METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SURFACE LIGHT SOURCE DEVICE AND APPARATUS FOR THE SAME

Abstract

There are provided a method of manufacturing a surface light source device, and an apparatus for manufacturing a surface light source device using the method. According to the method, a light source body including a plurality of discharge spaces into which a discharge gas is injected is formed. Impurities being present in the discharge spaces are removed. A mercury gas is diffused into the discharge spaces. Then, the light source body is rapidly cooled from the temperature at which mercury exists in the gaseous state to a room temperature. The time for the mercury gas to be within the range of temperature at which the mercury gas is liquefied is significantly shortened, thereby preventing the liquefied mercury from moving to the region having a low temperature in the discharge spaces.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing in detail preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for manufacturing a surface light source device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a light source body including independent partitions of the surface light source device manufactured using the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a light source body including integrated partitioning parts of the surface light source device manufactured using the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart sequentially illustrating a method of manufacturing a surface light source device using the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a picture illustrating the brightness of a conventional surface light source device;

FIG. 6 is a picture illustrating the brightness of a surface light source device manufactured by the method according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a picture illustrating the distribution of mercury inside the surface light source device of FIG. 6.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a surface light source device, comprising steps of: forming a light source body including a plurality of discharge spaces into which a discharge gas is injected;removing impurities being present in the discharge spaces;diffusing a mercury gas into the discharge spaces; andrapidly cooling the light source body, from a temperature at which mercury exists in the gaseous state in the discharge spaces to a room temperature.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of diffusing the mercury gas comprises steps of: putting a mercury getter into the discharge spaces; andheating the mercury getter at a temperature of 350° C. or higher.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the mercury getter is heated at a temperature of 400° C. or higher.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of annealing the light source body to a temperature at which the mercury gas exits in the gaseous state.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of rapidly cooling the light source body starts from a temperature of 150° C. or higher.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of rapidly cooling the light source body comprises a step of injecting a cooling gas to the light source body.

7. An apparatus for manufacturing a surface light source device, comprising: a forming section for forming a light source body including a plurality of discharge spaces into which a discharge gas is injected;an exhaust section for removing impurities being present in the discharge spaces;a diffusion section for diffusing a mercury gas into the discharge spaces; anda rapid-cooling section for rapidly cooling the light source body, from a temperature at which mercury exists in the gaseous state to a room temperature.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the rapid-cooling section comprises a nozzle for injecting a cooling gas.