Abstract: A flash illumination system is provided which is especially useful for high-speed photography. In one embodiment, the invention provides a surface discharge lamp which produces an intense broadband burst of light having an intended spectrum. Another embodiment of the invention provides a surface discharge lamp which produces multiple pulses of intense broadband illumination at very high pulse repetition rates. The lamp in either embodiment is fabricated in a relatively inexpensive manner and can be compactly constructed and of modular construction to suit various applications. The lamp is composed of a gas envelope in which is provided a dielectric substrate and electrodes at respective ends of a surface of the substrate. The substrate is preferably a portion of the enclosure. A backplane is disposed outside the enclosure and confronting the opposite surface of the substrate between the electrodes.

Abstract: A barrier structure of a plasma display panel that can prevent an excessive increase of discharging current during a supply of discharging voltage and thereby avoid damages to electrodes caused by an excessive discharging current. A plasma display panel including both a first and second substrate, the second substrate spaced a distance from the first substrate. The plasma display panel also includes sustain electrodes arranged in parallel with one another on the first substrate; data electrodes arranged on the second substrate substantially perpendicular to the sustain electrodes; and a barrier on the first substrate and projected toward the second substrate, the barrier having at least one side contacting at least one sustain electrode.

Abstract: The electrode component according to the invention is produced by means of the metal powder injection molding method. As a result, complex shapes can be realized for the electrode.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrode for a ceramic electrode fluorescent discharge lamp; an electrode material for a discharge lamp, which has high electron flow density, high thermal shock resistance, and reduced deterioration due to sputtering; and also a method for manufacturing the same. The invention makes it possible to reduce the tube diameter of the ceramic electrode fluorescent discharge lamp. An electrode material for a discharge lamp is obtained from a first component of 0.5 to 1.5 mols of BaO, CaO or SrO, a second component of 0.05 to less than 0.3 mols or more than 0.7 to 0.95 mols of ZrO2 or TiO2, and a third component of 0.025 to less than 0.3 mols of V2O5, Nb2O5, Ta2O5, Sc2O3, Y2O3, La2O3, Dy2O3, or Ho2O3, or 0.05 to less than 0.15 mols or more than 0.35 to 0.95 mols of HfO2, CrO3, MoO3 or WO3. This electrode material is granulated and is turned into a massive, granular, or porous electrode material.

Abstract: A vapor discharge lamp comprised of an arc tube containing an ionizable medium, a first electrode electrically connected to a first in lead conductor, and a second electrode electrically connected to a second in lead conductor, said first and said second electrode pairs being positioned to create an arc discharge therebetween, an electron emissive material disposed on at least one of said electrodes, said electron emissive material being Ba.sub.4 Al.sub.2 O.sub.7.

Abstract: The discharge lamp comprises a piezotransformer and at least one of the lamp electrodes comprises a secondary side of the piezotransformer. Since the piezotransformer functions as a lamp electrode, as a ballast choke and as a transformer, the discharge lamp can be operated by means of a relatively simple and cheap ballast circuit.

Abstract: A noble gas discharge lamp of the present invention comprises an outer enclosure comprising a light emitting layer comprising at least one fluorescent substance, the light emitting layer formed therein and a pair of outer electrodes having tape shapes comprise a metal, which are adhered to the entire length of the outside of the outer enclosure so as to separate one outer electrode and the other outer electrode at a certain distance, and to form a first opening portion and a second opening portion; wherein the coated amount of fluorescent substance is in a range of 5 to 30 mg/cm.sup.2.

Abstract: A piezoelectric porcelain step-up discharge tube includes a vacuum tube having an inner surface coated with fluorescent material and filled with a substance which can be easily activated to discharge, an input plug mounted on one end of the vacuum tube, a conducting terminal arranged on another end of the vacuum tube, a porcelain step-up device arranged within the vacuum tube and having an end electrically connected with the input plug and another end made of piezoelectric material for providing a discharging electrode for supplying a starting and working voltage, and a conductive material coated on an outer side of the vacuum tube and electrically connecting the input plug to the conducting terminal.

