Gas discharge lamps fabricated by micromachined transparent substrates

摘要

A high pressure gas discharge lamp and the method of making same utilizing integrated circuit fabrication techniques. The lamp is manufactured from heat and pressure resistant planar substrates in which cavities are etched, by integrated circuit manufacturing techniques, so as to provide a cavity forming the gas discharge tube. Electrodes are deposited in the cavity. The cavity is filled with gas discharge materials such as mercury vapor, sodium vapor or metal halide. The substrates are bonded together and channels may be etched in the substrate so as to provide a means for connection to the electrodes. Lamps having ignition enhancing and hot restrike features, as well as single-sided electrodes, are disclosed.