D. c. gas discharge display apparatus with pulse train memory sustaining potential

Claim 2

In d.c. gas discharge display apparatus display cathode means, display anode means, said display cathode means and said display anode means defining d.c. gas discharge memory cell means for containing an ionizable gas, said cathode and anode means being internal to said cell means and in contact with said gas, and pulse soure means coupled without any discharge current limiting resistors to said cathode and anode means for applying a gas discharge sustaining pulse train therebetween, the pulses thereof being of such amplitude and duration and the spacing between said pulses being such that an ignited memory cell is reignited and an extinguished memOry cell remains extinguished upon application of said pulses.

Claim 3

In d.c. gas discharge display apparatus display cathode means, display anode means, said display cathode means and said display anode means defining d.c. gas discharge memory cell means for containing an ionizable gas, said cathode and anode means being internal to said cell means and in contact with said gas, addressing means for extending gas discharge columns to selected memory cells thereby increasing the level of ionization therein, and pulse source means coupled without any dicharge current limiting resistors to said cathode and anode means for applying a gas discharge sustaining pulse train therebetween, the pulses thereof being of such amplitude and duration and the spacing between said pulses being such that a selected memory cell is ignited by said sustaining pulses in the presence of said increased level of ionization from said extended column and is reignited upon application of subsequent pulses and extinguished memory calls remain extinguished upon application of said pulses.

Claim 4

In d.c. gas discharge display apparatus display cathode means, display anode means, said display cathode means and said display anode means defining d.c. gas discharge memory cell means for containing an ionizable gas, said cathode and anode means being internal to said cell means and in contact with said gas, addressing means for extending gas discharge columns to selected memory cells thereby increasing the level of ionization therein, and pulse source means coupled without any dicharge current limiting resistors to said cathode and anode means for applying a gas discharge sustaining pulse train therebetween, the pulses thereof being of such amplitude and duration and the spacing between said pulses being such that a selected memory cell is ignited by said sustaining pulses in the presence of said increased level of ionization from said extended column and is reignited upon application of subsequent pulses and extinguished memory calls remain extinguished upon application of said pulses.

Claim 5

In the apparatus of claim 2 in which said pulse source means includes means for providing said pulses with amplitudes less than the firing potential of said ionizable gas.

Claim 6

In the apparatus of claim 2 in which said pulse source means includes means for providing said pulses with amplitudes at least as great as the firing potential of said ionizable gas.

Claim 7

In the apparatus of claim 2 in which said ionizable gas comprises a gas exhibiting the penning effect, for increasing the memory margin of said memory cell means with respect to d.c. sustaining potential operation.

Claim 8

In the apparatus of claim 5 in which said ionizable gas comprises a penning mixture.

Claim 9

In the apparatus of claim 2 in which said pulse source means includes means for providing said sustaining pulse train, the pulses thereof being of such amplitude and duration and the spacing between said pulses being such that less net sustaining power is required with respect to utilizing a minimum possible d.c. sustaining potential.