Scanning means and method for a plasma-sac-type gas-discharge image display panel

A very-low-pressure, high-voltage cathodoluminescent image display panel having an ordered row-and-column array of individually controllable plasma-sac-type gas-discharge display elements, the panel comprising:

• envelope means containing an ionizable gas at a predetermined very low pressure;
• plasma-sac-generating means including cathode means and anode means for forming a gas-discharge plasma, and means for constricting the plasma to form one or more electron-beam-generating plasma sacs;
• control means for controlling said plasma sac generating means such that at a given time, a plurality of electron beams associated with each of said sacs is generated, one beam for each display element, said control means including modulating grid means respectively associated one-for-one with said electron beams for modulating said electron beams;
• and
• scanning means coupled to said control means and to said plasma-sac-generating means for scanning a row of display elements by activating in sequence and group-by-group consecutive groups of said display elements in said row until the entire row of display elements is scanned.

A very-low-pressure, high-voltage cathodoluminescent image display panel having an ordered row-and-column array of individually controllable plasma-sac-type gas-discharge display elements, the panel comprising:

• envelope means containing an ionizable gas at a predetermined very low pressure, said envelope means including a transparent faceplate on the inner surface of which are disposed cathodoluminescent target elements associated with said display elements;
• plasma-sac-generating means including cathode means and anode means for forming a gas discharge plasma or plasmas, and means for constricting the plasma or plasmas to simultaneously form one or more electron-beam-generating plasma sacs;
• control means for controlling said plasma-sac-generating means such that at a given time a plurality of electron beams associated with each of said plasma sacs are generated, said control means including modulating grid means respectively associated one-for-one with said electron beams for modulating said electron beams;
• means for accelerating said electron beams into high energy impingement on respectively associated cathodoluminescent target elements;
• and
• scanning means coupled to said control means and to said plasma-sac-generating means for scanning a row of display elements by activating in sequence and group-by-group consecutive groups of said display elements in said row until the entire row of display elements is scanned.

A very-low-pressure, high-voltage cathodoluminescent image display panel having an ordered row-and-column array of individually controllable plasma-sac-type gas-discharge display elements, the panel comprising:

• envelope means containing an ionizable gas at a predetermined very low pressure, said envelope means including a transparent faceplate on the inner surface of which are disposed cathodoluminescent target elements associated with said display elements;
• plasma-sac-generating means including cathode means and anode means for forming gas-discharge plasmas, and means for constricting the plasmas to simultaneously form electron-beam-generating plasma sacs;
• control means for controlling said plasma-sac-generating means such that at a given time a plurality of electron beams associated with each of said plasma sacs is emitted, said control means including modulating grid means respectively associated one-for-one with said electron beams for modulating said electron beams;
• and
• scanning means coupled to said anode means and to said modulating grid means for scanning a row of display elements by activating in sequence and group-by-group consecutive groups of said display elements in said row until the entire row of display elements is scanned.

A very-low-pressure, high-voltage cathodoluminescent image display panel having an ordered row-and-column array of individually controllable plasma-sac-type gas-discharge display elements, the panel comprising:

• envelope means containing an ionizable gas at a predetermined very low pressure, said envelope means including a transparent faceplate on the inner surface of which are disposed cathodoluminescent target elements associated with said display elements;
• plasma-sac-generating means including cathode means and anode means for forming a gas discharge plasma or plasmas, and means for constricting the plasma or plasmas to simultaneously form one or more electron-beam-generating plasma sacs;
• control means for controlling said plasma-sac-generating means such that at a given time a plurality of electron beams are generated, each associated with a predetermined display element and target element;
• means for accelerating said beams from said plasma sac or sacs into high-energy impingement on respectively associated cathodoluminescent target elements;
• and
• scanning means for scanning a row of said display elements by activating in sequence and group-by-group consecutive groups of display elements in said row until the entire row of display elements is scanned.

