JP2001043819A - Electron beam generating device and image forming device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electron beam generating device for stabilizing an electron emitting track from electron emitting elements and having no electron attaining positional deviation and an image forming device. SOLUTION: This electron beam generating device have an electron source 1 provided with electron emitting elements 15, electron-irradiated member oppositely arranged in a vacuum atmosphere in the electron source 1 and an acceleration electrode for accelerating electron emitted from electron emitting elements 15, at least one electrode part arranged between the electron source 1 and the electron-irradiated member and an insulating member installed within space forming between the electron source 1 and the electrode parts or forming the electron parts. In this case, a plurality of electrodes regulated in potential are provided along a direction perpendicular to a direction formed by electric field in space where the insulating material is installed on a surface of the insulating member.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electron beam generator and an image forming apparatus such as an image display device using the same, and more particularly to an electron beam generator and an image forming apparatus having a large number of surface conduction electron-emitting devices. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, two types of electron-emitting devices, a thermionic electron source and a cold-cathode electron source, are known, and an image forming apparatus using these electron sources is also known.

FIG. 24 shows a known planar image forming apparatus using a thermionic electron source. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional image forming apparatus using a thermoelectron source. The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of anodes 1502 disposed in parallel on an insulating support 1501 and having a surface coated with a member (phosphor) that emits light by electron beam impact;
A plurality of filaments 1503 arranged in parallel and opposite to each other, an anode 1502 and a filament 1503
And a plurality of grids 1504 arranged orthogonal to the anode 1502 and the filament 1503,
The anode 1502, the filament 1503, and the grid 1504 are held in a transparent container 1505. The container 1505 is hermetically bonded (hereinafter, referred to as “sealing”) to the insulating support 1501 so that a vacuum inside the container 1505 can be maintained, and the inside of the envelope formed by the container 1505 and the insulating support 1501 The vacuum is maintained at about ^-6 Torr.

The filament 1503 emits electrons by being heated in a vacuum, and by applying an appropriate voltage to the grid 1504 and the anode 1502, the electrons emitted from the filament 1503 collide with the anode 1502, and The phosphor applied on 1502 emits light. A row of anodes 1502 (X direction) and a row of grids 1504 (Y
By performing matrix addressing of (direction), the position of light emission can be controlled, and an image can be displayed through the container 1505.

However, an image forming apparatus using a thermionic electron source has the following disadvantages. (2) Since the modulation speed is slow, it is difficult to display a large capacity. (3) Variations between elements are likely to occur, and the structure is complicated, so that it is difficult to enlarge the screen. There is a problem.

Therefore, an image forming apparatus using a cold cathode electron source instead of a thermionic electron source has been considered.

A field emission type (hereinafter referred to as FE) is used as a cold cathode electron source.
Type), metal / insulating layer / metal type (hereinafter, referred to as MIM type), surface conduction electron-emitting device (hereinafter, referred to as SCE), and the like.

As an example of the FE type, WPDyke & WWDol
an, "Field emission", Advance inElectron Physics,
8, 89 (1956), or CASPindt, "PHYSICAL Propert
iesof thin-film field emission cathodes with moybd
enium coces ", J. Appl. Phys., 47, 5248 (1976).

As an example of the MIM type, CAMead, "Opera
tion of Tunnel-emission Devices ", J.Appl.Phys., 3
2, 646 (1961) and the like are known.

[0010] Examples of SCE include MIElinson, Radio
Eng. Electron Phys., 10, (1965). SCE
Utilizes a phenomenon in which electron emission occurs when a current flows in a small-area thin film formed on a substrate in parallel with the film surface. Examples of the SCE include those using the SnO ² thin film by Elinson et al., Those using an Au thin film [G. Dittmer: “Thin Solid Films”, 9, 317 (1972)], I.
n ² O ³ / SnO ² thin film [M. Hartwell and C.
G. Fonstad: "IEEE Trans. ED Conf.", 519 (1975)], using a carbon thin film [Hisashi Araki et al .: Vacuum, Vol. 26,
No. 1, p. 22 (1983)].

As a typical device configuration of these surface conduction electron-emitting devices, FIG. 25 shows a device configuration according to the above-mentioned M. Hartwell document. In FIG.
On the insulating substrate 2011, a thin film 2012 for forming an electron-emitting portion serving as an element electrode is formed. The electron-emitting portion forming thin film 2012 is formed of a metal oxide film or the like formed by sputtering in an H-shaped pattern, and the electron-emitting portion 2023 is formed by an energization process called forming described later. In addition, a portion of the thin film 2012 for forming an electron emitting portion, which includes the electron emitting portion 2023, is referred to as a thin film 2018 including an electron emitting portion.

Conventionally, in these surface conduction electron-emitting devices, before electron emission, the electron-emitting portion forming thin film 2012 is generally formed with an electron-emitting portion 2023 by an energization process called forming in advance. Met. That is, forming means that a voltage is applied to both ends of the electron-emitting-portion-forming thin film 2012 to locally destroy or alter the electron-emitting-portion-forming thin film 2012, and to change the electron-emitting portion 2023 in an electrically high-resistance state. It is to form. In the electron-emitting portion 2023, a crack is generated in a part of the thin film 2012 for forming an electron-emitting portion, and electrons are emitted from the vicinity of the crack. Hereinafter, an electron emitting portion forming thin film 2012 including an electron emitting portion formed by forming.
Is referred to as a thin film 2018 including an electron-emitting portion. The surface-conduction type electron-emitting device that has been subjected to the forming process is configured to apply a voltage to the thin film 2018 including the above-described electron-emitting portion and to cause a current to flow through the device, thereby causing the above-described electron-emitting portion 2023 to emit electrons. .

For example, an image forming apparatus using this type of electron-emitting device includes a support frame including an electron source provided with an electron-emitting device and an image-forming member having a phosphor or the like which emits light by collision of electrons. It is known that the inside of an envelope composed of the electron source, the image forming member, and the support frame is evacuated. The image forming member is provided with an accelerating electrode for accelerating the electrons emitted from the electron source toward the image forming member, and the emitted electrons are directed to the image forming member by applying a high voltage to the accelerating electrode. To accelerate and collide with the image forming member. Further, in an image forming apparatus using a flat envelope such as a thin image display device, a support column (spacer) may be used as an atmospheric pressure resistant structure.

An example in which a large number of SCEs are arranged is an electron source in which SCEs are arranged in parallel and a large number of rows in which both ends of each element are connected by wiring are arranged (for example, JP-A-1-313332). No.).

[0015]

As a method of realizing an image forming apparatus using an SCE with a simpler configuration, the present applicant has proposed a method of forming an SCE using a plurality of row-direction wirings and a plurality of column-direction wirings. By connecting a pair of element electrodes facing each other, a simple matrix type electron source in which a large number of SCEs are arranged in a matrix is configured, and appropriate driving signals are given in the row direction and the column direction. A system in which a large number of SCEs are selected and the amount of electron emission can be controlled is considered.

In the study of the image forming apparatus using the simple matrix type SCE electron source, the present inventors have found that the light emission position on the phosphor constituting the image forming member, that is, the arrival position of the electrons and the light emission shape are different from the design values. It has been found that a deviation may occur. In particular, when an image forming member for a color image is used, in some cases, a decrease in luminance and a color shift occur in addition to a shift in the light emitting position. Further, it was confirmed that this phenomenon occurred near a support frame or a support pillar (spacer) disposed between the electron source and the image forming member, or at a peripheral portion of the image forming member.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electron beam generator and an image forming apparatus that stabilize the electron emission trajectory from an electron emitting element and have no deviation in the arrival position of electrons.

[0018]

In order to achieve the above object, an electron beam generator according to the present invention comprises: an electron source provided with an electron emitting element; and an electron source opposed to the electron source in a vacuum atmosphere.
Electron beam generation having an electron irradiation member provided with an accelerating electrode for accelerating electrons emitted from the electron emitting element, and an insulating member disposed between the electron source and the electron irradiation member In the device, on the surface of the insulating member, a plurality of electrodes having a regulated electric potential are provided along a direction perpendicular to a direction of an electric field between the electron source and the electron irradiation member, respectively, Wherein the electrode is provided according to the following conditional expression. (Projection amount / electrode interval) ≧ √ [(d · Vi) / (z · V
a)] d: distance between the electron source and the electron irradiation member Vi: maximum value of the initial kinetic energy of the charge carrier generated between the electron source and the electron irradiation member z: the electron source and the electron irradiation member Va: distance between the electrode and the electrode in the direction of the electric field between the irradiation member and the electrode Va: potential difference between the electron source and the accelerating electrode of the electron irradiation member Projection amount: direction perpendicular to the z direction Electrode spacing: the distance between the electrodes in the z-direction. An electron beam generator according to another aspect of the present invention includes an electron source provided with an electron-emitting device, and an electron source in a vacuum atmosphere. An electron-irradiated member provided with an accelerating electrode for accelerating electrons emitted from the electron-emitting device, and at least one electrode portion disposed between the electron source and the electron-irradiated member And the electron source and the electrode In the electron beam generator having an insulating member provided in the space between the electrodes or between the electrode portions, a plurality of electrodes whose potential is defined on the surface of the insulating member,
Each is provided along a direction perpendicular to the direction of the electric field in the space where the insulating member is installed.

In this case, a plurality of projections may be formed on the surface of the insulating member, and each of the plurality of projections may be provided with an electrode having the specified potential.

Further, the plurality of electrodes may be provided according to the following conditional expression. (Projection amount / electrode spacing) ≧ √ [Vi / (z · Ez)] Vi: maximum value of the initial kinetic energy of the charge carrier incident on the space where the insulating member is installed z: installation of the insulating member Ez: Average value of the electric field in the z direction in the space where the insulating member is installed Projection amount: Projection amount of the electrode in the direction orthogonal to the z direction Interval: Interval of the electrodes in the z direction The charge carrier is an electron emitted from the electron source, a secondary electron or ion generated by collision of an electron emitted from the electron source. Is also good.

