Abstract: In a flat panel display system including a polyhedral enclosing housing structure having opposed front and back panels, which structure requires a subatmospheric or evacuated environment for the performance of the electronic components contained therein, a plurality of substantially parallel transversely spaced apart and longitudinally extending supporting vanes are fixtured within said housing between said front and back panels for limited movement within said housing prior to evacuating the interior thereof and for engagably supporting said front and back panels against the forces generated by atmospheric pressure when said interior is evacuated.

Abstract: A fiber optic system element for reducing speckle and modal noise resulting from coupling a laser diode to an optical fiber has the form of a short length of fiber through which extend filaments of different refractive indices. Such fiber is fabricated by fusing together a plurality of fibers of different refractive index profiles and drawing the resulting preform into a single fiber.

Abstract: A mount having a flared portion is so located that it is coaxial with a straight glass tube having an unconstricted end part and that an end face of the flared portion lies slightly inwards with respect to an end face of the glass tube. Subsequently, an outer surface of the end part of the glass tube is uniformly heated, whereby the flared portion and the end part of the glass tube are melted and stuck to each other. At this time, a surface temperature of the whole glass tube except the melted and stuck portion is maintained at or above 40.degree. C. As a result, a fluorescent lamp having good lamp characteristics is fabricated by the use of the inexpensive glass tube.

Abstract: When fusing together a panel having a fluorescent film and a metallic reflective film, and a funnel with an electroconductive film in a baking furnace for manufacturing a cathode ray tube, oxygen containing air is forced into the furnace.

Abstract: A capillary tube is shrunk around a wire heating element, fashioned into the desired configuration, and situated between the exterior surface of a cylindrical inner glass tube and the interior surface of a cylindrical outer glass tube, to form an assembly. The space between the adjacent tube surfaces is evacuated as a heat source is moved along the axis of the assembly to heat each longitudinal section of the assembly, in sequence. The element is thermally expanded as the outer tube surface collapses toward the inner tube surface, resulting in the fusion of the adjacent glass surfaces around the expanded element. In this manner, a channel is formed through the fused glass body which has the configuration and dimensions of the expanded element. During cooling, the element returns to its unexpanded condition. This results in a space between the channel walls and the element, permitting the element to expand, when electrically energized, without breaking the glass body.

Abstract: A light-weight mirror comprising a fused-silica mirror plate and a cellular or honeycombed supporting structure made of fused silica or a quartzose material. As it is being welded or fused to the supporting structure, the mirror plate is supported by supporting elements comprising seating members which at elevated temperature do not react with fusted silica. The surface of the seating members facing the mirror plate may be plane or curved or domed. The seating members are made of graphite or zirconium oxide. The supporting elements may also be made entirely of graphite. After the supporting structure and the mirror plate have been welded together, the supporting elements are removed.

Abstract: The low loss access coupler includes two multimode optic fibers, each having a biconical taper section. The biconical taper sections of the fibers are fused together to provide optical coupling between the fibers. The fused fibers may also be twisted around one another to enhance mode mixing. The access couplers may be produced by fusing two fibers together along a small length, then heating the fused length and pulling the fibers to form the biconical tapers; or by twisting a portion of each of the fibers around one another, applying a tensile force to the twisted portions of the fibers and heating a region of the twisted fibers to soften and fuse a predetermined length of twisted fibers. If the fibers already have biconical taper sections, the access coupler may be produced by twisting the fibers together along their taper sections and heating a region of the taper sections to fuse them together.

Abstract: A gapped bar is formed of a pair of rectangular parallelopiped magnetic core block having coil-winding grooves jointed to each other through a medium of a non-magnetic thickness. The gapped bar is provided with a plurality of non-magnetic glass mold parts disposed to limit at least the front gap portion to a predetermined track width. Then, a head core is formed by cutting the gapped bar at the glass mold parts at a predetermined angle to the longitudinal axis of the gapped bar and then effecting required processing such as finishing of the cut surface. Finally, an annealing is effected on thus formed head core at a temperature higher than the deformation point of the glass constituting the mold glass part.

Abstract: In the pressing of articles from molten glass, an insert of selected material is encapsulated within the glass article as the article is being press formed.

Abstract: A vacuum insulated container is constituted by a double-walled receptacle wherein the space between the walls is substantially evacuated to provide vacuum insulation. The outer wall is provided with an opening therein which is used during manufacture to provide access to the space between the walls so that the space may be evacuated. A stopper- or plug-like portion fills the opening after the container has been evacuated and is permanently joined or bonded to the surfaces of the opening thereby providing a sealing to maintain the vacuum in the space between the walls.

Abstract: A multiple optical core fiber and method for manufacturing it. Two or more chemical vapor deposition type preforms are fused with a hydrogen-oxygen torch and then etched in a solution of 50% hydrofluoric and 50% nitric acid. A hollow quartz tube is subjected to internal gas pressure while a hydrogen-oxygen torch is passed along it. This expands and cleans the tube. The chemical vapor deposition preforms are inserted within the expanded tube which is again subjected to the torch to collapse it about the preforms. A nearly solid glass rod with two or more optical waveguide cores is thereby formed. This multiple core preform may then be drawn into a multiple core fiber which can be utilized for the transmission of light pulses.

