Electronic arrays having thin film line drivers

An electric matrix display array adapted for light influencing information display, said electronic matrix display array having a plurality of integrated picture elements and intersecting, multiple x and y address lines, each of said picture elements being located at the intersection of an x address line and a y address line and adapted to be repetitively accessed, said matrix array comprising:

• (a) a first x address line electrically connected to one set of picture elements;
• (b) line driver means for changing an electrical condition of said first x address line from a first nominal level to a second nominal level on the application of an electrical signal, and from the second nominal level back to the first nominal level when the electrical signal is removed and the second nominal level has been achieved, said line driver means including:
• (i) a first integrated thin film x address line threshold switching device having a threshold voltage and a negative resistance characteristic and being switchable between a high resistance off state and a relatively lower resistance on state by the application of a first x address line electrical signal above the threshold voltage of the first x address line threshold switch across the first x address line threshold switch and from the lower resistance on state to the high resistance off state when the first electrical signal is below the threshold voltage of the first x address line threshold switch;
• (ii) a second integrated thin film x address line threshold switching device having a threshold voltage and a negative resistance characteristic and being switchable between a high resistance off state and a relatively lower resistance on state by the application of a second x address line electrical signal above the threshold voltage of the second x address line threshold switch across the second x address line threshold switch and from the lower resistance on state to the high resistance off state when the second x address line electrical signal is below the threshold voltage of the second address line threshold switch;
• (iii) isolation means electrically connected between said first x address line and each of said first and second x address line integrated thin film threshold switching devices for inhibiting the reverse flow of current between one of said threshold switching devices and said x address line when said threshold switching device is in its off state;
• (iv) trigger means associated with said first x address line threshold switching device and said second x address line threshold switching device for providing said electrical signals in response to control signals received by said trigger means, and wherein said first nominal level is of one polarity and said second nominal level is a negative voltage whereby alternating polarities are applied to said x address line by alternate operation of said first x address line threshold switch means and said second x address line threshold switch means;
• (c) a first y address line electrically connected to one set of picture elements;
• and
• (d) line driver means for changing an electrical condition of said first y address line form a first nominal level to a second nominal level on the application of an electrical signal, and from the second nominal level back to the first nominal level when the electrical signal is removed and the second nominal level has been achieved, said line driver means including:
• (i) a first y address line integrated thin film threshold switching device having a threshold voltage nad a negative resistance characteristic and being switchable between a high resistance off state and a relatively lower resistance on state by the application of a first y address line electrical signal above the threshold voltage of the first y address line threshold switch across the first y address line threshold switch and from the lower resistance on state to the high resistance off state when the first y address line electrical signal is below the threshold voltage of the first y address line threshold switch;
• (ii) a second y address line integrated thin film threshold switching device having a threshold voltage and a negative resistance characteristic and being switchable between a high resistance off state and a relatively lower resistance on state by the application of a second y address line electrical signal above the threshold voltage of the second y address line threshold switch across the second y address line threshold switch across the second y address line threshold switch and from the lower resistance on state to the high resistance off state when the second y address line electrical signal is below the threshold voltage of the second y address line threshold switch;
• (iii) isolation means electrically connected between said first y address line and each of said first and second y address line integrated thin film threshold switching devices for inhibiting the reverse flow of current between one of said threshold switching devices and said y address sline when said threshold switching device is in its off state;
• and
• (iv) trigger means associated with said first y address line threshold switching device and said second y address line threshold switching device for providing said electrical signals in response to control signals received by said trigger means, and wherein said first nominal level is of one polarity and said second nominal level is of opposite polarity whereby alternating polarities are applied to said y address line by alternate operation of said first y address line threshold switch means and said second y address line threshold switch means.