Further, the insulating member may be an atmospheric pressure resistant structure provided between the electron source and the electrode portion.

Further, the insulating member may be a support frame forming a part of an envelope for maintaining a vacuum atmosphere between the electron source and the electrode section.

Further, the plurality of electrodes may be respectively led out to the outside by lead wires.

[0024] The plurality of electrodes may be led out to the outside by lead wires.

[0025] The lead wiring may be provided on the support frame.

[0026] The lead wiring may be provided in the electrode section.

[0027] The electronic device may further include a rear plate on which the electron source is mounted, and the lead wiring may be provided on the rear plate.

Further, a high resistance conductive film for connecting the plurality of electrodes is formed on the insulating member, and a conductive material electrically connected to the high resistance conductive film for the electrode portion and the electron source, respectively. A member may be provided, and the lead wiring may be provided on the conductive member.

Further, the electron-emitting device may be a cold cathode type electron-emitting device.

The cold cathode type electron emitting device may be a surface conduction type electron emitting device.

Further, the surface conduction electron-emitting device is
A plurality of the surface conduction electron-emitting devices may be arranged in a dimensional matrix, and each of the surface conduction electron-emitting devices may be connected by a plurality of row-direction wirings and a plurality of column-direction wirings.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus using the electron beam generator according to any one of the above, wherein the image forming apparatus is disposed to face the electron source instead of the electron irradiation member, A member on which an image is formed by the collision of electrons emitted from the electron-emitting device and an image-forming member provided with an acceleration electrode for accelerating the electrons emitted from the electron-emitting device.

[0033]

The present inventors have made intensive studies and have found that the above problem is caused by electrons emitted from an electron source.

The electrons emitted from the electron source collide not only with the phosphor as the image forming member but also with a low probability of collision with the residual gas in vacuum. Some of the scattering particles (ions, secondary electrons, neutral particles, etc.) generated at a certain probability at the time of these collisions collide with the exposed portions of the insulating material in the image forming apparatus, and the exposed portions are charged. I understood that. It is considered that, due to this charging, the electric field changed near the exposed portion, causing a shift in the electron trajectory, causing a change in the light emission position and light emission shape of the phosphor.

Further, from the state of the change of the light emitting position and the shape of the phosphor, it was found that mainly the positive charges were accumulated in the exposed portion. This may be caused by the case where the positive ions of the scattering particles are attached and charged, or the case where the positive charging is caused by secondary electron emission generated when the scattering particles collide with the exposed portion.

The operation of the means for solving the above problems will be described below.

In the electron beam generator of the present invention configured as described above, electrons are emitted from the electron-emitting device of the electron source, and the electrons are accelerated by the high voltage applied to the acceleration electrode of the electron irradiation member. When colliding with electron irradiation, scattered particles are generated from the electron irradiation member. The maximum kinetic energy of the scattering particles during scattering of positive ions is 50 eV.
(According to Surface Science, 66 (1977), 346). In addition to the positive ions, a charge carrier such as electrons emitted from the electron source exists between the electron source and the electron irradiation member. On the other hand, the surface of the insulating member disposed between the electron source and the electron-irradiated member is provided with a potential-regulated electrode, so that the charge carrier adheres to the surface of the insulating member. It becomes difficult to do. As a result, the trajectory of the electrons emitted from the electron-emitting device is less likely to shift.
In addition, since a plurality of electrodes are provided along a direction perpendicular to the direction of the electric field between the electron source and the electron irradiation member, the electrodes withstand a high voltage applied to the accelerating electrode of the electron irradiation member. Structure.

Here, when the position where the charge carrier is generated is set as the origin, the direction of the electric field between the electron source and the electron irradiation member is Z, the direction orthogonal thereto is Y, the electron source and the electron irradiation Assuming that the distance from the member is d, the potential difference between the electron source and the electron-irradiated member is Va, and the maximum value of the initial kinetic energy of the charge carrier is Vi, the locus formed by the charge carrier is Z = [Va / (4d) Vi)] × Y ² .

Therefore, when the distance from the charge carrier generating portion to the electrode in the direction of the electric field between the electron source and the electron-irradiated member is z, (projection amount / electrode interval) ≧ √ [(d · Vi) / (z · Va)] If each electrode is formed so as to satisfy the relationship of the conditional expression (1), the trajectory of the charge carrier to the insulating member is blocked by the electrode, and Charging is prevented.

The present invention uses a simple matrix type electron source in which a large number of SCEs are arranged in a matrix by connecting the SCEs with a plurality of row-direction wirings and a plurality of column-direction wirings. It is suitable for an electron beam generator. The above-mentioned simple matrix type electron source can select a large number of SCEs and control the amount of electron emission by giving appropriate drive signals in the row direction and the column direction, so that basically other control electrodes are added. There is no necessity, and it can be easily configured on one substrate.

Of course, the present invention can be applied to a case where some additional structure (for example, a focusing electrode or a deflection electrode) is provided between the electron source and the electron irradiation member. The same effect is provided by applying and determining the configuration of the plurality of electrodes provided on the insulating member.
Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to a case where the additional structure also serves as a part of the plurality of electrodes.

In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, instead of the electron-irradiated member used in the electron beam generating apparatus of the present invention, the image is formed by colliding the electrons emitted from the electron-emitting devices with the electron source being opposed to the electron source. Is used, and an image forming member provided with an accelerating electrode for accelerating the electrons emitted from the electron-emitting device is used, so that the trajectory of the electrons emitted from the electron-emitting device is stabilized as described above. As a result, a good image with little shift of the light emitting position is formed.

[0043]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention basically comprises a multi-electron beam source having a large number of cold cathode elements arranged on a substrate in a thin vacuum vessel and forming an image by irradiating an electron beam. And an image forming member.

The cold cathode devices can be precisely positioned and formed on the substrate by using a manufacturing technique such as photolithography or etching, so that a large number of cold cathode devices can be arranged at minute intervals. Moreover, CR
Compared with the hot cathode used in T and the like, the cathode itself and its peripheral portion can be driven at a relatively low temperature, so that a multi-electron beam source with a finer arrangement pitch can be easily realized.

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus using the above-mentioned cold cathode device as a multi-electron beam source.

Among the cold cathode devices, a surface conduction electron-emitting device (SCE) is particularly preferable.
That is, the MIM type element needs to control the thickness of the insulating layer and the upper electrode relatively accurately, and the FE type element needs to precisely control the tip shape of the needle-like electron emitting portion.
For this reason, these elements have a relatively high manufacturing cost, and it is sometimes difficult to manufacture a large-area element due to limitations in the manufacturing process.

On the other hand, the SCE has a simple structure and is easy to manufacture, and a large-area SCE can be easily manufactured. In recent years, especially in a situation where a large-screen and inexpensive display device is required, it can be said that the cold-cathode element is particularly suitable.

FIG. 22 shows a typical configuration of the SCE. FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a typical element configuration of the SCE. That is, as shown in FIG.
A pair of device electrodes 1016 and 1017 are provided, and a thin film 1018 of a metal oxide or the like (hereinafter, referred to as “electron emission portion forming thin film”) is formed so as to connect these electrodes 1016 and 1017. Is locally destroyed or deteriorated by an energization process called forming to form an electron-emitting portion 1023.

Next, a method of manufacturing the electron-emitting device shown in FIG. 22 is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-56822, 4-2 by the present applicant.
The outline will be described with reference to 8139 using the manufacturing process diagram of FIG. Note that the following steps a to c are performed in FIG.
This corresponds to (c).

Step a: After sufficiently cleaning the insulating substrate 1011 with a detergent, pure water, and an organic solvent, depositing an element electrode material by a vacuum deposition method, a sputtering method, or the like, and then, on the surface of the insulating substrate 1011 by a photolithography technique. Next, device electrodes 1016 and 1017 are formed.

As the insulating substrate 1011, quartz glass, glass with a reduced content of impurities such as Na, blue plate glass, and SiO ² formed on blue plate glass by sputtering or the like are used.
And a ceramic member such as alumina. Device electrode 1016,
As the material of 1017, any material having conductivity can be used.
metals, such as r, Au, Mo, W, Pt, Ti, Al, Cu, Pd, or alloys, or Pd, Ag, Au, Ru
Examples include a printed conductor composed of a metal such as O ² or Pd—Ag or a metal oxide and glass, a transparent conductor such as In ² O ³ / SnO ² , or a semiconductor conductor material such as polysilicon.

Step b: An organic metal solution is applied between the device electrodes 1016 and 1017 provided on the insulating substrate 1011 and left to form an organic metal thin film. Thereafter, the organic metal thin film is heated and baked, and is patterned by lift-off, etching, or the like, to form a thin film 1018 for forming an electron-emitting portion.

The above-mentioned organometallic solution is a solution which easily emits electrons by applying a voltage, that is, a solution having a low work function and being stable, for example, Pd, Ru, Ag, Au, Ti,
In, Cu, Cr, Fe, Zn, Sn, Ta, W, P
b, Hg, Cd, Pt, Mn, Sc, La, Co, C
e, Zr, Th, V, Mo, Ni, Os, Rh, Ir, and other metals; and an organic compound solution containing an alloy of AgMg, NiCu, Pb, Sn, or the like as a main element.

Although the description has been made with reference to the method of applying the organometallic solution here, the present invention is not limited to this, but includes vacuum deposition, sputtering, chemical vapor deposition, dispersion coating, dipping, spinner, and the like. In some cases.

Step c: A voltage is applied between the device electrodes 1016 and 1017 by a power supply (not shown) to perform an energization process referred to as the above-described forming, and to form an electron emitting portion on the electron emitting portion forming thin film 1018. For thin film 1018
The electron-emitting portion 1023, which is a portion where the structure has changed, is formed. The electron emitting portion 1023 thus formed
The present inventors have observed that is composed of conductive fine particles.

