Sealed vacuum devices: fluorescent microtip displays

Emission uniformity and reliability are critical to the successful application of vacuum microelectronics to flat-panel displays. The authors discuss two techniques that address these issues. The first technique uses a series resistance to limit tip current and the second involves the partitioning of the emitting tips. Used together, they have caused a substantial improvement in current uniformity. A real averaging effect among tips has been achieved by adding a resistive layer. The structure has been hardened to shorts with a hemstitched electrode. These improvements have led to the demonstration of emission homogeneity and stability across a 6-in diagonal substrate