초록 ▼

A flat-panel device is fabricated by a process in which a pair of plate structures (40 and 42) are sealed along their interior surfaces (40A and 42B) to opposite edges (44A and 44B) of an outer wall (44) to form a compartment. Subsequently, exterior support structure (64) is attached to the exterior

A flat-panel device is fabricated by a process in which a pair of plate structures (40 and 42) are sealed along their interior surfaces (40A and 42B) to opposite edges (44A and 44B) of an outer wall (44) to form a compartment. Subsequently, exterior support structure (64) is attached to the exterior surface of one of the plate structures (40) to significantly increase resistance of the compartment to bending. Exterior support structure (66) is normally likewise attached to the exterior surface of the other plate structure (42) after the sealing operation. The compartment is then typically pumped down to a high vacuum through a suitable pump-out port (46) and closed. By providing the exterior support structure at such a relatively late stage in the fabrication process, the need for using spacers to support the device against external forces is eliminated or substantially reduced while simultaneously avoiding severe fabrication difficulties that arise in attaching the exterior support structure before the sealing operation.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A method comprising the following steps for manufacturing a flat-panel device:hermetically sealing (a) a first plate structure along a first surface thereof to an outer wall along a first edge thereof and (b) a second plate structure along a first surface thereof to the outer wall

[ We claim:] [1.] A method comprising the following steps for manufacturing a flat-panel device:hermetically sealing (a) a first plate structure along a first surface thereof to an outer wall along a first edge thereof and (b) a second plate structure along a first surface thereof to the outer wall along a second edge thereof opposite the first edge to form a device compartment from the plate structures and outer wall such that there is port means through which gas can enter and leave the compartment;subsequently removing gas from the compartment through the port means to pump the compartment down to a compartment pressure no greater than 0.1 atm.;subsequently introducing selected gas into the compartment through the port means to raise the compartment pressure; andsubsequently attaching a first support structure to the first plate structure along a second surface thereof opposite the first plate structure's first surface so as to significantly increase resistance of the compartment to bending.