US3766420A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Panel-type display device
Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 1972-03-17
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Granted: 1973-10-16
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Expires: 1992-03-17
Abstract
Abstract A display device comprising a panel structure including a plurality of gas-filled cells and including, within the body of the panel, gas communication channels extending between selected cells to provide a selective flow of excited gaseous particles from certain cells to others to prime the receiving cells and thereby control the transfer of glow between the cells.
Inventors
- 👤 J Ogle
- 👤 G Holz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 12:26
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J17/00; H01J17/38; H01J17/48; H01J17/49; H01J17/492; H01J17/494
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
262 words
A generally flat display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope containing a gas capable of sustaining cathode glow, an insulating plate including a plurality of anode electrodes and a plurality of cathode electrodes oriented spaced apart with the anodes crossing the cathodes, with first gas-filled glow cells defined by each crossing of a pair of electrodes, said first glow cells being arrayed in rows and columns, gas communication channels formed in said plate and interconnecting all of said glow cells in a series which defines a raster, said channels extending along each row of cells and including row-connecting channels formed between selected cells in adjacent rows of cells, an auxiliary cell for facilitating the start of a scanning operation and associated with the first cell in the scanning series, said auxiliary cell generating excited particles and being positioned with respect to said first cell to permit said escited particles to diffuse thereto, and said anode and cathode electrodes including circuit means for receiving electrical potential for firing each cell in said raster series in turn beginning with the first cell in the first row of cells and scanning through each row of cells to the last cell in the last row of cells to perform a scanning operation, said gas communication channels serving to permit diffusion of excited particles from an ionized and glowing cell to an adjacent cell in the scanning series as a scanning operation is performed through said series of cells so that the ionization and turn-on of said adjacent cell is facilitated by the presence of said excited particles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
262 words
A generally flat display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope containing a gas capable of sustaining cathode glow, an insulating plate including a plurality of anode electrodes and a plurality of cathode electrodes oriented spaced apart with the anodes crossing the cathodes, with first gas-filled glow cells defined by each crossing of a pair of electrodes, said first glow cells being arrayed in rows and columns, gas communication channels formed in said plate and interconnecting all of said glow cells in a series which defines a raster, said channels extending along each row of cells and including row-connecting channels formed between selected cells in adjacent rows of cells, an auxiliary cell for facilitating the start of a scanning operation and associated with the first cell in the scanning series, said auxiliary cell generating excited particles and being positioned with respect to said first cell to permit said escited particles to diffuse thereto, and said anode and cathode electrodes including circuit means for receiving electrical potential for firing each cell in said raster series in turn beginning with the first cell in the first row of cells and scanning through each row of cells to the last cell in the last row of cells to perform a scanning operation, said gas communication channels serving to permit diffusion of excited particles from an ionized and glowing cell to an adjacent cell in the scanning series as a scanning operation is performed through said series of cells so that the ionization and turn-on of said adjacent cell is facilitated by the presence of said excited particles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
238 words
A display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope including at least an insulating base plate and a cover plate and, associated therewith, a plurality of anode electrodes and a plurality of cathode electrodes oriented so that the anodes lie at an angle with respect to the cathodes and each anode crosses each cathode, with gas-filled glow cells defined by each such crossing and the volume of gas between the crossed electrodes, there being a plurality of rows and columns of said cells in said base plate formed by said electrodes, there being a first row, a last row and intermediate rows, and gas communication channels formed in said base plate and interconnecting each row of cells to the row of cells adjacent to it with only the last cell in the first row coupled to the last cell in the adjacent second row and only the first cell in the adjacent second row coupled to the first cell in the third row, such end-to-end coupling of said rows of cells being made throughout said panel whereby all of the cells of the panel are coupled together in a continuous series beginning with the first cell in the first row and ending with the last cell in the last row whereby, when suitable electrical potentials are applied to said anode and cathode electrodes, glow can be transferred from one cell to the next in each row successively throughout said panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
238 words
