Discharge lamp, image display device using the same and discharge lamp producing method

An image display device, comprising:

• a plurality of discharge lamps arranged in parallel, each of said discharge lamps comprising
• a container for enclosing a medium for discharge therein, said container having a substantially square cross section;
• electrode means for exciting a discharge space within said container, said electrode means having at least one surface electrode pair for receiving a predetermined voltage to be applied said container to excite the discharge space within the container, said electrode means being mounted on one side surface of the square cross-section only;
• and
• means for controlling the predetermined voltage.

An image display device, comprising:

• a plurality of discharge lamps arranged in parallel, each of said discharge lamps comprising
• a container for enclosing a medium for discharge therein, wherein a cross section of said container is substantially triangular;
• electrode means for exciting a discharge space within said container, said electrode means having at least one surface electrode pair for receiving a predetermined voltage to be applied to said container to excite the discharge space within the container, said electrode means surrounding a majority of the surface area of said container, the surface electrode pair being arranged to be adjacent to each other in a longitudinal direction of said container;
• and
• means for controlling the predetermined voltage.

An image display device, comprising:

• a plurality of discharge lamps arranged in parallel, each of said discharge lamps comprising
• a container for enclosing a medium for discharge therein, wherein a cross section of said container is substantially elliptical;
• electrode means for exciting a discharge space within said container, said electrode means having at least one surface electrode pair for receiving a predetermined voltage to be applied to said container to excite the discharge space within the container, said electrode means surrounding a majority of the surface area of said container, electrodes of the surface electrode pair being disposed around the substantially elliptical container, the surface electrode pair being arranged to be adjacent to each other in a longitudinal direction of said container;
• and
• means for controlling the predetermined voltage.