Patent ID: 6533632
Filing Date: 2003-03-18
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
A method for evacuating and sealing a display comprising:providing a first plate and a second plate; disposing a frit bead around the perimeter of an inner surface of the first plate, near to the periphery of the first plate, forming an inner area surrounded by the frit bead; heating the frit to form a plurality of surface irregularities on an interface surface of the frit; placing a plurality of spacers within the inner area including first spacers proximate the frit bead and second spacers positioned inwardly from the first spacers and distributed throughout the inner area, the spacers having a spacing height that is less than a distance between the inner surface of the first plate and the interface surface of the frit bead; placing the second plate on the frit to at least partially define a space; allowing the first and second plates to stabilize at a temperature between 0-125 degrees centigrade for a period of 1-2 hours and the heating the first and second plates to a temperature in the range of 125-250 degrees centigrade for a period of 1-2 hours; evacuating the space using a flow path provided by the surface irregularities; heating the plates to a temperature above the temperature at which the frit at least partially flows while applying a force to the first and second plates to at least partially compress the frit; and allowing the first and second plates to cool over a period of about 1 hour to an intermediate temperature in the range of 350-425 degrees centigrade, maintaining the intermediate temperature for a period of 1-2 hours, then allowing the first and second plates to cool to an ambient temperature over a 2-3 hour period.