A display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope including at least an insulating base plate and a cover plate and, associated therewith, a plurality of anode electrodes and a plurality of cathode electrodes oriented so that the anodes lie at an angle with respect to the cathodes and each anode crosses each cathode, with gas-filled glow cells defined by each such crossing and the volume of gas between the crossed electrodes, there being a plurality of rows and columns of said cells in said base plate formed by said electrodes, there being a first row, a last row and intermediate rows, and gas communication channels formed in said base plate and interconnecting each row of cells to the row of cells adjacent to it with only the last cell in the first row coupled to the last cell in the adjacent second row and only the first cell in the adjacent second row coupled to the first cell in the third row, such end-to-end coupling of said rows of cells being made throughout said panel whereby all of the cells of the panel are coupled together in a continuous series beginning with the first cell in the first row and ending with the last cell in the last row whereby, when suitable electrical potentials are applied to said anode and cathode electrodes, glow can be transferred from one cell to the next in each row successively throughout said panel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
210 words
A display panel including a gas-filled envelope consisting of a first insulating base plate and a second insulating cover plate, means forming a plurality of gas-filled cells in said base plate, said cells being arrayed in rows and columns, an anode electrode and a glow cathode electrode associated with each cell and a gas communication path in said base plate connecting all of said cells in a series beginning with a first cell and ending with a last cell, said series forming a raster pattern, said rows of cells including a first row, intermediate rows and a last row, and said gas communication path extending from the first cell in the first row along said first row to the last cell therein and from said last cell in said first row to the adjacent last cell in the second row of cells and from there to the first cell in the second row and thence to the adjacent first cell in the third row of cells, etc. until it reaches the last cell in the last row of cells, and an auxiliary cell for facilitating the start of a scanning operation and associated by a gas communicatiom channel with the first cell in the first row of said scanning series.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
210 words
A display panel including a gas-filled envelope consisting of a first insulating base plate and a second insulating cover plate, means forming a plurality of gas-filled cells in said base plate, said cells being arrayed in rows and columns, an anode electrode and a glow cathode electrode associated with each cell and a gas communication path in said base plate connecting all of said cells in a series beginning with a first cell and ending with a last cell, said series forming a raster pattern, said rows of cells including a first row, intermediate rows and a last row, and said gas communication path extending from the first cell in the first row along said first row to the last cell therein and from said last cell in said first row to the adjacent last cell in the second row of cells and from there to the first cell in the second row and thence to the adjacent first cell in the third row of cells, etc. until it reaches the last cell in the last row of cells, and an auxiliary cell for facilitating the start of a scanning operation and associated by a gas communicatiom channel with the first cell in the first row of said scanning series.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
268 words
A display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope including at least an insulating base plate and a cover plate and, associated therewith, a plurality of anode electrodes and a plurality of cathode electrodes oriented so that the anodes lie at an angle with respect to the cathodes and each anode crosses each cathode, with gas-filled glow cells defined by each such crossing and the volume of gas between the crossed electrodes, there being a plurality of rows and columns of said cells in said base plate formed by said electrodes, there being a first row, a last row and intermediate rows, and there being a first column, a last column and intermediate columns, each anode being aligned with a row of cells and each cathode electrode being aligned with a column of cells, and gas communication channels formed in said base plate and interconnecting each row of cells to the row of cells adjacent to it with the last cell in the firt row coupled to the last cell in the adjacent second row and the first cell in the adjacent second row coupled to the first cell in the third row, such end-to-end coupling of said rows of cells being made throughout said panel whereby all of the cells of the panel are coupled together in a continuous series beginning with the first cell in the first row and ending with the last cell in the last row whereby, when suitable electrical potentials are applied to said anode and cathode electrodes, glow can be transferred from one cell to the next in each row successively throughout said panel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
268 words
