Graphic system apparatus utilizing plasma display/memory devices with direct electrical read-out

Apparatus for electronically sensing the state of a gaseous discharge cell which can be selectively discharged when in the "on" state to provide a discharge current in response to a sustaining signal applied to said gaseous discharge cell, said discharge current being time delayed relative to the application of said sustaining signal to said gaseous discharge cell, said apparatus comprising:

• means for integrating said discharge current;
• an impedance element;
• coupling means for selectively coupling said impedance element to said gaseous discharge cell to sense said integrated discharge current only during a sensing interval initiated substantially coincident with the interval when said discharge current would be provided and continuing beyond said discharge current interval for a predetermined time;
• and
• means for sampling said integrated discharge current after said discharge current interval has ended but during said sensing interval to provide an output indicative of whether said gaseous discharge cell is in the "on" state.

A method for relocating image information from a first location in a plasma panel comprising a plurality of gaseous discharge cells to a second location in said plasma panel, said method comprising:

• electrically interrogating said plasma panel to read-out the information stored at the first location, said electrically interrogating including:
• a. applying a signal sufficient to discharge said gaseous discharge cells at the first location and thereby provide discharge currents, said discharge current being time delayed relative to the application of said signal to the corresponding one of said gaseous discharge cells,
• b. integrating said discharge current,
• c. sensing said integrated discharge current only during a sensing interval initiated substantially coincident with the interval when said discharge current would be provided and continuing beyond said discharge current interval for a predetermined time,
• d. sampling said integrated discharge current during said sensing interval to provide an output indicative of the state of said gaseous discharge cell, said sampling outputs of the plurality of said gaseous discharge cells comprising the first location in said plasma panel corresponding to the image information stored at the first location;
• and
• writing the information into said gaseous discharge cells at the second location in said plasma panel.

A method for modifying and relocating image information from a first location in a plasma panel comprising a plurality of gaseous discharge cells to a second location in said plasma panel, said method comprising:

• electrically interrogating said plasma panel to read-out the information stored at the first location, said electrically interrogating including:
• a. applying a signal sufficient to discharge said gaseous discharge cells at the first location and thereby provide discharge currents, said discharge current being time delayed relative to the application of said signal to the corresponding one of said gaseous discharge cells,
• b. integrating said discharge current,
• c. sensing said integrated discharge current only during a sensing interval initiated substantially coincident with the interval when said discharge current would be provided and continuing beyond said discharge current interval for a predetermined time,
• d. sampling said integrated discharge current after said discharge current interval but during said sensing interval to provide an output indicative of the state of said gaseous discharge cell, said sampling outputs of the plurality of said gaseous discharge cells comprising the first location in said plasma panel corresponding to the image information stored at the first location;
• modifying the image information according to a selected algorithm;
• and
• writing the information into said plasma panel at the second location.

A method for transferring image information from a plasma panel comprising a plurality of gaseous discharge cells to an auxiliary storage unit, said method comprising:

• electrically interrogating said plasma panel to read-out the information stored at a particular location in said plasma panel, said electrically interrogating including:
• a. applying a signal sufficient to discharge said gaseous discharge cells at the particular location and thereby provide discharge currents, said discharge current being time delayed relative to the application of said signal to the corresponding one of said gaseous discharge cells,
• b. integrating said discharge current,
• c. sensing said integrated discharge current only during a sensing interval initiated substantially coincident with the interval when said discharge current would be provided and continuing beyond said discharge current interval for a predetermined time,
• d. sampling said integrated discharge current during said sensing interval to provide an output indicative of the state of said gaseous discharge cell, said sampling outputs of the plurality of said gaseous discharge cells comprising the particular location in said plasma panel corresponding to the image information stored at the particular location;
• and
• transferring the information into said auxiliary storage unit.

In a graphics terminal having image information stored at a first location in a plasma panel comprising a plurality of gaseous discharge cells, apparatus comprising:

• means for electrically interrogating said plasma panel to read-out the information stored at the first location, said interrogating means including:
• a. means for applying a signal sufficient to discharge said gaseous discharge cells at the first location and thereby provide discharge currents, said discharge current being time delayed relative to the application of said signal to the corresponding one of said gaseous discharge cells,
• b. means for integrating said discharge current,
• c. means for sensing said integrated discharge current only during a sensing interval initiated substantially coincident with the interval when said discharge current would be provided and continuing beyond said discharge current interval for a predetermined time,
• d. means for sampling said integrated discharge current during said sensing interval to provide an output indicative of the state of said gaseous discharge cell, said sampling outputs of the plurality of said gaseous discharge cells comprising the first location in said plasma panel corresponding to the image information stored at the first location;
• and
• display processing means for writing the information into said gaseous discharge cells at a second location in said plasma panel.

