Gas discharge panel with photoconductive material

Claim 2

A gas discharge panel comprising housing means for a sealed gas chamber, a pair of conductor arrays arranged one on each of the opposite interior sides of said housing means; each array including at least one conductor having relative orientation to the other so as to provide one or more cross-points between the conductors in the opposite arrays, dielectric means arranged interiorally of the conductor arrays and providing surfaces defining at least a portion of the gas chamber, and photoconductive means arranged interiorally of the housing means in circuit with at least one of said conductor arrays and relative to the cross-points, said pair of conductor arrays, dielectric means, gas chamber and photoconductive means being arranged in series electrically to provide a current path at each of said cross-points, said gas chamber providing capacitance in said current path and said photoconductive means being insensitive to the spectral emission from a gas discharge, being capable of increasing its conductivity and decreasing its effective resistance when subjected to illumination and being operative in response to illumination of a selected cross-point from a source externally of said housing means when an operating voltage is applied thereto to increase the operating voltage across the gas chamber and cause a discharge within the gas chamber at the selected cross-point.

Claim 3

A gas discharge panel comprising a pair of support members having confronting spaced apart faces, each face having a conductor array arranged relative thereto, each array including at least one conductor having orientation relative to a conductor in the other array so as to provide one or more cross-points between the conductors in each array, a pair of dielectric members arranged between the support members and having the confronting surfaces thereof defining at least a portion of a gas chamber, and photoconductive means arranged between the support members in circuit with at least one of said conductor arrays and relative to the cross-points, said conductor arrays, pair of dielectric members, gas chamber and photoconductive means being arranged in series electrically to provide a current path at each of said cross-points, said gas chamber providing capacitance in said current path and said photoconductive means being insensitive to the spectral emission from a gas discharge, being capable of increasing its conductivity and decreasing its effective resistance when subjected to illumination and operative in response to illumination of the selected cross-point from a source externally of one of said support members when an operating voltage is also applied thereto, to increase the operating voltage across the gas chamber and cause a discharge within the gas chamber at the selected cross-point.

Claim 4

A gas discharge panel comprising a pair of support members having confronting spaced apart faces, each face having a conductor array arranged relative thereto, each array including at least one conductor having orientation relative to a conductor in the other array so as to provide one or more cross-points between the conductors in each array, a pair of dielectric members arranged between the support members and having the confronting surfaces thereof defining at least a portion of a gas chamber, and photoconductive means arranged between the support members in circuit with at least one of said conductor arrays and relative to the cross-points, said conductor arrays, pair of dielectric members, gas chamber and photoconductive means being arranged in series electrically to provide a current path at each of said cross-points, said gas chamber providing capacitance in said current path and said photoconductive means being insensitive to the spectral emission from a gas discharge, being capable of increasing its conductivity and decreasing its effective resistance when subjected to illumination and operative in response to illumination of the selected cross-point from a source externally of one of said support members when an operating voltage is also applied thereto, to increase the operating voltage across the gas chamber and cause a discharge within the gas chamber at the selected cross-point.

Claim 5

A gas discharge display and memory system comprising a gas discharge panel having a cavity therein, a pair of dielectric members arranged within the cavity and constructed so that surfaces thereof define at least a portion of a sealed gas chamber therebetwEen, and a pair of conductor arrays one on each side of the gas chamber and spaced therefrom by one of the dielectric members, the arrays each including at least one conductor oriented relative to a conductor in the other array so as to provide one or more cross-points between opposite arrays; a power source connectible to the arrays so as to apply an operating voltage across the conductor arrays; and photoconductive means arranged within said cavity in circuit with at least one of said conductor arrays and relative to one of the conductors arrays, said conductor arrays, pair of dielectric members, gas chamber and photoconductive means being arranged in series electrically to provide a current path at each of said cross-points, said gas chamber providing capacitance in said current path and said photoconductive means being insensitive to the spectral emission from a gas discharge, being capable of increasing its conductivity and decreasing its effective resistance when subjected to illumination and operative in response to illumination of a selected cross-point from a source externally of said panel to increase the operating voltage across the gas chamber and cause a discharge at the selected cross-point.

