1 is a period in which the first voltage Va1 is applied between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20 to polarize the emitter section 14 in one direction, as shown in
The electron emission period T2 is a period in which the second voltage Va2 is applied between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20. When the second voltage Va2 is applied between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20, as shown in
With the electron emitter 10B of the second embodiment having the triple point A where the cathode electrode 16, the emitter section 14, and the vacuum are present at one point, primary electrons are emitted from the cathode electrode 16 near the triple point A, and the primary electrons thus emitted from the triple point A impinge upon the emitter section 14, causing the emitter section 14 to emit secondary electrons. If the thickness of the cathode electrode 16 is very small (up to 10 nm), then electrons are emitted from the interface between the cathode electrode 16 and the emitter section 14.
Operation by application of the second voltage Va2 will be described in detail below.
When the second voltage Va2 is applied between the cathode electrode 16 and the anode electrode 20, electrons are emitted from the emitter section 14. Specifically, in the emitter section 14, dipole moments near the cathode electrode 16 are charged when the polarization of the emitter section 14 are reversed or changed. Thus, emission of the electrons occurs.
A local cathode is formed in the cathode electrode 16 in the vicinity of the interface between the cathode electrode 16 and the emitter section 14, and positive poles of the dipole moments charged in the area of the emitter section 14 near the cathode electrode 16 serve as a local anode which causes the emission of electrons from the cathode electrode 16. Some of the emitted electrons are guided to the collector electrode 24 (see
Secondary electrons having an energy level which corresponds to the energy E0 of primary electrons are emitted. These secondary electrons are primary electrons that are emitted from the cathode electrode 16 and scattered in the vicinity of the surface of the emitter section 14 (reflected electrons). The secondary electrons referred herein include the electrons which have a low initial speed are electrons which are emitted from the solid emitter section 14 under an energy that has been generated by a coulomb collision with primary electrons, the reflected electrons and Auger electrons. If the thickness of the cathode electrode 16 is very small (up to 10 nm), then primary electrons emitted from the cathode electrode 16 are reflected by the interface between the cathode electrode 16 and the emitter section 14, and directed toward the collector electrode 24.
As shown in
As the electron emission from the cathode electrode 16 progresses, floating atoms of the emitter section 14 which are evaporated due to the Joule heat are ionized into positive ions and electrons by the emitted electrons. The electrons generated by the ionization ionize the atoms of the emitter section 14. Therefore, the electrons are increased exponentially to generate a local plasma in which the electrons and the positive ions are neutrally present. The secondary electrons may also ionize the atoms of the emitter section 14. The positive ions generated by the ionization may impinge upon the cathode electrode 16, possibly damaging the cathode electrode 16.
In the electron emitter 10B according to the second embodiment, as shown in
Therefore, the positive polarity of the local anode provided by the dipole moments is weakened, and the intensity EA of the electric field between the local anode and the local cathode is reduced (the small intensity EA of the electric field is indicated by the broken-line arrow in
As shown in
The emitter section 14 is likely to be damaged when electrons emitted from the emitter section 14 impinge upon the emitter section 14 again or when ionization occurs near the surface of the emitter section 14. Due to the damages to the crystallization, the mechanical strength and the durability of the emitter section 14 are likely to be lowered.
In order to avoid the problem, preferably, the emitter section 14 is made of a dielectric material having a high evaporation temperature in vacuum. For example, the emitter section 14 may be made of BaTiO3 which does not include Pb. Thus, the emitter section 14 is not evaporated into floating atoms easily due to the Joule heat, and the ionization by the emitted electrons is prevented. Therefore, the surface of the emitter section 14 is effectively protected.
Next, an electron emitter 10C according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to
As shown in
As with the electron emitter 10A according to the first embodiment, the electron emitter 10C can prevent the damages of the cathode electrode 16 by the positive ions, and has a long service life.
In the electron emitters 10B, 10C according to the second and third embodiments, the emitter section 14 is made of a piezoelectric material, an anti-ferroelectric material, or an electrostrictive material.
