The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 31, 1978
Filed:
Mar. 15, 1976
Thomas Albert Sherk, West Hurley, NY (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A method is disclosed for the fabrication of a gaseous discharge display and/or memory device which provides a predetermined uniform gap between the inner walls of the gaseous discharge device without the use of spacer elements. Sealing about the panel periphery is provided by a devitrifiable seal glass, the viscosity of which is closely controlled as a function of time and temperature. The glass sealant, preferably in rod form, is extruded by mixing glass frit with a solvent-binder system to form a viscous slurry, extruding this slurry into rod form and thereafter sintering the rods in an oven under conditions whereby the glass sealant softens but does not reflow. The devitrifiable glass during the subsequent sealing process reflows and then crystallizes, and the viscous flow varies inversely as the crystallization. By careful control of the time, temperature, pressure composition and configuration of the devitrifiable sealing glass, the amount of flow of the sealing glass is controlled, and a pedetermined and uniform chamber gap is provided. The subject invention represents an improvement in the assembly of gaseous discharge devices by eliminating the requirement for spacer elements.