Abstract: A molded plastic faceplate and/or a molded plastic backplate are used to form a flat panel display. A faceplate mold is formed by laser etching pixel recesses in the mold. The detail of such pixel recesses is copied onto a plastic faceplate by injection molding or compression molding a clear plastic. Such molding achieves pixel detail and depth detail to a microscopic precision. The borders of the pixel areas serve as spacers which separate the faceplate and backplate while containing liquid crystal or phosphor material. Electrical circuits are formed on the faceplate and/or backplate to define control circuitry for display pixels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flat display screen formed of two parallel plates, defining a space between electrodes, at least a first screen plate including, outside active areas, pads protruding towards a second plate and of a thickness clearly lower than the thickness of the space between electrodes, the pads being distributed by groups of at least three pads to form reception housings for balls of definition of the space between electrodes.

Abstract: In the present invention, a partition wall having a matrix shape is formed on anode electrodes so as to divide them further into dots of a small region, which are surrounded by the partition wall. With this structure, if a dark spot which is a non-light emitting region, is created in one dot, the growth of the spot can be stopped by the partition wall. Therefore, good display property can be maintained for a long time.

Abstract: A voltage ratio regulator circuit for a spacer electrode of a flat panel display screen. Within one implementation of a field emission display (FED) device, thin spacer walls are inserted between a high voltage (Vh) faceplate and a backplate to secure these structures as a vacuum is formed between. A phosphor layer on the faceplate receives electrons selectively emitted from discrete electron emitting areas along the backplate (cathode) thereby forming images on the faceplate. The faceplate warms relative to the backplate, as a result of energy released by the phosphor layer, thereby generating a temperature gradient along the spacer walls. The top portion of each spacer wall becomes more conductive with increased temperature and acts to attract electrons that are emitted toward the faceplate. To counter this attraction, a spacer electrode is placed along each spacer wall at a height, d, above the backplate and maintained at a voltage, Ve. Electrodes of all of the spacer walls are coupled together.

Abstract: A flat-panel display having a backplate structure (330), a faceplate structure (320), and a spacer (340) situated between the two plate structures is configured so that the electric potential field along the spacer approximates the potential field that would be present at the same location in free space, i.e., in the absence of the spacer, between the two plate structures. Consequently, the presence of the spacer does not significantly affect the trajectories of electrons moving from the backplate structure to the faceplate structures. Alternatively, the spacer is arranged to produce electron deflection that largely compensates for undesired electron deflection which occurs during earlier electron travel from the backplate structure to the faceplate structure. The net electron deflection is small.

Abstract: A flat panel display (12) includes a backplate (14) and a faceplate (16) attached to the backplate (14) defining a vacuum enclosure (18) therebetween. A spacer (46, 62, 64, 78, 80, 90) is positioned between the backplate (14) and the faceplate (16). The spacer geometry is anti-symmetrical and non-integral with respect to an array of electron emitters (30, 48, 76) on a cathode plate (22) overlying the backplate (14). The spacers have a curved surface (52, 78, 82) that is characterized by a radius r, or by a length d.sub.3 of a unit shape having bend angles .alpha. and .beta., whereas the electron emitter arrays are characterized by orthogonally arranged rows (32) and columns (34). The anti-symmetrical and non-integral relationship between the spacers (46, 62, 64, 78, 80, 90) and the electron emitters reduces the number of electron emitters and pixels (49, 77, 86) that are occluded by the spacers.

Abstract: With barrier ribs having a specified form, the strength and the adhesiveness to the substrate board are improved, and a high-resolution plasma display with suppressed meandering, falling and peeling of the barrier rib and wire breakage is provided. In addition, coating uniformity of the phosphor is improved, a high-resolution plasma display with low luminance irregularity is provided. Furthermore, a high-luminance high resolution plasma display with excellent luminance characteristic is provided.

