Flat discharge lamp and method for the production thereof

Method for producing a flat discharge lamp having a discharge vessel which discharge vessel has a cover plate and a base plate, support points between the cover plate and base plate, which support points in each case comprise two components of different viscosity, the viscosity of the first component being lower at a jointing temperature than the viscosity of the second component, electrodes which are arranged on the discharge vessel wall, and having the following method steps:

• (a) applying a hermetically sealing means to the base plate and/or cover plate;
• (b) arranging the two component support points on the base plate, the dimensions of the support points perpendicular to the plane of the cover plate or base plate initially being larger than the final spacing provided between the base plate and cover plate, the first components comprising rings or pieces of a right circular cylinder and the second components comprising balls;
• (c) mounting the cover plate on the base plate with the aid of the support points;
• (d) inserting the base plate with support points, sealing means and cover plate into an evacuable furnace;
• (e) evacuating and heating the furnace to remove gaseous impurities, the temperature inside the furnace being only so high that the first components of the support points are still sufficiently viscous to prevent sinking of the cover plate;
• (f) filling the furnace with a filling gas to a filling pressure;
• and
• (g) heating the furnace to the jointing temperature, at which the first components of the support points become of sufficiently low viscosity such that the cover plate finally sinks to the final spacing provided between the cover plate and base plate, the sealing means simultaneously at least partially attaining a sufficiently low viscosity as to join the cover plate and base plate together.