Abstract: A high pressure gas discharge lamp and the method of making same utilizing integrated circuit fabrication techniques. The lamp is manufactured from heat and pressure resistant planar substrates in which cavities are etched, by integrated circuit manufacturing techniques, so as to provide a cavity forming the gas discharge tube. Electrodes are deposited in the cavity. The cavity is filled with gas discharge materials such as mercury vapor, sodium vapor or metal halide. The substrates are bonded together and channels may be etched in the substrate so as to provide a means for connection to the electrodes. Lamps having ignition enhancing and hot restrike features, as well as single-sided electrodes, are disclosed.

Abstract: To improve performance, reliability and lifetime of a plasma-containing electro-optic display device, at least the cathode electrodes have hollows or wells within which plasma discharge occurs. This reduces the tendency of the electrode material to be sputter deposited on the walls of the device. In addition, cathode emission is improved by incorporating emitter materials into the electrodes, either by alloying or by surface coatings.

Abstract: Lamps that include composite sintered electrodes with improved properties that make them suitable for use in a variety of lamp types, are provided by a method for producing electrodes which comprise a refractory metal and a refractory emitter oxide, either single layer or multiple layer, the composites having been subjected to sintering at an elevated temperature effective to form a composite electrode having a density of at least 85%, preferably in the presence of a sintering activator, such as for example, Ni, or mixture thereof with a sintering aid such as, for example Li.sub.2 O.

Abstract: Composite sintered electrodes with improved properties that make them suitable for use in a variety of lamp types, are provided which comprise a refractory metal and a substantial amount of a refractory emitter oxide, either single layer or multiple layer, the composites having been subjected to sintering at an elevated temperature effective to form a composite electrode having a density of at least 85%, preferably in the presence of a sintering activator, such as for example, Ni, or mixture thereof with a sintering aid such as, for example, Li.sub.2 O.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to new electrode structures for use in fluorescent lamps in which a tungsten base structure is provided with electron emissive materials including one or more of barium titanate, barium zirconate, barium strontium zirconate, barium cerium oxide, barium tantalate, and barium strontium yittrium oxide. Amounts of MgO may be added to improve or change emitter properties. A composite electrode structure can be formed by way of coating a tungsten coil with a slurry of this material, or providing powdered mixtures of both the electron emissive material and tungsten material and sintering this powdered material into a high density composite electrode structure.