Abstract: In manufacturing of an organic electroluminescence (EL) display device, after first electrodes are formed on a substrate, insulating films are formed on the first electrodes except regions corresponding to light emitting portions. Spacers are formed on the insulating films, and overhanging portions are formed so as to overhang the spacers. Thus, element isolating structure portions for isolating organic EL elements are formed. Then, organic EL films, second electrodes, and protecting films are sequentially formed between the spacers. In the thus formed light emitting portions of the organic EL display device, the bending angle of a bending portion of a pattern of the element isolating structure portion is larger than 90.degree..

Abstract: A coating material having specific resistivity and secondary emission characteristics. The coating material described herein is especially well-adapted for coating a spacer structure of a flat panel display. In one embodiment, the coating material is characterized by:a sheet resistance, .rho..sub.sc, and an area resistance, r, wherein .rho..sub.sc and r are defined as:.rho..sub.sc >100(.rho..sub.sw) and r<.rho..sub.sw (l.sup.2 /8).In the present embodiment, .rho..sub.sw is the sheet resistance of a spacer to which the coating material is adapted to be applied, and l is the height of the spacer to which the coating material is adapted to be applied. By having a coating material with such characteristics, the present invention eliminates the need to place rigorous secondary emission characteristic requirements on the material comprising the spacer structure in a flat panel display.

Abstract: A diamond-like carbon-containing material useful as a coating for electronic devices including field emission devices and color television tubes, the coatings having both low secondary electron emission coefficients of less than unity and electrical resistivity tunable over a range of from about 10 e.sup.-2 to about 10 e.sup.16.

Abstract: A power-saving discharge lamp 1 wherein gap control material 6 is provided in a clearance between an internal bulb 2 and an external bulb 5, having a smaller thickness than the dimension of the clearance. Nonuniformity of the clearance between the both bulbs caused by difficulties in supporting the internal bulb 2 while welding the external bulb 5 is eliminated and a suitable clearance is automatically provided by the gap control material 6 to prevent degradation of the heat insulation effect.

Abstract: A flat panel display (300) contains a faceplate structure (320), a backplate structure (330) coupled to the faceplate structure, and a spacer (351 or 352) situated between the faceplate and backplate structures. The spacer is formed with material having a dielectric constant greater than 100 times the permittivity constant. The constituents of the spacer material typically include oxygen and aluminum, chromium, and titanium bonded to the oxygen. The titanium is present in the spacer at a level corresponding to approximately 4% titanium oxide by weight.

Abstract: A field emission display (100) includes a cathode plate (102) having a plurality of electron emitters (124), an anode plate (104) opposing the cathode plate (102), and a bulk-resistive spacer (108) extending between the anode plate (104) and the cathode plate (102). The bulk-resistive spacer (108) is made from an electrically conductive material. The resistivity of the electrically conductive material is selected to remove impinging charges while preventing excessive power loss due to electrical current through the bulk-resistive spacer (108) from the anode plate (104) to the cathode plate (102).

Abstract: The invention provides spacers for separating and supporting a faceplate structure and a backplate structure in a flat panel display, and methods for fabricating these spacers. Each spacer is typically made of ceramic, such as alumina, containing transition metal oxide, such as titania, chromia or iron oxide. Each spacer can be fabricated with an electrically insulating core and electrically resistive skins. The insulating core can be a wafer formed of ceramic such as alumina, and the resistive skins can be formed by laminating electrically resistive wafers, formed from alumina containing transition metal oxide, to the outside surfaces of the insulating core. Each spacer can also have a core of electrically insulating ceramic composition made of a ceramic containing a transition metal oxide in its higher oxide states, and electrically resistive outside surfaces made of a ceramic containing a transition metal oxide in lower oxide states.

Abstract: Barrier in a color plasma display panel (PDP) and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed; the partion of the color plasma display panel (PDP) including a barrier formed of frit glass between upper and lower substrates each having electrodes of a regular interval for making a cell; and the method including the steps of coating a frit glass paste of a predetermined thickness on the lower substrate, drying and baking the coated frit glass paste to form a frit glass, defining unnecessary portions on a surface of the frit glass, and removing the unnecessary portions of the frit glass to form frit glass barriers spaced regular intervals apart from one another.

