Method and apparatus for making electric connections into a compliant sealed package

Claim 3

The method according to claim 1 comprising the further step of positioning an insulating blanket over said display-producing structure before sealing said foil sheet to said rigid gas-impervious translucent member.

Claim 4

The method according to claim 1 wherein said rigid, gas-impervious translucent member comprises a glass panel.

Claim 5

The method according to claim 3 comprising the further step of positioning an insulating blanket between said gas-impervious support member and said display-producing structure before sealing said foil sheet to said rigid gas-impervious translucent member, and said step of electrically connecting said electrical element to said conductive element is carried out by extending a conductive lead through said blanket and connecting respective ends thereof to said electrical element and to said conductive element.

Claim 6

The method according to claim 1 wherein said display-producing structure includes a plurality of additional electrical elements, comprising providing a hermetic seal between a plurality of additional conductive elements and said gas-impervious support member through which said additional conductive elements extend, and electrically connecting said additional conductive elements to said additional electrical elements.

Claim 7

The method according to claim 5 comprising the further steps of providing an insulating member having thereon a plurality of mutually divergent conductors, said insulating member being mechanically mounted on said conductive elements and said conductive elements being electrically connected to said divergent conductors, and electrically connecting conductive leads between said conductors and said electrical elements.

Claim 8

A flat-panel display, comprising in combination a rigid glass panel, a display-producing structure positioned against one face of said panel, said display producing structure including an electrical element, a gas-impervious foil sheet positioned over said display-producing structure and hermetically sealed to said glass panel throughout a continuous area surrounding said display-producing structure to provide a cavity between said sheet and said panel in which said display-producing structure is located, an opening in said foil sheet, a gas-impervious member disposed across said opening and hermetically sealed to said foil sheet throughout a continuous area surrounding said opening, at least one conductive element extending through said gas-impervious member into said cavity and hermetically sealed to said gas-impervious member, means electrically connecting a portion of said conductive element located within said cavity to said electrical element, and the pressure within said cavity being less than ambient pressure.

Claim 9

A flat-panel display, comprising in combination a rigid glass panel, a display-producing structure positioned against one face of said panel, said display producing structure including an electrical element, a gas-impervious foil sheet positioned over said display-producing structure and hermetically sealed to said glass panel throughout a continuous area surrounding said display-producing structure to provide a cavity between said sheet and said panel in which said display-producing structure is located, an opening in said foil sheet, a gas-impervious member disposed across said opening and hermetically sealed to said foil sheet throughout a continuous area surrounding said opening, at least one conductive element extending through said gas-impervious member into said cavity and hermetically sealed to said gas-impervious member, means electrically connecting a portion of said conductive element located within said cavity to said electrical element, and the pressure within said cavity being less than ambient pressure.

Claim 10

A flat-panel display according to claim 7, further comprising an insulating blanket positioned between said foil sheet and said display-producing structure.