Abstract: A first electrode group and a second electrode group each being formed by planarly arraying a plurality of electrodes on a common substrate are arrayed such that the electrodes cross over through an insulating layer. A common discharge electrode portion is arranged between each pair of adjacent electrodes of the first electrode group to be opposite to the pair of electrodes, and plasma discharge portions are formed at opposing portions of the respective discharge electrode portions and the opposite portions of each of the pairs of electrodes opposite to the discharge electrode portions. Thus, a problem of decreases in width of electrodes and inter-electrode interval caused by an increase in definition in a planar-type plasma discharge display device is solved, and at the same time, without using a complex signal processing circuit, the display drive of the planar-type plasma discharge display device and a high-luminance display drive are performed without causing any image degradation.

Abstract: A channel structure for a PALC display panel comprises a channel member defining at least one channel, a cathode having an upper surface exposed in the channel, and an anode having an upper surface exposed in the channel. The upper surface of the anode is of substantially uniform composition and has a conductivity perpendicular to its upper surface of at least about 10.sup.-4 ohm.sup.-1 cm.sup.-1.

Abstract: A plasma display panel for preventing a discharging operation in a non-displaying area and thus progressing the contrast ratio according to the present invention is disclosed. The plasma display panel comprises a first substrate and a second substrate which are provided with each of inner faces opposite to each other. Between the first and second substrates, barrier ribs arranged toward a first direction are separated parallel to each other with a space. On the inner face of the first substrate, first electrodes are arranged parallel with each other toward a second direction which is orthogonal with the first direction. In addition, dot type second electrodes, which are connected with a pair of first electrodes and are exposed to a space between the pair of first electrodes, are arranged on the inner face of the first substrate. Between the barrier ribs on the inner face of the second substrate, there are placed third electrodes which are arranged parallel with the first direction.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a metal halide lamp in which tungsten coils are made to have diameters wider than the outer diameters of electrodes, and to have a coil pitch sufficient to prevent molten quartz glass from entering therebetween; and after the tungsten coils have been fixed around the electrodes, the pitch of the tungsten coils on the sides of the electrodes which are nearest molybdenum foils is extended by dragging a part of the tungsten coils toward the discharge ends of the electrodes to fix it tightly around the electrodes. As a result, when sealing is performed with quartz glass bulb, gaps between the electrodes and the glass bulb are provided on the discharge sides of the electrodes, whereby it can be prevented to occur cracks in the quartz glass bulb due to the thermal expansion of the electrodes; and on the molybdenum foil sides of the electrodes, the quartz glass bulb contacts the electrodes, thereby preventing peeling-off and accumulation of sealed material.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp includes a bulb, a fluorescent material coated on an internal surface of the bulb, a stem, a discharge chamber filled with gas and mercury, a thermal cathode filament coated with electron emitting material, an anode, a pair of lead wires passing air-tightly through the stem and supporting the thermal cathode filament, and a lead wire supporting the anode. The anode is a substantially rectangular plate, and is substantially parallel to the thermal cathode filament in a cross sectional view taken along a bulb axis Z. The thermal cathode filament and the rectangular anode plate can be configured of an angle range of 30-60 degrees in a cross sectional view perpendicular to the lamp axis Z. The rectangular anode plate and the lead wire supporting the anode can be attached to each other in a substantially flag-shaped configuration. The invention produces a smaller discharge spot to improve thermal electron emission efficiency such that efficiency of the fluorescent lamp is improved.

Abstract: A luminous gas discharge display including at least two opposing hermetically sealed plates. At least one of the plates is formed of a transparent material and cooperatively forms with at least one other plate at least one channel. The channel contains an ionizable gas to define a gas discharge path. The display further includes at least one pair of electrodes in communication with the at least one channel. At least one of the electrodes is a flat electrode positioned internally between the plates and includes a conductive material deposited on the channel and extending from the channel to outside the periphery of the display to provide electrical contact between a voltage source and the ionizable gas to produce a gas discharge display.

Abstract: A mercury dispensing support strip capable of dispensing mercury and sorbing reactive gases. In one embodiment, the support strip of the invention includes at least one track of mercury releasing material deposited on one face of the support strip. At least one track of getter material is also deposited on the same face of the support strip. The tracks of mercury releasing and getter materials are deposited on the support strip such that the mechanical strains exerted by the materials on points of the support strip that are substantially symmetric with respect to a central axis of said first surface of said mercury dispensing support strip are substantially equivalent.