This SCE is applied to the device electrodes 1016 and 101
When a voltage higher than a certain level (threshold voltage) is applied between the electrodes 7, the emission current sharply increases, and
3 is a non-linear element that emits electrons when the voltage is lower than the threshold voltage, and the emission current is hardly detected. S
The emission current of CE can be controlled by the voltage applied between the device electrodes 1016 and 1017, and the emission charge can be controlled by the application time of this voltage.

The present applicant has found that, among SCEs, an electron emission portion or its peripheral portion formed from a fine particle film is preferable in terms of characteristics or a large area.

Therefore, in the embodiments described below, an image display apparatus using an SCE formed using a fine particle film as a multi-electron beam source will be described as a preferable example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus to which an electron beam generator according to the present invention is applied, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.

In FIG. 1 and FIG.
Has a plurality of surface conduction electron-emitting devices (SCE) 15
Are fixed in an electron source 1 arranged in a matrix. A face plate 3 as an image forming member having a fluorescent film 7 and a metal back 8 as an accelerating electrode formed on the inner surface of a glass substrate 6 is opposed to the electron source 1 via a support frame 4 made of an insulating material. A high voltage is applied between the electron source 1 and the metal back 8 by a power supply (not shown). The rear plate 2, the support frame 4 and the face plate 3 are mutually sealed with frit glass or the like,
The envelope 10 is composed of the rear plate 2, the support frame 4, and the face plate 3.

The inside of the envelope 10 is 10 ⁻⁶ Torr.
Since the envelope 10 is maintained at a degree of vacuum, a thin plate-like spacer 5 is provided inside the envelope 10 as an anti-atmospheric structure for the purpose of preventing the envelope 10 from being destroyed due to an atmospheric pressure, an unexpected impact, or the like.
Is provided. The spacers 5 are made of an insulating material. The spacers 5 are arranged in a number necessary to achieve the above-mentioned object and at a necessary interval in parallel in the X direction.
And the surface of the electron source 1 are sealed with frit glass or the like.

On the surface of the spacer 5, 3 extending in the X direction
Two striped electrodes 9a, 9b, 9c are provided in parallel with each other at intervals in the Z direction. Each of the electrodes 9a, 9b, and 9c is extracted to the outside of the envelope 10 through an extraction wiring described later.

Hereinafter, each component described above will be described in detail.

(1) Electron Source 1 FIG. 3 is a plan view of a main part of the electron source of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the electron source shown in FIG. FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an insulating substrate 11 such as a glass substrate
And n Y-directional wirings 13 are electrically separated by an interlayer insulating layer 14 (not shown in FIG. 3) and wired in a matrix. A surface conduction electron-emitting device 15 is electrically connected between each X-direction wiring 12 and each Y-direction wiring 13. Each electron-emitting device 15 has X
A pair of device electrodes 16 and 17 spaced apart in the direction
And a thin film 18 for forming an electron emission portion that connects the device electrodes 16 and 17, and one of the device electrodes 16 and 17 is a contact hole formed in the interlayer insulating layer 14. The other element electrode 17 is electrically connected to the Y-directional wiring 13 via the wiring 14a. Each of the element electrodes 16 and 17 is made of a conductive metal or the like, and is formed by a vacuum deposition method, a printing method, a sputtering method, or the like.

The size and thickness of the insulating substrate 11 are determined by the number of electron-emitting devices 15 provided on the insulating substrate 11 and the design shape of each device, and a part of the container when the electron source 1 is used. When it is configured, it is appropriately set depending on conditions for maintaining the container in a vacuum.

Each X direction wiring 12 and each Y direction wiring 13
Are made of a conductive metal or the like formed in a desired pattern on the insulating substrate 11 by a vacuum deposition method, a printing method, a sputtering method, or the like, and a voltage as uniform as possible is supplied to a large number of electron-emitting devices 15. Thus, the material, the film thickness, and the wiring width are set. The interlayer insulating layer 14 is made of SiO ² or the like formed by a vacuum deposition method, a printing method, a sputtering method, or the like, and is formed in a desired shape on the entire surface or a part of the insulating substrate 11 on which the X-directional wiring 12 is formed. In particular, the X-direction wiring 12
To withstand the potential difference at the intersection of the
The thickness, material, and manufacturing method are appropriately set.

The X-direction wiring 12 is electrically connected to a scanning signal generating means (not shown) for applying a scanning signal for arbitrarily scanning a row of the electron-emitting devices 15 arranged in the X-direction. ing. On the other hand, the Y-direction wiring 13 is electrically connected to a modulation signal generating means (not shown) for applying a modulation signal for arbitrarily modulating each column of the electron-emitting devices 15 arranged in the Y direction. . Here, the drive voltage applied to each electron-emitting device 15 is supplied as a difference voltage between the scanning signal and the modulation signal applied to the device.

Here, an example of a method of manufacturing the electron source 1 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. Note that the following steps a to h correspond to (a) to (h) in FIG.

Step a: A 50 angstrom thick Cr film and a 6000 angstrom thick Angstrom film were formed by vacuum deposition on an insulating substrate 11 in which a 0.5 μm thick silicon oxide film was formed on a cleaned blue plate glass by a sputtering method. After sequentially laminating Au, photoresist (AZ1370 Hoechst) was spin-coated with a spinner and baked.
The photomask image is exposed and developed to form a resist pattern for the X-directional wiring 12, and the Au / Cr deposited film is wet-etched to form the X-directional wiring 12 having a desired shape.

Step b: Next, an interlayer insulating layer 14 made of a silicon oxide film having a thickness of 1.0 μm is deposited by RF sputtering.

Step c: A photoresist pattern for forming a contact hole 14a is formed in the silicon oxide film deposited in step b, and the photoresist pattern is used as a mask to form a photoresist pattern.
Is etched to form a contact hole 14a.
Etching is performed using RIE (Rea) using CF ⁴ and H ² gas.
active ion etching) method.

Step d: Thereafter, a pattern to be a gap between the device electrodes and the device electrode is formed by photoresist (RD-20).
00N-41 manufactured by Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.), and a 50 Å thick Ti and a 1000 Å thick Ni were sequentially deposited by a vacuum evaporation method. The photoresist pattern is dissolved with an organic solvent, the Ni / Ti deposited film is lifted off, and the device electrode 1 having a device electrode interval L1 (see FIG. 3) of 3 μm and a device electrode width W1 (see FIG. 3) of 300 μm.
6 and 17 are formed.

Step e: After forming a photoresist pattern of the Y-directional wiring 13 on the device electrodes 16 and 17,
0 angstrom Ti and 5000 angstrom thick Au are sequentially deposited by vacuum evaporation, unnecessary portions are removed by lift-off, and a Y-directional wiring 1 having a desired shape is formed.
Form 3

Step f: As shown in FIG. 6, a pair of device electrodes 16 and 17 located at a distance L1 between device electrodes
A Cr film 21 having a thickness of 1000 Å is deposited and patterned by vacuum deposition using a mask 20 having an opening 20a that straddles the organic Pd (ccp).
4230 Okuno Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) was spin-coated with a spinner and heated and baked at 300 ° C. for 10 minutes.

The thus formed electron emitting portion forming thin film 18 composed of fine particles containing Pd as a main element has a thickness of about 100 Å and a sheet resistance of 5 × 10 ^4.
Ω / □. In addition, the fine particle film described here is a film in which a plurality of fine particles are aggregated.
Not only a state in which the fine particles are individually dispersed and arranged, but also a film in which the fine particles are adjacent to each other or overlapped (including an island shape), and the particle size is a fine particle whose particle shape can be recognized in the above state. About diameter.

Step g: Cr film 21 with acid enchant
Was removed to form an electron-emitting-portion-forming thin film 18 having a desired pattern shape.

Step h: A pattern is formed such that a resist is applied to portions other than the contact hole 14a, and 50 Å thick Ti and 500 thick are formed by vacuum evaporation.
0 Å of Au was sequentially deposited. Unnecessary portions were removed by lift-off to fill the contact holes 14a.

Through the above steps, the X-directional wiring 12, the Y-directional wiring 13, and the electron-emitting devices 15 are formed and arranged at equal intervals on the insulating substrate 11 two-dimensionally.

Then, the envelope 10 (see FIG. 1) is evacuated by a vacuum pump through an exhaust pipe (not shown), and after reaching a sufficient degree of vacuum, the external terminals Dox1 to Doxm and Dx1
A voltage is applied between the device electrodes 16 and 17 of the electron-emitting device 15 through oy1 to Doyn, and the electron-emitting-portion forming thin film 18 is locally energized by applying current (forming process). The electron emission portions 23 (see FIG. 4) are formed on the thin film 18 for forming electron emission portions by breaking. For example, as forming processing, 10 ^-6 To
Under a vacuum atmosphere of rr, a pulse width T ¹ as shown in FIG.
There one millisecond, a triangular wave wave height (the peak voltage for the forming) is 5V, 10 ms for 60 seconds at a pulse interval T ² of the, by energizing between the device electrodes 16 and 17, the thin film for electron-emitting region The electron emission portion 23 can be formed on the substrate 18.

(2) Fluorescent Film 7 In the case of monochrome, the fluorescent film 7 is composed of only a fluorescent material as a member for forming an image by collision of electrons, but in the case of color, as shown in FIG. A black conductive material 7b called a black stripe or a black matrix depending on the arrangement of the phosphors and a phosphor 7a. Since the phosphor 7a needs to be arranged corresponding to the electron-emitting device 15, when the envelope 10 is configured, the face plate 3 and the rear plate 2 must be accurately aligned. Black stripe,
The purpose of the provision of the black matrix is to make the mixed colors inconspicuous by making the painted portions between the phosphors 7a of the three primary color phosphors necessary for color display black.
The purpose is to suppress a decrease in contrast due to reflection of external light on the fluorescent film 7. As a material of the black conductive material 7b,
In addition to commonly used materials mainly containing graphite, any material having conductivity and low light transmission and reflection can be used. The method of applying the phosphor 7a to the glass substrate 6 is not limited to monochrome or color, and a precipitation method or a printing method is used.

