US3701924A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for operating a display panel
Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 1970-08-17
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Granted: 1972-10-31
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Expires: 1990-08-17
Abstract
Abstract A circuit for scanning a display panel including means for automatically progressing from cell to cell along a row, sensing the arrival at the end of a row and automatically switching to the next row and causing the scanning operation to proceed in the opposite direction to the end of this next row, and thus automatically scanning from row to row and finally sensing the last cell in the panel and resetting the panel and circuit for the start of another complete scanning cycle.
Inventors
- 👤 David Glaser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:15
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N3/00; H04N3/10; H04N3/12; H04N3/125; G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/22; G09G3/28; G09G3/282; G09G3/285; H01; H01J; H01J17/00; H01J17/38; H01J17/48; H01J17/49; H01J17/492; H01J17/494
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
403 words
A display system comprising a display panel having a plurality of glow cells arrayed in a series of rows and a series of columns, each column having a scanning cathode, there being a series of scanning cathodes including a first cathode, intermediate cathodes, and a last cathode, each row of cells having a scanning anode, the rows of cells being connected together in series by means of gas communication channels which extends from cell to cell along each row of cells and from row to row by means of a link between appropriate portions of adjacent rows so that all of the cells are connected in a continuous series which extends in a forward direction along the first row of cells, in a reverse direction along the second row of cells, in the forward direction along the third row of cells, in the reverse direction along the fourth row of cells, etc., a first circuit means coupled to each anode electrode for applying operating potential thereto and including anode switching means for switching operating potential from one anode to the next adjacent anode, first, second, third, and fourth cathode operating circuit means connected to said cathodes and adapted to apply operating potential to each cathode in turn through the series of cathodes beginning with the first and terminating with the last, a reversible counter coupled to said first, second, third, and fourth cathode operating circuits and adapted to energize them separately and in turn in forward and reverse directions, reversing circuit means connected (1) to said first circuit means to switch operating potential from one anode to another and (2) to said reversible counter for reversing its direction of operation, and second circuit means connected froM said first cathode operating circuit to said reversing circuit means, and third circuit means from said fourth cathode operating circuit to said reversing circuit means whereby, when the first cell in all but the first row of said panel is energized due to the operation of its cathode operating means, said reversing circuit is operated to switch said anode switching means and the direction of operation of said reversible counter, and when the last cell in each row, but not the last cell in the series, is energized due to the operation of its cathode operating means, said reversing circuit is operated to switch said anode switching means and the direction of operation of said reversible counter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
403 words
A display system comprising a display panel having a plurality of glow cells arrayed in a series of rows and a series of columns, each column having a scanning cathode, there being a series of scanning cathodes including a first cathode, intermediate cathodes, and a last cathode, each row of cells having a scanning anode, the rows of cells being connected together in series by means of gas communication channels which extends from cell to cell along each row of cells and from row to row by means of a link between appropriate portions of adjacent rows so that all of the cells are connected in a continuous series which extends in a forward direction along the first row of cells, in a reverse direction along the second row of cells, in the forward direction along the third row of cells, in the reverse direction along the fourth row of cells, etc., a first circuit means coupled to each anode electrode for applying operating potential thereto and including anode switching means for switching operating potential from one anode to the next adjacent anode, first, second, third, and fourth cathode operating circuit means connected to said cathodes and adapted to apply operating potential to each cathode in turn through the series of cathodes beginning with the first and terminating with the last, a reversible counter coupled to said first, second, third, and fourth cathode operating circuits and adapted to energize them separately and in turn in forward and reverse directions, reversing circuit means connected (1) to said first circuit means to switch operating potential from one anode to another and (2) to said reversible counter for reversing its direction of operation, and second circuit means connected froM said first cathode operating circuit to said reversing circuit means, and third circuit means from said fourth cathode operating circuit to said reversing circuit means whereby, when the first cell in all but the first row of said panel is energized due to the operation of its cathode operating means, said reversing circuit is operated to switch said anode switching means and the direction of operation of said reversible counter, and when the last cell in each row, but not the last cell in the series, is energized due to the operation of its cathode operating means, said reversing circuit is operated to switch said anode switching means and the direction of operation of said reversible counter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
The system defined in claim 1 and including in said panel an auxiliary starter cell having anode and cathode electrodes and positioned in operative relation with said first cell in the series, and fourth circuit means coupled between said last cell in said series and said auxiliary cell for automatically energizing said auxiliary cell when said last cell is fired, said fourth circuit means also being coupled to said anode switching means and to said reversible counter for changing its direction of operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
266 words
A display system comprising a display panel having a plurality of gas-filled glow cells arrayed in a series of rows and a series of columns, each row of cells having a left end and a right end, the cells in each row being in gas communication with each other, and one end of each row of cells being in gas communication with the adjacent end of the adjacent row of cells, the interconnections of the rows of cells being alternately between left ends and right ends thereof whereby the cells of said panel are connected in continuous series with respect to gas communication with each other, said series including a first cell, intermediate cells, and a last cell, a scanning cathode electrode aligned with each column of cells, and a scanning anode electrode aligned with each row of cells, an auxiliary cell adjacent to and in gas communication with said first cell and having its own cathode and anode electrodes, first circuit means coupled to said anode electrodes for applying operating potential to each separately and in turn, second circuit means coupled to said cathode electrodes for applying operating potential to each in turn as each anode has operating potential applied to it whereby each cell in each row is caused to fire separately and in turn until the entire series has been fired, and third circuit means coupled between the last cell in the series and said auxiliary cell for automatically firing said auxiliary cell when the last cell has been fired to prepare the panel to execute another scan of said series of cells.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