Claim 6

A gas discharge display and memory system comprising a gas discharge panel having a cavity therein, a pair of dielectric members arranged within the cavity and constructed so that surfaces thereof define at least a portion of a sealed gas chamber therebetwEen, and a pair of conductor arrays one on each side of the gas chamber and spaced therefrom by one of the dielectric members, the arrays each including at least one conductor oriented relative to a conductor in the other array so as to provide one or more cross-points between opposite arrays; a power source connectible to the arrays so as to apply an operating voltage across the conductor arrays; and photoconductive means arranged within said cavity in circuit with at least one of said conductor arrays and relative to one of the conductors arrays, said conductor arrays, pair of dielectric members, gas chamber and photoconductive means being arranged in series electrically to provide a current path at each of said cross-points, said gas chamber providing capacitance in said current path and said photoconductive means being insensitive to the spectral emission from a gas discharge, being capable of increasing its conductivity and decreasing its effective resistance when subjected to illumination and operative in response to illumination of a selected cross-point from a source externally of said panel to increase the operating voltage across the gas chamber and cause a discharge at the selected cross-point.

Claim 7

A data storage and conversion system comprising, in combination, a gas discharge panel having 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 relative orientation, so as to provide one or more cross-points between the conductors in each array, dielectric means providing surfaces defining at least a portion of the gas chamber, and photoconductive means arranged within said panel in circuit with at least one of said conductor arrays and relative to one of the conductor arrays, said conductor arrays, pair of dielectric members, gas chamber and photoconductive means being arranged in series electrically to provide a current path at each of said cross-points, said gas chamber providing capacitance in said current path and said photoconductive means being insensitive to the spectral emission from a gas discharge, being capable of increasing its conductivity and decreasing its effective resistance when subjected to illumination and operative in response to illumination of a selected cross-point from a source externally of said panel when an operating voltage is also applied to the selected cross-point to increase the operating voltage across the gas chamber and cause a discharge at the selected cross-point; a power source connectible to the conductor arrays so as to apply the operating voltage across the conductor arrays; and write-in means for illuminating the photoconductive means at the selected cross-point to cause a discharge.

Claim 8

A data storage and conversion system comprising, in combination, a gas discharge panel having 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 relative orientation, so as to provide one or more cross-points between the conductors in each array, dielectric means providing surfaces defining at least a portion of the gas chamber, and photoconductive means arranged within said panel in circuit with at least one of said conductor arrays and relative to one of the conductor arrays, said conductor arrays, pair of dielectric members, gas chamber and photoconductive means being arranged in series electrically to provide a current path at each of said cross-points, said gas chamber providing capacitance in said current path and said photoconductive means being insensitive to the spectral emission from a gas discharge, being capable of increasing its conductivity and decreasing its effective resistance when subjected to illumination and operative in response to illumination of a selected cross-point from a source externally of said panel when an operating voltage is also applied to the selected cross-point to increase the operating voltage across the gas chamber and cause a discharge at the selected cross-point; a power source connectible to the conductor arrays so as to apply the operating voltage across the conductor arrays; and write-in means for illuminating the photoconductive means at the selected cross-point to cause a discharge.

