Abstract: A display member, particularly a plasma display member, can be produced by applying a past which includes a urethane compound and inorganic fine particles onto a substrate and then firing the paste. The display member has a post-firing pattern without any defect.

Abstract: A discharge lamp which maintains a high lumen maintenance factor even when operated for a long time is obtained in a discharge lamp which has a silica glass discharge vessel and a pair of opposed electrodes in the discharge vessel and in which the discharge vessel is filled with at least 0.15 mg/mm3 mercury, a rare gas with argon as the main component, and 2×10?4 ?mole/mm3 to 7×10?3 ?mole/mm3 bromine by meeting the following conditions when feeding a direct current of 5 mA between the electrodes and a glow discharge produced: 1.0×10?4?b/a?1.2×10?1??Condition (1) c/a?1.4×10?1??Condition (2) d/a?1.2×10?2??Condition (3) e/a?1.4×10?2??Condition (4) where a is the emission intensity of the argon with a wavelength of 668 nm, b is the emission intensity of OH with a wavelength of 309 nm, c is the emission intensity of hydrogen (H) with a wavelength of 656 nm, d is the emission intensity of C2 with a wavelength of 517 nm, and e is the emission intensity of CH with a wavelength of 431 nm.

Abstract: Described is a high intensity discharge lamp including a lamp bulb envelope, first and second electrodes, a seal and a fill situated within the lamp bulb envelope. The lamp bulb envelope is composed of single crystal sapphire tubing. The lamp bulb envelope includes end portions and a central portion, the central portion having a greater diameter than the end portions. The end portions may be a cylindrical tube shape and the central portion is a smooth three-dimensional shape. The first and second electrodes extend through opposite ends of the lamp bulb envelope so that at least a portion of each of the electrodes is situated within the lamp bulb envelope. The seal seals each of the first and second electrodes to an inside wall of the corresponding end of the lamp bulb envelope. A voltage is applied to the first and second electrodes to generate an arc plasma therebetween.

Abstract: A discharge lamp, such as a neon lamp, comprising a laminated envelope having a gas-discharge channel and at least one external electrode in communication with the gas-discharge channel, the laminated envelope having a front surface and a back surface integrated together to form a unitary envelope body essentially free of any sealing materials. The external electrode comprises an electrode surface integral with the laminated envelope and a conductive medium disposed on the electrode surface. The conductive medium may be conductive tape, conductive ink, conductive coatings, frit with conductive filler or conductive epoxies. The discharge lamp may comprise a laminated envelope including a plurality of separate gas-discharge channels and external electrodes in communication with the gas-discharge channels, whereby the discharge is driven in parallel.

Abstract: A method of producing an arc tube including inserting an electrode assembly in which a bent portion is formed in a lead wire into a glass tube to self-hold the electrode assembly to a predetermined position of the glass tube. After the electrode has been inserted to the predetermined position, pinch-sealing is conducted on a portion of the glass tube where the assembly is inserted. In the method, the electrode assembly is inserted into a metal guide pipe which is coaxially disposed with respect to the glass tube, to be once held into the pipe. Thereafter, the assembly may be pushed by a thin rod-like pushing member to be inserted to the predetermined position in the glass tube. One or more vertical grooves which are to be axially engaged with the bent portion of the assembly to circumferentially lock the bent portion may be formed in the inner side of the guide pipe. Using the one or more grooves, the assembly may be guided to the glass tube W without being in sliding contact with the guide pipe.

Abstract: A method of producing a ceramic metal halide discharge lamp having a monolithic seal between a sapphire (single crystal alumina) arc tube and a polycrystalline alumina (PCA) end cap. The method includes the steps of providing an arc tube of fully dense sapphire and providing an end cap made of unsintered compressed polycrystalline alumina powder doped with magnesium oxide and yttrium oxide. The end cap is heated until it is presintered to remove organic binder material at a low temperature relative to the sintering temperature. The presintered end cap is placed on an end portion of the arc tube to form a close interface between the two. The presintered end cap and adjacent arc tube are then heated to until the end cap is fully sintered onto the arc tube and the sapphire tube grows into the end cap. A monolithic seal is formed along the interface between the end cap and the arc tube as the sapphire tube grows into the polycrystalline alumina end cap.

Abstract: A gas discharge tube includes a plurality of light-emitting portions that are provided outside of the tube, at least two discharge electrodes, and an electron emission film formed on the entire inner wall of the tube for improving discharge characteristics.