(3) Metal Back 8 The purpose of the metal back 8 is to improve the brightness by specularly reflecting the light of the fluorescent light of the phosphor 7a directed toward the inner surface toward the face plate 3 and to reduce the electron beam acceleration voltage. Acting as an accelerating electrode for applying, phosphor 7 from damage caused by collision of negative ions generated in envelope 10
a. The metal back 8 can be manufactured by performing a smoothing process (usually called filming) on the inner surface of the fluorescent film 7 after manufacturing the fluorescent film 7 and then depositing Al by vacuum evaporation or the like. The face plate 3 may be provided with a transparent electrode (not shown) such as ITO between the fluorescent film 7 and the glass substrate 6 in order to further increase the conductivity of the fluorescent film 7.

(4) Envelope 10 The envelope 10 is connected to an exhaust pipe (not shown) and is connected to a pressure of 10 ^-6 Torr.
After a degree of vacuum is applied, it is sealed. Therefore, the rear plate 2, the face plate 3, and the support frame 4 constituting the envelope 10 can withstand the atmospheric pressure applied to the envelope 10, maintain a vacuum atmosphere, and maintain the electron source 1 and the metal back 8.
It is desirable to use a material having an insulating property enough to withstand a high voltage applied therebetween. As the material, for example, quartz glass, glass having a reduced content of impurities such as Na,
Blue sheet glass, ceramic members such as alumina and the like can be mentioned. However, it is necessary to use a face plate 3 having a certain or higher transmittance for visible light. In addition, it is preferable to combine the members whose thermal expansion coefficients are close to each other.

Since the rear plate 2 is provided mainly for the purpose of reinforcing the strength of the electron source 1, if the electron source 1 itself has a sufficient strength, the rear plate 2 is unnecessary, and is directly connected to the electron source 1. The support frame 4 may be sealed, and the envelope 10 may be configured by the electron source 1, the support frame 4, and the face plate 3.

Further, in order to maintain the degree of vacuum after the envelope 10 is sealed, getter processing may be performed. this is,
Immediately before or after sealing of the envelope 10, a getter disposed at a predetermined position (not shown) in the envelope 10 is heated by resistance heating, high-frequency heating, or the like to form a deposition film. Processing. A getter typically contains Ba is a main component, the adsorption effect of the vapor deposition film, for example, 1 × 10 ^-5
It maintains a degree of vacuum of about 1 × 10 ⁻⁷ Torr.

(5) Spacer 5 The spacer 5 may be any spacer as long as it has an insulating property enough to withstand a high voltage applied between the electron source 1 and the metal back 8. For example, quartz glass, glass with a reduced content of impurities such as Na, blue plate glass, and ceramic members such as alumina may be used. However, it is preferable that the thermal expansion coefficient be close to that of the member forming the envelope 10.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of an essential part of the spacer 5. As shown in FIG. As described above, on the surface of the spacer 5, the direction in which the device electrodes 16 and 17 face each other (X direction), that is, the electron source 1 and the metal back 8 of the face plate 3 (see FIG. 1).
Extending along the direction perpendicular to the direction of the electric field between
Stripe-shaped electrodes 9a, 9b, 9c are provided in parallel with each other at intervals, and the intervals S ^ab ,
S ^bc a thickness D ^a, the relationship between the D ^b, D ^c satisfies the conditional expression (1).

The electrodes 9a, 9b, 9c on the spacer 5 may be made of any material as long as it has conductivity. For example, Ni, Cr, Au, M
o, W, Pt, a metal or alloy such as Ti, Al, Cu, Pd, or Pd, Ag, Au, RuO ² , Pd—
Examples include a printed conductor composed of a metal such as Ag or a metal oxide and glass, a transparent conductor such as In ² O ³ —SnO ² , or a semiconductor conductor material such as polysilicon. However, a material to which a manufacturing method (printing or the like) suitable for forming a certain thickness or more (several tens of μm or more) is preferable.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, each electrode 9a,
9b, 9c are electrically connected to three extraction wirings 4a, 4b, 4c provided on the inner surface of the support frame 4, respectively, and by these extraction wirings 4a, 4b, 4c, the respective electrodes 9a, A predetermined potential is applied to 9b and 9c by a power supply (not shown) outside the envelope 10 (see FIG. 1). Each of the extraction wirings 4a, 4b, and 4c can be formed on the support frame by printing using a printed conductor made of, for example, a metal, a metal oxide, and glass.

Based on the configuration described above, the external terminals Dox1 to Doxm and Doy are connected to the electron-emitting devices 15 respectively.
When a voltage is applied through 1 to Doyn, electrons are emitted from the electron emission section 23. At the same by applying a high voltage of several kV or more through a high-voltage terminal H ^V to accelerate electrons emitted from the electron emission portion to the metal back 8 (or a transparent electrode (not shown)) at the same time, to impinge on the inner surface of the face plate 3. Thereby, the phosphor 7a of the phosphor film 7 is excited to emit light, and an image is displayed.

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show this state. 11 and 12 are diagrams for explaining trajectories of electrons and ions in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, respectively. FIG. 11 is a diagram viewed from the Y direction, and FIG. 12 is a diagram viewed from the X direction. It is. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, the electrons emitted from the electron emission portion 23 by applying the voltage Vf to the device electrodes 16 and 17 of the electron source 1 are charged with the acceleration voltage applied to the metal back 8 on the face plate 3. With respect to a normal line from the electron emission portion 23 to the surface of the electron source 1, the device electrode 17 on the positive electrode side 17 shifts by 25 Va due to Va.
It flies along the parabolic trajectory indicated by. For this reason, the center of the light emitting portion on the fluorescent film 7 is shifted from the normal to the surface of the electron source 1 from the electron emitting portion 23. It is considered that such a radiation characteristic is due to the potential distribution in a plane parallel to the electron source 1 being asymmetric with respect to the electron emission portion 23.

When electrons collide with the inner surface of the face plate 3, in addition to the light emission phenomenon of the fluorescent film 7, the particles attached to the fluorescent film 7 and the metal back 8 are ionized and scattered as shown in FIG. Occurs. Of these scattering particles,
Positive ions are accelerated toward the electron source 1 by a voltage Va applied between the electron source 1 and the face plate 3, and according to an initial velocity in a direction perpendicular to the electric field (Y direction in the drawing),
For example, it flies in a parabolic orbit as indicated by 26t, 26tab, and 26tbc.

Here, when the position where the positive ions are ionized is set as the origin, the direction of the electric field between the electron source 1 and the face plate 3 is Z, the direction orthogonal thereto is Y, the electron source 1 is Assuming that the distance from the charge carrier 3 is d and the maximum value of the initial kinetic energy of the positive ions is Vi, the locus formed by the charge carrier is represented by Z = [Va / (4d · Vi)] × Y ² .

Then, the distance Z from the face plate 3
When s collides with the spacer 5, the flying direction of the charge carrier is dy / dz = √ [(d · Vi) / (Zs · Va)].

Therefore, by setting the relationship between the thicknesses and the intervals of the electrodes 9a, 9b, 9c in accordance with the conditional expression (1), all the positive ions collide with the surfaces of the electrodes 9a, 9b, 9c, and Does not collide with the non-electrode surface. Therefore, charging due to the adhesion of charges to the spacer 5 does not occur.
The electrodes 9a, 9b, and 9c are supplied with voltages V1, V2, and V3 that are substantially the same as the potentials between the electron source 1 and the metal back 8 at that position by a power supply (not shown) even if the positive ions adhere.
Is held.

In the space between the face plate 3 and the electron source 1, there is a charge carrier for electrons emitted from the electron source 1 in addition to the above-mentioned positive ions. Applied to

In order to prevent the charge carrier such as positive ions from adhering to the spacer 5, it is conceivable that the entire surface of the spacer 5 is covered with one electrode. A plurality of electrodes 9a, 9b, and 9c were provided because it would not be able to withstand the high voltage between them.
Also, in order not to concentrate the electric field strength on a part,
An appropriate potential is applied to each of the electrodes 9a, 9b, 9c.

Usually, the applied voltage Vf between the pair of device electrodes 16 and 17 of the electron-emitting device 15 is about 12 to 16 V, and the distance d between the metal back 8 and the electron-emitting device 15 is 2 mm to 8 mm.
mm, and the voltage Va between the metal back 8 and the electron-emitting device 15 is about 1 kV to 10 kV. The spacer 5
The voltages V1, V2, and V3 applied to the electrodes 9a, 9b, and 9c provided above are 20 to 20 with respect to the potential at each position when the electrodes 9a, 9b, and 9c are not provided. 3
Different values may be set up to 0%.

The configuration described above is a schematic configuration necessary for manufacturing a suitable image forming apparatus used for image display and the like. For example, detailed portions such as materials and arrangement of each member are limited to those described above. Rather, it is appropriately selected so as to be suitable for the use of the image forming apparatus.

Hereinafter, an experimental example of image display using the image forming apparatus of this embodiment will be described.

(Experimental Example 1-1) In this experimental example, first, the unformed electron source 1 was fixed to the rear plate 2, and then, as shown in FIG.
b, 9c formed on both sides of the spacer 5 (sheet thickness 20
(0 μm, height 5 mm) were fixed on the electron source 1 at regular intervals in parallel with the X-direction wiring 12. After that, the face plate 3 is placed 5 mm above the electron source 1 via the support frame 4, frit glass is applied to the joint between the rear plate 2, the face plate 3, and the support frame 4, and 400 ° C. to 50 ° C. in air.
It sealed by baking at 0 degreeC for 10 minutes or more. At this time,
Each electrode 9a, 9b, 9c on the spacer 5 is
In contact with a plurality of extraction wirings (not shown) formed on the surface. The fixing of the electron source 1 to the rear plate 2 and the fixing of the spacer 5 to the electron source 1 were also performed with frit glass.

