Self-standing spacer wall structures and methods of fabricating and installing same

A method of fabricating a spacer wall, the method comprising the steps of:

• firing a ceramic wafer having a first face surface, a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge;
• applying a first strip of glass frit on the first face surface adjacent to the first edge;
• applying a second strip of glass frit on the first face surface adjacent to the second edge;
• firing the first and second strips of glass frit;
• and
• cutting the ceramic wafer and first and second strips of glass frit into spacer strips from the first edge to the second edge.

A method of fabricating a spacer wall, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a ceramic wafer having a first face surface, a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge;
• applying a first strip of ceramic on the first face surface adjacent to the first edge;
• applying a second strip of ceramic on the first face surface adjacent to the second edge;
• firing the ceramic wafer and the first and second strips of ceramic;
• and
• cutting the ceramic wafer and first and second strips of ceramic into spacer strips from the first edge to the second edge.

A method of installing a spacer wall in a flat panel display having a faceplate structure and a backplate structure, the method comprising the steps of:

• forming one or more spacer feet at opposing ends of the spacer wall;
• positioning the spacer wall on a selected one of the faceplate structure and the backplate structure;
• and
• holding the spacer wall on the selected one of the faceplate structure and the backplate structure with an electrostatic force introduced by a plurality of electrodes formed in the selected one of the faceplate structure and the backplate structure.

A method of installing a spacer wall in a flat panel display having a faceplate structure and a backplate structure, the method comprising the steps of:

• forming the spacer wall from a material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE);
• forming a selected one of the faceplate structure and the backplate structure of a material having a second CTE, wherein the first CTE is greater than the second CTE;
• heating the spacer wall and the selected one of the faceplate structure and the backplate structure to a temperature above room temperature;
• attaching the ends of the spacer wall to the selected one of the faceplate structure and the backplate structure;
• and then
• allowing the spacer wall and selected one of the faceplate structure and the backplate structure to cool, wherein the spacer wall contracts more than the selected one of the faceplate structure and the backplate structure.

A method of installing a spacer wall in a flat panel display having a faceplate structure and a backplate structure, the method comprising the steps of:

• attaching spacer feet at opposing ends of the spacer wall;
• mechanically lengthening the spacer wall by applying a force between the spacer feet;
• and then attaching the ends of the spacer wall to a selected one of the faceplate structure and the backplate structure;
• and
• removing the applied force between the spacer feet.

A method of installing a spacer wall in a flat panel display having a faceplate structure and a backplate structure, the method comprising the steps of:

• cooling a selected one of the faceplate structure and the backplate structure, thereby causing the selected one of the faceplate structure and the backplate structure to contract;
• attaching ends of the spacer wall to the selected one of the faceplate structure and the backplate structure, wherein the selected one of the faceplate structure and the backplate structure is at a temperature which is lower than the temperature of the spacer wall;
• and
• warming the selected one of the faceplate structure and the backplate structure, such that the selected one of the faceplate structure and the backplate structure expands.

A spacer structure for location between a faceplate structure and a backplate structure of a flat panel display, the spacer structure comprising:

• a spacer wall having a first edge surface for contacting the faceplate structure, a second edge surface, opposite the first edge surface, for contacting the backplate structure, a first face surface extending between the first and second edge surfaces, a second face surface, opposite the first face surface, extending between the first and second edge surfaces, a first end, and a second end located distal from the first end;
• a first spacer clip which clamps the first and second face surfaces at the first end of said spacer wall;
• and
• a second spacer clip which clamps the first and second face surfaces at the second end of said spacer wall.