Abstract: A discharge lamp of the short arc type with good light intensity stability in which arc fluctuation is suppressed is achieved, according to the invention by providing a discharge lamp of the short arc type which has an arc tube which surrounds the discharge space, hermetically sealed portions on the two ends of the arc tube, a cathode and an anode which are arranged opposite one another in the arc tube and which is operated such that the cathode is pointed upward, in by the cathode being supported by an inner lead which is held securely by the hermetically sealed portion, the outside diameter of the cathode being greater than the outside diameter of the inner lead, and by the relationship L.gtoreq.2.5D being satisfied, where D is the outside diameter of the cathode (mm) and L is the axial length of the cathode (mm).

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp comprising a bulb, a fluorescent material coated on an internal surface of the bulb, a stem, a discharge chamber filled with gas and mercury, a thermal cathode filament coated with electron emitting material, lead wires passing air-tight through the stem and supporting the thermal cathode filament and an anode, where the anode is substantially rectangular with a thickness 1/16.about.3/16 of the longitudinal length of the thermal cathode filament and is substantially parallel to cathode filament in a cross-sectional view along an axis Z. The thermal cathode filament and the rectangular anode are arranged such that either the thermal cathode filament or the rectangular anode is in a rotated position relative to the other on a parallel flat surface within an angle range of 30-60 degrees. In this composition, the smaller discharge spot is obtained to improve thermal electron emission efficiency and efficiency of the fluorescent lamp.

Abstract: A small fluorescent lamp having improved efficiency is described. The lamp includes a lamp body having a serpentine channel therein. The serpentine channel is arcuate in cross section with a fluorescent coating covering the serpentine channel but not the lamp cover to produce an aperture effect. The serpentine channel is reflective such that the cross section forms an aperture effect lamp to improve efficiency. Efficiency is further improved by raising the pressure within the lamp to 70-120 torr. Further efficiency is obtained by limiting the depth of the serpentine channel relative to the width of the serpentine channel such that the electrical discharge is confined within a small cross sectional area. In one embodiment, secondary housings are attached to the lower surface of the lamp to conceal the electrodes beneath the lamp, thereby improving the uniformity of the lamp.

Abstract: A discharge device for operation in a gas at a prescribed pressure includes a cathode having a plurality of micro hollows therein, and an anode spaced from the cathode. Each of the micro hollows has dimensions selected to produce a micro hollow discharge at the prescribed pressure. Preferably, each of the micro hollows has a cross-sectional dimension that is on the order of the mean free path of electrons in the gas. Electrical energy is coupled to the cathode and the anode at a voltage and current for producing micro hollow discharges in each of the micro hollows in the cathode. The discharge device may include a discharge chamber for maintaining the prescribed pressure. A dielectric layer may be disposed on the cathode when the spacing between the cathode and the anode is greater than about the mean free path of electrons in the gas. Applications of the discharge device include fluorescent lamps, excimer lamps, flat fluorescent light sources, miniature gas lasers, electron sources and ion sources.

Abstract: A radiation source, in particular a discharge lamp suitable for operating a dielectrically hindered pulsed discharge by means of a ballast, has at st one electrode separated by dielectric material from the inside of the discharge vessel. By appropriately designing at least one of the electrodes and/or the dielectric material, local field reinforcement areas are created, so that during the pulsed mode of operation one or more dielectrically hindered individual discharges are generated exclusively in these areas, maximum one individual discharge being generated in each area. These areas are obtained in particular by shortening the spacing in locally limited areas, for example by providing on one of the electrodes hemispherical projections which extend towards the counter-electrode. This measure achieves a timestable discharge structure with a high useful radiation effectiveness uniformly distributed throughout the discharge vessel.

Abstract: A noble gas discharge lamp of the present invention comprises an outer enclosure comprising a light emitting layer formed therein, and a pair of outer electrodes having tape shapes comprising a metal, which are adhered to the entire length of the outside of the outer enclosure so as to separate one outer electrode and the other outer electrode at a certain distance. The electrodes form a first opening portion and a second opening portion; wherein the outer enclosure is filled with at least one kind of noble gas under the confining pressure is in a range of 83 to 200 Torr. There is at least one nonlinear portion formed at at least one side portion of the outer electrodes.

