Claims
- 1. A method of making a cold cathode fluorescent discharge tube having a cathode and an anode, said anode comprising a mercury discharge structure for discharging mercury within said discharge tube, said mercury discharge structure comprising a mercury alloy obtained by combining a metal sintered body with mercury, said method comprising:
- (a) forming said metal sintered body by sintering powder of one kind or a plurality of kinds of metals combinable with said mercury into a desired shape which is predetermined according to a state of use of said anode, which results in a determination of a shape of said anode;
- (b) combining said mercury with said metal sintered body which is sintered into said desired shape so as to provide said mercury alloy;
- said mercury alloy being formed to have said desired shape of said metal sintered body when said metal sintered body and said mercury are combined with each other; and
- (c) sealing said mercury alloy thus formed within said discharge tube for use as said mercury discharge structure.
- 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said desired shape is a column.
- 3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said desired shape is a cylindrical shape.
- 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said one kind or plurality of kinds of metals are taken from a group consisting of titanium, zirconium, tantalum and nickel.
- 5. A method of making a cold cathode fluorescent discharge tube having a cathode and an anode, said anode comprising a mercury discharge structure for discharging mercury within said discharge tube, said mercury discharge structure including a mercury alloy, said method comprising:
- (a) forming a metal sintered body by sintering a mixture of a first metal powder of titanium powder and a second metal powder of a non-volatile getter material powder into a desired shape which is predetermined according to a state of use of said anode, which results in a determination of a shape of said anode;
- (b) combining mercury with said titanium powder of said metal sintered body which is sintered into said desired shape so as to provide said mercury alloy;
- said mercury discharge structure, including said mercury alloy obtained by combining said titanium powder with said mercury, being formed to have said desired shape of said metal sintered body; and
- (c) thereafter sealing said mercury discharge structure within said discharge tube for use as said anode.
- 6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said second metal powder is powder of one kind or a plurality of kinds of metals taken from a group consisting of zirconium, tantalum and nickel.
- 7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said desired shape is a column.
- 8. A method according to claim 6 wherein said desired shape is a cylindrical shape.
- 9. A method according to claim 5 wherein said desired shape is a column.
- 10. A method according to claim 5 wherein said desired shape is a cylindrical shape.
- 11. A method of making a cold cathode fluorescent discharge tube having a cathode and an anode, said anode comprising a mercury discharge structure for discharging mercury within said discharge tube, said mercury discharge structure including a mercury alloy, said method comprising:
- (a) forming a metal sintered body including (i) forming a first portion by sintering a first metal powder of one kind or a plurality of kinds of metals combinable with mercury and (ii) forming a second portion by sintering a second metal powder of a metal not combinable with mercury;
- said metal sintered body being sintered to have a desired shape which is predetermined according to a state of use of said anode, which results in a determination of a shape of said anode, and said second portion forming a thin end portion of said desired shape;
- (b) combining mercury with said first portion which is sintered into said desired shape so as to form said mercury alloy;
- said mercury discharge structure, including said mercury alloy obtained by combining said first portion and said mercury, being formed to have said desired shape of said metal sintered body; and
- (c) thereafter sealing said mercury discharge structure within said discharge tube for use as a part of said anode.
- 12. A method according to claim 11, wherein step (c) comprises welding said metal sintered body through said second portion to a different member forming the anode.
- 13. A method according to claim 12 wherein said desired shape is a column.
- 14. A method according to claim 12 wherein said desired shape is a cylindrical shape.
- 15. A method according to claim 11 wherein said desired shape is a column.
- 16. A method according to claim 11 wherein said desired shape is a cylindrical shape.
- 17. A method according to claim 11, wherein said one kind or plurality of kinds of metals combinable with mercury are taken from a group consisting of titanium, zirconium, tantalum and nickel.
- 18. A method according to claim 11, wherein said metal not combinable with mercury is iron.