Abstract: To form side tubes with adequate resistance to pressure, and to provide a short-arc, ultra-high-pressure discharge lamp having such side tubes, and to provide a method of manufacturing such a lamp, a short-arc, ultra-high-pressure discharge lamp (1) has a luminescent tube (10) within which a pair of electrodes (2,2) face each other, and side tubes (11) that extend from opposite sides of the luminescent tube and in which a portion of the electrodes is sealed and in which a small space (B) is formed to enable the electrodes (2) to expand and contract freely without compression along their axes due to a difference in the indices of expansion of the materials that make up the electrodes (2) and the side tubes (11).

Abstract: A discharge lamp arc tube in which a pair of electrode assemblies each having an electrode rod, a sheet of molybdenum foil and a lead wire integrally series-connected to one another have respective molybdenum foil containing regions pinch-sealed with glass, and electrodes are disposed opposite to each other in a closed glass bulb containing a light emitting substance or the like enclosed therein. The surface of the sheet of molybdenum foil sealed at each of the pinch seal portions has a micro-asperity surface roughened by an etching treatment including oxidation and reduction, so that silica glass is closely packed in the micro-asperity of the surface of the sheet of molybdenum foil. As a result, the adhesion (mechanical bonding strength) in the interface between silica glass and molybdenum foil is improved so that foil rising is suppressed and, accordingly, the lifetime of the arc tube is extended.

Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp includes a quartz glass bulb and a pair of electrodes. Each electrode of the pair of electrodes is disposed so as to be opposite the other in the quartz glass bulb. The quartz glass bulb of the high pressure discharge lamp contains at least mercury and a halogen gas which are airtightly sealed in the quartz glass bulb. The partial pressure of oxygen (O) in the quartz glass bulb is about 2.5×10?3 Pa or less and the partial pressure of the halogen gas in the quartz glass bulb is in the range between about 1×10?6 ?mol/mm3 and 1×10?8 ?mol/mm3. The pair of electrodes contain potassium oxide in the range between about 20 ppm and 40 ppm.

Abstract: A solid mercury-releasing material and a method of dispensing precise amounts of mercury into the light emitting chamber of a discharge lamp without introducing the other dispenser components into the chamber are disclosed. The solid material includes an amalgam of one or more metals and mercury in the form of particles of high purity, uniform size and uniform composition.

Abstract: A method for producing a high pressure discharge lamp including a luminous bulb enclosing a luminous substance inside and a sealing portion for retaining airtightness of the luminous bulb, includes preparing a glass pipe for a discharge lamp including a luminous bulb portion that will be formed into a luminous bulb of a high pressure discharge lamp and a side tube portion extending from the luminous bulb portion; inserting a glass member constituted by a second glass having a softening point lower than that of a first glass constituting the side tube portion into the side tube portion, and then heating the side tube portion so as to attach the glass member and the side tube portion; and after the attachment step, heating a portion including at least the glass member and the side tube portion at a temperature higher than a strain point temperature of the second glass and lower than a strain point temperature of the first glass.

Abstract: An arc tube, which is capable of prolonging the life thereof by preventing occurrence of a leak caused from a crack of an arc-tube body, has the average surface roughness of each of outer surfaces 26Aa and 26Ba of tungsten electrodes 26A and 26B pinch-sealed to pinch seal portions 20b1 and 20b2 on the two sides of a light-emission tube 20a of an arc-tube body 20 is set to be 3 ?m or smaller. Thus, the state of pinch-sealing of the tungsten electrodes 26A and 26B to the pinch seal portions 20b1 and 20b2 is brought to a state in which the two elements are engaged with small pits and projections. Therefore, great compressive stress is not left in the region adjacent to the joint surface between the pinch seal portions 20b1 and 20b2 and the tungsten electrodes 26A and 26B as distinct from the conventional structure. In a case where a crack of the arc-tube body 20 is formed owing to the residual compressive stress, the crack is limited to a local portion which is the region adjacent to the joint surface.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multi-tube fluorescent discharge lamp which construct multiple glass tubes of different caliber in coaxial structure, the both sides of the inner most tube are connected to a cathode respectively, by isolating, perforating and blocking the discharge path, forming a successive discharge path, and coating phosphor on surface of the discharge tubes. The invention can then have more fluorescent area than a conventional fluorescent lamp of the similar size and higher lumen as well as power transfer factor. Compared with the power consumption of a conventional fluorescent discharge lamp, the invention therefore has higher luminous flux.