Abstract: A discharge vessel (10) encloses a discharge space (12) in a gastight manner, electrodes (21a, 21b) being arranged in the space and having a first (22a, 22b) and a second fastening (22a', 22b'). At least one of the electrodes (21a) is surrounded by a screen (23) which has a smallest width W, in a plane transverse to the tube axis (11) and transverse to the direction from the first (22a) to the second fastening (22a'), which width is smaller than the distance D between the fastenings (22a, 22a'). The screen (23a) has a length L in the direction of the tube axis (11) which lies between once and three times the smallest width W. The lamp consumes comparatively little mercury in the case of cold ignition.

Abstract: Novel emitter materials, electrode assemblies amd lamps comprising the same are provided in which, in accordance with the invention, novel electrodes are provided having a lamp electrode structure, preferably including a hollow ferrule for sealing in a lamp to permit evacuation; an emitter material of the invention on at least one surface thereof, preferably on a protrusion attached to the hollow ferrule; a thermal isolator, preferably in the form of a low thermal conductivity wire or an incised or cut-out portion of the hollow ferrule body, for thermally isolating the protrusion from the ferrule to maintain a sufficiently high temperature for thermionic emission, and further comprising an emitter material requiring no in-lamp processing. The emitter materials are a mixed oxide of Ba, Sr and mixtures thereof with one or more of the metals from the series comprising Ta, Ti, Zr, Sc, Y, and La, are preferably selected from the group consisting of Ba.sub.4 Ta.sub.2 O.sub.9, Ba.sub.5 Ta.sub.4 O.sub.15, BaY.sub.

Abstract: A method for fabrication of a display device is provided which comprises the steps of: forming an aluminum electrode having a predetermined configuration on a substrate; and treating the aluminum electrode with a solution containing an oxidizing agent to form on a surface of the aluminum electrode a compound film containing as a principal component a substance derived from the solution containing the oxidizing agent.

Abstract: A field emitter device comprises a dielectric anodic aluminum oxide layer having pores with wires the front ends of which constitute individual field emitting cathodes, a gate eleectrode overlying a front surface of the layer, and an address electrode overlying a back surface of the layer and in electrical contact with the wires. The problem of short circuit between the gate electrode and the field emitter is overcome by cleaning the pore walls adjacent the gate electrode and/or by selectively dissolving the back ends of individual wires.

Abstract: A flat fluorescent lamp (1) has a discharge vessel (2) having a base plate (7), a top plate (8) and a frame (9) which are connected to one another in a gas-tight fashion by means of solder (10). Structures resembling conductor tracks function in the interior of the discharge vessel as electrodes (3-6), in the feedthrough region as feedthroughs, and in the external region as external supply leads (13; 14). Flat lamps of the most different sizes can thereby be produced simply in engineering terms and in a fashion capable of effective automation. Moreover, virtually any electrode shapes can be realized, in particular optimized with regard to a uniform luminous density with a reduced drop in luminous density towards the edges of the flat lamp. At least the anodes (5, 6) are covered in each case with a dielectric layer (15). The lamp (1) is preferably operated by means of a pulsed voltage source and serves as background lighting for LCDs, for example in monitors or driver information displays.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp (1) includes a tubular glass bulb (2), an internal electrode (5) within the tubular glass bulb (2), a fluorescent layer (4) formed on an inner surface of the glass bulb (2), an external electrode (3) provided on an outer surface of the glass bulb (2), and a covering glass tube (6) is disposed over the total length of the internal electrode (5). The fluorescent lamp (1) further includes a fluorescent layer (7) disposed on the outer surface of the glass tube (6). The fluorescent lamp (1), as configured above, makes it unnecessary to form the internal electrode into a coil, and absorbs the difference in thermal expansion coefficients. This prevents the internal electrode (5) from resonating with vibrations from the outside and prevents contact of the fluorescent layer (4) by the internal electrode (5).

Abstract: A channel member for a PALC panel has a channel in its surface and a wire in the channel as an electrode of the PALC panel.

