Visual display and memory system

Claim 2

A gas discharge display/memory device comprising, in combination, a sealed gas chamber, a pair of conductor arrays arranged one on each of the opposite sides of the gas chamber each array including at least one conductor having transverse relative orientation to the other array so as to provide one or more cross-points between the conductors in the opposite arrays across which discharges occur when an operating potential is supplied thereto, dielectric means having surfaces thereof defining at least a portion of the gas chamber, and electroluminescence means capable of emitting light when subjected to an electric current flow, said conductors, dielectric means, gas chamber and electroluminescence means being arranged in series at each cross-point to provide a current path therethrough, said electroluminescence means providing capacitance in each current path and being arranged relative to the chamber and one of the conductor arrays so as to, in response to an electric field generated by a gaseous discharge at a selected cross-point, emit light at the selected cross-point.

Claim 3

A gas discharge display/memory device as described in claim 1, wherein the dielectric means includes light absorbing means between the chamber and the electroluminescence means to prevent detection of light emitted by a gaseous discharge and for providing a dark background for the electroluminescent means when emitting light.

Claim 4

A gas discharge display/memory device as described in claim 1, including a series of conductor members arranged relative to the electroluminescence means and the chamber so as to provide a current path therebetween.

Claim 5

A gas discharge display/memory device as described in claim 1, wherein the electroluminescence means is arranged within the gas chamber.

Claim 6

A gas discharge display/memory device as described in claim 1, wherein the electroluminesce means includes a layer of phosphor material arranged between the conductor arrays.

Claim 7

A gas discharge display/memory device comprising, in combination, a pair of spaced apart members formed of a dielectric material and defining therebetween a sealed gas chamber, a pair of conductor arrays arranged one on each of the opposite sides of the gas chamber and respectively spaced therefrom by the members, the arrays being in transverse relative orientation so as to provide a series of cross-points therebetween, and electroluminescence means capable of emitting light when subjected to an electric current flow, said conductor arrays, dielectric means, gas chamber and electroluminescence means being arranged in series at each cross-point to provide a current path therethrough, said electroluminescence means providing capacitance in each current path and being arranged relative to one of the conductor arrays and the gas chamber so as to, in response to an electric field generated by a gaseous discharge at a selected cross-point, emit light at the selected cross-point.

Claim 8

A gas discharge display/memory device comprising, in combination, a pair of spaced apart members formed of a dielectric material and defining therebetween a sealed gas chamber, a pair of conductor arrays arranged one on each of the opposite sides of the gas chamber and respectively spaced therefrom by the members, the arrays being in transverse relative orientation so as to provide a series of cross-points therebetween, and electroluminescence means capable of emitting light when subjected to an electric current flow, said conductor arrays, dielectric means, gas chamber and electroluminescence means being arranged in series at each cross-point to provide a current path therethrough, said electroluminescence means providing capacitance in each current path and being arranged relative to one of the conductor arrays and the gas chamber so as to, in response to an electric field generated by a gaseous discharge at a selected cross-point, emit light at the selected cross-point.

Claim 9

A gas discharge display/memory device as described in claim 6, wherein the electroluminescence means includes a phosphor material combined with the material of one of the members.

Claim 10

A gas discharge display/memory device as described in claim 6, wherein one of the dielectric members includes a light absorbing material to prevent viewing of light emitted by said gaseous discharge and for providing a contrast for the light emission by the electroluminescent means.

Claim 11

A gas discharge display/memory device as described in claim 6, wherein the electroluminescence means includes a phosphor layer on the chamber side of one of the members.