Abstract: A sealing plug used for sealing an arc tube, and formed from a plurality of sintered layers. The sealing plug is obtained by conducting a slurry preparation step of preparing slurries corresponding to each layer of the sealing plug by mixing together a tungsten powder, a silica powder, an organic binder, an organic solvent, and a dispersant; a preform manufacturing step of manufacturing layers of a preform by repeating the process of dipping the metal lead wire into the slurries with the metal lead wire in a perpendicular position, and drying the slurry adhering when the metal lead wire is removed; and a sintering step of sintering the manufactured preform.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of making arc tubes for high intensity discharge lamps. The bottom portion of the light emitting chamber of the arc tubes is flattened in an area between the electrodes to reduce the distance between the bottom wall of the arc tube and the arc, and to increase the surface area of the pool of condensed halides during operation of a metal halide lamp. The flattened bottom of the arc tubes may be generally planar, slightly arcuate longitudinally and/or transversely, or slightly v-shaped longitudinally and/or transversely. The top portion of the arc tube conforms generally to the shape of the arc during operation of the lamp.

Abstract: Before an electrode assembly is inserted into a quartz glass tube, a reinforcement bending process is applied to a metal foil. Even when a vibration load acts on the electrode assembly during the insertion of the electrode assembly into the quartz glass tube, the metal foil is not easily deformed, so that a rod electrode can be prevented from largely swinging together with the metal foil. Consequently, the position of a tip end portion of the rod electrode can be easily recognized by using a camera, whereby the degree of the insertion of the electrode assembly into the quartz glass tube can be correctly adjusted.

Abstract: A novel method for producing discharge lamps, in which discharge vessels 5 are filled in a chamber 4 with the required gas filling at normal pressure.

Abstract: A method of forming a metal halide discharge tube comprises: arranging a tubular body (110) in an essentially vertical orientation; disposing a loose-fit T-plug (100) having a cylindrical portion (106) and an annular flange (104) in an upper open end of the tubular body (110) so that the cylindrical portion (106) of the T-plug (100) is disposed within the open end of the tubular body (110) in a contact-free, spaced relationship with an inner wall of the tubular body and with the annular flange (104) seating against an annular top end edge surface (108) of the tubular body (100); and firing the tubular body and the loose-fit T-plug to shrink fit the tubular body and the loose-fit T-plug to interfuse the loose-fit T-plug with the upper end of the tubular body in a manner which results in a unitary/monolithic body.

Abstract: A ceramic discharge chamber for a lamp, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprises a first member which includes a leg portion and a transition portion, wherein the leg portion and the transition portion are integrally formed as one piece from a ceramic material, and a second member which includes a body portion, wherein the body portion is bonded to the transition portion of the first member. The ceramic discharge chamber can be formed by injection molding a ceramic material to form the first member, the first member forming a first portion of the ceramic discharge chamber; and bonding the first member to a second member which forms a second portion of the ceramic discharge chamber. The members which form the ceramic discharge chamber can greatly facilitate assembly of the discharge chamber, because the discharge chamber can be constructed with only one or two bonds between the members.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for blocking ultraviolet radiation from a arc tube includes a coating placed on at least a portion of the arc tube to block the UV radiation but yet pass visible light from the arc tube.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for sealing arc tubes while preventing cracking of the tube. The method comprises sealing a pair of electrodes on the arc tube in a furnace. A heat shield structure is used to reduce the thermal gradient generated by the sealing process. The heat shield comprises alternating layers of thermally conducting materials and thermally non-conducting materials.

Abstract: The process comprises the provision of a discharge vessel (2) which is closed off on one side, fitting a second tube over part of the discharge vessel and evacuating and filling the volume of the outer bulb via a pumping hole, which remains open in the second extension part within the second tube. This pumping hole is only closed at the end by means of an operation which closes it by rolling.

Abstract: The present invention is a hybrid sealing technique. According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, an unsealed lamp body is heated and a partial pinch seal is performed on a first side of the lamp body at an outer junction area. Then, a shrink seal is applied which completes the sealing process at the first side of the lamp body by sealing an inner junction area on the same side of the lamp body. The present invention retains the benefits of the shrink seal, but alleviates the difficulty associated with holding the electrode assemblies in place when performing a traditional shrink seal. In addition, the machine which holds the electrode assemblies in place is greatly simplified.

