Abstract: A electrodeless lamp including a fluorescent discharge vessel, a tip, an amalgam, a lamp core, and a heater. The vessel contains a gas having a partial vapor pressure and a fluorescent material. The tip has an inner end engaging the vessel, and an opening in communication with the gas. The amalgam is positioned within the opening, in heat transfer relation with the tip. When the temperature of the amalgam decreases, mercury vapor in the gas condensates onto the amalgam, causing a decrease in the partial vapor pressure of the gas. The opposite occurs when the amalgam temperature increases. The lamp core generates a magnetic flux, causing an electrical discharge in the gas. The heater includes a positive temperature coefficient connected to a winding of the lamp core. The heater is in heat transfer relation with the tip and heats the tip when the electrodeless lamp is in a dimming mode.

Abstract: A fluorescent lighting device includes a ballast and a tube. An amalgam is located within the tube. A resistive heater is operatively coupled with the ballast, to receive electrical power from the ballast while the fluorescent lighting device is in an OFF state. The resistive heater is mounted near the amalgam to transfer heat to the amalgam while the fluorescent lighting device is in the OFF state.

Abstract: A support for filiform elements containing an active material in form of powders is described, comprising anchoring means of the support and blocking means for the filiform element, a method for manufacturing said support and lamps wherein said supports are employed.

Abstract: A novel lamp fixture which employs semiconductor light sources and which is designed to replace or otherwise substitute for a conventional sealed beam incandescent or gas discharge fixture. Preferably, the semiconductor light sources are arranged in a combination of sub-assemblies, each of which is constructed to provide either spread light illumination or high intensity illumination for a desired illumination pattern.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an electronic device which may include an interior compartment housing at least one electronic component that may be reactive to target impurities. The electronic component may include at least a cathode and an anode. A purifier material may be interspersed within a conducting polymer layer between the cathode and the anode. The purifier material may decrease target impurities within the interior compartment of the electronic device from a first level to a second level.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mercury dispensing system (11; 21, 31) for fluorescent lamps, comprising a dispensing member (12; 22, 32) containing a mercury releasing compound. The dispensing member (12; 22, 32) is fixed on a metal support (13; 23; 33) suitable to be heated by electromagnetic induction in order to cause the activation of said mercury releasing compound. The surface area of the metal support (13; 23; 33) is comprised between 9 and 64 mm2. The invention also relates to fluorescent lamps comprising said mercury dispensing system (11; 21; 31).

Abstract: A plasma display panel has a front substrate including a plurality of display electrode pairs, a dielectric layer, and a protective layer, and a rear substrate including a plurality of data electrodes, a barrier rib, and a phosphor layer. The front substrate and rear substrate face each other so that the display electrode pairs and the data electrodes intersect, and a hydrogen-absorbing material containing palladium is disposed inside the plasma display panel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lamp system comprising a low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp having a discharge vessel (6) enclosing a discharge space (8), with two electrodes (10, 30) positioned in the discharge vessel and an amalgam (18) arranged at a first end section (28) outside the discharge path between the first electrode and the second electrode. A ballast generates an electrical discharge current independently of an electrical heating current. A heating element (22) is positioned in the first end section for heating the amalgam using the electrical heating current. The temperature of the amalgam can be kept within its optimal temperature range for a relatively broad range of operating conditions.

Abstract: A method for lighting a flat fluorescent lamp for a large-sized backlight unit is disclosed, to prevent a discharge interference (scattering in fluorescent discharge) when lighting a plurality of groups of cylindrical electrodes being adjacent, in which an A.C. voltage is applied to one or two groups of cylindrical electrodes through introduction wires for lighting lamp in state of being not applied to adjacent one or two groups of cylindrical electrodes, so the plurality of groups of cylindrical electrodes are sequentially switched on and off in a time-division method at a speed not to generate the flicker of lamp.