The three electrodes 9a, 9b on the spacer 5
9c is formed of Pd, Ag, RuO ^Two , Pd-Ag, etc.
Printed conductors composed of metals and metal oxides and glass
And printing. At this time, in FIG.
As shown, the thickness D of each electrode 9a, 9b, 9c is 50 μm.
m, height H is 1.4 mm, and between each electrode 9a, 9b, 9c.
And the distance S between the electron source 1 and the face plate 3 is 200
μm. This electrode shape (especially the electrode
Thickness ratio) was scattered on the inner surface of the face plate 3
Positive ions (maximum initial energy about 50 eV) or
Electrons emitted from the electron source 1 (the maximum initial energy is about 1
4 eV) on the non-electrode surface of the spacer 5
So as to satisfy the condition of not reaching
Therefore, it is set.

The fluorescent film 7, which is an image forming member,
In this experimental example, the phosphor 7a has a stripe shape (see FIG. 8A). As a material for the black stripe, a material mainly containing graphite, which is commonly used, was used. A slurry method was used to apply the phosphor 7a to the glass substrate 6.

The metal back 8 provided on the inner surface side of the fluorescent film 7 is subjected to a smoothing process (usually called filming) of the inner surface of the fluorescent film 7 after the formation of the fluorescent film 7, and thereafter, Al is added. It was produced by vacuum evaporation. The face plate 3 may be provided with a transparent electrode on the outer surface side of the fluorescent film 7 in order to further increase the conductivity of the fluorescent film 7, but in this experimental example, sufficient conductivity was obtained only by the metal back 8. Omitted. When the above-mentioned sealing was performed, in the case of color, the phosphors 7a of the respective colors had to correspond to the electron-emitting devices 15, so that sufficient alignment was performed.

The atmosphere in the glass container completed as described above is evacuated by a vacuum pump through an exhaust pipe (not shown), and after reaching a sufficient degree of vacuum, is passed through external terminals Dox1 to Doxm and Doy1 to Doyn. A voltage was applied between the device electrodes 16 and 17 of the electron-emitting device 15, and the electron-emitting portion forming thin film 18 was subjected to an energization process (forming process) to form the electron-emitting portion 23. In the forming process, a triangular wave having a pulse width T ¹ of 1 millisecond and a peak value (peak voltage during forming) of 5 V shown in FIG.
Device electrode 1 for 60 seconds at a pulse interval T ² of 10 milliseconds
This was carried out by applying a current between 6 and 17.

Next, at a degree of vacuum of about 10 ⁻⁶ Torr, an exhaust pipe (not shown) was welded by heating with a gas burner, and the envelope 10 was sealed.

Finally, gettering was performed to maintain the degree of vacuum after sealing.

In the image forming apparatus completed as described above, each of the electron-emitting devices 15 has a terminal Dox1 outside the container.
The scanning signal and the modulation signal are applied by signal generating means (not shown) through Doxm and Doy1 to Doyn, respectively, to emit electrons, and the metal back 8 is formed.
An image was displayed by accelerating an electron beam by applying a high voltage through a high voltage terminal Hv (or a transparent electrode (not shown)), causing electrons to collide with the fluorescent film 7 and exciting and emitting light from the phosphor. The voltage applied to the high voltage terminal Hv was 5 kV, and the voltage applied to the device electrodes 16 and 17 was 14 V. Further, three electrodes 9 a provided on the spacer 5,
The applied voltages to 9b and 9c were 4 kV, 2.5 kV and 1 kV, respectively, from the side close to the metal back 8.

At this time, a two-dimensional array of light-emitting spots including light-emitting spots generated by electrons emitted from the electron-emitting devices 15 located close to the spacer 5 are formed at two-dimensional intervals, and are clear and have good color reproducibility. Image display was completed. This indicates that even when the spacer 5 was installed, no disturbance of the electric field that would affect the electron trajectory occurred.

(Experimental Example 1-2) The difference from Experimental Example 1-1 is that the thicknesses D of the electrodes 9a, 9b and 9c were different from each other. D was set to 50, 40, and 30 μm. The shape of the electrode (particularly, the ratio of the electrode thickness to the electrode interval) is such that the parabolic orbit formed by the positive ions (maximum initial energy about 50 eV) scattered on the inner surface of the face plate 3 reaches the non-electrode surface of the spacer 5. It was set to satisfy the condition of not doing.

Also at this time, a two-dimensional array of light emitting spots including light emitting spots due to electrons emitted from the electron emitting elements 15 located near the spacer 5 is formed.
A clear image with good color reproducibility could be displayed.

(Experimental Example 1-3) The difference from Experimental Example 1-1 is that the heights H and the intervals S of the electrodes 9a, 9b, 9c were different from each other. Height 1.45, 1.4, 1.35 mm,
The distance S between each other was 0.15 and 0.25 mm. The electrode shape (especially, the ratio of the electrode thickness to the electrode interval) has a parabolic trajectory formed by positive ions (maximum initial energy of about 50 eV) scattered on the inner surface of the face plate 3 as in Experimental Example 2. Was set so as not to reach the non-electrode surface.

Also at this time, a two-dimensional array of light emitting spots including light emitting spots caused by electrons emitted from the electron emitting elements 15 located close to the spacer 5 is formed.
A clear image with good color reproducibility could be displayed.

In the present embodiment, the extraction wiring 4a is provided on the support frame 4, and the electrodes 9a, 9b, 9
Although an example in which c is taken out from the support frame 4 is shown, in this case, disturbance of the electric field in the vicinity of the support frame 4 can be prevented, and the withstand voltage characteristics can be kept good.

As another method, as shown in FIG.
Using a rear plate 2 'that is one size larger than the support frame 4,
On the rear plate 2 ', the extraction wirings 2'a, 2'b,
2′c, the electrodes 9a, 9 from the rear plate 2 ′.
b and 9c, and a face plate 3 'which is slightly larger than the support frame 4 as shown in FIG.
To the face plate 3 'and take out the wiring 3'
a, 3'b, and 3'c may be provided to extract the electrodes 9a, 9b, and 9c from the face plate 3 '. In this case, the wiring can be taken out from the substrate of the electron source 1 or the face plate 3, so that the electrical connection becomes easy.

Further, as shown in FIG. 16, a conductive member (not shown) is provided by printing or the like at each of the portions of the metal plate 8 of the face plate 3 and the electron source 1 where the spacer 5 comes into contact. Each electrode 9 between the members
A configuration may also be adopted in which electrical connection is made via a high-resistance conductive film 32 provided between a, 9b, and 9c. Alternatively, instead of each conductive member, the X-direction wiring 12 or the Y-direction wiring 13 of the electron source 1 may also serve as the leading wiring, and the metal back 8 may also serve as the leading wiring. The high-resistance conductive film 32 withstands a high voltage applied between the electron source 1 and the metal back 8, and has a semi-insulating material having an appropriate resistance value for stabilizing the potentials of the electrodes 9a, 9b, 9c. Formed of a conductive film. In this case, it is not necessary to additionally provide an extraction wiring in the periphery of the electron source 1 and the face plate 3, so that the device size can be reduced. Further, since it is not necessary to extend the spacer 5 to the peripheral portion, the arrangement of the spacer 5 can be performed quite freely.

(Second Embodiment) This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the number of electrodes provided on the spacer is five.
The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

More specifically, the thickness of each electrode was 20 μm, the height was 0.9 mm, and the distance between each electrode and the distance from the electron source and the face plate was 80 μm. The voltages applied to the five electrodes were 4.15 from the side near the metal back, respectively.
3.3, 2.5, 1.7, and 0.85 kV. As in the first embodiment, the shape of the electrode (especially the ratio of the electrode thickness to the electrode interval) is such that the parabolic orbit formed by the positive ions (maximum initial energy of about 50 eV) scattered on the inner surface of the face plate is a spacer. Was set so as not to reach the non-electrode surface.

In this case, the light emitting spot including the emission spot of the electron emitted from the electron emitting element located near the spacer is also included.
Emitting spot arrays were formed two-dimensionally at equal intervals, and a clear image with good color reproducibility could be displayed.

In this embodiment, five electrodes are provided, and in the first embodiment, three electrodes are provided. However, the number of electrodes is not limited to three or five, and may be changed as necessary. Can be increased or decreased.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 17 is a partially cutaway perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the support frame 54 is used to reduce the size of the device.
The electron emission portion on the electron source 51 and the face plate 53
The first point is that stripe-like electrodes 79a, 79b, and 79c similar to the electrodes 59a, 59b, and 59c of the spacer 55 are provided on the inner surface of the support frame 54 in the vicinity of the upper light emitting unit. Different from the embodiment. The other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and therefore detailed description thereof is omitted.
The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described together with its manufacturing procedure.

First, an unformed electron source 51 is fixed to a rear plate 52, and three stripe-shaped electrodes 59a, 59b, 59c are formed on the surface of the spacer 5 to form a spacer.
5 (plate thickness: 200 μm, height: 5 mm) were fixed on the electron source 51 at equal intervals in parallel with the X-direction wiring 62. Thereafter, the face plate 53 is disposed 5 mm above the electron source 51 via a support frame 54 having three striped electrodes 79a, 79b, and 79c formed on the inner surface.
2. Frit glass was applied to the joint between the face plate 53 and the support frame 54, and was baked at 400 ° C. to 500 ° C. in the air for 10 minutes or more to seal. A predetermined potential is applied to each of the electrodes 59a, 59b, 59c on the spacer 55 and each of the electrodes 79a, 79b, 79c on the support frame 54 by a lead-out wiring (not shown).
The fixing of the electron source 51 to the rear plate 52 and the fixing of the spacer 55 to the electron source 51 were also performed with frit glass.