A display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope including at least an insulating base plate and a cover plate and, associated therewith, a plurality of anode electrodes and a plurality of cathode electrodes oriented so that the anodes lie at an angle with respect to the cathodes and each anode crosses each cathode, with gas-filled glow cells defined by each such crossing and the volume of gas between the crossed electrodes, there being a plurality of rows and columns of said cells in said base plate formed by said electrodes, there being a first row, a last row and intermediate rows, and there being a first column, a last column and intermediate columns, each anode being aligned with a row of cells and each cathode electrode being aligned with a column of cells, and gas communication channels formed in said base plate and interconnecting each row of cells to the row of cells adjacent to it with the last cell in the firt row coupled to the last cell in the adjacent second row and the first cell in the adjacent second row coupled to the first cell in the third row, such end-to-end coupling of said rows of cells being made throughout said panel whereby all of the cells of the panel are coupled together in a continuous series beginning with the first cell in the first row and ending with the last cell in the last row whereby, when suitable electrical potentials are applied to said anode and cathode electrodes, glow can be transferred from one cell to the next in each row successively throughout said panel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
201 words
The panel defined in claim 4 and including first circuit means connected to said row anode electrodes for applying operating potential to each anode in turn, and second circuit means connected to said column cathode electrodes for applying operating potential to each cathode electrode in turn, said first and second circuit means being operated to first apply operating potential to said first row anode and to each of said column cathodes beginning with the first and proceeding in a first direction to the last, and then applying operating potential to the second row anode and to each of the column cathodes in turn beginning with the last and proceeding in the opposite direction to the first, and then applying operating potential to the third row anode and to each of the column cathodes in turn beginning with the first and proceeding in the first direction to the last, etc., until operating potential has been applied to the last row anode and to each of the column cathodes in turn whereby each cell in each row is turned on in a continuous series beginning with the first cell in the first row and ending with the last cell in the last row.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
259 words
A display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope including at least an insulating base plate and a cover plate and, associated therewith, a plurality of anode electrodes and a plurality of cathode electrodes oriented so that the anodes lie at an angle with respect to the cathodes and each anode crosses each cathode, with gas-filled glow cells defined by each such crossing and the volume of gas between the crossed electrodes, there being a plurality of rows and columns of said cells in said base plate formed by said electrodes, there being a first row, a last row and intermediate rows, and there being a first column, a last column and intermediate columns, each anode electrode being aligned with a row of cells and each cathode electrode being aligned with a column of cells, vertical gas communication channels formed in said base plate and interconnecting each cell in each row of cells with the corresponding cell in the row of cells adjacent to it and horizontal gas communication channels formed in said base plate and interconnnecting each cell in each column of cells with the corresponding cell in the column of cells adjacent to it, first circuit means connected to said anode electrodes for applying operating potential to each anode in turn, and second circuit means connected to said cathode electrodes for applying operating potential to each cathode electrode in turn, said first and second circuit means being operated to transfer glow from cell to cell in vertical and horizontal directions from row to row and from column to column.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
259 words
A display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope including at least an insulating base plate and a cover plate and, associated therewith, a plurality of anode electrodes and a plurality of cathode electrodes oriented so that the anodes lie at an angle with respect to the cathodes and each anode crosses each cathode, with gas-filled glow cells defined by each such crossing and the volume of gas between the crossed electrodes, there being a plurality of rows and columns of said cells in said base plate formed by said electrodes, there being a first row, a last row and intermediate rows, and there being a first column, a last column and intermediate columns, each anode electrode being aligned with a row of cells and each cathode electrode being aligned with a column of cells, vertical gas communication channels formed in said base plate and interconnecting each cell in each row of cells with the corresponding cell in the row of cells adjacent to it and horizontal gas communication channels formed in said base plate and interconnnecting each cell in each column of cells with the corresponding cell in the column of cells adjacent to it, first circuit means connected to said anode electrodes for applying operating potential to each anode in turn, and second circuit means connected to said cathode electrodes for applying operating potential to each cathode electrode in turn, said first and second circuit means being operated to transfer glow from cell to cell in vertical and horizontal directions from row to row and from column to column.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
221 words
