Abstract: The method is suitable to make sodium high-pressure discharge lamps operag operating under saturated condition. After placing and melt-sealing a first electrode system into the discharge vessel, sodium is introduced in the form of NaN.sub.3 through the second end of the vessel. Upon heating of the second end, and due to heat conduction, the NaN.sub.3, collected at the first end, dissociates, resulting in a sudden pressure rise due to liberation of nitrogen within a vacuum. As soon as the nitrogen has dissipated, noble gas to cool the first end is introduced, and the second melt seal is then made. The noble gas may, at the same time, form an ignition gas, or a gas mixture for the discharge lamp. One or more half-finished lamps are preferably held in a holder structure which has vertical bores leaving a gap of between 0.2 to 3 mm between the wall surface of the bore and the vessel and, as such, are introduced into a vacuum furnace, where the pressure can be monitored.

Abstract: A negative glow discharge lamp having improved efficacy enabled by reducing the anode work function by the introduction of a metal-based gas into the lamp envelope for absorption on the anode. The metal-based gas is preferably cesium but may also, for example, be sodium.

Abstract: A method for removing contaminants from an arc tube includes introducing an inert gas into the arc tube through a conduit extending through the lamp tubulation and exhausting the gas through the space between the conduit and the wall of the lamp tubulation. Contaminated gas thereby always flows away from the arc tube. The arc tube can be heated during the gas flushing process to release adsorbed water and vaporize volatile oxides. Gas is preferably flushed through the lamps tubulation during and after press sealing of electrodes into the arc tube to remove contaminants introduced during press sealing.

Abstract: To improve the conventional manufacturing method for a color picture tube in which (1) the panel with a phosphor screen is provided with a shadow mask and baked, (2) the panel and funnel having the necessary parts mounted in the tube, are sealed with frit glass (3) an electron gun is mounted at the main sealing step, and (4) gases are exhausted from the tube, the invention includes a vacuum treatment step which is further provided to exhaust gases from the tube before the temperature in the tube is reduced to the room temperature after the panel and funnel are sealed with frit glass. The vacuum treatment step after the frit sealing step provides a color picture tube with a long life, in which the amount of remaining moisture in the tube is reduced to less than 1/2 of the conventional one and the gas evolution amount during operation is extremely reduced.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a metallic, luminescent screen for a CRT includes the steps of: depositing at least one phosphor layer on an inner surface of a faceplate of a panel, to form the luminescent screen; preheating the panel containing the screen to a temperature in excess of a minimum film-forming temperature; and depositing an aqueous emulsion of at least one acrylic film-forming resin onto a screen and drying said emulsion to form the film. Then, a metallic coating is deposited onto the film and the panel bearing the metallized screen is sealed to a funnel by heating the panel and funnel through a sealing cycle. The sealing cycle has predetermined rates of temperature increase and includes a temperature range within which the film is volatilized. The rate of temperature increase within the volatilization range is less than the rate of temperature increase in other portions of the sealing cycle.

Abstract: To make a small high-pressure discharge lamp, for example of 50 W rating or less, and suitable, for example, for automotive applications, a quartz glass tube is heated, formed with constrictions, and a gas passed therebetween to expand the portion of the tube between the constrictions into olive shape to form the discharge vessel (6). A preformed first electrode system is introduced through one of the constrictions. The electrode system preferably has a zig-zag lead (9) slightly larger than the internal diameter of the tube to provide for self-centering. The tube is then isolated from atmosphere, for example by being placed in a glove box or coupled to a pumping head (15), for introduction therein of a fill substance, for example in pellet form, of a metal halide and, if desired, mercury; and a fill gas, such as argon or, preferably, xenon, preferably after cleaning and flushing the tube.

Abstract: A high-pressure metal vapor discharge lamp, for example and specifically a etal halide vapor discharge lamp, has a discharge vessel, in which electrodes are fitted from both ends, in form of an elongated ceramic hollow body, in which, in accordance with the invention, the ceramic is translucent, high-purity aluminum nitride (AIN). The end portions are closed off by closing electrodes in form of either solid pins or rods, from which electrode elements carried on shafts (13) extend, or a hollow tube (19) fitted into the end portion of the aluminum nitride discharge vessel and pinched and soldered shut. The solid or tubular closing elements can be inserted into a pre-sintered discharge vessel, preferably under inert atmospheric conditions, in a meticulously clean environment. For translucidness, the high-purity aluminum nitride should have less than 0.05% of metal cations, which may cause coloring or discoloration, less than 0.01% iron as two or three valent ions, and less than 0.

Abstract: This invention relates to a glow discharge starter having an hermetically sealed envelope containing an ionizable medium, a bimetallic electrode including a bimetallic element having a curved portion and a free end, and a counter electrode located within the envelope. A getter holder is secured to the counter electrode and positioned adjacent the curved portion of the bimetallic element such that a first discharge gap is formed therebetween. A second discharge gap is formed between the free end of the bimetallic element and the counter electrode. The spacing of the first discharge gap is defined as being less than the spacing of the second discharge gap. A predetermined total amount of getter material is contained within the envelope including a portion thereof contained within the getter holder. Preferably, the portion of getter material contained within the getter holder is within the range of from about 25 percent to about 75 percent of the total amount of getter material.