Abstract: An auxiliary amalgam is contained in a light-emitting tube. The auxiliary amalgam has a base, a metal layer provided on the base, and a diffusion-inhibiting layer provided between the base and the metal layer.

Abstract: An electron device such as a fluorescent display tube is provided, wherein a simple ring-less getter can be simply fixed and arranged with a large degree of freedom. The ring-less getter is securely fixed to the inner surface of the glass anode substrate using laser beams. The laser beam is irradiated onto the ring-less getter from outside the anode substrate. Thus, the laser beam passes through the anode substrate thus heating and melting the ring-less getter. The corresponding inner surface of the anode substrate is melted through the heating. In cooling, the portion where the ring-less getter and the anode substrate are in a molten state is solidified, so that the ring-less getter is bonded to the anode substrate. The ring-less getter is shaped arbitrarily through press-working a getter material.

Abstract: In an image display apparatus composed of a vacuum container having an electron source composed of multiple electron-emitting devices and a phosphor film that is irradiated with an electron from the electron source to emit light for display, an ion pump for exhausting the vacuum container through a communicating path by virtue of an action of a magnetism forming portion is arranged. A magnetic shielding member is arranged in a space where the ion pump and the electron-emitting devices are in communication with each other, whereby an influence of a magnetic field generated by the magnetism forming portion on the trajectory of an electron emitted from any one of the electron-emitting devices and display luminance unevenness incidental to the influence are removed.

Abstract: An electric lamp is provided having a luminescent layer on the lamp envelope that produces visible light when impinged by ultraviolet radiation generated within the lamp. An undercoat for the electric lamp increases the luminous efficacy of the lamp. The undercoat includes a particulate non-fluorescent material derived from a sintered mixture of an aluminum oxide material with a contiguous layer of getter material which reacts with contaminants present in the lamp. The getter material is an alkaline earth metal borate material or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing an electron tube including a front substrate and a back substrate, a wiring and an electrode are formed on the front substrate and/or the back substrate. A component is mounted on the front substrate and/or the back substrate. A ring-less getter is mounted on at least one of the front substrate, the back substrate and the component. A vessel is assembled and sealed so that the front substrate faces the back substrate. A light is irradiated on the ring-less getter from outside of the sealed vessel, thereby activating the ring-less getter.

Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments, the present technique includes a system for sealing a lamp including a thermal shield and a thermally susceptible enclosure disposed adjacent the thermal shield. The thermal shield has a first receptacle adapted to receive a first portion of the lamp. The thermally susceptible enclosure comprises a wall about a second receptacle adapted to receive a second portion of the lamp. The wall has a varying thickness in a desired sealing region between the first and second portions of the lamp.

Abstract: Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp comprises a light-transmitting discharge vessel (10) enclosing, in a gastight manner, a discharge space (13) provided with a filling of mercury and a rare gas. The discharge vessel comprises discharge means (20a; 20b) for maintaining a discharge in the discharge space. The discharge vessel is provided with a container comprising an amalgam (2). The container is provided with releasing means (4) for the controlled release of mercury vapor from the amalgam. The releasing means is open during lamp operation and is substantially closed when, during lamp operation, the temperature of the amalgam becomes higher than a pre-determined temperature. Preferably, the pre-determined temperature corresponds to a temperature of a range of temperatures at which the mercury-vapor pressure above the amalgam is relatively stable.

Abstract: A new gas discharge tube with end electrodes having chemically inert surfaces is disclosed. As the surfaces are resistant to the build-up of layers, such as oxide layers, a discharge tube according to the invention exhibits higher selectivity and better performance (e.g. higher heat-resistance and longer life-cycle time) than prior art devices, simultaneously as it offers an environmentally acceptable solution.