266 words
A display system comprising a display panel having a plurality of gas-filled glow cells arrayed in a series of rows and a series of columns, each row of cells having a left end and a right end, the cells in each row being in gas communication with each other, and one end of each row of cells being in gas communication with the adjacent end of the adjacent row of cells, the interconnections of the rows of cells being alternately between left ends and right ends thereof whereby the cells of said panel are connected in continuous series with respect to gas communication with each other, said series including a first cell, intermediate cells, and a last cell, a scanning cathode electrode aligned with each column of cells, and a scanning anode electrode aligned with each row of cells, an auxiliary cell adjacent to and in gas communication with said first cell and having its own cathode and anode electrodes, first circuit means coupled to said anode electrodes for applying operating potential to each separately and in turn, second circuit means coupled to said cathode electrodes for applying operating potential to each in turn as each anode has operating potential applied to it whereby each cell in each row is caused to fire separately and in turn until the entire series has been fired, and third circuit means coupled between the last cell in the series and said auxiliary cell for automatically firing said auxiliary cell when the last cell has been fired to prepare the panel to execute another scan of said series of cells.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system defined in claim 3 wherein said auxiliary cell and said first cell in the series are in direct gas communication with each other and said cells have a common cathode and separate anodes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
88 words
The system defined in claim 3 wherein said second circuit means includes a reversible counter adapted to operate in forward and reverse directions, operation in the forward direction serving to apply operating potential to said series of cathodes in the forward direction thereby turning on each cell in a selected row in the forward direction, and operation in the reverse direction serving to apply operating potential to said series of cathodes in the reverse direction thereby turning on each cell in a selected row in the reverse direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
104 words
The system defined in claim 3 wherein said second circuit means includes a reversible counter adapted to operate in forward and reverse directions, operation in the forward direction serving to apply operating potential to said series of cathodes in the forward direction thereby turning on each cell in a selected row in the forward direction, and operation in the reverse direction serving to apply operating potential to said series of cathodes in the reverse direction therebY turning on each cell in a selected row in the reverse direction, the row of cells being selected by the anode which has operating potential applied to it.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system defined in claim 3 wherein said anode electrodes are connected alternately in a first group and a second group, with every other anode being in the same group, and said first circuit means including means for switching operating potential from said first group of anodes to said second group of anodes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
369 words
A display system comprising a display panel having a plurality of gas-filled glow cells arrayed in a series of rows and a series of columns, each row of cells having a left end and a right end, the cells in each row being in gas communication with each other, one end of each row of cells being in gas communication with the adjacent end of the adjacent row of cells, the interconnections of the rows of cells being alternately between left ends and right ends thereof whereby the cells of said panel are connected in continuous series with respect to gas communication with each other, said series including a first cell, intermediate cells, and a last cell, a scanning cathode electrode aligned with each column of cells, and a scanning anode electrode aligned with each row of cells, said anode electrodes being connected in two sets with alternate anodes being in a set, an auxiliary cell adjacent to and in gas communication with said first cell and having an anode and cathode electrode, a first source of anode operating potential coupled through a switch to the anode electrode of said auxiliary cell, said switch including means for disconnecting said potential from said anode of said auxiliary cell, a reversible counter and a source of clock pulses coupled thereto, a second source of anode operating potential, a two-part gate coupled through separate circuits to said sets of anode electrodes for coupling potential from said second source to one set of anodes or the other and including circuit connections to said reversible counter, the output of said reversible counter being connected through a plurality of logic circuit elements to said cathode electrodes to apply operating potentials to each of said cathode electrodes in turn, both in forward and reverse directions as required, to cause said rows of cells to be scanned, the electrodes of said last cell in said series being coupled through a two-part gate, both to said switch to said first source of potential and to the anode of said auxiliary cell, and a reset circuit coupled to all of said circuit elements to set them in proper operating condition at the beginning of a scanning cycle of operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
369 words
A display system comprising a display panel having a plurality of gas-filled glow cells arrayed in a series of rows and a series of columns, each row of cells having a left end and a right end, the cells in each row being in gas communication with each other, one end of each row of cells being in gas communication with the adjacent end of the adjacent row of cells, the interconnections of the rows of cells being alternately between left ends and right ends thereof whereby the cells of said panel are connected in continuous series with respect to gas communication with each other, said series including a first cell, intermediate cells, and a last cell, a scanning cathode electrode aligned with each column of cells, and a scanning anode electrode aligned with each row of cells, said anode electrodes being connected in two sets with alternate anodes being in a set, an auxiliary cell adjacent to and in gas communication with said first cell and having an anode and cathode electrode, a first source of anode operating potential coupled through a switch to the anode electrode of said auxiliary cell, said switch including means for disconnecting said potential from said anode of said auxiliary cell, a reversible counter and a source of clock pulses coupled thereto, a second source of anode operating potential, a two-part gate coupled through separate circuits to said sets of anode electrodes for coupling potential from said second source to one set of anodes or the other and including circuit connections to said reversible counter, the output of said reversible counter being connected through a plurality of logic circuit elements to said cathode electrodes to apply operating potentials to each of said cathode electrodes in turn, both in forward and reverse directions as required, to cause said rows of cells to be scanned, the electrodes of said last cell in said series being coupled through a two-part gate, both to said switch to said first source of potential and to the anode of said auxiliary cell, and a reset circuit coupled to all of said circuit elements to set them in proper operating condition at the beginning of a scanning cycle of operation.
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) | 1975-10-31 | 1976-05-01 | 1976-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-31 | 1980-05-01 | 1980-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-31 | 1984-05-01 | 1984-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |