Method of making a glow discharge readout device

Abstract

In a glow discharge readout, cathodes are arranged on a glass substrate in electrical isolation from a plurality of anodes also on the substrate. Contact pins sealably imbedded in the substrate contact respective anodes and cathodes. A transparent cover forms a sealed envelope encasing the anodes and cathodes within an illuminating gas atmosphere. The anodes are purposely recessed with respect to the cathodes, whereupon an electrical potential impressed between the anodes and selected cathodes will cause electrons to flow from the cathodes to the anodes, the electron stream being focused toward the surface of the glass substrate and away from the transparent envelope thereby preventing electron collision with the transparent envelope. According to the method of the present invention, cathodes are formed from particulate metal particles sintered under pressure and at a temperature below the melting point of the metal particles, but at a temperature sufficient to cause fusion of the substrate material. Upon fusion of the substrate in an inert atmosphere, the anodes, cathodes and contact pins are fused to the substrate simultaneously in a single operation. Applying molding pressure during fusion of the substrate will desirably recess the anodes from the cathodes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.