Imaging display and storage methods effected with an integrated field emission array sensor, display, and transmitter

Abstract

A method for displaying and storing or otherwise recording images includes use of an image detection apparatus that includes a field emission array with an image-sensing surface, an image-displaying surface opposite the image-sensing surface, and integral signal transmission circuits. As appropriate voltages are applied and the image-sensing surface of the field emission array is exposed to an image, p-n junctions near the image-sensing surface generate electron-hole pairs, which cause electrons to be transferred to a corresponding n-well. The change in voltage may result in the emission of electrons from an emitter tip that corresponds to the n-well and, thus, the display of an image by a display panel positioned adjacent to, but spaced apart from, the image-displaying surface. Additionally, changes in voltage in the n-well may be communicated in such a way that they are stored or recorded.

1 . A method for detecting electromagnetic radiation and storing data representative of the electromagnetic radiation, comprising: 
 exposing a back side of a field emission array to the electromagnetic radiation to permit the electromagnetic radiation to impinge a p-n junction adjacent to a corresponding n-well of the field emission array, resulting in the generation of electron-hole pairs in the p-n junction and the communication of a number of electrons representative of a wavelength or an intensity of the electromagnetic radiation to the at least one n-well, the increase in electrons in the n-well resulting in emission of electrons from at least one emitter tip of the field emission array that is in communication with the at least one n-well; and    communicating an electrical charge created by the increase in electrons in the n-well to an adjacent side of a capacitor that is in communication with the n-well to facilitate storage of a portion of an image; and    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 measuring a potential across the capacitor.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein measuring comprises: 
 communicating a voltage present at the adjacent side of the capacitor to an opposite, drain side of the capacitor;    storing the voltage in the capacitor;    turning a gate of a transistor that communicates with the drain side of the capacitor on to communicate the voltage across capacitor to a source of the transistor; and    scanning the voltage of the source to determine at least one of an intensity and a wavelength of radiation that impinged the p-n junction.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein communicating the voltage facilitates the emission of electrons from the at least one emitter tip.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 applying a relatively positive voltage to an extraction grid associated with the at least one emitter tip to facilitate the emission of electrons from the at least one emitter tip.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 applying a positive voltage to a display panel to facilitate the mission of electrons from the at least one emitter tip and illumination of at least one corresponding pixel of the display panel as electrons impact the at least one corresponding pixel.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 storing a value representative of the potential across the capacitor.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 shielding the back side from the electromagnetic radiation.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 re-exposing the back side to electromagnetic radiation.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein exposing comprises focusing an image comprising of the electromagnetic radiation onto the back side.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein exposing comprises directing the back side toward a source of electromagnetic radiation.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein exposing comprises opening a shutter.  
   
   
       13 . A method for detecting, displaying, and recording an image, comprising: 
 generating a change in voltage in n-wells associated with an image-sensing surface of a field emission array by orienting the image-sensing surface toward the image;    communicating the change in voltage to capacitors that communicate with the n-wells to facilitate storage or recording of the image; and    communicating the change in voltage to emitter tips that communicate with the n-wells to facilitate display of the image by an image-display surface of the field emission array.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 measuring a potential across each capacitor.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein measuring comprises: 
 communicating a voltage present at the adjacent side of each capacitor to an opposite, drain side of the capacitor;    storing the voltage in the capacitor;    turning a gate of a transistor that communicates with the drain side of the capacitor on to communicate the voltage across capacitor to a source of the transistor; and    scanning the voltage of the source to determine at least one of an intensity and a wavelength of radiation that impinged a p-n junction in communication with an n-well associated with the capacitor.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein communicating the voltage facilitates emission of electrons from an emitter tip in communication with the n-well.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 applying a relatively positive voltage to an extraction grid associated with the field emission array to facilitate the emission of electrons from the emitter tip.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 applying a positive voltage to a display panel to facilitate the emission of electrons from the emitter tip and illumination of at least one corresponding pixel of the display panel as electrons impact the at least one corresponding pixel.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 storing values representative of the potentials across the capacitors.