The support frame 54 is formed of four plate-like members, and is formed with electrodes 59a, 59b, 59c on the spacer 55.
And electrodes 79a, 79 on support frame 54 (plate-like member)
b, 79c is formed by Pd, Ag, Au, RuO ² , P
The printing was performed using a printed conductor composed of a metal such as d-Ag or a metal oxide and glass. At this time, the thickness of each of the electrodes 59a, 59b, 59c, 79a, 79b, and 79c was 50 μm, the height was 1.4 mm, and the distance between each electrode and the distance between the electron source 51 and the face plate 53 was 200 μm. The shape of the electrode (especially, the ratio of the electrode thickness to the electrode interval) is determined by positive ions (maximum initial energy of about 50 eV) scattered on the inner surface of the face plate 53 or electrons emitted from the electron source 51 (maximum initial energy of about 1).
4 eV) is set so as to satisfy the condition that the parabolic trajectory formed by 4 eV) does not reach the non-electrode surfaces of the spacer 55 and the support frame 54.

In the image forming apparatus completed as described above, each of the electron-emitting devices 65 is provided with an external terminal Dox1.
The scanning signal and the modulation signal are applied by signal generation means (not shown) through Doxm and Doy1 to Doyn, respectively, to cause electrons to be emitted.
An image was displayed by applying a high voltage to the (or a transparent electrode not shown) through a high voltage terminal Hv to accelerate the electron beam, collide electrons with the fluorescent film 57, and excite and emit light from the phosphor. The voltage applied to the high voltage terminal Hv was 5 kV, and the voltage applied to the pair of device electrodes of the electron-emitting device 65 was 14 V. In addition, each of the electrodes 59a, 59b,
The voltages applied to 59c, 79a, 79b, 79c are 4 kV, 2.5 kV,
kV.

At this time, the spacer 55 and the support frame 54
A row of two-dimensionally spaced light-emitting spots including light-emitting spots generated by electrons emitted from the electron-emitting device 65 at a position close to was formed, and a clear image with good color reproducibility could be displayed. This indicates that even when the spacer 55 was installed, no disturbance of the electric field that would affect the electron trajectory occurred. Further, the size of the apparatus is more compact than that of the first embodiment.

(First Reference Example) FIG. 18 is a sectional view of a spacer according to a first reference example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 19 is an enlarged perspective view of the spacer shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the surface of the spacer 105 sealed between the electron source 101 and the face plate 103 is provided with the electron emitting element 115 in the X direction. Pair of element electrodes 11
The three stripe-shaped protrusions 105a, 105b, 105c (thickness D ', height H') extending in the direction in which 6, 6 and 117 are opposed to each other are integrally provided with an interval S 'in the Z direction. Electrodes 109a, 109b, and 109c are formed on the surfaces of the protrusions 105a, 105b, and 105c, respectively. The relationship between the distance between the electrodes 109a, 109b, and 109c and the amount of protrusion satisfies the conditional expression (1). The convex portions 105a, 105b to the spacer 105,
As a method for forming 105c, for example, a method by glass polishing can be used. Also, the electrodes 109a, 109
As a method of forming b and 109c, a method by printing, a method by oblique evaporation, and the like are given. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

As described above, the protrusion 105 is formed on the spacer 105.
a, 105b, 105c are provided, and the electrodes 109
Even if a, 109b, and 109c are formed, as a result, if the ratio of the protruding amount to the interval between the electrodes 109a, 109b, and 109c satisfies the conditional expression (1), charging due to charge adhesion to the spacer 105 does not occur. In addition, each electrode 10
The thicknesses of 9a, 109b, and 109c themselves could be made smaller than those of the other examples.

Hereinafter, an experimental example of image display using the image forming apparatus of this embodiment will be described.

(Experimental example 4-1) In this experimental example, the thickness D '
Is 50 μm, height H ′ is 1.4 mm, and interval S ′ is 200
Each of the convex portions 105a, 105b, 1
An electrode was formed on the surface of 05c. The electrodes were formed by printing using a printed conductor composed of metal, metal oxide, glass, and the like. The shape of the electrode (especially, the ratio of the amount of protrusion to the distance between the electrodes) is such that the positive ions scattered on the inner surface of the face plate 103 (the maximum initial energy is about 50 eV)
Alternatively, a parabolic orbit formed by electrons (maximum initial energy of about 14 eV) emitted from the electron source 101 is formed by the spacer 1
05 was set so as not to reach the non-electrode surface.

When an image was displayed under the same conditions as those of the first embodiment, the spacer 105
A two-dimensional array of light-emitting spots including light-emitting spots generated by the electrons emitted from the electron-emitting device 115 at a position close to was formed, and a clear image with good color reproduction was displayed. This indicates that even when the spacer 105 was provided, no electric field disturbance affecting the electron trajectory occurred.

(Experimental Example 4-2) The difference from Experimental Example 4-1 is that the convex portions 105a, 105b, 105 of the spacer 105 are different.
c is different from each other, each thickness D ′ is 50 from the side near the metal back 108,
40 and 30 μm. This electrode shape (particularly the ratio of the protruding amount to the electrode interval) is determined by the positive ions scattered on the inner surface of the face plate 103 (the maximum initial energy is about 50 e).
V) was set so as to satisfy the condition that the parabolic trajectory formed by V) did not reach the non-electrode surface of spacer 105.

At this time, a two-dimensional array of light-emitting spots including light-emitting spots generated by electrons emitted from the electron-emitting devices 115 located close to the spacer 105 is formed two-dimensionally at equal intervals. Display was completed.

(Experimental Example 4-3) The difference from Experimental Example 4-1 is that the convex portions 105a, 105b, 105 of the spacer 105 are different.
The height H ′ and the interval S ′ of c are different from each other.
Were set to 1.45, 1.4, and 1.35 mm, and the distance S ′ between them was set to 0.15 and 0.25 mm. As in the experimental example 2, the electrode shape (particularly the ratio of the protrusion amount to the electrode interval) is such that the parabolic trajectory formed by the positive ions (maximum initial energy of about 50 eV) scattered on the inner surface of the face plate 103 has a spacer 105 Was set so as not to reach the non-electrode surface.

At this time, a two-dimensional array of light-emitting spots including light-emitting spots generated by electrons emitted from the electron-emitting devices 115 located close to the spacer 105 is formed two-dimensionally at equal intervals. Display was completed.

In this embodiment, the example in which the convex portions 105a, 105b, and 105c provided on the spacer 105 are rectangular in shape is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and FIGS. Triangular convex portion 155 as shown in cross section
a, 155b, and 155c, or a convex portion 155d having an arc shape in cross section as shown in FIG. Even in this case, if the ratio between the distance S between the electrodes formed on the surface of the projection and the amount of protrusion D satisfies the conditional expression (1), it is possible to prevent electrification due to charge adhesion to the spacer.

(Second Reference Example) This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that in order to make the electric field near the spacers more uniform, the number of protrusions provided on the spacers is five, and electrodes are formed on each of them. 1 Different from Reference Example. The other configuration is the same as that of the first reference example, and the description is omitted.

More specifically, the thickness of each projection of the spacer is set to 2
The height was set to 0 μm, the height was set to 0.9 mm, and the distance between each electrode and between the electron source and the face plate was set to 80 μm. The voltages applied to the five electrodes were 4.15, 3.3, 2.5, 1.7, and 0.85, respectively, from the side close to the metal back.
kV. As in the first embodiment, the shape of the electrode (especially, the ratio of the protrusion amount to the electrode interval) is the same as that of the first embodiment.
The parabolic trajectory formed by eV) was set so as to satisfy the condition that the parabolic trajectory did not reach the non-electrode surface of the spacer.

At this time, the light-emitting spot including the emitted light from the electron-emitting device located near the spacer is also included.
Emitting spot arrays were formed two-dimensionally at equal intervals, and a clear image with good color reproducibility could be displayed.

(Third Embodiment) In this embodiment, three electrodes are provided on the support frame as in the third embodiment described with reference to FIG. 17, but three stripes are formed on the inner surface of the support frame. The point that an electrode was formed on the surface of the convex portion
Different from the embodiment.

Specifically, the thickness of the support frame is 50
Three projections having a thickness of 1.4 μm, a height of 1.4 mm, and an interval of 200 μm were provided along the electron source, and electrodes were formed on the surfaces thereof. This electrode shape (especially, the ratio of the protruding amount to the electrode interval) is a parabola formed by positive ions (maximum initial energy about 50 eV) scattered on the inner surface of the face plate or electrons (maximum initial energy about 14 eV) emitted from the electron source. The track was set so as to satisfy the condition that the track did not reach the non-electrode surfaces of the spacer and the support frame. The other configuration is the same as that of the third embodiment, and the description is omitted.

Then, when an image was displayed under the same conditions as in the third embodiment, two-dimensionally-emitted light including spots emitted by electrons emitted from the electron-emitting devices located near the spacer and the support frame was displayed. A spot array was formed, and a clear image with good color reproducibility was displayed. This indicates that even when the spacers were provided, no electric field disturbance affecting the electron trajectory occurred. Also, the third
As in the embodiment, the size of the apparatus became more compact.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 21 shows an image display apparatus constructed so that image information provided from various image information sources such as a television broadcast can be displayed on the image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure for showing an example of.
When the present display device receives a signal containing both video information and audio information, such as a television signal, it naturally reproduces the audio simultaneously with the display of the video. Descriptions of circuits, speakers, and the like related to reception, separation, reproduction, processing, storage, and the like of audio information that are not directly related to the above are omitted.

Hereinafter, each component will be described along the flow of the image signal.

First, the TV signal receiving circuit 513 is a circuit for receiving a TV image signal transmitted using a wireless transmission system such as radio waves or spatial optical communication. The format of the received TV signal is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, various systems such as the NTSC system, the PAL system, and the SECAM system. Further, a TV signal (for example, a so-called high-definition TV such as a MUSE system) composed of a larger number of scanning lines is used for a display panel using the image forming apparatus of the present invention, which is suitable for a large area and a large number of pixels. 50
It is a suitable signal source to take advantage of 0. The TV signal received by the TV signal receiving circuit 513 is
Is output to

The image TV signal receiving circuit 512 is a circuit for receiving a TV image signal transmitted using a wired transmission system such as a coaxial cable or an optical fiber. Similarly to the TV signal receiving circuit 513, the system of the received TV signal is not particularly limited, and the TV signal received by this circuit is also output to the decoder 504.