Abstract: A flat panel display of the field emission cathode type is described having polyimide spacers or pillars separating the emitting surface and display face of the same. A method of forming the spacers by integrated circuit techniques also is described.

Abstract: In an integrated thermal processing method the bulb is completely processed in a dedicated oven. The inside and outside of the bulb are simultaneously heated. The inside and outside are also simultaneously cooled. During the evacuation a temperature gradient is maintained across the face of the panel to reduce tensile stresses which develop in the bulb skirt area during evacuation.

Abstract: A gas laser tube is fitted with internal mirrors only and no windows. The laser tube is processed by heating the tube with the ends open in a vacuum oven to drive out contaminating substances. The mirrors are installed by cold welding after the tube has been decontaminated and filled with a fresh supply of its operating gas. The mirrors mount on flexible bellows which enable the mirrors to be easily aligned.

Abstract: A mercury-free colored light source is especially well suited for use as a signal and/or navigational aid. The source is also adaptable to many other applications requiring momentary flashes of a particular color of light. The mercury-free, pulsed metal halide light source of the present invention comprises in combination:(a) a light transmissive glass vacuum outer jacket;(b) a light transmisive glass arc tube disposed within said outer jacket;(c) emissive material comprising at least one metal halide salt and an inert gas; and(d) an anode and a cathode, disposed within said arc tube, forming a gap therebetween;said cathode being completely covered by said metal halide salt.

Abstract: A vacuum switch tube wherein at least one part which separates the interior of the tube from the environment is soldered to the housing of a vacuum switch tube so as to be vacuum-tight with a soft solder 6 which has a melting point which lies below 400.degree. C. The invention is suitable for vacuum switch tubes which do not have a pump stem, and particularly for protected tubes.

Abstract: A gas discharge panel normally comprises a number of mutually parallel plates (1, 2, 3, 4) which are joined together at their edges by a glass solder forming a frame. At least some of the plates support operational electrodes (8, 9, 11, 12, 15) that are passed through the glass solder frame (16). Such a cell is normally first soldered together at about 450.degree. C., then fully cooled and subsequently baked at 320.degree. C. According to the invention, the baking is effected during the cooling phase; that is, the cell is held at the baking temperature for a while as it cools. Such a heat treatment is favorable in seveal respects: The baking temperature, which previously was limited by the temperature alternation stress, can be increased by at least 50.degree. C.; the total time required for the soldering and baking can be cut at least in half; and the electrodes (8, 9, 11, 12, 15) can no longer react with the ambient air between soldering and baking.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a bulb wherein a bead mount and a glass bulb are set in a recess in an upper surface of a heater arranged inside a hermetically sealed chamber, a first gas comprised of one component of a composition of a sealing gas in the glass bulb or an inert gas excluding the sealing gas is supplied to the chamber at a predetermined pressure after the chamber is evacuated, a second gas comprised of a remaining component of the sealing gas or all of the components thereof is sprayed in a space between the glass bulb and the bead mount at a pressure higher than that of the first gas to exhaust the first gas from the space within the glass bulb. The heater is energized after the substitution of the gas within the space of the bulb is performed, or while the gas substitution in the space is being performed, in order to heat and melt an edge portion of the bead mount and glass bulb to seal the glass bulb to the bead mount with the second gas sealed within the glass bulb.

Abstract: Compact fluorescent lamps employ metal arc directors formed from suitable material, such as steel. The steel parts are vacuum fired to degas same prior to assembly in the lamps.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a CRT (cathode-ray tube) in which a partially-completed faceplate-panel assembly is baked-out and heat-sealed to a funnel during the same baking cycle. Jets of oxygen-containing gas are directed intermittently into the open neck of the funnel at least during the heating-up period of the heating cycle.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a gas-filled discharge tube, designed, e.g., as transient protector, containing tube components comprised of at least two electrodes and an insulating body holding the electrodes joined vacuum-tight, with the electrodes and the insulating body dimensioned and arranged in such a way that at least one discharge gap is present in the tube, is disclosed.

Abstract: A metal halide discharge lamp is manufactured on a horizontal glass blowing lathe which is indexed by a turntable through angularly spaced work stations. Initially, a length of quartz tubing is formed into a lamp body having an enlarged bulbous midportion defining an arc chamber with tubular necks projecting in opposite directions. Thereafter, a cathode is inserted into one neck, metal halide pellets and a globule of mercury are inserted into the arc chamber, an anode is inserted into the other neck, and hermetic seals are made between the necks and the electrodes. All of the insertions are carried out by moving the various components through the tailstock of the lathe and into the lamp body through one of the necks, the cathode being moved tip-last through the one neck, across the arc chamber and into the other neck.