Abstract: A light source with a heatable filament (1) or an electrode, with the filament or the electrode being arranged in a bulb (2) or in a tube, is provided with an improved service life by the provision of a depot (3) with at least one chemical element that is also present in the filament or the electrode, and which is associated with the filament or the electrode such that the element is supplied to the filament or the electrode. Furthermore, a method is described for regenerating a light source with a heatable filament (1) or an electrode, with the filament or the electrode being arranged in a bulb (2) or in a tube. By the method, the depot (3) is associated in a first step to the filament or the electrode, with the depot comprising at least one chemical element that is also present in the filament or the electrode. Finally, the element is supplied to the filament or the electrode.

Abstract: A fluorescent luminous tube is provided that has a getter mirror film formed in an arbitrary shape by illuminating a laser beam onto a getter. In order to form the getter film 32, the rectangular ring-less getter 31 mounted on the anode substrate 11 is irradiated with the laser beam L from the outside of the front substrate 12 and thus is evaporated. In this process, when the illumination spot of the laser beam L is moved along the scanning line 33, the rectangular getter mirror film 32 is formed around the scanning line 33. The burnt region 34, which has the same shape and size as those of the scanning line 33, is formed using the laser beam L.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device comprising at least one field effect electron source within a sealed structure, which encompasses an internal space that contains a reducing gas whose purpose is to prevent oxidation of the emissive material of the electron source, whereby the reducing gas is a gas with the formula NxHy where x=1 or 2 and y=3 or 4, and which is advantageously under a pressure of between 10?8 and 10?1 mbar. It also concerns manufacturing processes for such a device and apparatuses for implementing these processes.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing an electron tube including a front substrate and a back substrate, a wiring and an electrode are formed on the front substrate and/or the back substrate. A component is mounted on the front substrate and/or the back substrate. A ring-less getter is mounted on at least one of the front substrate, the back substrate and the component. A vessel is assembled and sealed so that the front substrate faces the back substrate. A light is irradiated on the ring-less getter from outside of the sealed vessel, thereby activating the ring-less getter.

Abstract: The lamp comprises a discharge vessel (2) which is closed off in a vacuum-tight manner and is arranged in an outer bulb (12), a getter material being held on a support body inside the outer bulb (12). The support body is a support strip (31) to which the getter material is applied, the support strip being bent in such a way that it is automatically held in the outer bulb (12) without the need for any auxiliary means.

Abstract: A vacuum device, including a substrate and a support structure having a support perimeter, where the support structure is disposed over the substrate. In addition, the vacuum device also includes a non-evaporable getter layer having an exposed surface area. The non-evaporable getter layer is disposed over the support structure, and extends beyond the support perimeter, in at least one direction, of the support structure forming a vacuum gap between the substrate and the non-evaporable getter layer increasing the exposed surface area.

Abstract: A low-pressure mercury-vapor discharge lamp is provided with a discharge vessel (10). The discharge vessel (10) encloses a discharge space (11) provided with a filling of mercury and an inert gas in a gastight manner. The discharge vessel (10) is provided with an amalgam which communicates with the discharge space (11). The discharge lamp comprises means for maintaining an electric discharge in the discharge vessel (10). The discharge lamp is characterized in that the amalgam comprises a bismuth-lead amalgam having a lead content in the range from 35≦Pb≦60 at. %, a bismuth content in the range from 40≦Bi≦65 at. %, and a mercury content in the range from 0.05≦Hg≦1 at. %. Preferably, the amalgam additionally comprises gold with a gold content in the range from 0.1≦Au≦20 at. %. Preferably, the gold content is in the range from 8≦Au≦12 at. %.

Abstract: The formation of leachable mercury upon disposal in a landfill or during TCLP testing of mercury vapor discharge lamps is substantially prevented by incorporation of an amount of gelatin or a degradation product of gelatin which is effective to substantially prevent formation of ferric and cuprous compounds responsible for forming leachable mercury compounds.

Abstract: A small fluorescent discharge tube and a bulb-shaped fluorescent lamp using the same with improved rise characteristics with respect to luminous flux in the case of a relatively short non-operation time of one to six hours after a stop of operation are provided. The fluorescent discharge tube includes at least three U-shaped glass tubes joined to form one body, electrodes provided at the ends thereof, and one discharge path formed therein. The fluorescent discharge tube further includes first auxiliary amalgams in vicinities of the electrodes, main amalgams placed at least in two locations in the discharge path between the electrodes, and a second auxiliary amalgam placed at least in one location between the main amalgams.

