METHOD OF SPACING THE PLATES OF A GASEOUS DISCHARGE DEVICE

A pair of glass plates of a gaseous discharge display or memory device are held precisely spaced by two sets of identically sized overlapping spacer rods. The rods crisscross orthogonally within a sealed gas-containing chamber to create gaps through which the gas can flow without significant restriction between areas of the chamber separated by said rods. Sealing rods of glass having a softening temperature lower than that of the spacer rods are disposed like a border around the spacer rods and are of significantly greater diameter or height than the combined height of the two superposed sets of spacer rods. Initially the upper plate is supported solely by sealing rods; but upon heating of the assemblage, the sealing rod glass reflows, and the upper plate settles until it contacts the upper set of spacer rods; whereupon the assembly is cooled and the sealing rods fuse with the plates to create an impermeable chamber between the now precisely spaced plates.