Abstract: A compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp includes an arc tube in which a phosphor layer is formed on an inner surface of a double spiral glass tube formed into a double spiral. The phosphor layer is formed by a process of injecting a suspension for forming the phosphor layer into the double spiral glass tube; a process of coating the inner surface of the double spiral glass tube with the suspension; a process of draining the suspension from the double spiral glass tube; a process of preliminarily drying the suspension until the suspension do longer flows according to self weight, while rotating the double spiral glass tube in a state in which a spiral axis of the double spiral glass tube is at an angle of 100 degrees with respect to a vertical axis and a turning part of the double spiral glass tube is downward; and process of completely drying the partially dried double spiral glass tube.

Abstract: To provide a bulb-form lamp including a few compartments, which can be easily fitted in a socket of a lighting equipment and reliably carry out electrical contact between a shell and the socket of the lighting equipment. The bulb-form lamp includes a shell surrounding one end of a casing, and the shell is molded integrally with one end of the casing to make contact with an outer surface of the casing leaving substantially no gap.

Abstract: A process for making an arc tube comprises the steps of sintering an arc tube composition to form the arc tube; annealing the arc tube in a vacuum; and sealing the arc tube with at least one electrode. Preferably, the arc tube annealed according to the present process is a ceramic arc tube. The annealing of the arc tubes in a vacuum preferably occurs at a temperature of between about 1000° C. and 1500° C.

Abstract: A ceramic arc tube for high intensity discharge (HID) lighting applications is provided wherein the arc tube contains a high buffer gas pressure. A method and apparatus for making the arc tube are also provided wherein RF induction heating is used to melt a frit material to form a hermetic seal.

Abstract: A method of producing a ceramic metal halide discharge lamp having a monolithic seal between a sapphire (single crystal alumina) arc tube and a polycrystalline alumina (PCA) end cap. The method includes the steps of providing an arc tube of fully dense sapphire and providing an end cap made of unsintered compressed polycrystalline alumina powder doped with magnesium oxide and yttrium oxide. The end cap is heated until it is presintered to remove organic binder material at a low temperature relative to the sintering temperature. The presintered end cap is placed on an end portion of the arc tube to form a close interface between the two. The presintered end cap and adjacent arc tube are then heated to until the end cap is fully sintered onto the arc tube and the sapphire tube grows into the end cap. A monolithic seal is formed along the interface between the end cap and the arc tube as the sapphire tube grows into the polycrystalline alumina end cap.

Abstract: To provide a bulb-type lamp in which a globe is fixed to a case without a tilt, and a manufacturing method for the bulb-type lamp. The globe is bonded to a connector using a thermosetting resin, in a state where a neck part of the globe is inserted in a groove of the connector without contacting the bottom of the groove. The connector is then fixed to the case by means of a fitting construction. This makes it unnecessary to perform a heating process to cure an adhesive after an envelope is formed by the globe and the case. Hence the tilting of the globe caused by the thermal expansion of air in the envelope can be prevented.

Abstract: An arc tube and method of fabricating the arc tube for a discharge lamp. The arc tube includes an arc tube main body 10 at which a sealed glass bulb 12 serving as a discharge portion sandwiched by pinch seal portions is formed at a portion of a glass tube W along the longitudinal direction thereof, and a cylindrical shroud glass 20 which is welded on and integrated with the arc tube main body 10 so as to cover the sealed glass bulb 12, the front and rear end portions of the shroud glass 20 may be joined, for example, by welding on shroud glass welded portions with circular cross sections provided at the front and rear end sides of the arc tube main body 10, respectively.

Abstract: A method of treating a lamp tube having a first end and a second end comprising introducing a first quantity of a luminescent substance into the first end of the lamp tube and introducing a second quantity of a luminescent substance into the second end of the lamp tube is provided. An illumination source comprising a linear tube having a first end and a second end and an inner surface having a luminescent substance distributed thereon, a longitudinal distribution of the luminescent substance having a minimum at a first point of the inner surface and a luminescent substance density greater than the minimum at each of a second and third point of the inner surface, the first point longitudinally located between the second and third points, is provided.

Abstract: A quartz arc tube for a metal halide lamps and its method of making are described. The quartz arc tube has a cylindrical design which promotes a nearly symmetric longitudinal surface temperature profile during operation. The profile has a maximum temperature of about 900° C. which allows for longer operating life at high average wall loadings.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp is manufactured according to the processes including: arranging a pair of lead wires between a holding block provided with two lead-wire grooves for grasping the pair of lead wires and an auxiliary holding block provided with grooves corresponding to the two-lead wire grooves in such a manner that both end portions of each of the pair of lead wires protrude out of the lead-wire grooves, whereby the pair of lead wires is supported to be sandwiched and to be fixed therebetween; attaching an electrode to tip ends of the protruding lead wires; inserting the lead wires that hold the electrode by grasping the same and protrude out of the holding block into an end portion of a glass tube; applying heat in the vicinity of the end portion of the glass tube so as to pinch-seal the lead wires; and detaching the holding block and the auxiliary holding block.