Abstract: A field emission cathode has particular use in a light source. The light source includes an evacuated container having walls, at least a portion of which consists of an outer glass layer which on at least a major part thereof is coated on the inside with a layer of phosphor forming a luminescent layer and a conductive layer forming an anode. The layer of phosphor is excited to luminescence by electron bombardment from a field emission cathode located in the interior of the container. A modulator electrode is arranged between the cathode and the anode for creating an electrical field necessary for the emission of electrons. The field emission cathode, includes a base body, and field emitting bodies extending from the base body. The base body includes a longitudinally extending core having a central axis. The field emitting bodies are elongate and are distributed along at least a part of the length of the core, extend radially outwards from the core, and have free ends provided with field emitting surfaces.

Abstract: A high intensity lamp is provided based on an open discharge between a cathode grid anode and a collector. A phosphor layer on the collector is excited by an electron beam to produce light or ultraviolet radiation to produce light.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp includes a tubular glass bulb, an internal electrode provided substantially along the central axis of the tubular glass bulb, a fluorescent layer provided on the inner surface of the tubular glass bulb, and an external electrode provided on the outer surface of the tubular glass bulb, wherein the internal electrode, having a coiled shape, is laid in the tubular glass bulb with an appropriate tension. According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a sag in the internal electrode from occurring due to a difference in coefficient of thermal expansion between the tubular glass bulb and a metallic member forming the internal electrode, and to prevent either the tubular glass bulb or the internal electrode from being broken because of an excessive stress, thereby overcoming the problem concerning such type of fluorescent lamp.

Abstract: A ceramic cathode fluorescent discharge lamp is provided including a pair of electrodes, a bulb plated with a fluorescent body on an inner surface of same, at least one of said pair of electrodes being a ceramic cathode having a bottomed cylindrical housing including an electron emission material of an aggregate type porous structure of conductive oxide having a first component consisting of at least one of Ba, Sr, and Ca, a second component consisting of at least one of Zr and Ti, and a third component consisting of at least one of Ta and Nb, said aggregate type porous structure having a surface plated with a conductive or semiconductive layer of at least one of carbide, nitride and oxide of Ta or Nb, rare gas being sealed in said bulb, and sealing pressure of said rare gas being in the range between 10 Torr and 170 Torr.

Abstract: Novel emitter materials, electrode assemblies amd lamps comprisinfg the same are provided in which, in accordance with the invention, novel electrodes are provided having a lamp electrode structure, preferably including a hollow ferrule for sealing in a lamp to permit evacuation; an emitter material of the invention on at least one surface thereof, preferably on a protrusion attached to the hollow ferrule; a thermal isolator, preferably in the form of a low thermal conductivity wire or an incised or cut-out portion of the hollow ferrule body, for thermally isolating the protrusion from the ferrule to maintain a sufficiently high temperature for thermionic emission, and further comprising an emitter material requiring no in-lamp processing. The emitter materials are a mixed oxide of Ba, Sr and mixtures thereof with one or more of the metals from the series comprising Ta, Ti, Zr, Sc, Y, and La, are preferably selected from the group consisting of Ba.sub.4 Ta.sub.2 O.sub.9, Ba.sub.5 Ta.sub.4 O.sub.15, BaY.sub.

Abstract: A tubular glow discharge electrode is formed therein with a slot in which front end parts of support leads are inserted. The slot has a widened center part which defines an opening. The tube-like glow discharge tube is welded at its one end part to one of the support lead so as to be electrical conductive to the same, and is caulked at it's the other end part to the other one of the support leads through the intermediary of an insulator. A filament electrode (ark discharge electrode) carrying an electron-emissive substance is supported to the free end parts of the support leads within the tube-like glow discharge electrode which therefore surrounds the arc discharge electrode with a small gap defined between the glow discharge electrode and the filament electrode.

Abstract: A lighting system includes an electrically insulating and transparent or translucent optical material having a plurality of compartments containing a luminous composition, forming a light-emitting material. Structure for passing radiation, preferably radio frequency radiation, through the compartments is provided such that the luminous composition in the compartments will emit light through the optical material. The luminous composition is preferably a gas that is entrained as bubbles in the optical material when it is in the liquid state. The optical material is hardened to seal within the luminous gas and to produce a light-emitting material. Electrodes are used to pass the RF radiation through the light-emitting material. The electrodes can be provided as an adhesive-backed foil which is attached to the light-emitting material.

