US Patent 7847273 - CNT electron gun with alignment mechanism

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7847273.html

Electron guns typically require a positively charged electrode to facilitate electron extraction but any misalignment between the electron source and extractor can cause focusing problems. This patent from ELORET Corporation teaches a carbon nanotube electron emitter which includes alignment features. Claim 1 reads:

1. An electron source comprising:

a substrate;

a conductive material disposed on said substrate;

a carbon nanotube coupled to said conductive material; and

wherein said substrate comprises a first feature operable to interface with an extractor of an electron gun, and wherein said first feature is further operable to position said carbon nanotube with respect to said extractor.