Abstract: A method for forming single element arc tubes is provided. The method includes the use of the lost foam process in combination with ceramic forming processes. First, a polymeric material (20) is formed to define the internal dimensions. The outer dimensions are established with an external mold (40), followed by filling the mold with a suspension (60) that hardens. The outer mold is removed and the part is debindered to melt and remove the inner foam shape, followed by sintering to form a substantially transparent ceramic arc tube (70).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to horizontally burning formed-body arc tubes and arc tube blanks for high intensity discharge lamps. The bottom portion of the light emitting chamber of the arc tubes is flattened in an area between the electrodes to reduce the distance between the bottom wall of the arc tube and the arc, and to increase the surface area of the pool of condensed halides during operation of a metal halide lamp. The flattened bottom of the arc tubes may be generally planar, slightly arcuate longitudinally and/or transversely, or slightly v-shaped longitudinally and/or transversely. The top portion of the arc tube conforms generally to the shape of the arc during operation of the lamp.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide, without increasing the costs or decreasing the quantity of light, a fluorescent lamp that is less likely to have the bridge and the constituent tubes damaged while being handled and has improved handleability, as well as to provide a manufacturing method therefor. It is arranged so that the distance between the first and second constituent tubes gradually becomes smaller from the base side of the lamp toward the turning portion side of the lamp where the discharge paths turn. It is arranged so that the value of D2/D1 is within a range of 0.05 to 0.70 inclusive, where D1 is the distance between the first and second constituent tubes being measured at the bridge connecting points on the base side, and D2 is the shortest distance between the first and second constituent tubes on the turning portion side.

Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp includes a quartz glass bulb, a conductive element which is sealed at a sealing portion of the bulb, and a pair of electrodes. Each electrode is disposed in the quartz glass bulb so as to be opposite the other and connected to the conductive element. A part of each electrode is sealed with the quartz glass bulb at the sealing portion so as to generate a contacting portion formed by the part of each electrode and the bulb. The maximum length, Lmax, of the contacting portion is defined as: Lmax((mm))≦/200/(P×D); and the minimum length, Lmin, of the contacting portion is defined as: Lmin((mm))≧0.8/(D2×&pgr;) or Lmin((mm))≧0.7 whichever is longer, where D is the diameter ((mm)) of the electrode and P is the power (W) supplied to the electrode.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a gas discharge panel according to the invention can reduce the amount of water and gaseous molecules, which are absorbed into the first and the second substrates, to a minimum by keeping the both substrates under a reduced pressure, and therefore can prevent a degradation of a discharge gas filling the finished panel. As a result, problems in the finished panel such as increase in a discharge starting voltage and generation of an abnormal discharge can be suppressed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp that includes a phosphor coating provided inside a glass tube bent to have a double-spiral configuration. The arc tube has two spiral parts that are wound around an axis “A”, and a turning part joining the two spiral parts. At any cross section of the glass tube, the applied phosphor coating is thicker in the inner surface of the glass tube near the ends of the glass tube in the axis “A” direction, than in the inner surface near the turning part.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reflector lamp and to a method for producing such a reflector lamp, especially a simplified method for fixing the lamp (2) in the reflector (1). The gasket (22) of the lamp base (21) is disposed in the cavity (13) of the reflector neck (12) in such a manner that the at least one power lead (71, 72) projects from the reflector neck (12) through a passage and the lamp base (21) is supported on the inner wall (13) of the reflector (1) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A). A fastening element (81, 82) is fastened on the power lead (71, 72) at an angle to the longitudinal axis (A) and rests against the outer wall of the reflector neck (12). The lamp (2) is thus fixated in the reflector (1) in the longitudinal direction (A) without play and without any additional spring elements.

Abstract: A bulb-type fluorescent lamp has a case having an open end portion for housing a lighting circuit therein, an arc tube extending outside through the open end portion of the case, and a globe having an open end portion for housing the arc tube therein. An adhesive is supplied to the inner surface of the open end portion of the case at four circumferentially spaced areas, and the open end portion of the globe is inserted into the open end portion of the case. As a result, the globe is fixed to the case with the adhesive.

