Electronic fluorescent display system

A mosaic cathodoluminescent visual display device having a plurality of display panels arranged in an array to form a mosaic display, each panel having pixel dots, and each panel comprising:

• an anode;
• luminescent means that emits light in response to electrons, and that is on or adjacent to the anode;
• a cathode;
• two or more sets of elongated grid electrodes between the anode and cathode, the electrodes in each set overlapping those in at least one other set at points, wherein the overlapping points define the pixel dots;
• means for heating the cathode, causing the cathode to emit electrons;
• means for applying electrical potentials to the anode, cathode and the two or more sets of grid electrodes, causing the electrons emitted by the cathode to travel to the anode at the pixel dots for displaying images;
• and
• a housing holding said anode, cathode and grid electrodes, wherein said cathode includes one or more filaments each comprising a center core material and a coating, and two springs connecting each filament to the housing, said springs being made of substantially the same material as the filament center core material, thereby reducing cold terminal effects, and width of any dark line or lines between the panels.

A mosaic visual display device comprising N rows and M columns of display panels, N, M being positive integers, each panel including:

• an anode;
• luminescent means that emits light in response to electrons, and that is on or adjacent to the anode;
• a cathode;
• two or more sets of elongated grid electrodes between the anode and cathode, including one set of n scanning electrodes and a set of m data electrodes, n, m being positive integers, said n scanning electrodes and m data electrodes overlapping one another at points and defining a matrix of n.m pixel dots at the overlapping points, said matrix having n rows;
• said device further comprising:
• n first drivers each connected to one of the n scanning electrodes for scanning the n rows of the matrix;
• N second drivers each connected to the cathodes of one of the N rows of panels, said first and second drivers in combination scanning all the n.N rows of pixel dots in the device.

A cathodoluminescent visual display device having a plurality of pixel dots, comprising:

• an anode;
• luminescent means that emits light in response to electrons, and that is on or adjacent to the anode;
• a cathode, said anode cathode being in two planes that are spaced apart;
• a first, second and third set of elongated grid electrodes in respective first, second and third planes between the planes of the anode and cathode, said second plane being between the first and third planes, the electrodes in each set overlapping those in at least one other set at points, wherein the overlapping points define the pixel dots;
• means for heating the cathode, causing the cathode to emit electrons;
• and
• means for applying electrical potentials to the anode, cathode and the first, second and third sets of grid electrodes, causing the electrons emitted by the cathode to travel to the anode at the pixel dots for displaying images;
• wherein each of at least some grid electrodes in the first set is parallel to and correspond to a grid electrode in the third set defining a pair of corresponding electrodes, wherein each pair of corresponding grid electrodes in the first and third sets overlaps the grid electrodes in the second set at the same pixel dots;
• said device further comprising electrically conductive means connecting each pair of the corresponding grid electrodes, so that said electrical potential applying means applies substantially the same potentials to each corresponding pair of grid electrodes, thereby increasing the luminescence of the device.