摘要 |
A field emitter array includes electron-beam source elements, each including a cathode for emitting electrons and a gate provided in the vicinity of the cathode. To emit electrons from the cathode by the field emission effect, a cathode voltage is applied to the cathode and a gate voltage is applied to the gate. An anode is arranged in proximity to the cathode and supplied with a positive anode voltage to capture electrons from the cathode in a first (e.g., normal or display) mode of operation. In a second (e.g., cleaning) mode of operation of the field emitter array, a negative anode voltage is supplied to the anode to urge electrons emitted by a first cathode, back toward a second cathode supplied with a cathode voltage which attracts electrons, to clean the second cathode.
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