Abstract: A fluorescent screen display panel includes selectively deposited fluorescent material on a plurality of color-coated transparent electrodes that are formed on a base member. A spacer support layer is formed on the base member between groups of the color-coated transparent electrodes and a further electrode is formed on the spacer support layer. The further electrode is not coated with fluorescent material. Spacer members that support a display panel are also formed on the spacer support layer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a substrate, an electron-emitting device, a wiring electrode for applying an input signal to the electron-emitting device, and an image forming member to which an electron emitted from the electron-emitting device is irradiated. An acceleration electrode is provided opposite to the substrate, and a potential defining electrode is provided between the acceleration electrode and the substrate. A second support member connects the potential defining electrode and the acceleration electrode, and a first support member connects the wiring electrode and the potential defining electrode. The second support member has a semiconductive material surface, and the first support member has a resistance greater than that of the second support member by ten times or more.

Abstract: A magnetron includes a cylindrically shaped cathode having an electron emitting surface and a filamentary heater adapted to raise the temperature of the emitting surface sufficient to permit thermionic electron emission therefrom. The filamentary heater comprises a first filament support member having an axial shaft coaxially disposed within the support sleeve and is coupled at an end thereof to a portion of the support sleeve. The first filament support member has a plurality of first tines extending from an opposite end of the axial shaft. A second filament support member has an axial shaft coaxially disposed within the support sleeve along a common axis with the axial shaft of the first filament support member. The second filament support member has a plurality of second tines extending from an end of the axial shaft in substantial alignment with the first tines.

Abstract: Spacers (140 or 404) suitable for a flat panel display are fabricated according to a process in which a laminated wafer (100 or 400) is formed by laminating a core wafer (401) of electrically insulating ceramic to an additional wafer (402 or 403) created at least from electrically insulating ceramic, transition metal, and oxygen, at least part of the oxygen being bonded to the transition metal and/or constituents of the ceramic. The laminated wafer is then cut to form the spacers. Face metallization strips (101-110 or 405 and 406) may be provided over outside face surfaces of the laminated wafer.

Abstract: The electro-optical display device includes at least one electro-optical assembly, in particular an electro-optical cell (4), electrically connected to a supply unit (12) by means of elongated flexible supports (6, 8). Metallized tracks are arranged on the flexible supports which support integrated circuits (16). The flexible supports are assembled to the electro-optical cell and have loose intermediate portions formed by folds (42) which are free and thus allow positioning of each segment (44) situated between two consecutive folds with respect to the electro-optical cell which is independent of the positioning of the other segments.

Abstract: A flat panel display (300) having a spacer (351) situated between a faceplate structure (320) and a backplate structure (330) is partitioned into (a) a pair of spacer-adjacent regions (303 and 304) adjacent to, and on opposite sides of, the spacer and (b) a pair of spacer-charging regions (302 and 305) respectively adjacent to, and further away from the spacer than, the spacer-charging regions. Each of the spacer-adjacent and spacer-charging consists of one or more pixel rows. Instead of activating the pixel rows sequentially during a frame of pixel information, the pixel rows are activated according to the order that arises when both of the spacer-charging regions are activated after activating the two spacer-adjacent regions. Operating the display in this manner reduces charge buildup on the spacer.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of fabrication and structure for spacers between the anode substrate and the cathode substrate of a field emission display. The spacers have a high aspect ratio and which will be invisible to the human eye in the display image. An adhesive dielectric paste of glass frit in a binder is formed in cylindrical holes in a photoresist layer. Glass spacer spheres are placed on each column of dielectric paste. When fired the glass frit coalesces into a solid glass rod and bonds the glass spacer sphere to one end of the solid glass rod and the anode substrate to the other end of the solid glass rod. The firing also burns away the photoresist layer. The dark area in the image due to the spacers is less than 50 micrometers which will be invisible to the human eye.