- 19. A method of making a cold cathode fluorescent discharge tube, said method comprising:
- (a) providing a glass tube having on an inner surface a phosphor film;
- (b) forming an anode, said anode having a metal powder sintered body, by (i) sintering a metal powder, said metal powder comprising a metal combinable with at least mercury to form a mercury alloy, said metal powder being shaped into a desired shape which is predetermined according to a state of use of said anode, which results in a determination of a shape of said anode, and (ii) combining mercury with said metal powder sintered body to form said mercury alloy so as to be contained in said metal powder sintered body, said mercury alloy, obtained by combining said metal powder sintered body with said mercury, being formed to have said desired shape of said metal powder sintered body;
- (c) providing a cold cathode; and
- (d) sealingly mounting said anode and said cold cathode to opposite ends of said glass tube.
- 20. A method according to claim 19, wherein step (b)(i) comprises sintering powder of one kind or a plurality of kinds of metals taken from a group consisting of titanium, zirconium, tantalum and nickel.
- 21. A method according to claim 20 wherein said desired shape is a column which is concentrical with said glass tube.
- 22. A method according to claim 20 wherein said desired shape is a cylindrical shape.
- 23. A method according to claim 19, wherein step (b)(i) comprises sintering a mixture of a first metal powder of titanium and a second metal powder of a non-volatile getter material.
- 24. A method according to claim 23 wherein said desired shape is a column which is concentrical with said glass tube.
- 25. A method according to claim 23 wherein said desired shape is a cylindrical shape.
- 26. A method according to claim 19 wherein said desired shape is a column which is concentrical with said glass tube.
- 27. A method according to claim 19 wherein said desired shape is a cylindrical shape.
- 28. A method of making a mercury discharge structure for discharging mercury, said method comprising:
- (a) forming a metal sintered body by sintering powder of one kind of metal or a plurality of kinds of metals into a desired shape which is predetermined according to a state of final use of said mercury discharge structure, which results in a determination of a shape of said mercury discharge structure, said one kind of metal or said plurality of kinds of metals including at least a metal which can form a mercury alloy by combining with mercury; and
- (b) combining mercury with said at least one metal contained in said metal sintered body which is sintered into the desired shape so as to form said mercury alloy;
- said mercury discharge structure including said mercury alloy, obtained by combining said at least one metal contained in said metal sintered body with said mercury, being formed to have said desired shape of said metal sintered body.
- 29. A method according to claim 28, wherein said metal sintered body is formed by sintering metal powder of one or both of titanium and zirconium.
- 30. A method according to claim 28, wherein said metal sintered structure is formed by sintering into said desired shape a metal powder which is obtained by mixing a first metal powder of a metal which can form an alloy by combining with mercury and a second metal powder of a non-volatile getter material.
- 31. A method according to claim 28, wherein said metal sintered body is formed to have said desired shape by sintering metal powder which is obtained by combining:
- a first metal powder including at least powder of a metal which can form an alloy by combining with mercury, and forming a first portion which can contain the mercury, and
- a second metal powder of a metal which cannot combine with the mercury, said second metal powder forming a second portion which is joined with said first portion and which cannot contain the mercury, said second portion having one end of said desired shape which is thinner than said first portion of said desired shape.
- 32. A method according to claim 31, wherein said second metal powder comprises one or more of zirconium, tantalum, nickel, and barium.
- 33. A method according to claim 32, wherein said second metal power is iron.
- 34. A method according to claim 28, wherein said metal sintered body is formed in a cylindrical shape.
- 35. A method of making a cold cathode fluorescent discharge tube having a mercury discharge structure built therein, said method comprising:
- (a) providing an envelope having an end;
- (b) forming a metal sintered body by (i) sintering metal powder including at least powder of a metal which can form a mercury alloy by combining with mercury, said metal sintered body being sintered into a desired shape which is predetermined according to a state of final use of said metal sintered body within said envelope, which results in a determination of a shape of said mercury discharge structure; and (ii) combining mercury with said at least powder of a metal which is contained in said metal sintered body which is sintered into the desired shape so as to form said mercury alloy;
- said metal sintered body and said mercury being combined to form said mercury alloy to form said mercury discharge structure as a completed structure which has said desired shape of said metal sintered body;
- (c) securing said mercury discharge structure to a metal cap or metal rod; and
- (d) sealingly attaching said mercury discharge structure and said mutual cap or metal rod to said end of said envelope.
