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US 4,283,660 AGranted
Multiline charge transfer panel input and hold system
AssigneeNCR Corporation
InventorJohn L. Curry
Life of this patent
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AssigneeNCR Corporation
InventorJohn L. Curry
Estimating the term…
A system for loading a DC multiline plasma charge transfer device and for holding charges applied thereto. Each line of the device includes input and transfer electrodes positioned on opposing walls which define a channel confining an ionizable medium. The transfer electrodes comprise adjacent groups of four electrodes with two driven in common with like electrodes of all other lines, and with timing of pulses applied by the common drivers being regular and constant. A common driver is also utilized for the input electrodes of each line while logic control is applied to the input driver and to the other transfer electrodes for each line. With this system and with a minimum of drive electronics, the charges may be shifted to a desired location and in desired patterns along the length of the device. The charges may be held at the desired location by circulating the charges between a set of electrodes at the desired holding location including two commonly driven electrodes. Additional input can be achieved on any line while maintaining prior input.
In a multiline plasma charge transfer device wherein the lines each comprise at least one channel containing an ionizable medium, input and transfer electrodes positioned on inside wall surfaces, the transfer electrodes being alternately arranged on opposite wall surfaces, and control means including drivers for firing the electrodes to develop potential differences between the electrodes, application of potential differences serving to introduce charges into the channels, and serving to hold and shift changes in the channels, the improvememt wherein said control means include first drivers for all transfer electrodes on one wall surface of all lines, means for operating said frist drivers in regular phase, independent second drivers for the transfer electrodes on the other wall surface of each line, means for selectively operating each of said second drivers, third drivers connected to the input electrodes of all lines, and means for selectively operating said third drivers.
In a method for operating a multiline plasma charge transfer device, the device being of the type wherein the lines each comprise at least a channel containing an ionizable medium, input and transfer electrodes positioned on inside wall surfaces, the transfer electrodes being alternately arranged on opposite wall surfaces, and control means including drivers for firing the electrodes to develop potential differences between the electrodes, application of potential differences serving to introduce charges into the channels, and serving to hold and shift charges in the channels, the improvement comprising the steps of operating first drivers for all transfer electrodes on one wall surface of all lines in regular phase, operating independently of each other second drivers of transfer electrodes on the other wall surface of each line, and selectively operating third drivers for the input electrodes of all lines.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.