Field-emitter arrays to vacuum fluorescent display

A thin vacuum-fluorescent display utilizing a matrix-addressable array of groups of Spindt-type field-emission emitter tips is described. Development of the display required expanding the cathode fabrication technology to cover 5-in-diameter areas uniformly with field-emitter arrays. Each color element of the display is addressed by a group of a few hundred emitter tips operating in parallel. Electrons emitted from the tips are proximity-focused on each color element. Because each pixel is essentially a miniature cathode-ray tube (CRT), the device has the potential to produce brightness similar to those on a CRT in a panel that is 3.3 in square (8.4 cm) in area and 0.15 in (4 mm) thick.< >