Claim 9

A gas discharge display and memory system comprising, in combination, a gas discharge panel having 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 relative orientation to the other so as to provide one or more cross-points between the conductors in each array, dielectric means providing surfaces defining at least a portion of the gas chamber, and photoconductive means arranged within said panel in circuit with at least one of said conductor arrays and relative to one of the conductor arrays, said conductor arrays, pair of dielectric members, gas chamber and photoconductive means being arranged in series electrically to provide a current path at each of said cross-points, said gas chamber providing capacitance in said current path and said photoconductive means being insensitive to the spectral emission from a gas discharge, being capable of increasing its conductivity and decreasing its effective resistance when subjected to illumination and operative in response to illumination of a selected cross-point from a source externally of said panel when an operating voltage is also applied to the selected cross-point to increase the operating voltage across the gas chamber and cause a discharge at the selected cross-point, a power source connectible to the conductor arrays; write-in means for energizing selected cross-points for effecting a visual image on the panel of one light intensity; and highlighting means for energizing certain cross-points to cause illumination of another light intensity on the panel.

Claim 10

A gas discharge display and memory system comprising, in combination, a gas discharge panel having 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 relative orientation to the other so as to provide one or more cross-points between the conductors in each array, dielectric means providing surfaces defining at least a portion of the gas chamber, and photoconductive means arranged within said panel in circuit with at least one of said conductor arrays and relative to one of the conductor arrays, said conductor arrays, pair of dielectric members, gas chamber and photoconductive means being arranged in series electrically to provide a current path at each of said cross-points, said gas chamber providing capacitance in said current path and said photoconductive means being insensitive to the spectral emission from a gas discharge, being capable of increasing its conductivity and decreasing its effective resistance when subjected to illumination and operative in response to illumination of a selected cross-point from a source externally of said panel when an operating voltage is also applied to the selected cross-point to increase the operating voltage across the gas chamber and cause a discharge at the selected cross-point, a power source connectible to the conductor arrays; write-in means for energizing selected cross-points for effecting a visual image on the panel of one light intensity; and highlighting means for energizing certain cross-points to cause illumination of another light intensity on the panel.

Claim 11

A gas discharge panel comprising a pair of support members having confronting spaced apart faces, each face having a conductor array arranged relative thereto, each array including at least one conductor having orientation relative to a conductor in the other array so as to provide one or more cross-points between the conductors in each array, a pair of dielectric members arranged between the support members, and photoconductive means arranged on the surface of at least one of the dielectric members, the surface thereof defining at least a portion of a gas chamber, said photoconductive means being in circuit with at least one of said conductor arrays and proximate the cross-points, said conductor arrays, pair of dielectric members, gas chamber and photoconductive means being arranged in series electrically to provide a current path at each of said cross-points, said dielectric members and gas chamber on opposite sides of said photoconductive means providing capacitance in said current path and said photoconductive means being capable of increasing its conductivity and decreasing its effective resistance when subjected to illumination and operative in response to illumination of a selected cross-point from a source externally of one of said support members when an operating AC voltage is also applied through the conductors at the selected cross-point, to increase the operating voltage across the gas chamber at the selected cross-point and cause a discharge within the gas chamber at the selected cross-point only.

Claim 12

A gas discharge panel comprising a pair of support members having confronting spaced apart faces, each face having a conductor array arranged relative thereto, each array including at least one conductor having orientation relative to a conductor in the other array so as to provide one or more cross-points between the conductors in each array, a pair of dielectric members arranged between the support members, and photoconductive means arranged on the surface of at least one of the dielectric members, the surface thereof defining at least a portion of a gas chamber, said photoconductive means being in circuit with at least one of said conductor arrays and proximate the cross-points, said conductor arrays, pair of dielectric members, gas chamber and photoconductive means being arranged in series electrically to provide a current path at each of said cross-points, said dielectric members and gas chamber on opposite sides of said photoconductive means providing capacitance in said current path and said photoconductive means being capable of increasing its conductivity and decreasing its effective resistance when subjected to illumination and operative in response to illumination of a selected cross-point from a source externally of one of said support members when an operating AC voltage is also applied through the conductors at the selected cross-point, to increase the operating voltage across the gas chamber at the selected cross-point and cause a discharge within the gas chamber at the selected cross-point only.

