Light-emitting discharge tube, method of fabricating the same, and protective film forming apparatus
A light-emitting discharge tube in which an outer wall surface of a glass tube is made less susceptible to flaws by forming a protective film on the outer wall surface of the glass tube, a method of fabricating the light-emitting discharge tube, and a protective film forming apparatus are provided. The light-emitting discharge tube defines light-emitting discharge regions by a plurality of external electrodes. The outer wall surface of the light-emitting discharge tube (the glass tube) is coated with the protective film (a metal film, a conductive metal oxide film, an insulating metal oxide film, or an organic film).
1 - 10 . (canceled)
11 . A light-emitting discharge tube comprising:
a tube body;
a plurality of external electrodes provided on an outer wall surface of the tube body, for defining light-emitting discharge regions; and
a protective film formed on the outer wall surface of the tube body.
12 . The light-emitting discharge tube according to claim 1 , wherein
the protective film is a film selected from the group consisting of a metal film, a conductive metal oxide film, an insulating metal oxide film, and an organic film.
13 . The light-emitting discharge tube according to claim 2 , wherein the protective film is subjected to patterning to form the external electrodes.
14 . A light-emitting discharge tube that defines light-emitting discharge regions by a plurality of external electrodes, wherein an outer wall surface of the light-emitting discharge tube is coated with a protective film.
15 . The light-emitting discharge tube according to claim 4 , wherein the protective film is a metal film, a conductive metal oxide film, an insulating metal oxide film, or an organic film.
16 . The light-emitting discharge tube according to claim 5 , wherein the metal film or the conductive metal oxide film is subjected to patterning to form the external electrodes.
17 . A method of fabricating a light-emitting discharge tube that defines light-emitting discharge regions by at least two external electrodes, the method comprising:
forming a tube body for a light-emitting discharge tube by stretching a tubular base material;
coating a protective film on a surface of the tube body for a light-emitting discharge tube; and
filling a discharge gas into the tube body for a light-emitting discharge tube.
18 . The method of fabricating a light-emitting discharge tube according to claim 7 , wherein the protective film is a metal film, a conductive metal oxide film, an insulating metal oxide film, or an organic film.
19 . The method of fabricating a light-emitting discharge tube according to claim 7 , wherein the step of coating a protective film takes place successively after the step of forming a tube body for a light-emitting discharge tube.
20 . The method of fabricating a light-emitting discharge tube according to claim 8 , wherein the conductive metal oxide film or the insulating metal oxide film is formed using an organometallic compound solution that becomes a conductive metal oxide film or an insulating metal oxide film by calcination.
21 . The method of fabricating a light-emitting discharge tube according to claim 8 , further comprising performing patterning on the metal film or the conductive metal oxide film to form the external electrodes.
22 . A protective film forming apparatus that forms a protective film on a surface of a tube body for a light-emitting discharge tube, the tube body being formed by stretching a tubular base material, the apparatus comprising:
a frame body having a through portion through which the tube body for a light-emitting discharge tube can pass, and which can hold a liquid that is a material of the protective film.
23 . The protective film forming apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the frame body has provided therein a supply passage for supplying the liquid from outside.