The image input interface circuit 51
Reference numeral 1 denotes a circuit for capturing an image signal supplied from an image input device such as a TV camera or an image reading scanner. The captured image signal is output to the decoder 504.

The image memory interface circuit 5
Reference numeral 10 denotes a circuit for capturing an image signal stored in a video tape recorder (hereinafter abbreviated as VTR). The captured image signal is output to a decoder 504.

The image memory interface circuit 5
Reference numeral 09 denotes a circuit for capturing an image signal stored in the video disk, and the captured image signal is output to the decoder 504.

The image memory interface circuit 5
Reference numeral 08 denotes a circuit for capturing an image signal from a device storing still image data, such as a so-called still image disk.
Is output to

The input / output interface circuit 505
Is a circuit for connecting the present display device to an output device such as an external computer, a computer network, or a printer. In addition to inputting and outputting image data and character / graphic information, control signals and numerical data can be input and output between the CPU 506 of the display device and the outside in some cases.

The image generation circuit 507 is used for display based on image data and character / graphic information input from the outside via the input / output interface circuit 505, or image data and character / graphic information output from the CPU 506. This is a circuit for generating image data. The circuit includes, for example, a rewritable memory for storing image data and character / graphic information, a read-only memory storing an image pattern corresponding to a character code, and a processor for performing image processing. And circuits necessary for generating an image.

The display image data generated by the image generation circuit 507 is output to the decoder 504. In some cases, the display image data can be output to an external computer network or a printer via the input / output interface circuit 505. .

The CPU 506 mainly performs operations related to operation control of the display device and generation, selection, and editing of a display image.

For example, a control signal is output to the multiplexer 503, and an image signal to be displayed on the display panel is appropriately selected or combined. In this case, a control signal is generated for the display panel controller 502 in accordance with the image signal to be displayed, and the display frequency, the scanning method (for example, interlaced or non-interlaced), and the number of scanning lines on one screen are displayed. The operation of the device is appropriately controlled.

The image data and character / graphic information are directly output to the image generation circuit 507, or the image data and character / graphic information are accessed by accessing an external computer or memory via the input / output interface circuit 505. Enter

The CPU 506 may, of course, be involved in work for other purposes. For example, it may be directly related to a function of generating and processing information, such as a personal computer or a word processor.

Alternatively, as described above, the computer may be brought into contact with an external computer network via the input / output interface circuit 505 to perform operations such as numerical calculations in cooperation with external devices.

The input unit 514 is for the user to input commands, programs, data, and the like to the CPU 506.
Various input devices such as a joystick, a barcode reader, and a voice recognition device can be used.

The decoder 504 includes the image generation circuit 5
07 to various signal signals input from the TV signal receiving circuit 513 are converted into three primary color signals, or a luminance signal and an I signal, and a Q signal.
This is a circuit for inversely converting to a signal. It is preferable that the decoder 504 includes an internal image memory as shown by a dotted line in FIG. This is for handling television signals that require an image memory when performing inverse conversion, such as the MUSE method. Further, the provision of the image memory facilitates display of a still image, or facilitates image processing and editing including image thinning, interpolation, enlargement, reduction, and synthesis in cooperation with the image generation circuit 507 and the CPU 506. This is because there is an advantage of being able to perform

The multiplexer 503 is connected to the CPU 50.
The display image is appropriately selected based on the control signal input from the control unit 6. That is, the multiplexer 503 selects a desired image signal from the inversely converted image signals input from the decoder 504 and outputs the selected image signal to the drive circuit 501. In that case, by switching and selecting an image signal within one screen display time, it is also possible to divide one screen into a plurality of areas and display different images depending on the areas, as in a so-called multi-screen TV. .

The display panel controller 5
Reference numeral 02 denotes a circuit for controlling the operation of the drive circuit 501 based on a control signal input from the CPU 506.

First, as a signal related to the basic operation of the display panel 500, a signal for controlling an operation sequence of a drive power supply (not shown) of the display panel 500 is output to the drive circuit 501, for example.

Further, as a signal relating to the driving method of the display panel 500, a signal for controlling, for example, a screen display frequency and a scanning method (for example, interlace or non-interlace) is output to the drive circuit 501.

In some cases, a control signal relating to image quality adjustment such as brightness, contrast, color tone, and sharpness of a display image may be output to the drive circuit 501.

The drive circuit 501 is a circuit for generating a drive signal to be applied to the display panel 500, and is based on an image signal input from the multiplexer 503 and a control signal input from the display panel controller 502. It works.

The function of each unit has been described above. With the configuration illustrated in FIG. 21, in this display device, image information input from various image information sources is displayed on the display panel 5.
00 can be displayed. That is, various image signals including television broadcasting are transmitted to the decoder 50.
After the inverse conversion in step 4, the signal is appropriately selected in the multiplexer 503 and input to the drive circuit 501. On the other hand, the display controller 502 generates a control signal for controlling the operation of the drive circuit 501 according to an image signal to be displayed. The drive circuit 501 applies a drive signal to the display panel 500 based on the image signal and the control signal. Thus, the display panel 500
Displays an image. A series of these operations is C
It is totally controlled by the PU 506.

In the present display device, the decoder 5
In addition to displaying the image information selected from a plurality of pieces of image information, the image information to be displayed can be enlarged or reduced by, for example, enlarging or reducing the image information by incorporating the image memory incorporated in the image information 04, the image generation circuit 507, and the CPU 506. Image processing including rotation, movement, edge emphasis, thinning, interpolation, color conversion, image aspect ratio conversion, and image editing including synthesis, erasure, connection, replacement, inset, etc. It is. In the description of the present embodiment,
Although not specifically mentioned, a dedicated circuit for processing and editing audio information as well as the above-described image processing and image editing may be provided.

Therefore, the present display device is a television broadcast display device, a video conference terminal device, an image editing device that handles still and moving images, a computer terminal device, an office terminal device such as a word processor, a game terminal, and the like. It is possible to combine the functions of a single machine, etc., and has a very wide range of applications for industrial or consumer use.

FIG. 21 merely shows an example of the configuration of a display device using the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this. For example, among the components shown in FIG. 21, circuits relating to functions that are unnecessary for the purpose of use may be omitted. Conversely, additional components may be added depending on the purpose of use. For example, when this display device is applied as a video phone, a TV camera, a voice microphone, a lighting device,
It is preferable to add a transmission / reception circuit including a modem to the components.

In the present display device, in particular, since the thickness of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention can be easily reduced, the depth of the display device can be reduced. In addition, since the screen can be easily enlarged, the luminance is high, and the viewing angle characteristics are excellent, the present display device can display an image full of presence and full of power with good visibility.

In each of the embodiments described above, the ON (emission) and OFF (non-emission) of electrons are controlled by the voltage applied to a pair of device electrodes of each electron-emitting device arranged on the electron source. Alternatively, another modulation electrode may be provided, and the modulation electrode may control on and off of electrons. The modulation electrode may be one integrally molded on an insulating substrate on which the electron source is provided, or one arranged in a space between the insulating substrate on which the electron source is provided and the face plate. In the above configuration, an electric field distribution different from that of the previous embodiments is caused by the voltage applied to the modulation electrode. However, basically, this potential distribution is expressed by the same conditional expression as that of the previous embodiments. By providing a spacer or a support frame provided with such an electrode, the same effect as in the previous embodiments can be obtained. In particular, in the case of being arranged in the space between the insulating substrate and the face plate, the potential distribution formed in the space between the electron source and the modulation electrode and in the space between the face plate and the modulation electrode is the same as before. By installing a spacer or a support frame provided with an electrode according to the same conditional expression as the conditional expression, it is possible to obtain the same effect as in the above-described embodiments. Further, another spacer for supporting the modulation electrode in the space may be added, but a similar configuration may be used for the spacer.

Further, electrodes that perform other functions (deflection electrodes,
In the case where a focusing electrode or the like is added, the same effect can be obtained by providing an electrode under the same conditions with respect to a spacer or a support frame provided in a space between these additional electrodes.

In these cases, the surface of the insulating member provided in a space (hereinafter, referred to as a “partial space”) divided by each electrode such as a modulation electrode is substantially equivalent to the conditional expression (1). It is sufficient to provide an electrode whose potential is regulated according to the following conditional expression (2). (Protrusion amount / electrode spacing) ≧ √ [Vi / (z · Ez)] conditional expression (2), where Vi: the maximum value of the initial kinetic energy of the charge carrier incident on the subspace z: in the subspace Ez: Average value of the electric field in the z-direction in the subspace Projection amount: Projection amount of the electrode in a direction orthogonal to the z direction Electrode interval: Distance between the electrodes in the z direction And

In the above embodiment, an example in which a surface conduction electron-emitting device is used as an electron-emitting device has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a device using an FE-type electron-emitting device or an MIM-type electron-emitting device may be used. A similar effect can be obtained in terms of the stability of the electron emission orbit. However, considering that the element structure is simple and that a plurality of elements can be easily arranged, it is preferable to use a surface conduction electron-emitting element. This is particularly effective in a large-sized image forming apparatus.

Although the image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied to an image display apparatus, the present invention is not limited to this range. For example, a recording apparatus such as a light emitting unit for forming an image in an optical printer may be used. Application to is also possible. In this case, the image forming units arranged one-dimensionally are often used as a normal mode. However, by appropriately selecting the above-described m row-directional wirings and n column-directional wirings, the line-shaped wirings can be formed. It can be applied not only to a light emitting source but also to a two-dimensional light emitting source.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the use of an image forming member having a substance which directly emits light, such as the phosphor used in the above-described embodiments, but includes a member capable of forming a latent image by electron charging. If using an image forming member,
The present invention is applicable.