Claim 13

A gas discharge panel comprising housing means for a sealed gas chamber, a pair of conductor arrays arranged one on each of the opposite interior sides of said housing means; each array including at least one conductor having relative orientation to the other so as to provide one or more cross-points between the conductors in the opposite arrays, dielectric means arranged interiorally of the conductor arrays, and photoconductive means arranged interiorally on the surface of the dielectric means, the surface thereof defining at least a portion of the gas chamber, said photoconductive means being in circuit with at least one of said conductor arrays and proximate the cross-points, said pair of conductor arrays, dielectric means, gas chamber and photoconductive means being arranged in series electrically to provide a current path at each of said cross-points, said dielectric means and gas chamber on opposite sides of said photoconductive means providing capacitance in said current path and said photoconductive means being capable of increasing its conductivity and decreasing its effective resistance when subject to illumination and being operative in response to illumination of a selected cross-point from a source externally of said housing means when an operating AC voltage is applied through the conductors at the selected cross-point to increase the operating voltage across the gas chamber at the selected cross-point and cause a discharge within the gas chamber at the selected cross-point only.

Claim 14

A gas discharge panel comprising housing means for a sealed gas chamber, a pair of conductor arrays arranged one on each of the opposite interior sides of said housing means; each array including at least one conductor having relative orientation to the other so as to provide one or more cross-points between the conductors in the opposite arrays, dielectric means arranged interiorally of the conductor arrays, and photoconductive means arranged interiorally on the surface of the dielectric means, the surface thereof defining at least a portion of the gas chamber, said photoconductive means being in circuit with at least one of said conductor arrays and proximate the cross-points, said pair of conductor arrays, dielectric means, gas chamber and photoconductive means being arranged in series electrically to provide a current path at each of said cross-points, said dielectric means and gas chamber on opposite sides of said photoconductive means providing capacitance in said current path and said photoconductive means being capable of increasing its conductivity and decreasing its effective resistance when subject to illumination and being operative in response to illumination of a selected cross-point from a source externally of said housing means when an operating AC voltage is applied through the conductors at the selected cross-point to increase the operating voltage across the gas chamber at the selected cross-point and cause a discharge within the gas chamber at the selected cross-point only.

Claim 15

A gas discharge panel as described in claim 1, wherein the photoconductive means includes luminescence means operative in response to illumination from the discharge to emit light at the selected cross-point.

Claim 16

A gas discharge panel as described in claim 1, further including luminescence means arranged relative to the gas chamber so as to in response to illumination from the discharge at the selected cross-point emit light at the selected cross-point.

Claim 17

A gas discharge display and memory system comprising, in combination, a gas discharge panel having 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 relative orientation to the other so as to provide one or more cross-points between the conductors in each array, dielectric means insulating said conductor arrays from said gas chamber, and photoconductive means arranged within said panel on at least one surface of said dielectric means and providing at least one surface defining at least a portion of the gas chamber, said photoconductive means being in circuit with at least one of said conductor arrays and proximate one of the cross-points, said conductor arrays, pair of dielectric members, gas chamber and photoconductive means being arranged in series electrically to provide a current path at each of said cross-points, said dielectric members and gas chamber on opposite sides of said photoconductive means providing capacitance in said current path and said photoconductive means being capable of increasing its conductivity and decreasing its effective resistance when subjected to illumination and operative in response to illumination of a selected cross-point from a source externally of said panel when an operating voltage is also applied through respective conductors to the selected cross-point to increase the operating voltage across the gas chamber at the selected cross-point and cause a discharge at the selected cross-point, an AC power source connectible to the conductor arrays; write-in means for energizing selected cross-points for effecting a visual image on the panel of one light intensity; and highlighting means for energizing certain cross-points to cause illumination of another light intensity on the panel.

Claim 18

A gas discharge display and memory system comprising, in combination, a gas discharge panel having 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 relative orientation to the other so as to provide one or more cross-points between the conductors in each array, dielectric means insulating said conductor arrays from said gas chamber, and photoconductive means arranged within said panel on at least one surface of said dielectric means and providing at least one surface defining at least a portion of the gas chamber, said photoconductive means being in circuit with at least one of said conductor arrays and proximate one of the cross-points, said conductor arrays, pair of dielectric members, gas chamber and photoconductive means being arranged in series electrically to provide a current path at each of said cross-points, said dielectric members and gas chamber on opposite sides of said photoconductive means providing capacitance in said current path and said photoconductive means being capable of increasing its conductivity and decreasing its effective resistance when subjected to illumination and operative in response to illumination of a selected cross-point from a source externally of said panel when an operating voltage is also applied through respective conductors to the selected cross-point to increase the operating voltage across the gas chamber at the selected cross-point and cause a discharge at the selected cross-point, an AC power source connectible to the conductor arrays; write-in means for energizing selected cross-points for effecting a visual image on the panel of one light intensity; and highlighting means for energizing certain cross-points to cause illumination of another light intensity on the panel.

Claim 19

A gas discharge display and memory system as described in claim 10 wherein the write-in means and the highlighting means both include a light source.

Claim 20

A gas discharge display and memory system as described in claim 10 wherein the highlighting means includes a light source for energizing the certain cross-points so that the background of the visual image has a light intensity different from that of the visual image.

Claim 21

A gas discharge display and memory system comprising a gas discharge panel having a cavity therein, a pair of dielectric members arranged within the cavity with photoconductive means arranged on the surface of at least one of said dielectric members, the surface thereof defining at least a portion of a sealed gas chamber, and a pair of conductor arrays one on each side of the gas chamber and spaced therefrom by one of the dielectric members, the arrays each including at least one conductor oriented relative to a conductor in the other array so as to provide one or more cross-points between opposite arrays; and an AC power source connectible to the arrays so as to apply an operating voltage across the conductor arrays; said photoconductive means being arranged within said cavity in circuit with at least one of said conductor arrays and proximate one of the conductor arrays, said conductor arrays, pair of dielectric members, gas chamber and photoconductive means being arranged in series electrically to provide a current path at each of said cross-points, said dielectric members and gas chamber on opposite sides of said photoconductive means providing capacitance in said current path and said photoconductive means being capable of increasing its conductivity and decreasing its effective resistance when subjected to illumination and operative in response to illumination of a selected cross-point from a source externally of said panel to increase the operating voltage across the gas chamber at the selected cross-point and cause a discharge within the gas chamber at the selected cross-point only.

Claim 22

A gas discharge display and memory system comprising a gas discharge panel having a cavity therein, a pair of dielectric members arranged within the cavity with photoconductive means arranged on the surface of at least one of said dielectric members, the surface thereof defining at least a portion of a sealed gas chamber, and a pair of conductor arrays one on each side of the gas chamber and spaced therefrom by one of the dielectric members, the arrays each including at least one conductor oriented relative to a conductor in the other array so as to provide one or more cross-points between opposite arrays; and an AC power source connectible to the arrays so as to apply an operating voltage across the conductor arrays; said photoconductive means being arranged within said cavity in circuit with at least one of said conductor arrays and proximate one of the conductor arrays, said conductor arrays, pair of dielectric members, gas chamber and photoconductive means being arranged in series electrically to provide a current path at each of said cross-points, said dielectric members and gas chamber on opposite sides of said photoconductive means providing capacitance in said current path and said photoconductive means being capable of increasing its conductivity and decreasing its effective resistance when subjected to illumination and operative in response to illumination of a selected cross-point from a source externally of said panel to increase the operating voltage across the gas chamber at the selected cross-point and cause a discharge within the gas chamber at the selected cross-point only.

Claim 23

A gas discharge display and memory system as described in claim 13, wherein the photoconductive means is also operative in response to the illumination from the discharge to sustain the discharge.