A very-low pressure, high-voltage cathodoluminescent image display panel having an ordered row-and-column array of individually controllable plasma-sac-type gas-discharge display elements, the panel comprising:

• envelope means containing an ionizable gas at a predetermined very low pressure said envelope means including a transparent faceplate on the inner surface of which are disposed cathodoluminescent target elements associated with said display elements;
• plasma-sac-generating means including cathode means and anode means for forming a gas discharge plasma or plasmas, and means for constricting said plasma or plasmas to simultaneously form one or more electron-beam-generating plasma sacs;
• control means for controlling said plasma-sac-generating means such that at a given time a plurality of electron beams associated with each of said plasma sac or sacs is emitted, said control means including modulating grid means respectively associated one-for-one with said electron beams for modulating said electron beams;
• means for accelerating said electron beams into high energy impingement on respectively associated cathodoluminescent target elements;
• scanning means coupled to said anode means and to said modulating grid means for scanning a row of said display elements by activating in sequence in group-by-group consecutive groups of display elements in said row until the entire row of display elements is scanned.

A very-low-pressure, high-voltage cathodoluminescent television, alphanumeric or other image display panel having an ordered row-and-column array of individually controllable plasma-sac-type gas-discharge display elements, the panel including envelope means containing an ionizable gas at a predetermined very low pressure, said envelope means including a transparent faceplate on the inner surface of which are disposed cathodoluminescent target elements associated with said display elements, the panel comprising:

• electron source means for producing at a given time a plurality of high-density electron beams associated with each of said display elements, comprising:
• rearwardly disposed cathode means for receiving a relatively low applied voltage;
• grid means located forwardly of said cathode means and including electron-transmissive scanning anode means spaced a predetermined distance from said cathode means for receiving a relatively intermediate applied voltage;
• and
• constriction-forming means between said scanning anode means and said cathode means defining a predetermined number of constrictions each associated with a particular scanning anode means and one or more of said display elements, with said intermediate voltage, said predetermined distance, and said very low gas pressure having values effective to support a gas discharge plasma between said cathode means and said scanning anode means, and to cause a plasma sac to form in said plasma on the cathode side of said constriction-forming means around each constriction associated with a selectively energized scanning anode means, each plasma sac by its nature generating and gathering electrons from said cathode means and accelerating them into said constriction to form a concentrated electron beam therein;
• an ultor electrode disposed contiguous to said cathodoluminescent target elements on said faceplate for receiving a predetermined relatively high ultor voltage, said ultor electrode being separated by a predetermined spacing from said grid means to define an acceleration section therebetween, said spacing being so small that at said predetermined very low pressure and at said ultor voltage, no gas discharge plasma can possibly occur in the acceleration section, said ultor voltage establishing a high-voltage gradient in the plasma-free acceleration section which is effective to straight-line accelerate said beam of electrons formed in said constriction in a substantially collision-free path directly into high-energy bombardment of said cathodoluminescent target elements disposed on said faceplate;
• and
• means for scanning a row of said display elements comprising:
• means for electrically bussing non-neighboring, regularly recurring like-numbered groups of display elements;
• and
• means for activating in sequence and group-by-group consecutive groups of display elements in said row until the entire row of display elements is scanned;
• said scanning being accomplished in a bussed-scanning mode whereby the brightness of the panel is enhanced at modest memory circuit requirement, and scanning circuitry and panel lead-ins are minimized.

A very-low-pressure, high-voltage cathodoluminescent television, alphanumeric or other image display panel having an ordered row-and-column array of individually controllable plasma-sac-type gas-discharge display elements, the panel including envelope means containing an ionizable gas at a predetermined very low pressure, said envelope means including a transparent faceplate on the inner surface of which are disposed cathodoluminescent target elements associated with said display elements, the panel comprising:

