Patent US3573542A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3573542A
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US
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Gaseous display control
Assignee: Control Data Corp
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Filing: 1968-03-28
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Granted: 1971-04-06
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Expires: 1988-03-28
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for controlling the lighting of cells, the sustaining of lit cells, and the extinguishing of lit cells in a gaseous discharge display of the type where electrodes controlling the condition of the cells are insulated from the gas within each cell is disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 William N Mayer
- 👤 Richard V Bonin Jr
- 👤 Robert W Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:08
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/22; G09G3/28; G09G3/288; G09G2310/00; G09G2310/06; G09G2310/066; G09G3/291; G09G3/292; G09G3/2927; G09G3/296
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voltage generator further comprises capacitive means for providing a voltage step having a slow rise time for preventing the full maturation of the discharge within the gas cell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
369 words
Control for a gaseous discharge display device having a plurality of gas-filled cells, an array of X drive lines on one side of the cells, insulated from the gas therein by an insulating medium, an array of Y drive lines on the other side of the cells, insulated from the gas therein by an insulating medium and arranged orthogonally to the X drive lines so that each cell is associated with one specific X drive line and one specific Y drive line, each drive line being capacitively coupled to its respective cells by way of the insulating media for discharging selected cells, thereby causing light emission at a nominal discharge voltage Vf applied across the selected cells, and where a memory voltage Vc remains across the selected cells after discharge and after the drive voltage has been removed, the improvement comprising: a. pulse generating means selectively connected to the X drive lines for applying a unipolar pulse to each selected line; b. pulse generating means selectively connected to the Y drive lines for applying a unipolar pulse to each selected line, phased to add to the unipolar pulse on selected X drive lines, at the intersections of selected lines; c. adjustable oscillating voltage means connected to the X drive lines for applying an oscillating voltage 1/2 Vs thereto, whose peak value is at least 1/2 (Vf minus Vc); d. adjustable oscillating voltage means connected to the Y drive lines for applying an oscillating voltage 1/2 Vs thereto, whose peak value at least 1/2 (Vf minus Vc), phased to add to the oscillating voltage on the X drive lines so that Vs is impressed across each cell; e. means for superimposing an oscillating voltage 1/2 Vs'' on unipolar pulses present on selected X drive lines so that the voltage sum is at least 1/2 Vf; and f. means for superimposing an oscillating voltage 1/2 Vs'' on unipolar pulses present on selected Y drive lines so that the peak voltage sum is at least 1/2 Vf, phased to add to the unipolar pulses with the superimposed oscillating voltage present on the selected X drive lines so that Vf is impressed across the selected X and Y drive lines at their intersections.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pulse generating means selectively connected to the X drive lines further comprise clamping means for diverting the unipolar pulses from all but the selected X drive lines.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the pulse generating means selectively connected to the Y drive lines further comprise clamping means for diverting the unipolar pulses from all but the selected Y drive lines.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the adjustable oscillating voltage means for the X drive lines further comprise a bipolar pulse generator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the adjustable oscillating voltage means for the Y drive lines further comprise a bipolar pulse generator.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
307 words
A method of controlling the discharge, sustaining the discharge, and extinguishing the discharge of individual cells in a gaseous discharge display device having a plurality of gas-filled cells, an array of X drive lines on one side of the cells, insulated from the gas therein by an insulating medium, an array of Y drive lines on the other side of the cells, insulated from the gas therein by an insulating medium and arranged orthogonally to the X drive lines to that each cell is associated with one specific X drive line and one specific Y drive line, each drive line being capacitively coupled to its respective cells by way of the insulating media, for discharging selected cells, thereby causing light emission, at a nominal discharge voltage Vf applied across the selected cells, and where a memory voltage Vc remains across the selected cells after discharge and after the drive voltage has been removed, comprising the steps of: a. selecting at least one X drive line and at least one Y drive line; b. applying a unipolar voltage pulse to each selected drive line phased to add together at their intersections; c. superimposing an oscillating voltage 1/2 Vs '' on the unipolar pulses present on each selected drive line, phased to add together at their intersections; d. removing 1/2 Vs'' from the drive lines; e. removing the unipolar pulse from each drive line; f. applying an oscillating voltage 1/2 Vs to each drive line, phased to add at their intersections; g. sustaining the discharge by continually applying 1/2 Vs to each drive line; h. removing 1/2 Vs from the drive lines; i. selecting at least one X drive line and at least one Y drive line; and finally j. extinguishing the discharge by applying a unipolar pulse to each selected drive line, phased to add at their intersections.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of adjusting voltage 1/2 Vs'' to an amplitude such that the sum of its peak voltage and the peak voltage of the unipolar pulse is at least 1/2 Vf.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of adjusting voltage 1/2 Vs to an amplitude such that the sum of its peak voltage and Vc is at least 1/2 (Vf minus Vc).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
THe method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of slowing the rise time of the unipolar pulse for extinguishing the discharge, and adjusting the voltage amplitude of the unipolar pulse so that at a selected intersection the sum of the X line unipolar pulse, the Y line unipolar pulse and Vc slowly reaches voltage Vf, preventing a full maturation of the discharge of the cell at the intersection.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-05 | 1974-10-05 | 1975-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-05 | 1978-10-05 | 1979-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-05 | 1982-10-05 | 1983-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |