A display architecture that uses millions of tiny cold cathodes to bombard a phosphor-coated screen with electrons. It functions similarly to a traditional cathode ray tube but eliminates the bulky electron gun and deflection yoke by placing individual emitters directly behind the sub-pixels. This provides the deep blacks and fast refresh rates of a CRT in a thin form factor, though it remains largely superseded by OLED and LCD technologies due to manufacturing challenges.
The lab built a prototype field emission display, but maintaining the high vacuum between the glass panels proved too difficult.
Also heard as
- FED
Related terms
FED
A flat-panel display technology that uses microscopic electron emitters to excite phosphors.
Cathode ray tube
A vacuum tube containing one or more electron guns and a phosphorescent screen used to display images.
Cold cathode
A vacuum tube electrode that emits electrons without relying on a dedicated heating filament.