Moving gas panel display system

Claim 2

A moving display gas panel display system comprising: a display housing having a viewing window; a first plurality of parallel conductors disposed behind the viewing window; a second plurality of parallel conductors substantially perpendicular to the first plurality, and intersecting therewith to form a display point at each intersection; translating means for translating at least the second plurality of conductors past the display window to create a moving display; an ionizeable gas in the vicinity of the display points for supporting a glow discharge; writing means for activating selected display points along conductors of the second plurality to display information, and; energizing means connected between the first and second conductors to sustain a glow discharge in the ionizeable gas at activated display points.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 where the second conductors are separated from the first conductors by an insulating layer which moves with the second conductors.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the tranlating means comprises an endless belt and a drive means for revolving the belt, and; the second plurality of parallel conductors are mounted on the endless belt.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein: the first set of parallel conductors is mounted on the inside of the display window, and; the display housing is gas tight for containing the ionizeable gas.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the writing means comprises: a plurality of writing electrodes, one associated with each conductor in the first set; pulse generating means for supplying ignition pulses to the writing electrodes, and; control means for selectively connecting the pulse generating means to the writing electrodes to selectively activate display points on the belt.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the energizing means applies a sustaining voltage between the first and second pluralities of conductors to sustain a glow discharge in the ionizeable gas.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising: erase means for deactiving display points prior to writing new information onto the display.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 5 further comprises: timing means for controlling the pulse generator to restrict the application of ignition pulses to the writing electrodes to times when a conductor from the second plurality is in alignment with the electrodes.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the timing means comprises: sense means for sensing alignment between a conductor of the second plurality and the writing electrodes, and; timing control means responsive to the sense means for triggering the pulse generating means.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first plurality of conductors is aligned parallel to the direction of motion of the display.

Claim 12

A moving display gas panel display system comprising: a gas tight display housing having a viewing window and containing an ionizeable gas; a first plurality of parallel conductors mounted on the inside of the display window and parallel to the direction of motion of the display; a second plurality of parallel conductors substantially perpendicular to the first plurality, a point of closest approach of a conductor from the first plurality of conductors to a conductor from the second plurality of conductors being referred to as a display point; a driven endless belt supporting the second set of conductors for movement past the window to create a moving display, the conductors being aligned perpendicular to the direction of motion of the belt and the side of the second conductors toward the first conductors being insulated from the ionizeable gas; a plurality of writing electrodes for igniting gas discharges to activate selected points on the endless belt, there being one writing electrode for each conductor in the first set, and the writing electrodes being aligned along a line parallel to the conductors of the second set; pulse generating means for supplying ignition pulses to the writing electrodes to activate selected display points; control means for selectively connecting the pulse generating means to the writing electrodes to activate the selected display points on the endless belt; energizing means connected between the two sets of conductors to supply a sustaining voltage to sustain a glow discharge between the first plurality of conductors and the activated display points on the moving belt; sense means for sensing alignment between a conductor of the second plurality and the writing electrodes, and; timing means responsive to the sense means for triggering the pulse generating means to apply ignition pulses to the writing electrodes while the writing electrodes are aligned with a conductor from the second plurality, and; an erase roller for deactivating previously activated display points prior to writing new information.

Claim 13

A moving display gas panel display system comprising: a gas tight display housing having a viewing window and containing an ionizeable gas; a first plurality of parallel conductors mounted on the inside of the display window and parallel to the direction of motion of the display; a second plurality of parallel conductors substantially perpendicular to the first plurality, a point of closest approach of a conductor from the first plurality of conductors to a conductor from the second plurality of conductors being referred to as a display point; a driven endless belt supporting the second set of conductors for movement past the window to create a moving display, the conductors being aligned perpendicular to the direction of motion of the belt and the side of the second conductors toward the first conductors being insulated from the ionizeable gas; a plurality of writing electrodes for igniting gas discharges to activate selected points on the endless belt, there being one writing electrode for each conductor in the first set, and the writing electrodes being aligned along a line parallel to the conductors of the second set; pulse generating means for supplying ignition pulses to the writing electrodes to activate selected display points; control means for selectively connecting the pulse generating means to the writing electrodes to activate the selected display points on the endless belt; energizing means connected between the two sets of conductors to supply a sustaining voltage to sustain a glow discharge between the first plurality of conductors and the activated display points on the moving belt; sense means for sensing alignment between a conductor of the second plurality and the writing electrodes, and; timing means responsive to the sense means for triggering the pulse generating means to apply ignition pulses to the writing electrodes while the writing electrodes are aligned with a conductor from the second plurality, and; an erase roller for deactivating previously activated display points prior to writing new information.

Claim 16

The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of moving the insulator past the conductor which is exposed to the ionizeable gas, thereby moving the display.