Abstract: A support for filiform elements containing an active material in form of powders is described, comprising anchoring means of the support and blocking means for the filiform element, a method for manufacturing said support and lamps wherein said supports are employed.

Abstract: A compact fluorescent lamp includes a discharge tube such as a spiral discharge tube having a wall forming a discharge chamber between cathodes at first and second ends thereof. At least one auxiliary amalgam assembly is disposed in the discharge chamber at an intermediate region disposed between the first and second ends. The auxiliary amalgam assembly is secured at a location spaced from the inner wall of the discharge chamber.

Abstract: An auxiliary amalgam is contained in a light-emitting tube. The auxiliary amalgam has a base, a metal layer provided on the base, and a diffusion-inhibiting layer provided between the base and the metal layer.

Abstract: A light source with a heatable filament (1) or an electrode, with the filament or the electrode being arranged in a bulb (2) or in a tube, is provided with an improved service life by the provision of a depot (3) with at least one chemical element that is also present in the filament or the electrode, and which is associated with the filament or the electrode such that the element is supplied to the filament or the electrode. Furthermore, a method is described for regenerating a light source with a heatable filament (1) or an electrode, with the filament or the electrode being arranged in a bulb (2) or in a tube. By the method, the depot (3) is associated in a first step to the filament or the electrode, with the depot comprising at least one chemical element that is also present in the filament or the electrode. Finally, the element is supplied to the filament or the electrode.

Abstract: A device (10) for introducing hydrogen into a flat display (14) of the field emission or plasma addressed liquid crystal type is described, formed of a reservoir (11) containing a hydrogen accumulator material (21) connected to the internal space (13) of the display by means of a wall (15) permeable to the passage of hydrogen gas as a function of the temperature. The device comprises a heater (19) and a heater (22) for bringing respectively the wall and the accumulator material to the desired temperatures, or a single heater which carries out both cited functions. There is also described a method by which the device is activated whenever the flat display is working, the switching on of said heater being arranged in order to bring the wall itself to a previously calculated temperature.

Abstract: The high pressure discharge lamp has a discharge vessel (1) mounted in an outer envelope (4) in which an oxygen dispenser (30) is disposed. The oxygen dispenser (30) contains silver oxide and may be disposed at a location where it obtains a temperature of at least 340.degree. C. during operation of the lamp, at which temperature the oxide is decomposed and oxygen is released. The deposit of black coatings originating from hydrocarbon contaminations is thereby prevented.

Abstract: A field emission device (100, 200) includes a cathode plate (110, 210), an anode plate (112, 212) spaced from the cathode plate (110, 210) to define an interspace region (114, 214) therebetween, a hole (144, 244) defined by the device package and in communication with the interspace region (114, 214), and a hydrogen-selective membrane (140, 240) disposed in registration with the hole (144, 244).

Abstract: An emitter structure 12 for use in a field emission display device comprises a ballast layer 17 overlying an electrically conductive coating 16 (cathode electrode), which is itself formed on an electrically insulating substrate 18. A gate electrode comprises a coating of an electrically conductive material 22 which is deposited on an insulating layer 20. Cone-shaped microtips 14 formed within apertures 34 through conductive layer 22 and insulating layer 20. In the present invention, insulating layer 20 comprises a dielectric material capable of desorbing at least ten atomic percent hydrogen, which may illustratively comprise hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ). HSQ is an abundant source of hydrogen which keeps deleterious oxides from forming on microtip emitters 14. HSQ also reduces the capacitance formed by cathode electrode 16 and gate electrode 22, since its relative dielectric constant is less than 3.5.

Abstract: To retain a starting amalgam in a fluorescent lamp, a carrier body (7, 7', 37, 47), for example formed as an iron sheet-metal element of about 2.5.times.7 mm, and having a thickness of, for example, 0.2 mm, is secured to a glass element (6, 6', 36, 46) which retains current supply leads (3, 4, 3', 4') extending into the discharge vessel of the lamp, and holding the filament (5, 5') therein. The carrier body can also be a mesh or a wire; it may be melted into, or glazed-on or melted-on the glass element. This permits locating the starting amalgam close to the hottest portion of the electrode mount for the lamp for rapid supply of mercury upon firing of the lamp.

Abstract: An emitter structure 12 for use in a field emission display device comprises a ballast layer 17 overlying ah electrically conductive coating 16 (cathode electrode), which is itself formed on an electrically insulating substrate 18. A gate electrode comprises a coating of an electrically conductive material 22 which is deposited on an insulating layer 20. Cone-shaped microtips 14 formed within apertures 34 through conductive layer 22 and insulating layer 20. In the present invention, insulating layer 20 comprises a dielectric material capable of desorbing at least ten atomic percent hydrogen, which may illustratively comprise hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ). HSQ is an abundant source of hydrogen which keeps deleterious oxides from forming on microtip emitters 14. HSQ also reduces the capacitance formed by cathode electrode 16 and gate electrode 22, since its relative dielectric constant is less than 3.5.

Abstract: An oxygen gas introducing apparatus for introducing oxygen gas into a vacuum electron optical column of an electron beam apparatus having an electron beam source as a cathode that needs the oxygen gas is disclosed which comprises a silver cylinder having a closed end and provided on a side wall of the vacuum electron optical column so as to project from an outside atmospheric side to an interior of the vacuum electron optical column, and a heating member electrically insulated and disposed within an interior of the silver cylinder which interior is in communication with the atmosphere.

Abstract: The invention relates to a high-pressure sodium discharge lamp intended to be operated in conjunction with an external starter or with an internal starter without a glow discharge. The lamp has an outer bulb which is provided with a lamp cap and encloses an evacuated space in which a discharge vessel is arranged. According to the invention, the space enclosed by the outer bulb further accommodates a closed holder, whose wall mainly comprises glass-forming constituents and which contains at least helium. Thus, it is achieved that the lamp has a strongly reduced increase in lamp voltage during the life.

Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining constant pressure in gas discharge vessels, particularly for flat plasma picture screens with electron post-acceleration. The gas pressure is kept constant in the gas discharge vessel. For this purpose, a glass container preferably filled with helium is applied in the gas discharge vessel, this glass container being provided with a heater for temperature control and thus provides variable gas permeability. An apparatus of the invention is particularly employed for flat plasma picture screens.

Abstract: An arc-extinguishing ampul and a low-pressure arc discharge lamp, such as a fluorescent lamp, having such ampul on each electrode structure, the ampul comprising a thin-walled glass body enclosing an arc-extinguishing gas, at least one electrically conductive support wire, and a heat-conductive coating covering the outer surface of the ampul and portions of the support wire. Upon depletion of the electron-emissive coating on one electrode filament at the end of the useful life of the lamp, the arc discharge is attracted to the ampul by the support wire. The heat of the arc softens and melts the ampul to the point where the arc-extinguishing gas within the ampul escapes and renders the lamp inoperable without loss of the lamp's hermetic seal.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a picture display tube a gettering device is used which includes a first metal holder (1, 20) and a second metal holder (3, 28). A source (2, 21) of evaporable gettering metal is accommodated in the first metal holder (1, 20) from which the gettering metal can be released by inductive heating. A gas source (6) including a material having a comparatively high decomposition temperature, which releases gas upon heating, is accommodated in the second metal holder. The second metal holder is connected to an outer surface (7, 30) of the first metal holder in such manner that the second metal holder forms an electric shunt for part of the induction current generated in the first metal holder by the inductive heating.