Abstract: An electroluminescent device which includes a close arrangement including a first set of fibers and a second set of fibers being arranged to form a two dimensional close array of junctions between fibers of the first set of fibers and fibers of the second set of fibers, wherein each of the fibers includes a longitudinal conductive element, whereas fibers of at least one of the first and second sets of fibers further include a longitudinal coat of at least one light emitting substance being in intimate contact with the conductive element, the at least one light emitting substance is selected such that on applying an electric field between crossing conductive elements, radiation is emitted from the light emitting substance.

Abstract: A low pressure discharge lamp in which, even during uninterrupted operation, a low lamp voltage characteristic is maintained over a long time interval and in which high radiant efficiency can be obtained over a long time is achieved via a low pressure discharge lamp which has a tubular glass bulb in which a pair of electrodes are located opposite one another, by an electron emission material which contains lithium being included on or in the electrode substrate. Advantageously, the electron emission material contains at least one of the following materials: metallic lithium, an alloy of lithium and another metal, an oxide of lithium, a mixture of an oxide of lithium with another metal oxide, and an oxide which contains lithium and another metal element and which is a compound identified by the formula Li--M--O.sub.x where M designates at least one element selected from among the alkali earth metals, rare earth metals and transition metal, and x is the number of oxygen atoms required for valency equalization.

Abstract: An electron emitter (2) has a semiconductor substrate (20) doped with an n-type region (21). A diamond layer (24) is doped by ion implantation with a p-type dopant to form a graded dopant profile region (27) that increases away from the upper surface of the diamond layer (24) and a thin insulating region (28) separating the p-type region (27) from the n-type region (21). The emitter (2) has a first electrical contact (23) on a lower surface of the substrate (20) and a second electrical contact (25) on the upper surface of the diamond layer (24) such that a voltage can be applied across the emitter (2) to cause tunneling of electrons from the n-type region (21) through the insulating region (28) into the p-type region (27), causing emission of electrons from an exposed surface (29).

Abstract: A lamp apparatus for producing a beam of light that can be used as a part of a source for a projection system. The lamp apparatus of the present invention produces a beam of light originating from a small aperture. The apparatus includes an electrodeless lamp body in the form of elongated outer tube having a hollow interior. An inner sleeve fits or is deposited inside the outer tube, the inner sleeve having a fill containing generally cylindrically or spherical shaped bore. The sleeve provides temperature resistant and reflection properties. Electrodes positioned either internally or externally of the lamp body are provided for producing radio frequency energy that excite the fill contained in the bore of the inner sleeve to form a plasma light source of intense heat. The light thus generated by the plasma in a relatively large volume is constrained to exit through a small aperture at either one, or both, ends of the apparatus.

Abstract: A discharge device for operation in a gas at a prescribed pressure includes a cathode having a plurality of micro hollows therein, and an anode spaced from the cathode. Each of the micro hollows has dimensions selected to produce a micro hollow discharge at the prescribed pressure. Preferably, each of the micro hollows has a cross-sectional dimension that is on the order of the mean free path of electrons in the gas. Electrical energy is coupled to the cathode and the anode at a voltage and current for producing micro hollow discharges in each of the micro hollows in the cathode. The discharge device may include a discharge chamber for maintaining the prescribed pressure. A dielectric layer may be disposed on the cathode when the spacing between the cathode and the anode is greater than about the mean free path of electrons in the gas. Applications of the discharge device include fluorescent lamps, excimer lamps, flat fluorescent light sources, miniature gas lasers, electron sources and ion sources.

Abstract: There is provided a fluorescent lamp comprising a tubular glass bulb, a fluorescent layer formed on an inner surface of the tubular glass, an external electrode provided on an outer surface of the tubular glass bulb, and an internal electrode provided on the inner surface of the tubular glass bulb, wherein the internal electrode formed from a conductive member is fixed on the inner surface of the tubular glass bulb by a glass having a low melting point to be in close contact with the inner surface of the tubular glass bulb. This makes it possible to arrange the tubular glass bulb and the internal electrode which have different thermal expansion coefficients without any problem due to resonance with vibration.