The electron irradiation object is not specified, and application as an electron beam generator forming a multi-plane electron source is also possible.

[0180]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

In the electron beam generator of the present invention, an electrode with a regulated potential is provided on the surface of an insulating member such as a support frame or an atmospheric pressure resistant structure disposed between an electron source and an electron irradiation member. This makes it difficult for the charge carrier to adhere to the surface of the insulating member, thereby preventing the orbit of the electrons emitted from the electron-emitting device from being shifted. Moreover, since a plurality of electrodes are provided in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the electric field between the electron source and the electron irradiation member, a structure capable of withstanding the voltage applied to the acceleration electrode of the electron irradiation member is provided. It can be.

In particular, by considering the trajectory of the charge carrier existing between the electron source and the electron-irradiated member, the ratio between the protrusion amount of each electrode and the electrode interval is set according to the conditional expression (1). The trajectory of the charge carrier to the insulating member is blocked by the electrode, and the charging of the insulating member can be completely prevented. Therefore, the same effect can be obtained by forming a plurality of protrusions on the insulating member and providing electrodes on each of the protrusions.

Even when at least one electrode portion is provided between the electron source and the electron-irradiated member, the surface of the insulating member may be disposed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the electric field in the space where the insulating member is installed. By providing a plurality of electrodes along the same direction, the same effect as the above-described effect can be obtained. In this case,
If the ratio between the protrusion amount of each electrode and the electrode interval is set in accordance with the conditional expression (2), charging of the insulating member can be completely prevented.

Further, by providing the lead-out wiring for each electrode on the support frame, it is possible to prevent electric field disturbance near the support frame, maintain good withstand voltage characteristics, and provide the lead-out wiring on the face plate. Thus, electrical connection can be easily performed. Furthermore, by forming a high-resistance conductive film on the insulating member and providing a lead-out wiring on the conductive member electrically connected to the conductive member, the size of the device can be reduced, and the spacer can be freely arranged. Can be.

In addition, by using a cold cathode type electron-emitting device as the electron-emitting device, it is possible to configure a large-sized electron beam generator with a low power consumption and a high response speed. Among them, in particular, the surface conduction electron-emitting device has a simple structure and a large number of devices can be easily arranged. An electron beam generator can be achieved.

Further, a plurality of surface conduction electron-emitting devices are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix and are connected by a plurality of row-direction wirings and a plurality of column-direction wirings, respectively. By providing an appropriate drive signal in the direction, a large number of surface conduction electron-emitting devices can be selected and the amount of electron emission can be controlled. Therefore, basically, it is not necessary to add another control electrode, and one electron source can be used. It can be easily configured on a single substrate.

Since the image forming apparatus of the present invention uses the electron beam generating apparatus of the present invention, as described above, the electron trajectory is stabilized, and a good image without emission position shift can be formed. Become. In particular, by using a surface conduction electron-emitting device as the electron-emitting device, an image forming apparatus having a simple structure and a large screen can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially broken perspective view of a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view near a spacer of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a main part of an electron source of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA ′ of the electron source shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view sequentially illustrating a manufacturing process of the electron source of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an example of a mask used when forming a thin film for forming an electron-emitting portion.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a voltage waveform used for forming processing.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a fluorescent film.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of a spacer of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a lead-out wiring of each electrode provided on a spacer.

11 is a view for explaining the trajectories of electrons and ions in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and is a view of an electron emission portion near a spacer viewed from a Y direction.

FIG. 12 is a view for explaining trajectories of electrons and ions in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and is a view of an electron emission portion near a spacer viewed in the X direction.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the shape of each electrode provided on a spacer.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing another example of a lead-out wiring of each electrode provided on a spacer.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing another example of the lead-out wiring of each electrode provided on the spacer.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing another example of a lead-out line for each electrode provided on a spacer.

FIG. 17 is a partially broken perspective view of a third embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a spacer in the first reference example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

19 is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of a spacer of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

20 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another example of the shape of the spacer of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of an example of an image display device using the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

22A and 22B show a typical device configuration of a surface conduction electron-emitting device. FIG. 22A is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 22B is a sectional view taken along line AA ′.

FIG. 23 is a view sequentially illustrating the manufacturing process of the surface conduction electron-emitting device shown in FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional image forming apparatus using a thermoelectron source.

FIG. 25 is a plan view of a conventional surface conduction electron-emitting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 51, 101 Electron source 2, 2 ', 52 Rear plate 2'a, 2'b, 2'c Extraction wiring 3, 3', 53, 103 Face plate 3'a, 3'b, 3'c Extraction Wiring 4, 54 Support frame 4a, 4b, 4c Extraction wiring 5, 55, 105 Spacer 6 Glass substrate 7, 57 Phosphor film 7a Phosphor 7b Black conductive material 8, 58, 108 Metal back 9a, 9b, 9c, 59a, 59b , 59c, 79a,
79b, 79c, 109a, 109b, 109c Electrode 10 Enclosure 11 Insulating substrate 12, 62 X-direction wiring 13 Y-direction wiring 14 Interlayer insulating layer 14a Contact hole 15, 65, 115 Electron emitting element 16, 17, 116, 117 Element electrode 18 Thin film for forming electron emission portion 20 Mask 20a Opening 21 Cr film 23 Electron emission portion 32 High resistance conductive film 105a, 105b, 105c, 155a, 155b,
155c, 155d protrusion 500 display panel 501 drive circuit 502 display panel controller 503 multiplexer 504 decoder 505 input / output interface circuit 506 CPU 507 image generation circuit 508, 509, 510 image memory interface circuit 511 image input interface circuit 512, 513 TV signal reception Circuit 514 Input section

Claims (17)

[Claims] An electron source provided with an electron-emitting device; and an electron irradiation device provided with an acceleration electrode opposed to the electron source in a vacuum atmosphere for accelerating electrons emitted from the electron-emitting device. In an electron beam generator having a member and an insulating member disposed between the electron source and the electron-irradiated member, a plurality of electrodes with a regulated electric potential are provided on the surface of the insulating member. An electron beam generator provided along a direction perpendicular to a direction of an electric field between the electron source and the electron irradiation member, wherein the plurality of electrodes are provided according to the following conditional expression. . (Projection amount / electrode interval) ≧ √ [(d · Vi) / (z · V
a)] d: distance between the electron source and the electron irradiation member Vi: maximum value of the initial kinetic energy of the charge carrier generated between the electron source and the electron irradiation member z: the electron source and the electron irradiation member Va: distance between the electrode and the electrode in the direction of the electric field between the irradiation member and the electrode Va: potential difference between the electron source and the accelerating electrode of the electron irradiation member Projection amount: direction perpendicular to the z direction The distance between the electrodes in the z direction 2. An electron irradiation apparatus comprising: an electron source provided with an electron-emitting device; and an electron beam irradiation device comprising: an electron source provided opposite to the electron source in a vacuum atmosphere to accelerate electrons emitted from the electron-emitting device. A member, at least one electrode portion disposed between the electron source and the electron-irradiated member, and disposed between the electron source and the electrode portion or in a space between the electrode portions. In the electron beam generator having an insulating member, a plurality of electrodes having a prescribed potential are formed on the surface of the insulating member, respectively, in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the electric field in the space where the insulating member is installed. An electron beam generator characterized by being provided along. 3. The electron beam generator according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of protrusions are formed on a surface of the insulating member, and the electrode with the specified potential is provided on each of the plurality of protrusions. . 4. The electron beam generator according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of electrodes are provided according to the following conditional expression. (Projection amount / electrode spacing) ≧ √ [Vi / (z · Ez)] Vi: maximum value of the initial kinetic energy of the charge carrier incident on the space where the insulating member is installed z: installation of the insulating member Ez: Average value of the electric field in the z direction in the space where the insulating member is installed Projection amount: Projection amount of the electrode in the direction orthogonal to the z direction Spacing: spacing of the electrodes in the z-direction 5. The electron beam according to claim 4, wherein the charge carrier is an electron emitted from the electron source, a secondary electron or an ion generated by collision of an electron emitted from the electron source. Generator. 6. The electron beam generator according to claim 2, wherein the insulating member is an anti-atmospheric structure provided between the electron source and the electrode unit. 7. The support frame according to claim 2, wherein the insulating member is a support frame that forms a part of an envelope for maintaining a vacuum atmosphere between the electron source and the electrode unit. An electron beam generator according to claim 1. 8. The electron beam generator according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of electrodes is led out to the outside by a lead wire. 9. The electron beam generator according to claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of electrodes is led out to the outside by a lead wire. 10. The electron beam generator according to claim 9, wherein the lead wiring is provided on the support frame. 11. The electron beam generator according to claim 8, wherein the lead wiring is provided on the electrode portion. 12. The electron beam generator according to claim 8, further comprising a rear plate on which the electron source is mounted, wherein the lead wiring is provided on the rear plate. 13. A high-resistance conductive film connecting the plurality of electrodes to the insulating member, and a conductive material electrically connected to the high-resistance conductive film respectively to the electrode portion and the electron source. The electron beam generator according to claim 8, wherein a member is provided, and the lead-out wiring is provided on the conductive member. 14. The electron beam generator according to claim 1, wherein the electron-emitting device is a cold cathode type electron-emitting device. 15. The electron beam generator according to claim 14, wherein said cold cathode type electron-emitting device is a surface conduction type electron-emitting device. 16. A plurality of said surface conduction electron-emitting devices are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, and each of said surface conduction electron-emitting devices is formed by a plurality of row-direction wirings and a plurality of column-direction wirings. The electron beam generator according to claim 15, wherein the electron beam generators are connected. 17. An image forming apparatus using the electron beam generator according to claim 1, wherein:
Instead of the electron irradiation member, a member on which an image is formed by colliding electrons emitted from the electron-emitting device and an electron emitted from the electron-emitting device are accelerated. Forming apparatus having an image forming member provided with an accelerating electrode.