Abstract: Method for producing miniature lamps comprising the steps of heating a stem by radiation such as infrared rays by which inner periphery of a glass tube contacting the stem is melted, said heating is performed in the vacuum atmosphere, and at the same time shielding the other parts of the glass tube that do not contact the stem from the radiation, and cooling said other parts of the glass tube by the radiation between the other parts and a boat made of metals, whereby miniature lamps used in a wrist watch are produced with good efficiency.

Abstract: A cathode ray tube has an envelope comprised of a first glass and a faceplate comprised of a second glass, both glasses having different thermal coefficients of expansion. The envelope and faceplate are joined by a cylindrical, stress-absorbing glass member flame-sealed at one end to the envelope and frit-sealed at the other end to the faceplate. Importantly, the thermal coefficient of expansion of the stress-absorbing member is less than the coefficients of either the envelope or the faceplate.

Abstract: An inexpensive glass capacitive pressure sensor. Conductive capacitor electrodes are disposed on two flat glass plates, one serving as a diaphragm, the other as a substrate. The electrodes are positioned in a spaced apart, substantially parallel relationship to form the plates of a parallel plate capacitor. The glass plates are sealed together with a sealing glass mixture to bound a volume between the conductors. The volume is at a reference pressure, preferably a substantial vacuum. Differences between the pressure to be measured and this reference pressure cause a flexing of the glass diaphragm which is detected by measuring the capacitance between the two electrodes. A suitable sealing glass mixture which provides a hermetic seal between the glass plates is comprised of, in weight percent, 8-10 SiO.sub.2, 1-2 Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 55-60 PbO, 7-9 PbF.sub.2, 7-10 ZnO, 4-6 CdO, and 10-15 B.sub.2 O.sub.3. The sealing glass mixture must be vacuum fined to permit hermetic sealing within a vacuum.

Abstract: In a method for sealing a glass stem into the neck of an electron tube, the stem, which is supported on a mount pin, is positioned in the neck, which is longer than desired. The neck is then heat sealed, as by fusion, to the stem, and the excess glass or cullet is cut off, whereby the cullet falls on, around and sticks to the mount pin. The novel method includes releasing the cullet from the mount pin without substantially fracturing the cullet. Then, the released cullet is removed from the vicinity of the mount pin, again without substantially fracturing the cullet.

Abstract: An element of a dual-in-line ceramic package such as a substrate or cover provided with a layer of sealing glass is prepared by forming powdered low-melting sealing glass into a shape conforming to that of the element, compressing and sintering the shaped powdered glass to form a solid sintered sealing glass preform, applying the preform to the surface of the element, and fusing it thereto by heating the assembly.

Abstract: An improved arc tube end seal and the method of forming that seal in a high pressure sodium discharge lamp is disclosed. The method includes precoating the refractory metal end cap with a slurry of metallic silicon and baking the end cap prior to accomplishing the bonding of the end cap to the arc tube with a conventional sealing frit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of connecting optical fibers by ing a capillary tube which is flared at both ends. The capillary tube is formed so that its bore is cylindrical along at least half of its length, the fibers are inserted into the bore by vibration until their respective end faces come into contact with each other and the capillary tube is then heated to its softening point (at least at its ends) and allowed to cool to obtain a tightening of the ends of these fibers.

Abstract: A method of making a thin film magnetic head assembly having a spaced substrate and superstrate with a thin film magnetic transducer mounted therebetween by the steps of positioning at least one spacing member between the substrate and superstrate, placing a quantity of insulating bonding material of selected characteristics adjacent the spaced substrate and superstrate and controllably heating the substrate, superstrate, thin film magnetic transducer and spacing member sub-assembly to a bonding temperature located in a bonding temperature range and maintaining the sub-assembly at a bonding temperature to enable the bonding material to substantially fill the space by capillary action thereby encapsulating the thin film magnetic transducer bonding the substrate, superstrate and thin film magnetic transducer into an integral assembly is shown.

Abstract: Semiconductor packages are manufactured according to a method which eliminates or greatly reduces the occurrence of short circuited or otherwise badly positioned leads. The method utilizes a leadframe having a bonding tip support connecting the bonding tips of the leads. After the leadframe is affixed to a ceramic element, the connecting element is removed.

Abstract: A method of treating the substrate for a liquid crystal display device to permit unidirectional alignment of the liquid crystal molecules, comprising the steps of forming a silicon dioxide film on the electrode-bearing surface of a substrate, laminating a silicon film on the silicon dioxide film, rubbing the surface of the silicon film in a predetermined direction, and subjecting the substrate a heat treatment.

