Abstract:
A monochromatic and polychromatic display system (10) which is operative by the generation of ultraviolet energy impinging on fluorescent material compositions (54) in order to create electromagnetic wave generation within the visible bandwidth of the electromagnetic spectrum through fluorescent excitation of fluorescent material (54). The operative ultraviolet energy produced results from the ionization of metallic atoms from a metallic coating (28) applied to cathode opening sidewalls (26) of a cathode mechanism (12). The display system (10) includes a matrix of cathode openings (22) formed in a cathode plate member (14). The cathode openings (22) define the cathode opening sidewalls (26) which have a metallic coating (28) applied thereto. The sidewall metallic coatings (28) and additionally, the metallic coating annular portion (30) of each hollow cathode cavity are coupled to a next succeeding cathode element in a linear column direction (32). A matrix of anode elements (46) are mounted below the cathode plate member (14) and are axially aligned with the cathode openings (22). The display system (10) is formed into a monolithic structure which includes an internal chamber (66) within which an inert or combination of inert gases is introduced. Fluorescent material compositions (54) are positionally located in aligned relation above cathode openings (22). Electrical energization of the cathode elements and the anode elements (46) results in ionization of metal atoms emitted from the metallic coating (28). The ionization process provides for ultraviolet radiation which is directed to the fluorescent material composition (54).
Abstract:
A gaseous discharge display panel of multi-layer construction comprises a transparent front sheet, a rear sheet, an intermediate sheet inserted between the front and rear sheets, said intermediate sheet having a number of elongated recesses for confining a number of discharge spaces extending in a plane of the intermediate sheet in parallel with each other and a number of through holes or recesses for constructing a number of communication channels, a number of anodes each arranged near one of the respective discharge space, a number of hollow cathodes arranged above the rear sheets, the other ends of the discharge spaces being communicated with the hollow cathodes through said communication channels, and a number of fluorescent layers applied on inner surfaces of the recesses formed in the intermediate sheet for confining the discharge spaces. The front, intermediate and rear sheets are connected to each other to form a hermetically sealed envelope and an ionizable gas is contained in the envelope.
Abstract:
The radiation emitting cathode of spectral source lamps often is a hollow cup, the interior of which contains a coating of the spectrally emitting element or elements. The forming of such a coating of an alloy of an alkali metal (or metals) with, say, tin in the presence of some boron is proposed, resulting in higher melting points and lower vapor pressures, thereby allowing higher operating lamp currents and consequent spectral radiation intensity. The coating material is formed, say, directly on the interior of the cathode cup (say, of titanium) by fusing an alkali metal borohydride with tin, thereby avoiding the need to handle pure alkali metal. The hydrogen gas liberated during alloy formation removes some of the contaminants (e.g., oxides). A boron-containing, glassy slag may be readily separated from the alkali metal alloys. Specific examples in which the alkali metal component is sodium, potassium, or a mixture of sodium and potassium are disclosed. The other metal may be, for example, tin or lead.
Abstract:
A thermionically emitting hollow cathode for very high currents up to 400 amperes AC particularly suitable for xenon-filled wallstabilized lamps. It comprises a hollow cylindrical body of porous tungsten, open in the direction of the arc and having a coil of tungsten wire lining the cavity walls except for a region at the rear deep within the cavity. The cavity wall but not the face nor the outside of the electrode are impregnated with emission material, suitably barium thorate. The cooler shank end of the cavity in which the electrode coil does not extend serves as a dead space into which gas can expand during the AC cycle, thereby reducing the rate of gas flow in and out of the open end.
Abstract:
A lamp (14) has an inner tube (32) pinch sealed at one end to form a pinch seal (82), to which a base (36) is attached. The base (36) has a pair of base pins (102, 104) provided in parallel to the axis of the inner tube (32). A pair of connection wires (98, 100) that extend out from the pinch seal (82) are inserted into the respective base pins (102, 104) and are fixed by concavities located in a portion of the base pins (102, 104). Each of the concavities is concave in a direction orthogonal to the base pins (102, 104) and parallel to an imaginary plane that traverses central axes of the base pins (102, 104).
Abstract:
Some embodiments include methods of forming plasma-generating microstructures. Aluminum may be anodized to form an aluminum oxide body having a plurality of openings extending therethrough. Conductive liners may be formed within the openings, and circuitry may be formed to control current flow through the conductive liners. The conductive liners form a plurality of hollow cathodes, and the current flow is configured to generate and maintain plasmas within the hollow cathodes. The plasmas within various hollow cathodes, or sets of hollow cathodes, may be independently controlled. Such independently controlled plasmas may be utilized to create a pattern in a display, or on a substrate. In some embodiments, the plasmas may be utilized for plasma-assisted etching and/or plasma-assisted deposition. Some embodiments include constructions and assemblies containing multiple plasma-generating structures.
Abstract:
A microcavity discharge device generates radiation with wavelengths in the range of from 11 to 14 nanometers. The device has a semiconductor plug, a dielectric layer, and an anode layer. A microcavity extends completely through the anode and dielectric layers and partially into the semiconductor plug. According to one aspect of the invention, a substrate layer has an aperture aligned with the microcavity. The microcavity is filled with a discharge gas under pressure which is excited by a combination of constant DC current and a pulsed current to produce radiation of the desired wavelength. The radiation is emitted through the base of the microcavity. A second embodiment has a metal layer which transmits radiation with wavelengths in the range of from 11 to 12 nanometers, and which excludes longer wavelengths from the emitted beam.
Abstract:
The present invention broadly provides an improvement in a deuterium arc lamp having structure (e.g., anode 27, baffle 28, etc.) mounted on the distal end of an electrical conductor (26) within an elongated tubular glass envelope (21) in spaced relation to the side wall (22) of the envelope. The improvement broadly comprises spacer means (24), such as axially-spaced disk-like first and second members (32, 33), that operatively engage the structure, and that restrain transverse movement of such structure within the envelope.
Abstract:
A meander-shaped low-pressure mercury discharge lamp with cold electrodes (7, 8), in particular for use in an illumination panel for a liquid crystal display. The geometry of the tubular lamp vessel (1) bent into a meander shape is so chosen, for obtaining a good homogeneity of the luminance and a high luminous efficacy, that the length of the discharge path is between 250 and 1000 times the internal diameter of the lamp vessel (1). The internal diameter of the lamp vessel (1) preferably has a value of between 2.0 and 3.5 mm.
Abstract:
A lighting circuit part (26) is provided for lighting a hollow cathode lamp (1), to feed a large lighting current (I1) intermittently and periodically across an anode and a cathode by a control signal from a control part (22) while feeding a boost current (Ib) across a boost electrode and the anode in a part of a period when the lighting current (I1) flows across the anode and the cathode. Absorbance including both of atomic absorption of a sample and background absorption is detected with light emitted when the large current (I1) is fed across the anode and the cathode with feeding of the boost current (Ib) while absorbance by background absorption of the sample is detected with light emitted when the large current (I1) is fed across the anode and the cathode with no feeding of the boost current (Ib) so that difference between these absorbance levels is obtained to obtain true atomic absorption corrected as to background absorption. Thus, measurement is made in a high S-N ratio with background correction.