PCT No. PCT / DE98 / 00827 Sec. 371 Date Nov. 17, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Nov. 17, 1998 PCT Filed Mar. 20, 1998 PCT Pub. No. WO98 / 43277 PCT Pub. Date Oct. 1, 1998A flat
fluorescent lamp (1) has a
discharge vessel (2) having a base plate (7), a top plate (8) and a frame (9) which are connected to one another in a gas-tight fashion by means of solder (10). Structures resembling conductor tracks function in the interior of the
discharge vessel as electrodes (3-6), in the
feedthrough region as feedthroughs, and in the external region as external supply leads (13; 14). Flat lamps of the most different sizes can thereby be produced simply in
engineering terms and in a fashion capable of effective
automation. Moreover, virtually any
electrode shapes can be realized, in particular optimized with regard to a uniform luminous density with a reduced drop in luminous density towards the edges of the flat lamp. At least the anodes (5, 6) are covered in each case with a
dielectric layer (15). The lamp (1) is preferably operated by means of a pulsed
voltage source and serves as background lighting for LCDs, for example in monitors or driver information displays.