Abstract: A channel-type electron multiplier made in the shape of a glass wafer having holes through a central portion thereof, and an imperforate glass border fused to the periphery of the wafer, the wafer glass having a thermal coefficient of expansion less than that of the border glass. In manufacture, a brief fast cooling step aids in the production of a strong, permanent bond between wafer and border.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for producing continuous, multicolored glass objects, such as stained glass windows without leading, which includes blowing a glass object, maintaining at least one colored pattern piece in contact with the surface of the object until the pattern piece becomes soft enough to be blown and then blowing the object to a final form whereby the pattern piece becomes incorporated in the glass object. Sheet material may be produced by blowing a cylinder, splitting the cylinder and flattening the cylindrical wall.

Abstract: A method for bonding together a pair of members comprising positioning a layer of soldering glass between the pair of members, melting the glass, bonding the members into the molten glass and cooling the members. One of the members may be conductive with the soldering glass coated thereon, or the soldering glass may be coated on a conductive element which becomes bonded between the pair of members.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for permanently splicing glass optical fibers. The fibers are aligned colinearly, and their endfaces are brought into contact. An electrical arc discharge is generated at the junction between the fibers and is moved along the junction to ensure complete fusing of the fiber endfaces. Best results are obtained by first applying only enough heat to the fiber junction to cause the fibers to adhere to each other without forming a good optical connection, and thereafter, increasing the arc current to a value sufficient to cause complete fusion of the fiber endfaces.

Abstract: Glass substrates having electrical conductors deposited thereon used in gas panel fabrication with vitreous or crystalline solder glass attached thereto are disclosed as well as a method of applying and attaching said solder glass to such substrates.

Abstract: A linear array of electron multiplier microchannels is formed by fusing a plurality of solid core glass fibers into a rectangular array. A number of arrays is then sandwiched between a pair of glass plate support members fused into a linear arrangement followed by treating to form the electron multiplier. Treatment comprises subjecting the arrangement to an acid etch for removing the core material and hydrogen firing to activate the core walls for secondary electron emission. The apparatus finds application as an ion-electron converter in focal plane mass spectrometers where high electron gain is required.

Abstract: A crucible of pure transparent silica glass or pure translucent or opaque silica glass for the production of monocrystals used in making semiconductor elements which includes a hollow cylindrical part and a welded-on head. The head end of the hollow cylindrical part is formed from a tube with a head margin portion constricted towards the tube axis which is formed by shaping one end of the tube. A plate is welded into the aperture formed by the constricted head margin portion and has an area equal to at least one-tenth and at most four-fifths of the total head area made up by the head margin portion and the head.

Abstract: Use of press-molded flanged glass envelope members each including a central hollow cylindrical portion enables fabrication of high output cold cathode gas laser tubes of reduced axial length with materially reduced cost of production. The cylindrical portion of one of the envelope members surrounds one end region of the capillary tube thereby to prevent discharge concentration on the adjacent end region of the cylindrical cold cathode while that of the other envelope member serves to support the capillary tube at about the middle of its axial length, eliminating the need for a "flaring operation" requiring highly skilled labor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method particularly suited to lampworking for producing unique surface effects on glass. In addition interlocking glass sections formed from bundles of rods preassembled on a cyclindrical core are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for permanently splicing glass optical fibers. The fibers are aligned colinearly, and their ends are brought into contact. Electric and magnetic fields are generated in the vicinity of the fiber end portions. The electric field creates an arc which moves along the fiber junction under the influence of the magnetic field, thereby ensuring complete fusing of the fiber endfaces.

Abstract: Stemmed glassware is produced by a method and apparatus in which the stem is formed separately and is subsequently joined to the cup at the final phase of the blowing operation of the cup glass. In the apparatus a first rotatable platen having cup molds is provided for blowing of the cups and a second rotatable platen having stem molds is provided for forming the stems. A drop of glass for producing the stems is dropped through a very short distance of about 20 to 40 mm. to prevent excessive cooling of the glass drop and to assist in centering the glass drop in longitudinally divided stem molds. A ring centers the mold halves of the stem molds and a surface on the ring molds a part of the stem base. The second platen rotates the stem molds through a pressing station at which the glass drop is pressed to form the stem to a transfer station at which a transfer means transfers the finished stems from the second rotatable platen and attaches the stems to the cups on the first rotatable platen.

Abstract: A low melting, transparent glass spacer rod system is disclosed which will soften and seal the two glass substrates in the center of a gaseous discharge panel at or below the temperature used to seal the periphery but above the gas processing temperature thus relieving the stresses developed at the edge seal when the gas within the panel expands at high altitudes. High melting rods near the seal periphery provide the proper gap spacing between substrates.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an open cellular article constructed of a plurality of spaced walls of relatively weak bondable material defining a plurality of elongated passages therethrough which are filled with a disintegratable filler material having sufficient form and strength initially to maintain the walls in their predetermined precisely spaced relation and after bonding of the walls into an integral unit such filler material being conveniently removable from the article to reestablish the passages between the walls.

Abstract: Misregistration and losses between the ends of coupled optical fibre-bundles are reduced by tapering the fibre ends. The ends are etched to remove a portion of the outer cladding glass around each glass core. The tapered ends are inserted into a low refractive index glass tube and drawn down in the tube to form a solid core glass zone. The solid end is polished to facilitate coupling to another bundle.