FLAT FLUORESCENT LAMP, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME, AND DISPLAY APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME 111

Abstract

A flat fluorescent lamp includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first fluorescent layer, a second fluorescent layer, a combining member and a contacting layer. The second substrate is combined with the first substrate to form a plurality of discharge chambers spaced apart from each other. The first fluorescent layer is formed on an inner surface of the first substrate, and the second fluorescent layer is formed on an inner surface of the second substrate. The combining member is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The contacting layer is formed between the discharge chambers. Thus, mercury vapor in a flat fluorescent lamp may be prevented from migrating due to a temperature difference between discharge chambers, and luminescence characteristics of a flat fluorescent lamp may be improved.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary flat fluorescent lamp, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the flat fluorescent lamp illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line I-I′ shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line II-II′ shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line III-III′ shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an exemplary flat fluorescent lamp, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7 to 9 are cross-sectional views and a perspective view, which illustrate an exemplary method of manufacturing a flat fluorescent lamp, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an exemplary display apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A flat fluorescent lamp, comprising: a first substrate;a second substrate combined with the first substrate to form a plurality of discharge chambers spaced apart from each other;a first fluorescent layer formed on an inner surface of the first substrate;a second fluorescent layer formed on an inner surface of the second substrate;a combining member disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate to combine the first substrate with the second substrate; anda contacting layer formed between the first substrate and the second substrate and between the discharge chambers.

2. The flat fluorescent lamp of claim 1, wherein the second substrate comprises: a plurality of discharge portions spaced apart from the first substrate to form the discharge chambers;a plurality of non-discharge portions making contact with the contacting layer, each of the non-discharge portions being disposed between the discharge portions; anda sealing portion that is disposed in a peripheral area of the second substrate and is combined with the first substrate.

3. The flat fluorescent lamp of claim 2, wherein the contacting layer corresponds to the non-discharge portion.

4. The flat fluorescent lamp of claim 3, wherein the contacting layer comprises at least one of yttrium oxide or aluminum oxide.

5. The flat fluorescent lamp of claim 2, wherein the combining member corresponds to the sealing portion.

6. The flat fluorescent lamp of claim 5, further comprising a reflective layer formed between the first substrate and the first fluorescent layer, wherein a sum of thicknesses of the reflective layer, the first fluorescent layer, the second fluorescent layer and the contacting layer is substantially equal to a thickness of the combining member.

7. The flat fluorescent lamp of claim 5, further comprising: a reflective layer formed on an inner surface of the first substrate;a first protective layer formed between the reflective layer and the first fluorescent layer; anda second protective layer formed between the second substrate and the second fluorescent layer,wherein a sum of thicknesses of the reflective layer, the first protective layer, the first fluorescent layer, the second protective layer, the second fluorescent layer and the contacting layer is substantially equal to a thickness of the combining member.

8. The flat fluorescent lamp of claim 2, wherein the second substrate further comprises an exhaust portion formed at the non-discharge portion to connect the discharge chambers with each other.

9. The flat fluorescent lamp of claim 1, further comprising an external electrode that is disposed at an outer surface of at least one of the first and the second substrates and spans the discharge chambers.

10. A method of manufacturing a flat fluorescent lamp, the method comprising: sequentially forming a reflective layer and a first fluorescent layer on an inner surface of a first substrate;forming a second substrate combined with the first substrate to form a plurality of discharge chambers spaced apart from each other;forming a second fluorescent layer on an inner surface of the second substrate;forming a contacting layer on one of the first fluorescent layer and the second fluorescent layer, the contacting layer being disposed between the discharge chambers; andcombining the first substrate with the second substrate.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second substrate comprises: a plurality of discharge portions spaced apart from the first substrate to form the discharge chambers;a plurality of non-discharge portions making contact with the contacting layer, each of the non-discharge portions being disposed between the discharge portions; anda sealing portion that is disposed in a peripheral area of the second substrate and is combined with the first substrate,wherein the contacting layer corresponds to the non-discharge portion.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the forming the contacting layer comprises: disposing a mask having an opening that corresponds to the non-discharge portion; andspray-coating a layer-forming material on one of the first fluorescent layer and the second fluorescent layer to form the contacting layer.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the contacting layer comprises at least one of yttrium oxide or aluminum oxide.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising forming a combining member at one of the first substrate and the second substrate, the combining member corresponding to the sealing portion.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a sum of thicknesses of the reflective layer, the first fluorescent layer, the second fluorescent layer and the contacting layer is substantially equal to a thickness of the combining member.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising: forming a first protective layer between the reflective layer and the first fluorescent layer; andforming a second protective layer between the second substrate and the second fluorescent layer,wherein a sum of thicknesses of the reflective layer, the first protective layer, the first fluorescent layer, the second protective layer, the second fluorescent layer and the contacting layer is substantially equal to a thickness of the combining member.

17. A display apparatus, comprising: a flat fluorescent lamp configured to generate light, the flat fluorescent lamp comprising: a first substrate having a reflective layer and a first fluorescent layer;a second substrate having a second fluorescent layer, the second substrate being combined with the first substrate to form a plurality of discharge chambers spaced apart from each other;a combining member disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate to combine the first substrate with the second substrate; anda contacting layer formed between the first substrate and the second substrate and between the discharge chambers, such that a sum of thicknesses of the reflective layer, the first fluorescent layer, the second fluorescent layer and the contacting layer is substantially equal to a thickness of the combining member; anda display unit operatively coupled to the flat fluorescent lamp and configured to display an image using the generated light.

18. The display apparatus of claim 17, wherein the flat fluorescent lamp further comprises: a first protective layer formed between the reflective layer and the first fluorescent layer; anda second protective layer formed between the second substrate and the second fluorescent layer,wherein a sum of thicknesses of the reflective layer, the first protective layer, the first fluorescent layer, the second protective layer, the second fluorescent layer and the contacting layer is substantially equal to a thickness of the combining member.