In a graphics terminal having image information stored at a first location in a plasma panel comprising a plurality of gaseous discharge cells, apparatus comprising:

• means for electrically interrogating said plasma panel to read-out the information stored at the first location, said interrogating means including:
• a. means for applying a signal sufficient to discharge said gaseous discharge cells at the first location and thereby provide discharge currents, said discharge current being time delayed relative to the application of said signal to the corresponding one of said gaseous discharge cells,
• b. means for integrating said discharge current,
• c. means for sensing said integrated discharge current only during a sensing interval initiated substantially coincident with the interval when said discharge current would be provided and continuing beyond said discharge current interval for a predetermined time,
• d. means for sampling said integrated discharge current after said discharge current interval but during said sensing interval to provide an output indicative of the state of said gaseous discharge cell, said sampling outputs of the plurality of said gaseous discharge cells comprising the first location in said plasma panel corresponding to the image information stored at the first location;
• and
• display processing means including means for modifying the image information according to a selected algorithm and means for writing the modified information into said plasma panel at a second location.

In a graphics terminal having image information stored in a plasma panel comprising a plurality of gaseous discharge cells, apparatus comprising:

• means for electrically interrogating said plasma panel to read-out the information stored at a particular location in said plasma panel, said electrically interrogating including:
• a. means for applying a signal sufficient to discharge said gaseous discharge cells at the particular location and thereby provide discharge currents, said discharge current being time delayed relative to the application of said signal to the corresponding one of said gaseous discharge cells,
• b. means for integrating said discharge current,
• c. means for sensing said integrated discharge current only during a sensing interval initiated substantially coincident with the interval when said discharge current would be provided and continuing beyond said discharge current interval for a predetermined time,
• d. means for sampling said integrated discharge current during said sensing interval to provide an output indicative of the state of said gaseous discharge cell, said sampling outputs of the plurality of said gaseous discharge cells comprising the particular location in said plasma panel corresponding to the image information stored at the particular location;
• an auxiliary storage unit;
• and
• display processing means for transferring the image information into said auxiliary storage unit.

A method for electronically sensing the state of a gaseous discharge cell comprising:

• applying a signal sufficient to discharge said gaseous discharge cell and thereby provide a discharge current, said discharge current being time delayed relative to the application of said signal to said gaseous discharge cell;
• integrating said discharge current;
• sensing said integrated discharge current only during a sensing interval initiated substantially coincident with the interval when said discharge current would be provided and continuing beyond said discharge current interval for a predetermined time;
• and
• sampling said integrated discharge current during said sensing interval to provide an output indicative of the state of said gaseous discharge cell.

Apparatus for electronically sensing the state of a gaseous discharge cell which can be selectively discharged to provide a discharge current, said apparatus comprising:

• means for integrating said discharge current;
• an impedance element;
• coupling means for selectively coupling said impedance element to said gaseous discharge cell to sense said integrated discharge current only during a sensing interval initiated substantially coincident with the interval when said discharge current would be provided and continuing beyond said discharge current interval for a predetermined time;
• and
• means for sampling said integrated discharge current to provide an output indicative of the state of said gaseous discharge cell.

In a plasma panel having an array of gaseous discharge cells exhibiting inter-electrode capacitances, said cells providing a discharge current in a sustaining sequence only when in the "on" state, apparatus for electronically sensing the state of said gaseous discharge cells comprising:

• means for applying a sustaining signal sufficient to discharge said gaseous discharge cell in an "on" state and thereby provide a discharge current but not sufficient to discharge a gaseous discharge cell in an "off" state, said discharge current being time delayed relative to the application of said sustaining signal to said gaseous discharge cell;
• a diode and a voltage source coupled in series between said gaseous discharge cell and a reference potential, said voltage source selectively switching said diode between a forward-biased condition and a reverse-biased condition, said diode having a low impedance when in the forward-biased condition and a higher impedance when in the reverse-biased condition, said inter-electrode capacitance causing said discharge current to be integrated during the interval when said diode is in the reverse-biased condition;
• sensing amplifier means selectively coupled to said gaseous discharge cell for sensing said integrated discharge current when said diode is in the reverse-biased condition and providing an output signal representative of said integrated discharge current;
• means for controlling said voltage source to selectively switch said diode between the forward-biased condition and the reverse-biased condition to determine a sensing interval during which said sensing amplifier means is enabled to sense said integrated discharge current, said sensing interval being initiated substantially coincident with the interval when said discharge current is present and continuing beyond said discharge current interval for a predetermined time;
• and
• means for sampling said sensing amplifier output signal near the end of said sensing interval to derive an output signal corresponding to the state of said gaseous discharge cell.