A generally flat display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope containing a gas capable of sustaining cathode glow, an insulating plate including a plurality of anode electrodes and a plurality of cathode electrodes oriented spaced apart with the anodes crossing the cathodes, with first gas-filled glow cells defined by each crossing of a pair of electrodes, said first glow cells being arrayed in rows and columns, gas communication channels formed in said plate and interconnecting all of said glow cells in a series which defines a raster, said channels extending along each row of cells and including row-connecting channels formed between selected cells in adjacent rows of cells, and circuit means coupled to said anode and cathode electrodes for receiving electrical potentials for ionizing and turning-on each cell in said raster series in turn beginning with the first cell in the first row of cells and scanning through each row of cells to the last cell in the last row of cells to perform a scanning operation, said gas commnication channels serving to permit diffusion of excited particles from an ionized and glowing cell to an adjacent cell in the scanning series as a scanning operation is performed through said series of cells so that the ionization and turn-on of said adjacent cell is facilitated by the presence of said excited particles.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
221 words
A generally flat display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope containing a gas capable of sustaining cathode glow, an insulating plate including a plurality of anode electrodes and a plurality of cathode electrodes oriented spaced apart with the anodes crossing the cathodes, with first gas-filled glow cells defined by each crossing of a pair of electrodes, said first glow cells being arrayed in rows and columns, gas communication channels formed in said plate and interconnecting all of said glow cells in a series which defines a raster, said channels extending along each row of cells and including row-connecting channels formed between selected cells in adjacent rows of cells, and circuit means coupled to said anode and cathode electrodes for receiving electrical potentials for ionizing and turning-on each cell in said raster series in turn beginning with the first cell in the first row of cells and scanning through each row of cells to the last cell in the last row of cells to perform a scanning operation, said gas commnication channels serving to permit diffusion of excited particles from an ionized and glowing cell to an adjacent cell in the scanning series as a scanning operation is performed through said series of cells so that the ionization and turn-on of said adjacent cell is facilitated by the presence of said excited particles.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
227 words
A display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope including at least an insulating base plate and a cover plaTe and, associated therewith, a plurality of anode electrodes and a plurality of cathode electrodes oriented so that the anodes lie at an angle with respect to the cathodes and each anode crosses each cathode, with gas-filled glow cells defined by each such crossing and the volume of gas between the crossed electrodes, there being a plurality of rows and columns of said cells formed by said electrodes, there being a first row, a last row and intermediate rows, and gas communication channels formed in said plate and interconnecting each row of cells to the row of cells adjacent to it with the last cell in the first row coupled to the last cell in the adjacent second row and the first cell in the adjacent second row coupled to the first cell in the third row, such end-to-end coupling of said rows of cells being made throughout said panel whereby all of the cells of the panel are coupled together in a continuous series beginning with the first cell in the first row and ending with the last row whereby, when suitable electrical potentials are applied to said anode and cathode electrodes, glow can be transferred from one cell to the next in each row successively throughout said panel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
227 words
A display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope including at least an insulating base plate and a cover plaTe and, associated therewith, a plurality of anode electrodes and a plurality of cathode electrodes oriented so that the anodes lie at an angle with respect to the cathodes and each anode crosses each cathode, with gas-filled glow cells defined by each such crossing and the volume of gas between the crossed electrodes, there being a plurality of rows and columns of said cells formed by said electrodes, there being a first row, a last row and intermediate rows, and gas communication channels formed in said plate and interconnecting each row of cells to the row of cells adjacent to it with the last cell in the first row coupled to the last cell in the adjacent second row and the first cell in the adjacent second row coupled to the first cell in the third row, such end-to-end coupling of said rows of cells being made throughout said panel whereby all of the cells of the panel are coupled together in a continuous series beginning with the first cell in the first row and ending with the last row whereby, when suitable electrical potentials are applied to said anode and cathode electrodes, glow can be transferred from one cell to the next in each row successively throughout said panel.
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) | 1976-10-15 | 1977-04-16 | 1977-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-15 | 1981-04-16 | 1981-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-15 | 1985-04-16 | 1985-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |