Abstract: Operation to produce an intermediate product for a crucible for a LUWPL is as follows: a) a body 2 is preheated and placed on a support, with its bore concentric with a tube 4 supported in a chuck and connected to a inflation means; b) the tube is heated with the chuck being rotated for evenness of heating; c) when the temperature of the tube is detected to be the softening point of the quartz of the tube, its rotation is stopped and it is advanced into a bore 3 in the body 2; d) advance is stopped when the distal, sealed end is detected to have reached a determined protrusion 18; e) simultaneously with the advance being stopped, inflation gas is admitted into the tube, to inflate it albeit it marginally, and bring its outer surface 5 into intimate contact with the surface 6 of the bore 4.

Abstract: Operation to produce an intermediate product for a crucible for a LUWPL is as follows: a) a body 2 is preheated and placed on a support, with its bore concentric with a tube 4 supported in a chuck and connected to a inflation means; b) the tube is heated with the chuck being rotated for evenness of heating; c) when the temperature of the tube is detected to be the softening point of the quartz of the tube, its rotation is stopped and it is advanced into a bore 3 in the body 2; d) advance is stopped when the distal, sealed end is detected to have reached a determined protrusion 18; e) simultaneously with the advance being stopped, inflation gas is admitted into the tube, to inflate it albeit it marginally, and bring its outer surface 5 into intimate contact with the surface 6 of the bore 4.

Abstract: A visual has a multilayer ceramic substrate (1) with an emission layer (2) on its front face. The substrate is mounted on carrier (4) with a L-shaped cross-section, via the foot (41) of the L. A glass face plate (5) is on the top of the main limb (42) of the L. The face plate has a phosphor layer (6) on its inside surface. A succession (7) of vias and interconnects in the L provides connection from the substrate (1) to the phosphor layer. A band (8) of frit is screen printed onto the inside of the face plate, peripherally of phosphor layer. In a corresponding position on the top of the main limb, a groove (9) is formed. On assembly of the face plate to the carrier, the frit (8) fits into the groove (9). The face plate abuts the top of the limb (42), thereby defining the separation of the face plate and the emission substrate.

Abstract: A lamp 1 has a body 2 of sintered alumina ceramic material and an artificial sapphire window 3. The body 2 is initially molded in green state and the window is pressed into a front recess 4. The combination is fired at a temperature of the order of 1500° C., to fuse the body into a coherent pressure-tight state with the window. After partial cooling to the order of 600° C., a pellet of excitable material is added through a rear, charging aperture 5. A disc 6 of ceramic with frit 7 is placed over the aperture. The disc is irradiated by laser to fuse the frit and the disc to the body, thus sealing the excitable material into the lamp.

Abstract: A visual has a multilayer ceramic substrate 1 with an emission layer 2 on its front face. The substrate is mounted on carrier 4 with a L-shaped cross-section, via the foot 41 of the L. A glass face plate 5 is on the top of the main limb 42 of the L. The face plate has a phosphor layer 6 on its inside surface. A succession 7 of vias and interconnects in the L provides connection from the substrate 1 to the phosphor layer. A band 8 of frit is screen printed onto the inside of the face plate, peripherally of phosphor layer. In a corresponding position on the top of the main limb, a groove 9 is formed. The groove extends around the full extent of the carrier. On assembly of the face plate to the carrier, the frit 8 fits into the groove 9. The face plate abuts the top of the limb 42, thereby defining the separation of the face plate and the emission substrate.

Abstract: The lamp consists of a hollow tubular body 1 with a closed end 2 and an open end 3. The body is of sintered ceramic material. A window 4 is sealed across the open end, the window and the body being united by a layer of frit 5. The window is of sapphire. Within the body is sealed an inert gas atmosphere 6 and a pellet charge of excitable material 7. In use, the lamp is subjected to RF electromagnetic radiation which heats it to 1000° C. causes it to emit visible light via the sapphire.

Abstract: The apparatus for sealing face plates (753) and cathodes (754) has three stations (701, 702, 703). The first (701) is a preheater, the second (702) is an alignment and irradiation station and the third (703) is a controlled cooling station. Beneath each station, a vacuum pump (710) capable of drawing ultralow pressures is provided. The preheater is equipped with upper and lower banks of radiant heaters and reflectors (712). The upper heaters are Provided above a quartz: window (713) of a chamber (714) constituting the station. The pressure in the preheater is pumped down to that in the alignment and irradiation station prior to opening of the gate valve between them and transfer of the face plate and cathode. At the alignment and irradiation station, further heaters (716) are provided.

Abstract: A lamp 1 has a body 2 of sintered alumina ceramic material and an artificial sapphire window 3. The body 2 is initially molded in green state and the window is pressed into a front recess 4. The combination is fired at a temperature of the order of 1500° C., to fuse the body into a coherent pressure-tight state with the window. After partial cooling to the order of 600° C., a pellet of excitable material is added through a rear, charging aperture 5. A disc 6 of ceramic with frit 7 is placed over the aperture. The disc is irradiated by laser to fuse the frit and the disc to the body, thus sealing the excitable material into the lamp.

Abstract: The lamp consists of a hollow tubular body 1 with a closed end 2 and an open end 3. The body is of sintered ceramic material. A window 4 is sealed across the open end, the window and the body being united by a layer of frit 5. The window is of sapphire. Within the body is sealed an inert gas atmosphere 6 and a pellet charge of excitable material 7. In use, the lamp is subjected to RF electromagnetic radiation which heats it to 1000° C. causes it to emit visible light via the sapphire.

Abstract: A getter (50) situated in a cavity of a hollow structure (40-46), such as a flat-panel device, is activated by directing light energy locally through part of a hollow structure and onto the getter. The light energy is typically provided by a laser beam (60). The getter, typically of the non-evaporable type, is usually inserted as a single piece of gettering material into the cavity. The getter normally can be activated/re-activated multiple times in this manner, typically during the sealing of different parts of the structure together.

Abstract: A structure, such as a flat-panel device, is sealed together by a gap-jumping technique in which an edge (44S) of a wall (44) is positioned near a matching sealing area (40S) of a plate structure (40) such that a gap (48) at least partially separates the edge of the wall from the sealing area of the plate structure. The gap usually has an average height of 25 .mu.m or more. Energy is then transferred locally to material of the wall along the gap to cause material of the wall and the plate structure to bridge the gap and seal the plate structure to the wall. The energy-transferring step is typically performed with light energy provided by a laser (56). Local energy transfer can also be utilized to tack the plate structure to the wall at multiple spaced-apart locations (44A) along the wall. The tacking operation is typically performed as a preliminary step to sealing the plate structure to the wall.

Abstract: The gas enclosure of this laser includes a reservoir but no gas exhaust port--or valve leading to such a port or to ambient. Preferably the enclosure is sealed by an essentially permanent-type seal such as a glassblown seal, and connects with no pump, or valve leading to a pump. System life, in intermittent use or low-repetition-rate continuous use, is over a year without gas replenishment. Opposed metal coatings on the exterior of a discharge capillary tube form preionization electrodes, each extending nearly the entire capillary-tube length. These electrodes are energized to establish a transverse discharge inside the capillary tube, with good uniformity of initial ion density along the capillary tube. The electrodes couple to this discharge capacitively, through the capillary-tube wall, thereby isolating electrode materials against chemical reaction with corrosive gases in the system.