Abstract: A method of making an electric lamp having a gas filled outer jacket wherein the space enveloped by the jacket may be flushed and filled with the desired fill gas without the use of a mechanical evacuation system including an exhaust pump. The space may be flushed and filled to obtain a controlled atmosphere within the space by inserting a gas dispensing probe into the space to displace the uncontrolled atmosphere with the fill gas. The final pressure of the fill gas which is sealed within the space may be controlled by controlling the temperature of the fill gas during the flush/fill procedure until the outer jacket is sealed.

Abstract: To form side tubes with adequate resistance to pressure, and to provide a short-arc, ultra-high-pressure discharge lamp having such side tubes, and to provide a method of manufacturing such a lamp, a short-arc, ultra-high-pressure discharge lamp (1) has a luminescent tube (10) within which a pair of electrodes (2,2) face each other, and side tubes (11) that extend from opposite sides of the luminescent tube and in which a portion of the electrodes is sealed and in which a small space (B) is formed to enable the electrodes (2) to expand and contract freely without compression along their axes due to a difference in the indices of expansion of the materials that make up the electrodes (2) and the side tubes (11).

Abstract: The high-pressure discharge lamp of the present invention includes: a discharge chamber that is formed in a silica glass tube, a pair of electrodes that are arranged with ends confronting each other in the discharge chamber; metal foil parts that are superposed and bonded to the other ends of the electrodes, and sealing sections for hermetically sealing the discharge chamber and which are parts for embedding the other ends of the electrodes and the metal foil parts in the glass at the two ends of the silica glass tube. The electrodes and the metal foil parts are embedded in the glass in a state in which metal coils are wrapped around the vicinities of the junctions of the electrodes and metal foil parts. The ends of the metal foil parts on the electrode side are further formed as tapered portions. In addition, the tips of the tapered portions on the electrode side are positioned, with respect to their direction of width, within the width in the radial direction of the electrodes.

Abstract: Heating or maintaining the temperature of a cathode ray tube that is waiting to undergo frit knocking has been discovered to substantially reduce the dangerous and harmful tendency of electrical arcing between the high-voltage probe and grounded band used in the frit knocking process. Any means or method of heating such a cathode ray tube including, but not limited to, placing the cathode ray tube in an oven or heating unit, or in a heated room or chamber produces beneficial results. Placing the cathode ray tube in an insulated envelope or blanket can also help. In particular, one or more heat packs that are heated in an oven and then brought into thermal contact with the cathode ray tube can be used to heat or maintain the temperature of the cathode ray tube.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a discharge tube including a discharge part, a sealing part formed at an end of the discharge part, and an electrode provided in the discharge part, the method includes inserting an electrode body having the electrode into a portion to be the sealing part that is adjacent to a portion to be the discharge part of a transparent insulating tube serving as a material for the discharge tube, and then sealing the portion to be the sealing part by heating and softening with a combination of a laser beam and a gas burner, thus forming the sealing part. Heat sources are selected suitably according to each region in the portion to be the sealing part, whereby a high-quality discharge tube that is highly resistant to pressure can be manufactured at high production efficiency and low cost.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp capable of fully securing a portion for containing a mercury amalgam pellet and reliably preventing the mercury amalgam pellet from moving toward the inside a discharge tube, and a method for manufacturing the fluorescent lamp. The fluorescent lamp includes a glass tube having a fluorescent substance layer on the inner surface, a sealed portion formed at an end of the glass tube, a slender glass tube having an inner space that is in communication with the inside of the glass tube and is not in communication with the outside of the glass tube, and a mercury amalgam pellet contained in the slender glass tube. The slender glass tube has a small-diameter part with an inner diameter smaller than the diameter of the mercury amalgam pellet and a large-diameter part with an inner diameter larger than the diameter of the mercury amalgam pellet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light bulb comprising a base BA to which a filament FIL is connected, which filament is intended to emit a luminous radiation and has turns arranged in spiraling fashion around an axis of revolution AX. According to the invention, the light bulb in addition comprises a plurality of hooks H1, H2, and H3, each being in contact with one of the turns of the filament, and being connected to the base BA by means of a support SUP. The invention enables to keep the filament FIL securely in position, which reduces the risk that several turns of said filament will come into contact with the support SUP, thus creating a destructive short-circuit.

Abstract: A tool and a method for positioning spacers on a first plate intended for being maintained at a distance from a second plate by said spacers, said tool including openings for receiving said spacers, and said openings being of variable size between a first position of introduction of the spacers and a second position of mechanical blocking of the spacers.