Field emission display spacer with guard electrode

摘要

A structure to reduce the likelihood of flashover in a parallel plate electron beam array is disclosed. The structure may comprise a spacer structure between the parallel plates along the outer perimeter of the plates. The spacer structure may include a conductive member. The conductive member may shunt anode to cathode flashovers to a sink outside of the array before they reach the cathode. The conductive member may be provided by a conductive frit made of a metal/glass mixture, a metal foil, or a metal coating that extends through or next to the spacer structure.