In the electron emitters 10B, 10C according to the second and third embodiments, only the positive poles or the negative poles of the dipole moments are oriented to the cathode electrode 16. Therefore, the local electric field generated at the cathode electrode 16 is large. In the first and second embodiments, when polarization of the emitter section 14 is reversed or changed, only the positive poles are oriented to the cathode electrode 16 having the negative polarity. Thus, the primary electrons are efficiently emitted from the cathode electrode 16.
In the electron emitters 10B and 10C according to the second and third embodiments, one electron emitter 10B or 10C includes one emitter section 14, and one cathode electrode 16 and one anode electrode 20 formed on the emitter section 14. Alternatively, a plurality of electron emitters 10(1), 10(2), 10(3) may be formed using one emitter section 14 as shown in
Specifically, In the first example 100A shown in
In a second example 100B shown in
In a third example 100C shown in
In a fourth example 100D shown in
In a fifth example 100E shown in
In a sixth example 100F shown in
In the first through six examples 100A through 100F, a plurality of electron emitters 10(1), 10(2), 10(3) are formed using one emitter section 14. As described later, the electron emitters 10(1), 10(2), 10(3) are suitably used as pixels of a display.
In the electron emitters 10A through 10C according to the first through third embodiments, the collector electrode 24 is coated with a fluorescent layer 28 to for use as a pixel of a display as shown in
(1) The displays can be thinner (the panel thickness=several mm) than CRTs.
(2) Since the displays emit natural light from the fluorescent layer 28, they can provide a wide angle of view which is about 1800 unlike LCDs (liquid crystal displays) and LEDs (light-emitting diodes).
(3) Since the displays employ a surface electron source, they produce less image distortions than CRTs.
(4) The displays can respond more quickly than LCDs, and can display moving images free of after image with a high-speed response on the order of μsec.
(5) The displays consume an electric power of about 100 W in terms of a 40-inch size, and hence is characterized by lower power consumption than CRTs, PDPs (plasma displays), LCDs, and LEDs.
(6) The displays have a wider operating temperature range (−40 to +85° C.) than PDPs and LCDs. LCDs have lower response speeds at lower temperatures.
(7) The displays can produce higher luminance than conventional FED displays as the fluorescent material can be excited by a large current output.
(8) The displays can be driven at a lower voltage than conventional FED displays because the drive voltage can be controlled by the polarization reversing characteristics (or polarization changing characteristics) and film thickness of the piezoelectric material.
Because of the above various advantages, the displays can be used in a variety of applications described below.
(1) Since the displays can produce higher luminance and consume lower electric power, they are optimum for use as 30- through 60-inch displays for home use (television and home theaters) and public use (waiting rooms, karaoke rooms, etc.).
(2) Inasmuch as the displays can produce higher luminance, can provide large screen sizes, can display full-color images, and can display high-definition images, they are optimum for use as horizontally or vertically long, specially shaped displays, displays in exhibitions, and message boards for information guides.
(3) Because the displays can provide a wider angle of view due to higher luminance and fluorescent excitation, and can be operated in a wider operating temperature range due to vacuum modularization thereof, they are optimum for use as displays on vehicles. Displays for use on vehicles need to have a horizontally long 8-inch size whose horizontal and vertical lengths have a ratio of 15:9 (pixel pitch=0.14 mm), an operating temperature in the range from −30 to +85° C., and a luminance level ranging from 500 to 600 cd/m2 in an oblique direction.
Because of the above various advantages, the electron emitters can be used as a variety of light sources described below.
(1) Since the electron emitters can produce higher luminance and consume lower electric power, they are optimum for use as projector light sources which are required to have a luminance level of 200 lumens.
(2) Because the electron emitters can easily provide a high-luminance two-dimensional array light source, can be operated in a wide temperature range, and have their light emission efficiency unchanged in outdoor environments, they are promising as an alternative to LEDs. For example, the electron emitters are optimum as an alternative to two-dimensional array LED modules for traffic signal devices. At 25° C. or higher, LEDs have an allowable current lowered and produce low luminance.
The method of emitting electrons from the electron emitter according to the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but may be embodied in various arrangement without departing from the scope of the present invention.
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