Video camera and other apparatus that include integrated field emission array sensor, display, and transmitter

Abstract

An image detection apparatus includes a field emission array with an image-sensing surface and an image-display surface, as well as signal transmission circuitry in communication with pixels of the field emission array. The field emission array includes p-n junctions that are positioned near the image-sensing surface to sense radiation that impinges the image-sensing surface. N-wells communicate with and receive electrons from corresponding p-n junctions. Emission tips and capacitors communicate with each of the n-wells. The emission tips are configured to emit electrons from the image-display surface to facilitate the display of an image. The capacitors are a part of signal transmission circuitry. The image detection apparatus may be part of a camera, which also includes a display positioned adjacent to the image-display surface and a recording mechanism. Additionally, such a camera may include a shutter, optical elements, and other features.

1 . A video camera, comprising: 
 a field emission array including a p-type substrate including an array of n-wells therein, 
 the substrate having:  
 a plurality of emitter tips extending from an emission surface thereof, selected emitter tips of the plurality of emitter tips in communication with a corresponding n-well of the array of n-wells; and  
 a detection surface opposite the emission surface;  
   at least one signal transmission circuit in communication with selected n-wells of the array of n-wells;    an extraction grid adjacent the substrate and including an array of apertures therethrough, each aperture of the array of apertures corresponding to at least emitter tip of the plurality of emitter tips;    a display disposed parallel to and spaced apart from the extraction grid and including an array of cathodo-luminescent display pixels, selected display pixels of the display pixels corresponding to at least emitter tip of the plurality of emitter tips;    a scan circuit in communication with the at least one signal transmission circuit;    a decoder component in communication with the scan circuit; and    a recorder mechanism in communication with the decoder component.    
   
   
       2 . The video camera of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one signal transmission circuit comprises: 
 a capacitor in communication with a corresponding n-well of the array of n-wells;    a baseline potential transistor in communication with the capacitor, opposite the corresponding n-well; and    a signal transmission transistor in communication with the capacitor, opposite the corresponding n-well.    
   
   
       3 . The video camera of  claim 2 , wherein the baseline potential transistor and the signal transmission transistor share a drain.  
   
   
       4 . The video camera of  claim 2 , wherein the baseline potential transistor is in communication with a baseline charge.  
   
   
       5 . The video camera of  claim 1 , further comprising a shutter component.  
   
   
       6 . The video camera of  claim 5 , wherein the shutter component is configured to prevent radiation detectable by the detection surface from impinging the detection surface.  
   
   
       7 . The video camera of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the detection surface and the n-wells of the array of n-wells facilitates the detection of electromagnetic radiation of a near infrared wavelength by p-n junctions adjacent selected n-wells of the array of n-wells.  
   
   
       8 . The video camera of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the detection surface and the n-wells of the array of n-wells facilitates the detection of electromagnetic radiation of a visible wavelength by p-n junctions adjacent selected n-wells of the array of n-wells.  
   
   
       9 . The video camera of  claim 1 , further comprising a radiation focusing element associated with the detection surface.  
   
   
       10 . The video camera of  claim 9 , wherein the radiation focusing element comprises an optical lens adjacent the detection surface.  
   
   
       11 . A video camera, comprising: 
 a field emission array including: 
 an image-sensing surface for sensing an image; and  
   an image-display surface opposite the image-sensing surface for emitting electrons to facilitate display of the image; and 
 signal transmission circuitry that facilitates recording of the image;  
   a display positioned over and spaced apart from the image-display surface of the field emission array; and    recording componentry associated with the signal transmission circuitry.    
   
   
       12 . The video camera of  claim 11 , wherein the field emission array further includes: 
 an array of p-n junctions positioned adjacent to the image-sensing surface to sense electromagnetic radiation impinging upon the image-sensing surface;    an array of n-wells, each n-well of which communicates with a corresponding p-n junction to receive electrodes therefrom;    an array of capacitors, each capacitor of which communicates with a corresponding n-well to temporarily store a voltage of the corresponding n-well;    an array of baseline potential transistors, each baseline potential transistor of which communicates a baseline potential to a corresponding capacitor;    an array of signal transmission transistors, each signal transmission transistor of which receives a stored voltage from the corresponding capacitor;    an array of emitter tips, each emitter tip of which communicates with a corresponding n-well to receive electrons therefrom; and    an extraction grid for drawing the electrons from the array of emitter tips.    
   
   
       13 . The video camera of  claim 12 , wherein each signal transmission transistor shares a drain with a corresponding baseline potential transistor.  
   
   
       14 . The video camera of  claim 12 , wherein each baseline potential transistor of the array of baseline potential transistors communicates with a baseline charge.  
   
   
       15 . The video camera of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a scan circuit in communication with source wells of the array of transistors so as to detect the stored voltages of each transistor of the array.    
   
   
       16 . The video camera of  claim 15 , wherein the recording componentry includes: 
 a decoder in communication with the scan circuit; and    a recording mechanism in communication with the decoder.    
   
   
       17 . The video camera of  claim 12 , wherein a distance between the image-sensing surface and the n-wells of the array of n-wells facilitates detection of electromagnetic radiation of a near infrared wavelength by p-n junctions of the array of p-n junctions that correspond to the n-wells.  
   
   
       18 . The video camera of  claim 12 , wherein a distance between the image-sensing surface and the n-wells of the array of n-wells facilitates detection of electromagnetic radiation of a visible wavelength by p-n junctions of the array of p-n junctions that correspond to the n-wells.  
   
   
       19 . The video camera of  claim 1   1 , further comprising a shutter component.  
   
   
       20 . The video camera of  claim 19 , wherein the shutter component is configured to prevent radiation detectable by the image-sensing surface from impinging the image-sensing surface.  
   
   
       21 . The video camera of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a radiation focusing element associated with the image-sensing surface.    
   
   
       22 . The video camera of  claim 21 , wherein the radiation focusing element comprises an optical lens adjacent the image-sensing surface.