Patent ID: 7297037
Filing Date: 2007-11-20
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
1. A method of making a ceramic discharge chamber for a discharge lamp, wherein the ceramic discharge chamber includes first and second leg portions, first and second transition portions, a body portion and one or two cosintered joints between ceramic pieces, the first leg portion extends axially away from the first transition portion and the body portion in a first axial direction, the first transition portion extends radially outward from the first leg portion and is adjacent to and located between the first leg portion and the body portion, the second leg portion extends axially away from the second transition portion and the body portion in a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction, the second transition portion extends radially outward from the second leg portion and is adjacent to and located between the second leg portion and the body portion, the body portion is centrally located between the first and second leg portions and between the first and second transition portions, the first leg portion and first transition portion are integrally formed, the second leg portion and the second transition portion are integrally formed, the first leg portion includes a curved portion and a tapered portion, the curved portion is adjacent to the first transition portion and curves radially inward as it extends axially away from the first transition portion in the first axial direction, and the tapered portion is adjacent to the curved portion and extends axially across a majority of the first leg portion and tapers radially outward as it extends axially away from the curved portion in the first axial direction to an end of the first leg portion, the method comprising: forming a first member as a single ceramic piece, wherein the first member includes the first leg portion and the first transition portion; forming a second member as a single ceramic piece, wherein the second member includes the body portion; abutting the first transition portion against the body portion, thereby aligning the first member and the second member; and sintering the first transition portion to the body portion, thereby forming a cosintered joint between the first transition portion and the body portion that provides a seal between the first transition portion and the body portion.