Abstract: Cathode ray tube comprising an electron gun which is constructed in such a way that the gas pressure near the electron-emissive layer (30) of the cathode is lower than in the other parts of the tube. This can be achieved by reducing the aperture between the G1 (33) and G2 (36), by providing the G2 (36) with a skirt (43). The wall of the skirt, the G1 and the G2 may also be at least partly coated with a getter (41).

Abstract: A device (10) for introducing hydrogen into a flat display (14) of the field emission or plasma addressed liquid crystal type is described, formed of a reservoir (11) containing a hydrogen accumulator material (21) connected to the internal space (13) of the display by means of a wall (15) permeable to the passage of hydrogen gas as a function of the temperature. The device comprises a heater (19) and a heater (22) for bringing respectively the wall and the accumulator material to the desired temperatures, or a single heater which carries out both cited functions. There is also described a method by which the device is activated whenever the flat display is working, the switching on of said heater being arranged in order to bring the wall itself to a previously calculated temperature.

Abstract: The lamp is provided with a metal holder (21) having an opening (21a) and resilient body (20) which fastens the holder in a tube (15) which is in communication with the discharge space. A first portion (20a) of the resilient body (20) is clamped in the opening (21a) of the holder (21). A second folded portion (21b) is clamped in inside the tube (15).

Abstract: A Field Emitter Device (FED) having a substantially reducing atmosphere is described. The atmosphere in a FED can be maintained substantially free of oxidizing gases and includes a partial pressure of hydrogen between about 1.times.10.sup.-7 millibar (mbar) and 1.times.10.sup.-3 mbar. In one embodiment, a non-evaporable getter material previously charged with hydrogen gas is placed inside the FED before the FED is sealed. The non-evaporable getter material can be charged by exposure to hydrogen gas at a pressure between about 1.times.10.sup.-4 and about 2 bar. Subsequently, the components forming the FED are sealed, and the FED is evacuated and hermetically sealed to the outside atmosphere.

Abstract: An integral and internal matrix getter structure for capturing residual gas in a vacuum sealed container is disclosed. The vacuum sealed container may be a flat panel display having a small vacuum gap between two closely spaced panels. The getter structure may be provided on the inside of the walls of the display. In particular, the getter structure may be provided between phosphor groups and/or between field emitter groups on the display panels. The getter structure may be sealed to avoid exposure of the getter material until after a vacuum condition is reached within the display. Activation of the getter structure may be provided by selectively heating the getter structure with a laser or with resistive heating elements underlying the getter structure. Methods of making the getter structure are also disclosed.

Abstract: Operation of a vapor lamp light source for instrumentation utilizes a lamp manager controller for instant-on and precise temperature control to enhance and control output at specified wavelengths by monitoring and discriminating the spectral output of the lamp, and adjusting lamp current and temperature to maintain specific wavelength and light flux. Specific wavelengths can be selected and the wavelength automatically monitored for output level by control of a cold spot by an electrothermal device and a monitor. Lamp temperature, current and flux level at a selected wavelength are controlled.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal display arrangement consisting of a liquid-crystal display, a light source constructed as a fluorescent lamp and a heat source which is thermally coupled to the fluorescent lamp. The heat source is formed as an essentially flat sheet on the side of the lamp opposite the display, with the heat source connected is series with a PTC type temperature sensor. In order to achieve a uniform and rapid establishment of the optimum operating temperature of the fluorescent lamp, the heat source is formed by a temperature-controlled foil-type heating element.

