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US RE31,231 EGranted
Panel-type display device
AssigneeBurroughs Corporation
InventorsJames A. Ogle, George E. Holz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A display device comprising a panel structure including a plurality of gas-filled cells and including, within the body of the panel, gas communication channels extending between selected cells to provide a selective flow of excited gaseous particles from certain cells to others to prime the receiving cells and thereby control the transfer of glow between the cells.
Claims44
A display system including
- a display panel having a plurality of discrete gas-filled display cells arrayed in rows and columns in a layer and adapted to be energized to display a character or message,
- electrode means associated with each display cell for applying potential thereto suitable for ionizing the gas in a cell and thereby causing a cell to ionize and to exhibit glow,
- a plurality of particle-supply cells arrayed in rows and column in a second layer in said panel, each particle-supply cell being vertically aligned with a display cell so that it can supply excited particles thereto whereby the turn-on of a display cell is facilitated, and
- gas communication paths in said panel between adjacent columns of particle-supply cells through which excited particles diffuse from one cell which is exhibiting glow to another cell which is not exhibiting glow, said particles being present within the gas in said other cell and providing an ionization-assisting force to said other cell to cause said other cell to ionize and exhibit glow when operating potentials are applied to it[.] , all of the cells in each column of particle-supply cells being turned on as each column of particle-supply cells is energized in a scanning cycle of operation, said electrode means being adapted to apply information signals to and to turn on selected display cells in each column thereof as the associated column of particle-supply cells is turned on.
1 more element
A display system including
- a display panel having a plurality of discrete gas-filled display cells arrayed in rows and columns, said cells being adapted to be energized to display a character or message,
- at least two electrodes associated with each cell for applying potential suitable for ionizing the gas in a cell and thereby causing a cell to exhibit glow and thereby to generate excited particles, and
- gas communication paths in said panel between selected cells for permitting the flow of excited particles from one cell which is exhibiting glow to another cell whereby said other cell can be caused to exhibit glow when operating potentials are applied to it, said excited particles providing an ionization-assisting force which promotes the ionization and turn-on of said other cells,
- said electrodes comprising first and second electrodes, said first electrodes being associated with columns of cells and said second electrodes being associated with rows of cells,
- all of said first electrodes being connected in groups so that when energizing potentials are applied to a second electrode and to one first electrode and its column of associated cells, it is also applied to at least one other first electrode and its column of associated cells,
- only one of said columns of associated cells turning on and exhibiting glow when said energizing potentials are applied, said one column of associated cells being those cells which are immediately adjacent to and are connected directly by gas communication paths to another column of cells which are ON and exhibiting glow, any other more remote cells being unable to turn on and exhibit glow.
3 more elements
A display panel comprising
- a first insulating plate having a plurality of gas-filled cells arrayed in rows and columns,
- said first plate having a top surface and a bottom surface,
- a second insulating plate having a plurality of gas-filled cells arrayed in rows and columns,
- said second plate having a top surface and a bottom surface,
- a gas communication path in said first plate between each column of cells and the adjacent column of cells whereby excited particles can move from one cell to an adjacent cell,
- said second plate being positioned above and in contact with said first plate,
- a set of first electrodes in contact with the bottom surface of said first plate,
- a set of second electrodes in contact with said top surface of said first plate between said first and second plates, and
- a set of third electrodes positioned adjacent to the top surface of said second plate,
- [said first and second electrodes being operable to establish glow in the cells of said first plate and said second and third electrodes being operable to transfer said glow to said cells in said second plate]
- said first and second electrodes being operable to generate glow discharge in all of the cells in each column of cells in said first plate and to transfer the glow from one column of cells to the adjacent column of cells through said gas communication paths and throughout the panel, said second and third electrodes being operable, as said columns of cells in said first plate are turned on sequentially, to transfer glow from selected cells in each column of cells in said first plate to the associated cells in said second plate.