Claim 24

A gas discharge display aNd memory system as described in claim 13, wherein the photoconductive means includes luminescence means operative in response to illumination from the discharge to emit light at the selected cross-point.

Claim 25

A gas discharge display and memory system as described in claim 13, further including luminescence means arranged relative to the gas chamber so as to in response to illumination from the discharge at the selected cross-point emit light at the selected cross-point.

Claim 26

A data storage and conversion system comprising, in combination, a gas discharge panel having 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 relative orientation, so as to provide one or more cross-points between the conductors in each array, dielectric means insulating said conductor arrays from said gas chamber, and photoconductive means arranged within said panel on the surface of said dielectric means and providing at least one surface defining at least a portion of the gas chamber, said photoconductive means being in circuit with at least one of said conductor arrays and proximate one of the conductor arrays, said conductor arrays, pair of dielectric members, gas chamber and photoconductive means being arranged in series electrically to provide a current path at each of said cross-points, said dielectric members and gas chamber on opposite sides of said photoconductive means providing capacitance in said current path and said photoconductive means being capable of increasing its conductivity and decreasing its effective resistance when subjected to illumination and operative in response to illumination of a selected cross-point from a source externally of said panel when an operating voltage is also applied through respective conductors to the selected cross-points to increase the operating voltage across the gas chamber at the selected cross-point and cause a discharge within the gas chamber at the selected cross-point; an AC power source connectible to the conductor arrays so as to apply the operating voltage across the conductor arrays; and write-in means for illuminating the photoconductive means at the selected cross-point to cause a discharge.

Claim 27

A data storage and conversion system comprising, in combination, a gas discharge panel having 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 relative orientation, so as to provide one or more cross-points between the conductors in each array, dielectric means insulating said conductor arrays from said gas chamber, and photoconductive means arranged within said panel on the surface of said dielectric means and providing at least one surface defining at least a portion of the gas chamber, said photoconductive means being in circuit with at least one of said conductor arrays and proximate one of the conductor arrays, said conductor arrays, pair of dielectric members, gas chamber and photoconductive means being arranged in series electrically to provide a current path at each of said cross-points, said dielectric members and gas chamber on opposite sides of said photoconductive means providing capacitance in said current path and said photoconductive means being capable of increasing its conductivity and decreasing its effective resistance when subjected to illumination and operative in response to illumination of a selected cross-point from a source externally of said panel when an operating voltage is also applied through respective conductors to the selected cross-points to increase the operating voltage across the gas chamber at the selected cross-point and cause a discharge within the gas chamber at the selected cross-point; an AC power source connectible to the conductor arrays so as to apply the operating voltage across the conductor arrays; and write-in means for illuminating the photoconductive means at the selected cross-point to cause a discharge.

Claim 28

A data storage and conversion system as described in claim 17, wherein the photoconductive means is also operative in response to the illumination from the discharge to sustain the discharge.

Claim 29

A data storage and conversion system as described in claim 17, and further including erase means extinguishing the discharge.

Claim 30

A data storage and conversion system as described in claim 19, wherein the erasing means includes a source of illumination for selectively quenching a discharge.

Claim 31

A data storage and conversion system as described in claim 17, wherein the write-in means includes means projecting an illuminated image on the panel to cause discharges at selected cross-points to provide a corresponding image in digitized form.

Claim 32

A data storage and conversion system as described in claim 21, and further including read-out means including light detecting means associated with each cross-point for sensing illumination therefrom and erase means extinguishing the discharge.

Claim 33

A data storage and conversion system as described in claim 17, and further including readout means responsive to the discharge.

Claim 34

A data storage and conversion system as described in claim 23, wherein the read-out means is moveably positioned proximate the panel and includes light detecting means associated with each cross-point for sensing the illumination therefrom.

Claim 35

A data storage and conversion system as described in claim 23, wherein the read-out means is positioned remotely of the panel and includes light conducting elements associated with each cross-point for transferring illumination therefrom to the read-out means.