Keep-alive electrode for display panel

Claim 2

A display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope, an insulating base plate in said envelope having a top surface, a plurality of parallel first slots formed in said top surface of said base plate, a first electrode seated in each of said slots, a plurality of second electrodes seated on the top surface of said base plate disposed parallel to each other and oriented at an angle to said first electrodes whereby each second electrode crosses each first electrode and each such crossing forms a gas cell therewith, said gas cells being in gas communication with each other through said first slots, a third electrode seated on said top surface of said base plate and spaced from said second electrodes, said third electrode being in communication with said second electrodes through said slots, a second slot formed in said top surface of said base plate between two of said first slots, a keep-alive electrode arrangement, comprising first and second spaced-apart keep-alive electrodes, positioned in said second slot in operative relation with only said third electrode, said keep-alive electrode arrangement being adapted to be constantly energized to provide excited particles for said third electrode, said keep-alive electrode arrangement including a single electrode separated into two spaced-apart portions in the vicinity of said third electrode, each of said portions having an end accessible outside said panel for electrical connection thereto, said two spaced-apart portions being bent at a desired angle and orientation with respect to each other, said second slot having a base and said single electrode being supported above said base.

Claim 3

A display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope, an insulating base plate in said envelope having a top surface, a plurality of parallel first slots formed in said top surface of said base plate, a first electrode seated in each of said slots, a plurality of second electrodes seated on the top surface of said base plate disposed parallel to each other and oriented at an angle to said first electrodes whereby each second electrode crosses each first electrode and each such crossing forms a gas cell therewith, said gas cells being in gas communication with each other through said first slots, a third electrode seated on said top surface of said base plate and spaced from said sEcond electrodes, said third electrode being in communication with said second electrodes through said slots, a second slot formed in said top surface of said base plate between two of said first slots, a keep-alive electrode arrangement, comprising first and second spaced-apart keep-alive electrodes, positioned in said second slot in operative relation with only said third electrode, said keep-alive electrode arrangement being adapted to be constantly energized to provide excited particles for said third electrode, said keep-alive electrode arrangement including a single electrode separated into two spaced-apart portions in the vicinity of said third electrode, each of said portions having an end accessible outside said panel for electrical connection thereto, said second slot having a base and said single electrode is supported on said base, said base of said second slot having a depression formed therein beneath the portion of said single electrode positioned in the vicinity of said one cathode electrode.

Claim 4

A display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope, an insulating base plate in said envelope having a top surface, a plurality of parallel first slots formed in said top surface of said base plate, a first electrode seated in each of said slots, a plurality of second electrodes seated on the top surface of said base plate disposed parallel to each other and oriented at an angle to said first electrodes whereby each second electrode crosses each first electrode and each such crossing forms a gas cell therewith, said gas cells being in gas communication with each other through said first slots, a third electrode seated on said top surface of said base plate and spaced from said sEcond electrodes, said third electrode being in communication with said second electrodes through said slots, a second slot formed in said top surface of said base plate between two of said first slots, a keep-alive electrode arrangement, comprising first and second spaced-apart keep-alive electrodes, positioned in said second slot in operative relation with only said third electrode, said keep-alive electrode arrangement being adapted to be constantly energized to provide excited particles for said third electrode, said keep-alive electrode arrangement including a single electrode separated into two spaced-apart portions in the vicinity of said third electrode, each of said portions having an end accessible outside said panel for electrical connection thereto, said second slot having a base and said single electrode is supported on said base, said base of said second slot having a depression formed therein beneath the portion of said single electrode positioned in the vicinity of said one cathode electrode.