8 more elements
A display system including
- a display panel having a plurality of discrete gas-filled display cells arrayed in rows and columns and adapted to be energized to glow and to display a character or message, there being a first column of cells and a last column of cells and intermediate columns of cells,
- a cathode electrode in operative relation with each column of cells and an anode electrode in operative relation with each row of cells for applying firing potential thereto suitable for ionizing the gas in a cell and thereby causing a cell to exhibit glow, the ionization and firing of a cell causing the generation of excited particles including electrons, ions, metastable states and the like,
- each cell having a characteristic firing potential, said characteristic firing potential having a characteristic value for ionizing and firing a cell initially without the aid of external stimuli such as excited particles,
- gas communication paths in said panel between selected cells and extending from cathode to cathode whereby, when a cell is ionized and fired and is glowing, excited particles generated in the glowing gas diffuse through said paths to an adjacent cell which is not in a fired state and is not glowing, said particles serving to facilitate ionization and firing of said second cell when operating potentials are applied to its electrodes, the ionization and firing of said second cell being achievable at a potential somewhat lower than its characteristic firing potential due to the presence of said excited particles,
- a plurality of cathode driver circuits, each coupled in common to a plurality of spaced-apart ones of said cathode electrodes associated with spaced-apart columns of cells in said panel, there thus being groups of columns of cells having their cathode electrodes connected to a separate common cathode driver circuit so that operating potential can be applied simultaneously to all of the cathode electrodes and the associated columns of cells of a group,
- each of the columns of cells of a group being spaced apart by a column of cells and a cathode electrode of each of the other groups,
- anode drive circuit means coupled to said anode electrodes for applying operating potential thereto as operating potential is applied to each cathode electrode,
- said cathode and anode drive circuit means being operated to apply operating potential to all of the cells of the first column of cells which is thus ionized and caused to glow whereby excited particles are generated in the gas therein, and then to apply operating potentials to the cathode and anode electrodes associated with the un-ionized column of cells adjacent to said first column of ionized cells and to the other columns of cells of its group, only the column of cells adjacent to said ionized column of cells being ionized itself due to the fact that said gas communication paths serve to diffuse excited particles to the adjacent column of cells and not to other remote columns of cells of its group whereby said adjacent cell ionizes preferentially[.] ,
- said cathode and anode drive circuit means also adapted to apply groups of data signals to the columns of display cells, one such group after another, in synchronism with the column by column priming scan, to produce a glow discharge in selective cells of said matrix, one column at a time.
6 more elements
A display panel comprising
- a gas-tight envelope containing an ionizable gas,
- a plurality of gas discharge display cells disposed within said envelope in an array of rows and columns,
- a plurality of gas discharge priming cells disposed within said envelope in an array of rows and columns, each such priming cell being located adjacent one of said display cells with an open area of gas coupling communication between it and the adjacent display cell,
- means coupled to said columns of priming cells for producing a glow discharge in all of the cells of a column of said priming cells, and then in all of the cells of the remaining priming cell columns, one column after another, to scan the priming cells in a column-by-column scan, and
- means for scanning said columns of display cells in turn, one after another, and during said scanning operation, applying groups of information signals selectively across selected display cells in selected ones of such columns of display cells, the application of a group of information signals to selected display cells of a column being generally in synchronism with the production of glow discharge in the column of priming cells disposed adjacent to the column of display cells so that excited particles generated by the glow of the priming cells is available to the display cells.
2 more elements
A display panel comprising
- a gas-tight envelope containing an ionizable gas,
- a plurality of gas discharge display cells disposed within said envelope in an array of rows and columns,
- a plurality of gas discharge priming cells disposed within said envelope in an array of rows and columns, each such priming cell being located adjacent one of said display cells with an open area of gas coupling communication between it and the adjacent display cell,
- a plurality of first and second electrodes, at least one such first and second electrode in gas discharge relationship with each of said display cells,
- means for applying successive groups of information signals selectively to said first and second electrodes, each such group being applied across selective display cells in each of a plurality of display cell columns, and
- means for producing a glow discharge in all of the cells of a column of said priming cells, and then in all of the cells of the remaining priming cell columns, one column after the next, to scan the priming cells in a column-by-column scan in synchronism with the application of said successive groups of information signals, to produce glow discharges in selective cells of the display cell column adjacent the priming cell column being scanned one column after the next, to provide an overall glow discharge pattern directly in the display cells.
3 more elements
A display panel comprising
- a gas-tight envelope containing an ionizable gas,
- a plurality of glow priming regions within said envelope,
- a plurality of groups of gas discharge display cells, each such group being disposed adjacent one of said glow priming regions, with an open area of gas coupling communication between the display cells of each such group and the adjacent glow priming region,
- a plurality of first and second electrodes, at least one such first and second electrode in gas discharge relationship with each of said display cells,
- means for applying successive groups of information signals to selective ones of said first and second electrodes and across selective display cells, each such group being applied across one or more display cells in each of said display cell groups, and
- means for producing a glow discharge in each of said glow priming regions, one region after the next, to scan the glow priming regions one after another and thereby prime the adjacent display cell groups one after another, in synchronism with the application of said successive groups of information signals, to produce glow discharges in selective display cells of the display cell group adjacent the priming region being scanned, one display cell group after the next, to provide an overall glow discharge pattern in the display cells.
3 more elements
A display panel comprising
- a gas-tight envelope containing an ionizable gas,
- a plurality of glow priming regions within said envelope,
- a plurality of groups of gas discharge display cells, each such group being disposed adjacent one of said glow priming regions, with an open area of gas coupling communication between the display cells of each such group and the adjacent glow priming region,
- a plurality of first and second electrodes, at least one such first and second electrode in gas discharge relationship with each of said display cells,
- means for producing a glow discharge in each of said glow priming regions, one region after another, to scan the glow priming regions one after another and thereby prime the adjacent display cell groups one after another, and
- means for scanning said columns of display cells in turn, one after another, and during said scanning operation, applying groups of information signals selectively across selected display cells in selected ones of such columns of display cells, the application of a group of information signals to selected display cells of a column being generally in synchronism with the production of glow discharge in the glow priming region disposed adjacent to the column of display cells so that excited particles generated by the glow priming region is available to the display cells.
