Flat panel field emission displays

[seriously disabled]

According to Wikipedia, a field emission display (FED) is a next-generation flat panel display technology that uses large-area field electron sources to provide electrons that strike colored phosphor to produce a color image.

 

An FED display replaces the single electron gun of a conventional CRT with a grid of individual nanoscopic electron guns. The emitters were originally built out of tiny molybdenum cones known as Spindt tips, but most recent FED research has focused on using carbon nanotubes instead. A high voltage-gradient field is created between the emitters and a fine metal mesh suspended just above them, which pulls electrons off the tips of the emitters. This is a highly non-linear emission process; small changes in voltage will cause the number of electrons being emitted to quickly saturate. The non-linearity of the process means that the grid of elements can be individually addressed without an active matrix – only the emitters located at the crossing points of the powered cathode and gate lines will have enough power to produce a visible spot

 

This line in bold I didn't understand. Could someone clarify me what it means? What are gate lines?

Edited September 21, 2009 by Uri