Claim 12

A gas discharge display/memory device comprising, in combination, a sealed gas chamber, a pair of members arranged one on each side of the chamber and having confronting faces defining at least a portion of the chamber and opposite external faces, each opposite face having a conductor array arranged thereon, each array including at least one conductor having transverse orientation relative to the other array so as to provide one or more cross-points between the conductors in each array, a dielectric member arranged on the confronting face of one of the support members so as to define at least a portion of the chamber, a series of conductor elements extending laterally through the one support member at the cross-points, and a series of phosphor elements capable of emitting light when subjected to an electric current flow and positioned one at each cross-point between the associated conductors and conductor elements, said conductors, conductor elements, dielectric member, gas chamber and phosphor elements being arranged in series at each cross-point to provide a current path therethrough, said phosphor elements providing capacitance in each current path so as to emit light when an electric field generated by a gaseous discharge is applied thereto.

Claim 13

A gas discharge display/memory device comprising, in combination, a sealed gas chamber, a pair of members arranged one on each side of the chamber and having confronting faces defining at least a portion of the chamber and opposite external faces, each opposite face having a conductor array arranged thereon, each array including at least one conductor having transverse orientation relative to the other array so as to provide one or more cross-points between the conductors in each array, a dielectric member arranged on the confronting face of one of the support members so as to define at least a portion of the chamber, a series of conductor elements extending laterally through the one support member at the cross-points, and a series of phosphor elements capable of emitting light when subjected to an electric current flow and positioned one at each cross-point between the associated conductors and conductor elements, said conductors, conductor elements, dielectric member, gas chamber and phosphor elements being arranged in series at each cross-point to provide a current path therethrough, said phosphor elements providing capacitance in each current path so as to emit light when an electric field generated by a gaseous discharge is applied thereto.

Claim 14

A gas discharge display and memory system comprising, in combination, a gas discharge panel having a sealed gas chamber, a pair of members arranged one on each side of the chamber and having confronting faces defining at least a portion of the chamber and opposite external faces, a pair of conductor arrays each array being arranged relative to one of the external faces, the arrays each including at least one conductor oriented relative to the other array so as to provide one or more cross-points between the conductors in the opposite arrays, electroluminescence means capable of emitting light when subjected to an electric current flow, said conductors, gas chamber and electroluminescence means being arranged in series at each cross-point to provide a current path therethrough, said electroluminescence means providing capacitance in each current path and being arranged relative to the gas chamber and one of the conductor arrays so as to, in response to an electric field generated by a discharge at a selected cross-point, emit light at the selected cross-point, write-in means connectible to the arrays so as to selectively energize the arrays and cause a discharge at the selected cross-point, readout means operative in response to the emission of light from the selected cross-point to develop a corresponding output, and erase means for extinguishing the discharge.

Claim 15

A gas discharge display and memory system comprising, in combination, a gas discharge panel having a sealed gas chamber, a pair of members arranged one on each side of the chamber and having confronting faces defining at least a portion of the chamber and opposite external faces, a pair of conductor arrays each array being arranged relative to one of the external faces, the arrays each including at least one conductor oriented relative to the other array so as to provide one or more cross-points between the conductors in the opposite arrays, electroluminescence means capable of emitting light when subjected to an electric current flow, said conductors, gas chamber and electroluminescence means being arranged in series at each cross-point to provide a current path therethrough, said electroluminescence means providing capacitance in each current path and being arranged relative to the gas chamber and one of the conductor arrays so as to, in response to an electric field generated by a discharge at a selected cross-point, emit light at the selected cross-point, write-in means connectible to the arrays so as to selectively energize the arrays and cause a discharge at the selected cross-point, readout means operative in response to the emission of light from the selected cross-point to develop a corresponding output, and erase means for extinguishing the discharge.

Claim 16

A gas discharge display and memory system as described in claim 11, wherein the readout means contacts one of the external faces.

Claim 17

A gas discharge display and memory system as described in claim 11 further including a pair of support members each one engaging one of the external faces.

Claim 18

A gas discharge display and memory system as described in claim 11 wherein the read-out means is remOtely positioned relative to the panel and further including a series of light conducting elements associated with each cross-point for transferring the illumination therefrom to the read-out means.