Abstract: A partition member for a gas discharge display panel having a front substrate with at least one main discharge electrode spaced from a back substrate having at least one auxiliary discharge electrode so as to delimit a gap therebetween. The partition member is adapted to extend substantially parallel to and between the front and back substrates for forming a main discharge space on a front substrate side and an auxiliary discharge space on a back substrate side, the partition member being a metal material member. A gas discharge display panel incorporates the partition member and a system is provided for driving the gas discharge display panel. Also, a manufacturing method is provided for the partition member and gas discharge display panel.

Abstract: A display apparatus capable of preventing deterioration in the light emission efficiency of a fluorescent member thereof, that of the emission performance of the emitter thereof and shortage of the life caused from the deterioration in the emission performance. The display apparatus according to the present invention has the structure such that each of insulating support rods for supporting an anode substrate and a cathode substrate in the container of the display apparatus has a glass fiber support rod body made of a non-alkali material and the surface of the support rod has a coating layer made of a hydrophobic material so as to prevent diffusion of alkali components and generation of oxygen from the insulating support rods.

Abstract: A coating material having specific resistivity and secondary emission characteristics. The coating material described herein is especially well-adapted for coating a spacer structure of a flat panel display. In one embodiment, the coating material is characterized by: a sheet resistance, .rho..sub.sc, and an area resistance, r, wherein .rho..sub.sc and r are defined as: .rho..sub.sc >100 (.rho..sub.sw) and r<.rho..sub.sw (1.sup.2 /8). In the present embodiment, .rho..sub.sw is the sheet resistance of a spacer to which the coating material is adapted to be applied, and 1 is the height of the spacer to which the coating material is adapted to be applied. By having a coating material with such characteristics, the present invention eliminates the need to place rigorous secondary emission characteristic requirements on the material comprising the spacer structure in a flat panel display.

Abstract: A gridded spacer assembly (130, 230) for a field emission display (100, 200) includes a plurality of spacers (135, 235), a focusing grid (132, 232) having a plurality of spacer apertures (133) in which the spacers (135, 235) are disposed and to which the spacers (135, 235) are affixed adjacent their lower end, a stabilization grid (138, 238) having a plurality of spacer apertures (137) in registration with the spacer apertures (133) of the focusing grid (132, 232), the spacers (135, 235) being disposed therein and affixed thereto adjacent their upper end, the focusing grid (132, 232) and the stabilization grid (138, 238) having a plurality of focusing apertures (139) for collimating and focusing a beam of electrons (150).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a short arc discharge lamp having a quartz envelope with a bulb and a support for supporting at least one electrode rod within the quartz envelope for specific alignment. The support includes a collar surrounding the at least one electrode rod and being made from a material having a melting point above an operating temperature of the short arc lamp. The collar also has at least one coil spring and at least one placement means for placing at least one coil spring around an outer surface of said collar. Connected to the support is a securing piece for securing the collar to the at least one electrode rod.

Abstract: A stand-alone spacer for use in a flat-panel display includes a plurality of members being joined at a common axis. A first one of the members is a load-bearing member; a second one of the members is a stabilizing member. The load bearing member extends into the face plate and backplate of the display to provide standoff of mechanical forces. The load bearing member has an aspect ratio within the range of 2:1 to 20:1. The stand-alone spacer has a tipping angle within the range of 20 to 90 degrees so that, after placement on one of the display plates, the spacer is able to remain upright throughout the subsequent packaging and evacuation steps in the fabrication of the display.

Abstract: A light emitting device is provided including a front panel on which fluorescent elements are arranged in a matrix form and a rear panel onwhich cathodes are arranged in a corresponding relation to the fluorescent elements. The cathodes emit thermoelectrons for causing the fluorescent elements to emit light, and a square frame-like spacer is provided, one opening portionof the spacer being covered with the front panel and the other opening portion thereof covered with the rear panel. A stepped portion for fitting with the spacer is formed in a position of the rear panel to be bonded with the spacer.