• electron source means for producing at a given time a plurality of high-density electron beams associated with each of said display elements, comprising:
• rearwardly disposed cathode means for receiving a relatively low applied voltage;
• grid means located forwardly of said cathode means and including at least an electron-transmissive scanning anode means spaced a predetermined distance from said cathode means for receiving a relatively intermediate applied voltage;
• constriction-forming means between said scanning anode means and said cathode means defining a predetermined number of constrictions each associated with a particular scanning anode means and one or more of said display elements, with said intermediate voltage, said predetermined distance, and said very low gas pressure having values effective to support a gas discharge plasma between said cathode means and said scanning anode means, and to cause a plasma sac to form in said plasma on the cathode side of said constriction-forming means around each constriction associated with a selectively energized scanning anode means, each plasma sac by its nature generating and gathering electrons from said cathode means and accelerating them into said constriction to form a concentrated electron beam therein;
• and
• a modulating grid, one for each display element positioned in said electron beam formed by said plasma sac and responsive to a control signal for controlling the intensity of said beam;
• an ultor electrode disposed contiguous to said cathodoluminescent target elements on said faceplate for receiving a predetermined relatively high ultor voltage, said ultor electrode being separated by a predetermined spacing from said grid means to define an acceleration section therebetween, said spacing being so small that at said predetermined very low pressure and at said ultor voltage, no gas discharge plasma can possibly occur in the acceleration section, said ultor voltage establishing a high-voltage gradient in the plasma-free acceleration section which is effective to straight-line accelerate said beam of electrons formed in said constriction in a substantially collision-free path directly into high-energy bombardment of said cathodoluminescent target elements disposed on said faceplate;
• and
• means for scanning and modulating a row of said display elements comprising:
• means for electrically bussing non-neighboring, regularly recurring, like-numbered group of display elements;
• means for electrically bussing position-corresponding modulating grids respectively associated one-for-one with said display elements for simultaneously modulating the light output of said display elements;
• and
• means for activating in sequence and group-by-group consecutive groups of display elements by row-by-row activation of associated scanning anode means and modulating grids until the entire row of display elements is scanned;
• said scanning being accomplished in a bussed-scanning mode whereby the brightness of the panel is enhanced at modest memory circuit requirements, and scanning circuitry and panel lead-ins are minimized.

A very-low-pressure, high-voltage cathodoluminescent television, alphanumeric or other image display panel having an ordered row-and-column array of individually controllable plasma-sac-type gas discharge display elements, the panel including envelope means containing an ionizable gas at a predetermined very low pressure;

• that is, a fraction of a torr, said envelope means including a transparent faceplate on the inner surface of which is disposed cathodoluminescent target elements associated with said display elements, the panel comprising:
• electron source means for producing at a given time a plurality high-density electron beams which are collectively co-extensive with and associated with a predetermined group of display elements, said electron source means comprising:
• a rearwardly disposed array of large-area hollow cathodes, each scanning a predetermined plural number of rows and columns, and capable of supplying copious electrons at said predetermined very low pressure, and for receiving a relatively low voltage;
• grid means located forwardly of said hollow cathode means and including electron-transmissive scanning anode means for receiving a relatively intermediate applied voltage, and associated with said scanning anode means, a coplanar row-select electrode associated with each of said rows to initiate a plasma sac in said row;
• barrier means between said scanning anode means and said cathode means and defining a predetermined number of narrow openings associated with a particular scanning anode means and one or more said display elements, with said intermediate voltage, said predetermined distance, and said very low gas pressure having values effective to support a gas discharge plasma between said cathode means and said scanning anode means, and to cause a plasma sac to form in said plasma on the cathode side of said barrier means around each opening associated with a selectively energized scanning anode means, each plasma sac by its nature generating and gathering electrons from a large surrounding area of the associated hollow cathode and accelerating them into said opening to form a concentrated electron beam therein;
• electron-transmissive modulating grids located downbeam of said scanning anode means and respectively associated one-for-one with said elements in said group of elements, for modulating said electron beam or beams with a like plurality of time-varying voltages to provide in cooperation with said scanning anode means full intensity control of said electron beam or beams, wherein a range of differences in potential between said scanning anode means and said modulating grids provides a related range of differences in electron current and thus a related range of differences in luminous output from the cathodoluminescent target elements respectively associated with said plurality of display elements, and wherein position-corresponding grids in neighboring groups of elements are electrically bussed;
• an ultor electrode disposed contiguous to said cathodoluminescent target elements on said faceplate for receiving a predetermined relatively high ultor voltage;
• that is, a voltage in the range of hundreds to tens of thousands of volts, said ultor electrode being separated by a predetermined spacing from said grid means to define an acceleration section therebetween, said spacing being so small that at said predetermined very low gas pressure and at said ultor voltage, no gas discharge plasma can possibly occur in the acceleration section, said ultor voltage establishing a high-voltage gradient in the plasma-free acceleration section which is effective to straight-line accelerate said beam of electrons formed in said narrow opening in a substantially collision-free path directly into high-energy bombardment of said cathodoluminescent target elements disposed on said faceplate;
• and
• means for the bussed scanning and modulating of said array of display elements comprising:
• means for applying an activating voltage on a row-select electrode associated with a selected row to initiate a starter plasma sac in said row;
• means for simultaneously applying an activating voltage on said scanning anode means of a group of consecutively arranged display elements adjacent said row-select grid to effect the formation by consecutive self-priming of one or more plasma sacs in said group of display elements;
• means for activating in sequence and group-by-group consecutive groups of display elements in said row until the entire row of display elements is scanned -- non-neighboring, regularly recurring like-numbered groups of display elements being electrically bussed such that said scanning is accomplished in a bussed-scanning mode;
• means for repeating the aforedescribed bussed-scanning and modulating for each selected row until the entire panel has been scanned, whereby said activating of said elements in element groups and the bussed-scanning and modulating of said panel of element groups in the horizontal direction and by individual rows in the vertical direction, the brightness of the panel is enhanced at modest memory circuit requirements and scanning circuitry and panel lead-ins are minimized.