Abstract: A conductive refractory compound coating for electrodes is sputter resistant, very resistant to oxidation, and easy to apply by way of electrophoresis or screen printing. This structure is further enhanced by the presence of surface particles of electrically nonconductive ceramic material. When the cathode electrode is energized, electrically nonconductive material is penetrated by the electric field, which attracts secondary electrons out of the cathode electrode, thereby increasing the cathode's efficiency as an emitter of secondary electrons. More specifically, cathode electrodes are used in a plasma addressing structure. The coating is formed by approximately 5 nm particles, each comprised of a fused matrix of conductive and nonconductive particles co-deposited with frit particles by either electrophoresis or "silk" screening. The coating is subsequently baked to fuse the frit and bond the electrophoretically deposited particles to the electrodes.

Abstract: A cold-cathode discharge device for emitting light. The device has a fluorescent tube and electrodes containing R.sub.2 O.sub.3-z (where R is an atom or an atom group of rare earth elements, O is oxygen, and z is 0.0 to 1.0). The electrodes are made by oxidation of the rare earth elements under an atmosphere in which oxygen and/or oxygen-containing substance is 1% or less by volume, in order to control the stoichiometry of the oxide.

Abstract: An electric gas discharge lamp includes an electrode having a tip portion comprised by a mesh body carrying an emitter material. The mesh body in a favorable embodiment is circular cylindrical and is attached via an electrically conductive thermal isolator to a conductive feed-through, such as a hollow ferrule, extending through a seal of the lamp vessel. As compared to a continuous walled tip portion of similar shape and material, the mesh body has a lower mass and heat capacity, and can therefore be operated at higher temperatures without increasing the temperature of the seal area. The higher operating temperature of the tip portion promotes greater electron emission from the emitter material, and therefore a lower cathode fall. A lower cathode fall enables the lamp to be operated at higher lamp currents for greater light output.

Abstract: The cathode for a gas discharged lamp includes gettering materials which are placed within the interior of the cathode shell. Other components may also be placed inside the cathode for continuous activation. For example, in mercury vapor lamps, a mercury amalgam is placed within the cathode. In another embodiment, a mass of electron emission assisting compound is placed within the cathode to replenish the emission assisting compound which deteriorates from the cathode.

Abstract: A cold cathode electrode for a discharge lamp has a metal substrate supporting a layer of diamond, so as to increase the electron yield of the electrode. The substrate may be a helical nickel wire with a layer of diamond forming it into a continuous tube.

Abstract: A field emission cathode (40) includes field emitting bodies (42) in the form of fibers, and a base body having a longitudinally extending core (41) formed by at least two wires (43) between which the fibers are secured. The fibers are distributed along at least a part of the length of the core (41) and extend radially outwards from the core. A light source (10) includes an evacuated container having walls at least a portion of which consists of an outer glass layer (23) on which at least a major part thereof is coated on the inside with a layer of phosphor (24) forming a luminescent layer, and a conductive layer forming an anode (25). The layer of phosphor (24) is excited to luminescence by electron bombardment from a field emission cathode (40) located in the interior of the container, and a modulator electrode or grid (30) is arranged between the cathode (40) and the anode (25) for creating an electric field for the emission of electrons.

Abstract: An electric discharge lamp with an internally threaded electrode is disclosed. The lamp includes an envelope, a support rod, and an electrode can with an interior surface having a multiplicity of peaks, points, of sharp edge regions. These equal height prominences evenly extended around the inside wall of the electrode can. The threaded electrode yields a highly emissive electrode with no emissive material to be eroded.

Abstract: A planar fluorescent lamp employing both hot cathode and cold cathode operation is described. The lamp includes a first transparent cover bonded atop a metal body with a serpentine channel therein. The lamp body is coated with an insulative coating and the glass solder bead bonds the cover to the lamp at its perimeter and along the ridges defining the serpentine channel. An alternative embodiment of the lamp includes a second transparent cover bonded above the first transparent cover enabling the fluorescent material to be contained in a second enclosure, isolated from the source of light energy. A second alternative embodiment conceals the electrodes of the lamp beneath the lamp body and provides plasma slots to allow the concealed electrodes to energize the lamp. Another alternative embodiment utilizes a conductive transparent coating on the lamp cover to allow the lamp cover to supplement the lamp body as a cold cathode.

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.