Abstract: The present invention provides image display panels, spacers and spacer units for the same and methods for making and using the same. The spacer units include an assembly having a first layer of generally parallel fibers positioned to form intersections with generally parallel fibers of a second layer. At least one fiber of the first and/or second layer includes a bonding agent at the corresponding intersection. The intersections form passageways which permit the passage of energy therethrough between the emitter and the display of an image display panel. A sealing frame is positioned about and engages the periphery of the spacer, the emitter and the display. The sealing frame has a deformable sealing material for providing an essentially sealed region between the spacer, emitter and display. Methods of making and using such spacers in image display panels and spacers including a fiber protectorant are also included in the present invention.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus comprises a back plate carrying thereon a plurality of electron-emitting devices, a face plate arranged vis-a-vis the back plate and carrying thereon a fluorescent member and an anti-atmospheric-pressure spacer. The longitudinal axis of the anti-atmospheric-pressure spacer is arranged substantially in parallel with the direction of deflection of electron beams emitted from said electron-emitting devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides image display panels, spacer units for the same and methods for making and using the same. The spacer units include an assembly having at least one layer of generally parallel fibers which form passageways which permit the passage of energy therethrough between the emitter and the display of an image display panel. A sealing frame has a support which is positioned about and engages the periphery or side of the spacer, the emitter and the display. The sealing frame has a sealing material for providing an essentially sealed region between the spacer, emitter and display. Methods of making and using such spacer units in image display panels are also included in the present invention.

Abstract: A field emission display (100, 200, 300) and a method of making the same are disclosed. The field emission display (100, 200, 300) includes an anode (110, 210, 310) having a plurality of cathodoluminescent deposits (120, 220, 320), a back plate (185, 285, 385) including a cathode (130, 230, 330) having a plurality of field emitters (140, 240, 340) and being affixed to a cathode reinforcement member (170, 270, 370), and a plurality of side members (150, 250, 350) disposed between the anode (110, 210, 310) and the cathode (130, 230,330) and hermetically affixed thereto. The thicknesses of the anode (110, 210, 310) and the back plate (185, 285, 385) are sufficient to provide the structural support necessary to maintain the mechanical integrity of the field emission display (100, 200, 300).

Abstract: A vacuum envelope capable of preventing contamination of an electron source and deterioration of luminous characteristics of a phosphor layer. Electrons emitted from a tip end of emitter cones are accelerated by an anode conductor to which a positive voltage is applied with respect to a gate conductor, to thereby impinge on the phosphor layer, leading to luminescence of the layer. The luminescence is observed through a transparent anode substrate. Spacers are bonded at only one end thereof to a cathode substrate by means of seal glass, to thereby keep the seal glass from being irradiated with electrons.

Abstract: An electron beam apparatus includes an electron source having an electron-emitting device, an electrode for controlling an electron beam emitted from the electron source, a target to be irradiated with an electron beam emitted from the electron source and a spacer arranged between the electron source and the electrode. The spacer has a semiconductor film on the surface thereof that is electrically connected to the electron source and the electrode.

Abstract: A display device capable of simplifying connection between a drive circuit and lead-out wirings led out of electrodes and being small-sized while keeping a size of an image plane from being reduced. A part of supports for holding an anode substrate and a cathode substrate spaced from each other at a predetermined interval is formed so to be conductive and is interposedly arranged between the anode electrode and a lead-out wiring formed on the cathode substrate, to thereby provide an anode lead-out wiring on the cathode substrate. Such construction permits the anode lead-out electrode to be arranged so as to extend in the same direction as a cathode lead-out electrode or a gate lead-out electrode, to thereby facilitate connection of the wirings. Also, the anode substrate can be decreased in size because a region for the anode lead-out wiring is eliminated.