A method for scanning a row of a very-low-pressure, high-voltage cathodoluminescent television, alphanumeric or other image display panel having an ordered row-and-column array of individually controllable plasma-sac-type gas-discharge display elements, the panel including envelope means containing an ionizable gas at a predetermined very low pressure, said envelope means including a transparent faceplate on the inner surface of which are disposed cathodoluminescent picture elements associated with said display elements, the panel comprising:

• electron source means for producing at a given time a plurality of high-density electron beam associated with each of said display elements, comprising:
• rearwardly disposed cathode means for receiving a relatively low applied voltage;
• grid means located forwardly of said cathode means and including electron-transmissive scanning anode means spaced a predetermined distance from said cathode means for receiving a relatively intermediate applied voltage;
• and
• constriction-forming means between said scanning anode means and said cathode means defining a predetermined number of constrictions associated with a particular scanning anode means and one or more of said display elements, with said intermediate voltage, said predetermined distance, and said very low gas pressure having values effective to support a gas discharge plasma between said cathode means and said scanning anode means, and to cause a plasma sac to form in said plasma on the cathode side of said constriction-forming means around each constriction associated with a selectively energized scanning anode means, each plasma sac by its nature generating and gathering electrons from said cathode means and accelerating them into said constriction to form a concentrated electron beam therein;
• an ultor electrode disposed contiguous to said cathodoluminescent target elements on said faceplate for receiving a predetermined relatively high ultor voltage, said ultor electrode being separated by a predetermined spacing from said grid means to define an acceleration section therebetween, said spacing being so small that at said predetermined very low pressure and at said ultor voltage, no gas discharge plasma can possibly occur in the acceleration section, said ultor voltage establishing a high-voltage gradient in the plasma-free acceleration section which is effective to straight-line accelerate said beam of electrons formed in said constriction in a substantially collision-free path directly into high-energy bombardment of said cathodoluminescent target elements disposed on said faceplate, said method for scanning a row of said elements comprising:
• applying an activating voltage to one or more scanning anodes of a group of consecutively arranged display elements "p" in number to effect the formation by consecutive self-priming of one or more plasma sacs in said group of display elements wherein "n" scanning anodes are respectively associated with "n" plasma sacs and with "m" display elements per scanning anode, the number "p" of display elements per group equalling m .times. n, but always an integer greater than unity;
• activating group-by-group "t" consecutive groups of "p" display elements in said row until the entire row of "C" (t .times. p) display elements is scanned, the ratio of p/C being a small fraction of one -- non-neighboring, regularly recurring ones of said groups of display elements being electrically bussed such that said scanning is accomplished in a bussed-scanning mode;
• and
• during the activation of any given group of display elements, simultaneously modulating with modulating grids respectively associated one-for-one with said display elements in the light output of said display elements in said group by the application of display information stored in a p-element memory.

A method of scanning a row of a very-low-pressure, high-voltage cathodoluminescent television, alphanumeric or other image display panel having an ordered row-and-column array of individually controllable plasma-sac-type gas-discharge display elements, the panel including envelope means containing an ionizable gas at a predetermined very low pressure, said envelope means including a transparent faceplate on the inner surface of which are disposed cathodoluminescent picture elements associated with said display elements, the panel comprising:

