Amorphous silicon thin-film transistors (a-Si TFTs) were incorporated into Mo-tip-based triode-type field emitters and diode-type ones of carbon nanotubes for an active-matrix cathode (AMC) plate of field emission displays. Also, we developed a novel surface-treatment process for the Mo-tip fabrication, which gleatly enhanced in the stability of field emission. The field emission currents of AMC plates on glass substrate were well controlled by the gate bias of a-Si TFTs. Active-matrix field emission displays (AMFEDs) with these AMC plates were demonstrated in a vacuum chamber, showing low-voltage matrix addressing, good stability and reliability of field emission, and highly uniform light emissions from the anode plate with phosphors. The optimum design of AMFEDs including a-Si TFTs and a new light shield/focusing grid is discussed.