- 36. A method according to claim 35, wherein said metal sintered body is formed by sintering metal powder taken from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, and a mixture of both the titanium and zirconium.
- 37. A method according to claim 35, wherein said metal sintered body is formed by sintering, into said desired shape, metal powder which is obtained by mixing first metal powder of a metal which can form an alloy by combining with mercury with a second metal powder of a non-volatile getter material.
- 38. A method according to claim 37, wherein said first metal powder is taken from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium and a mixture of titanium and zirconium.
- 39. A method according to claim 37, wherein said second metal powder comprises one or more of zirconium, tantalum, nickel, and barium.
- 40. A method according to claim 35, wherein said metal sintered body is formed in a cylindrical shape.
- 41. A method of making a cold cathode fluorescent discharge tube, said method comprising:
- (a) providing an envelope having on an inner surface a phosphor film;
- (b) providing a pair of discharge electrodes respectively having metal caps or metal rods, at least one of said pair of discharge electrodes having a mercury discharge structure for discharging mercury within said envelope, said step of providing said pair of discharge electrodes comprising forming said mercury discharge structure by (i) forming a metal sintered body by sintering metal powder including at least powder of a metal which can form a mercury alloy by combining with mercury, said metal sintered body being sintered into a desired shape which is predetermined according to a state of final use of said metal sintered body within said envelope, which results in a determination of a shape of said mercury discharge structure, and being secured to the metal cap or metal rod; and (ii) combining mercury with said at least powder of a metal contained in said metal sintered body which is sintered into the desired shape so as to form said mercury alloy, said mercury alloy, obtained by combining said at least powder of a metal with said mercury, forming said mercury discharge structure as a completed structure, said completed structure having said desired shape of said metal sintered body; and
- (c) sealingly connecting said pair of discharge electrodes to opposite ends of said envelope.
- 42. A method according to claim 41, wherein said metal sintered body is formed in a cylindrical shape.
- 43. A method of making a mercury discharge body for discharging mercury, said method comprising:
- (a) forming a metal molded body by molding powder of one kind of metal or a plurality of kinds of metals into a desired shape which determines a shape of said mercury discharge body, said one kind of metal or said plurality of kinds of metals including at least a metal which can form a mercury alloy by combining with mercury; and
- (b) combining mercury with said at least a metal contained in said metal molded body which is formed in the desired shape so as to form said mercury alloy;
- said mercury discharge body including said mercury alloy and having said desired shape of said metal molded body.
- 44. A method of making a cold cathode fluorescent discharge tube having a mercury discharge structure built therein for use as a discharge electrode, said method comprising:
- (a) providing an envelope having an end;
- (b) forming a metal molded body by (i) molding metal powder including at least powder of a metal which can form a mercury alloy by combining with mercury, said metal molded body being molded into a desired shape which determines a shape of said metal molded body within said envelope; and (ii) combining mercury with said at least powder of a metal contained in said metal molded body which is molded into the desired shape so as to form said mercury alloy;
- said metal molded body and said mercury being combined to form said mercury alloy to form said mercury discharge structure as a completed structure which has said desired shape of said metal molded body; and
- (c) sealingly connecting said mercury discharge structure and a metal cap or metal rod to said end of said envelope.
- 45. A method according to claim 44, wherein said metal sintered body is formed by sintering into said desired shape metal powder obtained by combining:
- a first metal powder including at least powder of a metal which can form an alloy by combining with mercury, and forming a first portion which can contain the mercury, and
- a second metal powder of a metal which cannot combine with the mercury, said second metal powder forming a second portion which is joined with said first portion and which cannot contain the mercury, said second portion forming one end of said desired shape which is thinner than a remainder of said desired shape.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
3-111615 |
May 1991 |
JPX |
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Parent Case Info
This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/266,113 filed Jun. 27, 1994, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/881,794, filed May 12, 1992 (abandonded).
US Referenced Citations (10)
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
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49-5659 |
Feb 1974 |
JPX |
50-106468 |
Aug 1975 |
JPX |
52-069551 |
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JPX |
59-121750 |
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Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
266113 |
Jun 1994 |
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Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
881794 |
May 1992 |
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