• electron source means for producing at a given time a plurality of high-density electron beam associated with each of said display elements, comprising:
• rearwardly disposed cathode means for receiving a relatively low applied voltage;
• grid means located forwardly of said cathode means and including electron-transmissive scanning anode means spaced a predetermined distance from said cathode means for receiving a relatively intermediate applied voltage;
• and
• constriction-forming means between said scanning anode means and said cathode means defining a predetermined number of constrictions each associated with a particular scanning anode means and one or more of said display elements, with said intermediate voltage, said predetermined distance, and said very low gas pressure having values effective to support a gas discharge plasma between said cathode means and said scanning anode means, and to cause a plasma sac to form in said plasma on the cathode side of said constriction-forming means around each constriction associated with a selectively energized scanning anode means, each plasma sac by its nature generating and gathering electrons from said cathode means and accelerating them into said constriction to form a concentrated electron beam therein;
• an ultor electrode disposed contiguous to said cathodoluminescent target elements on said faceplate for receiving a predetermined relatively high ultor voltage, said ultor electrode being separated by a predetermined spacing from said grid means to define an acceleration section therebetween, said spacing being so small that at said predetermined very low pressure and at said ultor voltage, no gas discharge plasma can possibly occur in the acceleration section, said ultor voltage establishing a high-voltage gradient in the plasma-free acceleration section which is effective to straight-line accelerate said beam of electrons formed in said constriction in a substantially collision-free path directly into high-energy bombardment of said cathodoluminescent target elements disposed on said faceplate, said method for scanning a row of said elements comprising:
• applying an activating voltage to one or more scanning anodes of a group of consecutively arranged display elements "p" in number, to effect the formation by consecutive self-priming of one or more plasma sacs in said group of display elements wherein "n" scanning anodes are respectively associated with "n" plasma sacs and with "m" display elements per anode, the number "p" of display elements per group equalling m .times. n but always an integer greater than unity;
• activating group-by-group "t" consecutive groups of "p" display elements in said row until the entire row of "C" (t .times. p) display elements is scanned, the ratio of p/C being a small fraction of one -- non-neighboring, regularly recurring ones of said groups of display elements being electrically bussed such that said scanning is accomplished in a bussed-scanning mode;
• and
• during the activation of any given group of display elements, simultaneously modulating with modulation grids respectively associated one-for-one with said display elements the light output of said display elements in said group by the application of display information stored in a p-element memory, position-corresponding modulation grids in neighboring groups of elements being electrically bussed such that only "p" modulation leads are required.

For use with a high-voltage cathodoluminescent image display panel having a row-and-column array of individually controllable plasma-sac-type gas-dicharge display elements, a method for scanning a row of said array of display elements comprising:

• applying an activating voltage to one or more scanning anodes of a group of consecutively arranged display elements "p" in number to effect the formation by consecutive self-priming of one or more plasma sacs in said group of display elements wherein "n" scanning anodes are respectively associated with "n" plasma sacs and with "m" display elements per scanning anode, the number "p" of display elements per group equalling m .times. n, but always an integer greater than unity;
• activating group-by-group "t" consecutive groups of "p" display elements in said row until the entire row of "C" (t .times. p) display elements is scanned, the ratio of p/C being a small fraction of one -- non-neighboring, regularly recurring ones of said groups of display elements being electrically bussed such that said scanning is accomplished in a bussed-scanning mode;
• and
• during the activation of any given group of display elements, simultaneously modulating with modulating grids respectively associated one-for-one with said display elements the light output of said display elements in said group by the application of display information stored in a p-element memory.

For use with a high-voltage cathodoluminescent image display panel having a row-and-column array of individually controllable plasma-sac-type gas-discharge display elements, a method for scanning a row of said array of display elements comprising:

• applying an activating voltage on one or more scanning anodes of a group of consecutively arranged display elements "p" in number, to effect the formation by consecutive self-priming of one or more plasma sacs in said group of display elements wherein "n" scanning anodes are respectively associated with "n" plasma sac and with "m" display elements per anode, the number "p" of display elements per group equalling m .times. n but always an integer greater than unity;
• activating group-by-group "t" consecutive groups of "p" display elements in said row until the entire row of "C" (t .times. p) display elements is scanned, the ratio of p/C being a small fraction of one -- non-neighboring, regularly recurring ones of said groups of display elements being electrically bussed such that said scanning is accomplished in a bussed-scanning mode;
• and
• during the activation of any given group of display elements, simultaneously modulating with modulating grids respectively associated one-for-one with said display elements the light output of said display elements in said group by the application of display information stored in a p-element memory, position-corresponding modulation grids in neighboring groups of elements being electrically bussed such that only "p" modulation leads are required.