Abstract: A flat panel apparatus includes a faceplate with a backplate interior side, a backplate with a backplate interior side, and sidewalls positioned between the faceplate and backplate, all in combination forming an enclosed sealed envelope. At least one spacer is positioned in the envelope. The spacer includes a spacer backplate face, with a periphery, and it is positioned adjacent to the backplate interior side. The spacer also includes a spacer faceplate face, with a periphery, and it is positioned adjacent to the faceplate interior side. A first conductive layer, metallization, is applied to substantially cover the entire spacer backplate face to its periphery. A second conductive layer, metallization, is applied to substantially cover the entire spacer faceplate face to its periphery. A plurality of spacers can be positioned in the sealed envelope, and the spacers can be in the form of walls, posts, or wall segments.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus comprises a rear plate bearing thereon electron-emitting devices, a face plate bearing thereon an image-forming member and arranged vis-a-vis the rear plate, a support frame arranged between the rear plate and the face plate to enclose the periphery of the space delimited by the plates and define the distance therebetween and spacers arranged between the face plate and the rear plate and designed to produce images on the image-forming member by irradiating the image-forming member with electrons emitted from the electron-emitting devices. The spacers are shorter than the distance between the face plate and the rear plate defined by the support frame and the spacers are rigidly bonded at least at an end thereof to the rear plate or the face plate by means of an adhesive agent.

Abstract: A display spacer structure includes a frame with side members joined together to define a central opening. The side members have recessed portions positioned outside of, and in communication with, the central opening with getter material therein. Spaced apart grooves are formed in each of an opposed pair of the side members, and the ends of a plurality of spacers are fixed in the grooves. The spacers extend across the central opening to define a plurality of separate compartments which are in communication with the recessed portions so as to provide a continuous fluid phase throughout all the separate compartments.

Abstract: This invention describes the new structure of a field emission cathode based flat panel display that comprises a main space and an attached auxiliary space, whose volume is larger than that of the main space. In this structure evacuation of the volume of the FED can be carried out more easily. Also getters to eliminate a build up of pressure after sealing off process can be included in the auxiliary tank and high vacuum can be maintained for the lifetime of the FED.

Abstract: A spacer (200) for a field emission display (201) is disclosed. The spacer (200) includes a lower resistive region (220) and an upper insulative region (222). The spacer (200) has a member (210) which is coated with a resistive coating (212) extending between the lower end of the member and a height (h.sub.2) less than the total height (h.sub.1) of the spacer (200). An insulative coating (218) is formed on the member (210) and extends between the upper end of the resistive coating (212) and the upper end of the member (210). The resistive coating (212) has a secondary electron yield less than 2 over the lower resistive region (220) of the spacer (200). The insulative coating (218) has a secondary electron yield between 0.75-2 over the upper insulative region (222) of the spacer (200).

Abstract: A flat-panel display comprising a hermetically sealed gas filled enclosure. The enclosure includes a top glass substrate having a plurality of electrodes and a thin dielectric film covering the electrodes and a bottom glass substrate spaced from the top glass substrate. The bottom glass substrate includes a plurality of alternating barrier ribs and micro-grooves. An electrode is deposited over each micro-groove and a phosphor is deposited over a portion of each electrode coating.

Abstract: A plasma display panel comprising mutually opposing substrates and barrier ribs formed between adjacent pixels of a display between the substrates, wherein the barrier ribs are made of a fired product of a glass ceramic composition consisting essentially of a glass powder of P.sub.2 O.sub.5 type glass and a low expansion ceramic powder.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a display spacer assembly (100, 400, 500) useful in the fabrication of large-area field emission displays (200, 600). The method includes the steps of: forming slots (12, 22, 32, 33) in a substrate (10, 23, 30) thereby providing a jig; providing spacers (14, 24, 34) having lower rounded edges and upper edges; placing the lower rounded edges into the slots (12, 22, 32, 33) so that the spacers (14, 24, 34) are positioned in a predetermined layout pattern over the slotted jig surface; and placing the upper edges of the spacers (14, 24, 34) in abutting engagement with a display plate (18, 10) of a field emission display.

