公开(公告)号：EP0944912A4

公开(公告)日：2003-07-16

申请号：EP97950630

申请日：1997-11-26

Applicant: CANDESCENT INTELLECTUAL PROP

Inventor： FAHLEN THEODORE S ,  LUDWIG PAUL N ,  SCHMID ANTHONY P ,  PRESSLEY ROBERT J ,  CHO STEVEN T ,  CONTE ALFRED S ,  COOPER ANTHONY J ,  POTHOVEN FLOYD R

IPC: G09F9/00 ,  G09F9/30 ,  H01J9/24 ,  H01J9/26 ,  H01J31/12

CPC classification number: H01J31/123 ,  B23K26/206 ,  C03B23/24 ,  H01J9/261 ,  H01J9/385

Abstract: Portions (40 and 44) of a structure, such as a flat-panel display, are positioned such that a sealing area (40S) of one portion is at least partially separated from a corresponding sealing area (44S) of another portion such that a gap (48) at least partially separates the two sealing areas, typically by height of 25 microns or more. Energy is applied in a "gap jumping technique" to locally heat material of at least one portion along the sealing area such that the material bridges the gap and seals the portions (40 and 44) together. A laser is typically employed to locally melt and draw the material into the gap by a combination of factors such as surface tension and capillary action. A first part of the gap jumping technique may be performed in a non-vacuum environment to tack the portions together, but the gap jumping technique is typically completed in a vacuum to form an evacuated panel.