3 more elements
A display panel comprising
- a gas-tight envelope containing an ionizable gas,
- a plurality of glow priming regions disposed side-by-side within said envelope, such regions being in gas coupling and priming relationship to each other,
- a plurality of gas discharge display cells disposed in an array of groupings with one such grouping located adjacent and in open gas coupling relationship with each of said glow priming regions,
- means for applying each of a succession of groups of information signals to selective display cells in each of a plurality of said display cell groupings, and
- means for producing a glow discharge in each of said glow priming region, one after the next, to scan said regions in synchronism with the application of said successive groups of information signals, to produce glow discharges in selective cells of the display cell grouping adjacent the glow priming region being scanned, one after the next, to provide an overall glow discharge pattern directly in the display cells.
2 more elements
A gas discharge display panel comprising
- an envelope containing an ionizable gas and having a viewing window through which glow discharges within said envelope may be viewed,
- a succession of priming cells, each in glow discharge priming relation to the next and substantially hidden from view through said viewing window,
- electrode means for scanning said priming cells by establishing a glow discharge within each of said priming cells, one after the next, each such priming cell after the first being scanned to establish a glow discharge in it while it is being primed by the glow discharge of the next preceding cell,
- a plurality of display cells, at least one of which is disposed adjacent each of said priming cells, to be primed by glow discharge in the priming cell, and
- electrode means adjacent said display cells for applying data signals simultaneously to display cells adjacent different ones of said priming cells to establish a glow discharge in selective ones of said display cells, in response to the data signals applied, only when their corresponding priming cells are being scanned,
- the glow discharge in said display cells being visible through said viewing window.
3 more elements
A gas discharge display panel having a succession of coplanar cells which serve as both particle-supply cells and display cells, comprising
- an envelope containing an ionizable gas and having a face plate through which glow discharges within said envelope may be viewed,
- a succession of gas discharge cells within said envelope,
- each such cell being in gas communication and particle-supply relation to the next cell in the succession, each such cell also being adapted to glow as a display cell, with its glow being visible through said face plate,
- at least first and second electrodes associated with each said cell,
- a plurality of conductors each interconnecting the first electrodes of a different group of said cells, each such group comprising periodically spaced cells along the succession,
- means for establishing a glow discharge in the first cell of said succession, and
- a plurality of terminals each connected to one of said conductors for energizing said conductors sequentially, in repetitive scans, moving at a constant frequency throughout each such scan, to produce a glow discharge in at least selective ones of said successive cells, one after the other, in each of said scans,
- each such cell, as it is energized, generating display glow visible through said face plate and generating excited particles which diffuse to the next adjacent cell and prime it so that it can generate display glow when it is energized.
5 more elements
A gas discharge display panel comprising
- a gas-filled envelope including a matrix of rows and columns of gas discharge display cells,
- each column of cells being in glow discharge priming relation to the next column in the matrix,
- electrode means for scanning and turning on all of the cells in each of said columns of display cells, separately and in turn, by priming with excited particles and turning on the first column of display cells and causing said first column of cells to produce priming glow discharge, and successively priming and turning on all of the cells in the remaining columns of display cells, in turn, one column at a time and one after the next to effectively scan the cells, column by column, each producing priming glow discharge,
- said electrode means also [serving] being adapted to apply groups of data signals to the [rows] columns of display cells, one such group after another, in synchronism with the column by column priming scan, to produce a glow discharge in selective cells of said matrix, one column at a time.
1 more element
A display system including
- a display panel having
- an array of gas-filled display glow cells disposed in rows and columns;
- there being a first column of cells, a last column of cells, and intermediate columns of cells,
- an array of gas-filled priming glow cells disposed in rows and columns, there being one priming glow cell associated with each display glow cell,
- first electrode and circuit means coupled to said priming cells for scanning and turning on each of said columns of priming cells sequentially, beginning with the first and running to the last and then repeating the sequence over and over as required,
- information signal means coupled to said display glow cells for energizing and turning on selected display glow cells as the columns of priming cells are scanned and turned on, and
- circuit means coupled to said first electrode and circuit means for repetitively energizing selected ones of said columns of priming cells while maintaining the information signal means on the associated display glow cells to cause the display glow in the energized display glow cells to appear to the eye of a viewer to brighten.
4 more elements
The method of operating a display panel having
- an array of gas-filled display glow cells arrayed in rows and columns including a first column of cells, a last column of cells, and intermediate columns of cells,
- an array of gas-filled priming glow cells arrayed in rows and columns, there being one priming glow cell associated with each display glow cell,
- the method including the steps of
- scanning and turning on each of said columns of priming cells sequentially, beginning with the first and running to the last and then repeating the sequence,
- energizing and turning on selected display glow cells as the columns of priming cells are scanned, and
- repetitively energizing selected ones of said columns of priming cells and the associated selected display glow cells to brighten the display in the selected and energized display glow cells.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.