Cathode bar structure for glow discharge devices

Claim 1

A HERMETICALLY SEALED GLOW DISCHARGE DEVICE COMPRISING: A TRANSPARENT GLASS ENVELOPE HAVING A PLURALITY OF ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS SEALED THEREIN AND EXTENDING THERETHROUGH AND CONTAINING A GAS AT GLOW DISCHARGE PRESSURE, SAID CONDUCTORS HAVING AN ELECTRICAL INSULATING LAYER THEREON; A RIGID PLANAR INSULATING SUPPORT HAVING AN INSULATING SPACER AFFIXED THERETO AND SPACED THEREFROM BY A SPACER, SAID SUPPORT HAVING A PLURALITY OF SLOTS THERETHROUGH, SAID INSULATING SPACER HAVING A PLURALITY OF APERTURES ALIGNED WITH AND LARGER THAN SAID SLOTS, AND SAID SPACER HAVING A PLURALITY OF HOLES ALIGNED WITH AND LARGER THAN SAID SLOTS AND SAID APERTURES; A PLURALITY OF CATHODE SEGMENTS FORMED TO PROVIDE A SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS PLANAR CHARACTER DISPLAY, EACH OF SAID SEGMENTS HAVING A LONGITUDINAL PORTION SPACED FROM THE OTHER AND FROM SAID INSULATING SPACER AND A PROTUBERANCE NORMAL TO SAID LONGITUDINAL PORTION, SAID PROTUBERANCE HAVING A FIRST PORTION SPACED FROM AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID APERTURE AND HOLE AND CONTACTING SAID SUPPORT WHEREBY SAID SEGMENT IS UPHELD AND A SECOND PORTION EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOT IN SAID SUPPORT, A TRANSPARENT ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE ANODE SPACED EQUIDISTANTLY FROM EACH OF SAID CATHODE SEGMENTS AND HAVING AT LEAST A PORTION THEREOF IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID DISPLAY, SAID ANODE BEING ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID CONDUCTORS; AND MEANS ATTACHING AND ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING EACH OF SAID SEGMENTS TO ONE OF SAID CONDUCTORS AND UPHOLDING SAID SUPPORT AND SAID ANODE, SAID MEANS BEING ENCLOSED BY AN ELECTRICAL INSULATING LAYER.