Discharge display device (plasma-panel)

A discharge display device in the form of a plasma panel, comprising:

• a first cathode;
• a first insulating plate parallel to said first cathode and including a plurality of holes therethrough arranged in an array of rows and columns and corresponding in number to a desired number of image points, a plurality of first anodes carried on one side of said first insulating plate facing said first cathode, each of said anodes associated with a respective row of holes and extending about the edge of the holes, and a plurality of control electrodes carried on the other side of said first insulating plate, each of said control electrodes associated with a respective column of holes and extending about the edge of the holes, the cathode, first anodes and control electrodes adapted to be connected to potentials to cause a gas discharge and electrons to emerge from the holes in a controlled fashion from the gas discharge;
• and
• a second insulating plate parallel to said first insulating plate and including a plurality of holes therethrough aligned with the holes of said first insulating plate to receive electrons, a second cathode carried on one surface of said second insulating plate facing said control electrodes and including a plurality of holes therethrough aligned with the holes in said second insulating plate, a front viewing screen parallel to said second insulating plate, a plurality of apertured second anodes carried on said screen with each of said second anodes aligned with and extending into a respective hole in said second insulating plate on the other side of said second cathode to form individual discharge cells, conductor paths carried on said side of said screen adjacent and spaced from said apertured second anodes, and a resistance carried on said screen connecting said second anodes and said conductor paths, said second cathode and said conductor paths adapted to receive potentials, and the electrons received in the individual discharge cells being effective to trigger ignition.

A process for operating a discharge display device in the form of a plasma panel which has a gas-filled, gas-tight housing having primary auxiliary discharge and main d.c. discharge paths, the primary auxiliary discharge paths including a common cathode, a first insulating matrix spaced from said first cathode and comprising a first insulating plate having a plurality of holes therethrough arranged in an array of rows and columns and corresponding in number to a desired number of image points, a plurality of first anodes carried on one side of the first insulating plate facing the first cathode, each of the anodes associated with a respective row of holes and extending about the edge of the holes, and a plurality of control electrodes carried on the other side of the first insulating plate, each of the control electrodes associated with a respective column of holes and extending about the edge of the holes, the main d.c. discharge paths divided by and including a second insulating matrix aligned with the first insulating matrix, each of the d.c. discharge paths being ignited by electrons received from the holes of the first insulating matrix, the second insulating matrix spaced from the first insulating matrix and including a second insulating plate having a plurality of holes therethrough aligned with the holes of the first insulating matrix, a common second cathode carried on one surface of the second insulating plate facing the control electrodes and including a plurality of holes therethrough aligned with the holes in the second insulating plate, a front viewing screen sealed to the housing, a plurality of second anodes carried on the screen in the form of anode rings each of which is aligned with and extends into a respective hole in the second insulating plate on the other side thereof from the second cathode form individual discharge cells, conductor paths carried on the screen adjacent and spaced from the anode rings and a resistance carried on the screen connecting the anode rings and the conductor paths, the process including the steps of:

• applying a first predetermined potential to the first cathode;
• applying pulses in sequence to the first anodes to obtain a stepped discharge rhythm across the device in the primary auxiliary discharge paths;
• applying a second predetermined potential to the second anodes while holding the second cathode at a reference potential so that the potential therebetween is insufficient to cause ignition in the main d.c. discharge paths;
• and
• applying a third predetermined potential to the control electrodes, which third potential is greater than the potential applied to the first cathode, and increasing the potential of the control electrodes above the third predetermined potential to cause electrons to emerge from the primary auxiliary discharge paths and enter and cause ignition in the main d.c. discharge paths.