Field emission device with close-packed microtip array

摘要

An electron emitter plate (110) for an FED image display has an extraction (gate) electrode (22) spaced by an insulating layer (125) from a cathode electrode including a conductive mesh (18). Hexagonal close-packed arrays (12) of microtips (14) are located in mesh spacings (16), within apertures (26) formed in extraction electrode (22). Microtips (14) are formed on a conductive plate (17) laterally spaced from mesh structure (18) by a resistive layer (15). Insulating layer (125) is etched to connect apertures (26) and place microtips (14) in a common cavity within each mesh spacing (16).