Abstract: A plasma display panel is provided which includes (a) a first substrate, (b) a second substrate, (c) a plurality of sets of electrode pairs extending in a direction A, (d) a partition wall structure formed overlapping the sets of electrode pairs, the partition wall structure including first partition walls extending in a direction B perpendicular to the direction A and second partition walls extending in parallel with the direction A, each of the first and second partition walls defining a cell therein, and (e) third partition walls extending in the direction B. The sets of electrode pairs, the partition wall structure and the third partition walls are arranged in this order between the first and second substrates. The first partition walls have a width W.sub.H greater than a width W.sub.D of the third partition walls.

Abstract: A method for forming interelectrode spacers for flat panel display devices that employ reduced pressures, includes the steps of; forming a substrate out of an aerogel, xerogel photosensitive material (e.g., photosensitive glass, photosensitive aerogel, photosensitive xerogel); forming a pattern of openings and gas removal channels in the substrate; and then placing the substrate between a display screen and base plate of the display device. The substrate is formulated to be light weight, insulative and with a high compressive strength for resisting atmospheric loads placed on the display screen by the reduced pressure. In addition, the substrate is formulated to be easily etched, laser ablated or photochemically machined and assembled as a third member spacer structure.

Abstract: A gas discharge tube includes a first spacer, a second spacer, an anode support member, and an anode. The first spacer is arranged to contact the rear surface of the focusing electrode support member and the front surface of the anode, and the second spacer is arranged to contact the front surface of the anode support member and the rear surface of the anode. This arrangement clamps the anode between the first and second spacers to hold the anode securely between the rear surface of the focusing support member and the front surface of the anode support member, keeping the distance between the focusing electrode and the anode constant. This structure improves the service life and the operational stability of the gas discharge tube during continuous light emission over an extended period of time.

Abstract: A gas discharge tube includes a first spacer, a second spacer, an anode support member, and an anode. The first spacer is arranged to contact the rear surface of the focusing electrode support member and the front surface of the anode, and the second spacer is arranged to contact the front surface of the anode support member and the rear surface of the anode. This arrangement clamps the anode between the first and second spacers to hold the anode securely between the rear surface of the focusing support member and the front surface of the anode support member, keeping the distance between the focusing electrode and the anode constant. This structure improves the service life and the operational stability of the gas discharge tube during continuous light emission over an extended period of time.

Abstract: A lamp is provided with a mounting arrangement for achieving a precise alignment. The lamp includes a double-ended light source, a metal strap clamping one end of the light source at two locations, and a plastic base having an internal opening wherein the metal strap is engaged. The metal strap includes two clamping members between which the light source is clamped and a cap member attached to the clamping members. The cap member has tabs adapted for engaging the internal opening of the plastic base and gimbaling the light source to align the light source with respect to the plastic base. The clamping members are joined together at a point between the to clamping locations such that a spring force clamps the light source. The clamping members are also oriented at an angle of about 45 degrees from vertical to better withstand both vertical and horizontal loads.

Abstract: An incandescent lamp has an envelope having a bulbous portion including a wall defining a space, a thin tube extending outwardly along a central axis of the bulbous portion so as to communicate with the space, and a sealed portion located on an opposite end of the bulbous portion from the thin tube. The wall has a slope inclined toward the thin tube. A filament is provided along the central axis of the bulbous portion. An optical interference layer is arranged on a surface of the wall for reflecting infrared rays toward the filament. A first lead wire has a first end portion fixed in the sealed portion of the envelope, a second end portion coupled to one end of the filament and an intermediate U-shaped portion inserted into the thin tube for regulating a position of the filament. A second lead wire has a first end portion fixed in the sealed portion of the envelope and a second end portion coupled to another end of the filament.