US 12,237,139 B2
Field emission cathode device and method of forming a field emission cathode device
Jian Zhang, Durham, NC (US)
Assigned to NCX Corporation, Raleigh, NC (US)
Appl. No. 18/247,264
Filed by NCX Corporation, Raleigh, NC (US)
PCT Filed Sep. 29, 2021, PCT No. PCT/IB2021/058941
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 29, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/070097, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 7, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/085,424, filed on Sep. 30, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0411101 A1, Dec. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. H01J 3/02 (2006.01); H01J 9/02 (2006.01); H01J 9/14 (2006.01); H01J 9/18 (2006.01)
CPC H01J 3/021 (2013.01) [H01J 9/025 (2013.01); H01J 9/148 (2013.01); H01J 9/18 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A field emission cathode device, comprising:
a cathode element having a field emission surface;
a gate electrode element disposed in spaced-apart relation to the field emission surface of the cathode element so as to define a gap therebetween, the gate electrode element having a plurality of parallel grill members or a mesh structure laterally-extending between opposing anchored ends, the grill members or the mesh structure defining one or more open spaces; and
a film element laterally co-extending and engaged with the gate electrode element, the film element defining one or more openings extending therethrough and corresponding to the one or more open spaces of the gate electrode element, the one or more openings in the film element each having an area of less than an area of the corresponding open space defined by the gate electrode element, the film element engaged with the gate electrode element including the film element comprised of a conductive material and the film element being arranged to directly engage the gate electrode element, the film element thereby being arranged to allow electrons emitted from the field emission surface of the cathode element to pass therethrough, and to cooperate with the gate electrode element and the cathode element to form a substantially uniform electric field within the gap and about the field emission surface.