Abstract: A heated hydrogen storage device for a plasma switch includes a ring-shaped holder element having an inwardly directed, ring-shaped shoulder that forms an opening. The device also includes a first and a second metal disk, with the first metal disk having a cut-out portion. A heating element is arranged between the first and second metal disks and is insulated therefrom. The heating element forms a turned heating track and has one end contacting the second metal disk and a second end extending outside through the cut-out portion of the first metal disk. The first metal disk and the heating element are stacked one above the another and rests on the ring-shaped shoulder of the ring-shaped holder element. The second metal disk is connected to the holder element and it covers the opening of the holder element. The second metal disk also fixes the first metal disk and the heating element in position.

Abstract: A sealed gas discharge lamp is filed with a water vapor-enriched low pressure nitrogen oxygen mixture and a storage medium such as manganese dioxide is included in a separate vessel of the lamp for additionally storing water vapor but releasing the water vapor as the pressure in the lamp drops, the release may be augmented by heating the storage medium.

Abstract: A capsule containing a precise amount of a substance such as mercury is mounted in an electrode mount assembly on a temperature sensitive member. At elevated temperatures the capsule is moved away from lamp components by the temperature sensitive member to preclude inadvertent release of the mercury into the sealed lamp. After the lamp has cooled, the temperature sensitive member urges the capsule into biased engagement with a cutting wire so that upon supply of current thereto the capsule is melted and opened to release the mercury.

Abstract: A non-evaporable getter device having an electrophoretically deposited electrically insulated heater and support lead wires. To avoid the production of loose particles or short circuits each support lead wire is encircled by a hollow insulating cylinder whose surfaces are partially covered by the electrophoretically deposited heater insulation thus providing a reinforced insulated heater getter device.

Abstract: An electrodeless fluorescent lamp having a core of magnetic material surrounded by a coil for producing a high-frequency magnetic field in a lamp vessel surrounding the core and coil. An amalgam holder is located in the vessel, in the region surrounding the core where the electric discharge is formed so that the amalgam is heated directly by the discharge. Substantially all the mercury contained in this amalgam is released quickly after the lamp is turned on, so that the light output rises rapidly.

Abstract: A medical imaging device employs a plurality of triggered plasma cathode flash X-ray sources, each of which has an axially extending round anode rod, a cathode, and a trigger electrode. The application of a trigger pulse between the electrode and the cathode produces a burst of plasma near the cathode, the plasma containing electrons that are accelerated toward and impact the anode in a region termed the "focal spot" for producing X-rays when a voltage source applies a predetermined voltage between the cathode and anode. According to the invention, a non-conducting surface interconnects the electrode with a cathode or a conductor held at the same potential as the cathode, the application of a trigger pulse to the electrode causing flashover across said surface for producing the burst of plasma.

Abstract: A getter sorption pump has at least one getter member of non-evaporation getter material and a corresponding heating element. With this getter pump, a high pump rate is achieved by means of an extremely large surface in the smallest possible space. For this purpose, the heating element is disposed in an insulating tube and a plurality of individual getter members are attached to the insulator tube at a spacing from one another. The getter pump is employed in high-vacuum and gas discharge systems.

Abstract: Mercury release into a sealed arc discharge lamp is accomplished by positioning a mercury containing target within the lamp and heating the same by electron bombardment derived from a D.C. power supply connected between an electrode of the lamp and the mercury target.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon getter pump for use in sealed envelopes comprises an active metal alloy capable of gettering hydrogen, a nickel catalyst and means for heating the nickel catalyst and getter material from 300.degree. to 500.degree. centigrade. The heated catalyst dissociates the hydrocarbon into hydrogen and carbon. The getter material getters the hydrogen and the carbon is deposited on the surfaces of the catalyst.

Abstract: To provide mercury vapor control in a compact, solenoidal electric field (SEF) lamp there is provided a means for controllably heating a length of conductive material disposed within the lamp envelope so as to thereby heat an amalgam patch on the material. In this way, mercury vapor pressure is controlled within the lamp, not only during lamp operation but also under lamp starting conditions.

Abstract: Electrochemical luminescent cell with a getter material.