Linear D.C. gas discharge displays and addressing techniques therefor

A display device comprising

• two gas discharge spaces defined between two insulating substrates to extend in parallel,
• a plurality of shift register electrodes on a first of said insulating sustrates, arranged in sequence in a first of said gas discharge spaces,
• a plurality of first thin film resistors on the second of said insulating substrates and extending respectively opposite said shift register electrodes,
• an insulating layer on said second insulating substrate with said first thin film resistors, said insulating layer having apertures therein adjacent said first gas discharge space opposite each said shift register electrode and adjacent the second gas discharge space,
• a plurality of conducting layers respectively covering said first thin film resistors in said apertures, each said conducting layer extending on said second insulating substrate into the second gas discharge space to provide a respective ignition electrode for said second gas discharge space,
• a common electrode layer on said insulating layer and between said insulating layer and first insulating substrate, with apertures in common with said apertures of said insulating layer, said common electrode layer providing two separate common electrodes for said two gas discharge spacers, respectively,
• a plurality of second thin film resistors extending on said first insulating substrate adjacent said second gas discharge space opposite respective ones of said ignition electrodes,
• a plurality of discharge electrodes in said second gas discharge space on respective ones of said second thin film resistors, for providing a respective plurality of discharge cells with the common electrode of the second gas discharge space,
• each said thin film resistor having an end extending on the respective one of said insulating substrates a distance from the respective gas discharge space, and
• voltage means for holding said common electrode for said first gas discharge space at a first potential, for holding said end of each first thin film resistor and said common electrode of said second gas discharge space at a second potential, for applying predetermined switch pulses to said shift electrodes, and for applying in common to said ends of said second thin film resistors a serial train of selective video pulses,
• wherein said predetermined switch pulses are syncronized with said serial train so that the ignition electrode of each said discharge cell is brought to said second potential when a respective one of said selected video pulses is applied in common to said ends of the second thin film resistors, so that only a respective one of said discharge cells in selected to be ignited for each said selected video pulse.