Claim 19

A gas discharge display/memory device comprising, in combination, a sealed gas chamber, a pair of conductor arrays arranged one on each of the opposite sides of the gas chamber, each array including at least one conductor having transverse relative orientation to the other array so as to provide one or more cross-points between the conductors in the opposite arrays across which discharges occur when an operating potential is supplied thereto, and electroluminescence means capable of emitting light when subjected to an electric current flow, said conductor, gas chamber and electroluminescence means being arranged in series at each cross-point to provide a current path therethrough, said electroluminescence means providing capacitance in each current path and being arranged relative to the chamber and one of the conductor arrays so as to, in response to an electric field generated by a gaseous discharge at a selected cross-point, emit light at the selected cross-point.

Claim 20

A gas discharge display/memory device comprising, in combination, a sealed gas chamber, a pair of conductor arrays arranged one on each of the opposite sides of the gas chamber, each array including at least one conductor having transverse relative orientation to the other array so as to provide one or more cross-points between the conductors in the opposite arrays across which discharges occur when an operating potential is supplied thereto, and electroluminescence means capable of emitting light when subjected to an electric current flow, said conductor, gas chamber and electroluminescence means being arranged in series at each cross-point to provide a current path therethrough, said electroluminescence means providing capacitance in each current path and being arranged relative to the chamber and one of the conductor arrays so as to, in response to an electric field generated by a gaseous discharge at a selected cross-point, emit light at the selected cross-point.

Claim 21

A gas discharge display/memory device as described in claim 1 wherein said electroluminescence means is combined with said dielectric means.

Claim 22

A gas discharge display/memory device as described in claim 1 further comprising means insulating the light emitted by said gaseous discharge from the light emitted by said electroluminescence means, whereby only the light emitted by said electroluminescence means is detected.

Claim 23

A gas discharge display/memory device as described in claim 6 wherein said electroluminescence means is combined with said dielectric material.

Claim 24

A gas discharge display/memory device as described in claim 6 further comprising means insulating light emitted by said gas discharge from light emitted by said electroluminescence means, whereby only said light emitted by said electroluminescence means is detected.

Claim 25

A gas discharge display/memory device as described in claim 10 further comprising means insulating light emitted by said gaseous discharge from light emitted by said phosphor elements, whereby only said light emitted by said phosphor elements is detected.

Claim 26

A gas discharge display/memory device as described in claim 10 wherein the dielectric member includes light absorbing means between the chamber and the phosphor elements to prevent detection of light emitted by a gaseous discharge and for providing a dark background for the phorphor elements when emitting light.

Claim 27

A gas discharge display/memory system as described in claim 11 further comprising dielectric means on the confronting faces of said pair of members.

Claim 28

A gas discharge display/memory device as described in claim 22 wherein said electroluminescence means is combined with said dielectric means.

Claim 29

A gas discharge display/memory device as described in claim 22 further comprising means insulating light emitted by said gaseous discharge from light emitted by said electroluminescence means, whereby only said light emitted by said electroluminescence means is detected.

Claim 30

A gas discharge display/memory device as described in claim 23 wherein said dielectric means includes light absorbing means between the chamber and the electroluminescence means to prevent detection of light emitted by a gaseous discharge and for providing a dark background for the electroluminescence means when emitting light.

Claim 31

A gas discharge display/memory device as described in claim 15 further comprising dielectric means on the confronting faces of said pair of members.

Claim 32

A gas discharge display/memory device as described in claim 26 wherein said electroluminescence means is combined with said dielectric means.

Claim 33

A gas discharge display/memory device as described in claim 26 further comprising means insulating light emitted by said gaseous discharge from light emitted by said electroluminescence means, whereby only sAid light emitted by said electroluminescence means is detected.

Claim 34

A gas discharge display/memory device as described in claim 26 wherein said dielectric means includes light absorbing means between the chamber and the electroluminescence means to prevent detection of light emitted by a gaseous discharge and for providing a dark background for the electroluminescence means when emitting light.