Self-protected electrodes which inherently limit field-emitted currents to a safe value and also stabilize such currents are disclosed. The electrodes are characterized by a plurality of columnar conductors connected at one end to a common potential source. The electrodes are insulated from one another along their lengths whereby the effective or exposed surfaces thereof are subdivided into a mosaic of conducting patches which are insulated from one another.
A field emission lamp, of either a diode or triode structure has a packaging whereby electrical access to the various electrodes of the lamp is provided through the rear or underside of the field emission device so that the individual lamps can be placed in close proximity to each other.
An electric field electron discharge surge absorbing element includes a first substrate member having an electron discharge portion on which a plurality of emitters are formed, and a second substrate member having a surface on which no emitters are formed. The surface and the electron emitter portion face each other, separated at a prescribed distance by a frame member. A vacuum is formed in the envelope between the substrate members and the frame member. External electrode layers are formed on the outer surfaces of each substrate member. The emitter cones may be etched from a semiconductor material, or may be diamond crystals deposited in place.
A static electricity suppressor includes a base insulating sheet having conductive patterns coated on its two surfaces, and ion emitters in the form of pointed wires passing through the sheet, the ionizing points of the emitter extending beyond one surface of the base and being spaced from the pattern thereon, which is grounded. The opposite ends of the emitters are coupled to the pattern on the second surface of the base, capacitively or directly, which second surface pattern is connected to electrical source(s). A method of making a static electricity suppressor comprises providing electrically conductive pattern coatings on opposite surfaces of a base sheet of insulating material and causing emitters, which include ionizing points, to extend transversely through the base sheet with the ionizing points beyond the adjacent base sheet surface and spaced from the pattern on that surface, the opposite ends of the emitters engaging the pattern on the opposite surface, which is in registry with the removed portion of the coating on the first surface.
A static electricity suppressor includes a base insulating sheet having conductive patterns coated on its two surfaces, and ion emitters in the form of pointed wires passing through the sheet, the ionizing points of the emitter extending beyond one surface of the base and being spaced from the pattern thereof, which is grounded. The opposite ends of the emitters are coupled to the pattern on the second surface of the base, capacitively or directly, which second surface pattern is connected to electrical source(s). A method of making a static electricity suppressor comprises providing electrically conductive pattern coatings on opposite surfaces of a base sheet of insulating material and causing emitters, which include ionizing points, to extend transversely through the base sheet with the ionizing points beyond the adjacent base sheet surface and spaced from the pattern on that surface, the opposite ends of the emitters engaging the pattern on the opposite surface, which is in registry with the removed portion of the coating on the first surface.
In the improved image orthicon the source of electrons required for the electron beam is obtained from a metal-oxide composite material, eliminating the thermal emitter and associated sources of heat and noise. The same metal-oxide composite material is used as the thin film target on which the image is formed, stored, and read. Image retention from preceeding frames is reduced to essentially zero and the orthicon structure is improved by elimination of the fragile thin glass targets in present use.
