US3786484A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Border control system for gas discharge display panels
Assignee: OI Glass Inc
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Filing: 1971-12-23
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Granted: 1974-01-15
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Expires: 1991-12-23
Abstract
Abstract In gaseous discharge display panels of the cross conductor matrix type the conductors are non-conductively coupled to a thin gaseous discharge medium, one technique for conditioning the data or information display sites in the panel for operation of uniform potentials is to maintain the border discharge sites in an on or fired condition. The invention is directed to an improved system for controlling the border sites of such panels and provides for a border writer for (1) sustaining the border, (2) writing the border (3) erasing the border during long idle periods to minimize aging (4) border conditioning (all four sides), (5) border firing at reduced frequency to reduce or minimize the effect of aging as an alternative to (3) and (6) sustaining the border at a slightly higher voltage level.
Inventors
- 👤 J Miavecz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 07:02
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/22; G09G3/28; G09G3/288; G09G3/291; G09G3/293; G09G3/294; G09G3/296; G09G3/297
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A method of operating a gas discharge data display panel of the type having an insulatingly coated row-conductor array on a first support plate, a insulatingly coated column conductor array on a second support substrate, means joining said plates in spaced apart relation with a gaseous discharge medium between said coated conductor arrays, a selected number of conductors in each said array locating border discharge sites which are used as non-data display areas, and wherein the operating potentials to said conductor arrays includes a periodic voltage for sustaining discharges once initiated, said periodic sustainer voltage being of a magnitude insufficient to initiate a discharge at any site but of sufficient magnitude to maintain discharges once initiated at any site, and a data entering discharge initiating signal voltage for algebraic addition to said sustainer voltage potential, the improvement comprising, supplying a separate sustainer potential to said border conductors, controlling said separate sustainer potential to control the on condition of said border sites, including the step of increasing the voltage level of said border sustainer voltage above a selected level for a selected time interval to turn the border on.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
188 words
A method of operating a gas discharge data display panel of the type having an insulatingly coated row-conductor array on a first support plate, a insulatingly coated column conductor array on a second support substrate, means joining said plates in spaced apart relation with a gaseous discharge medium between said coated conductor arrays, a selected number of conductors in each said array locating border discharge sites which are used as non-data display areas, and wherein the operating potentials to said conductor arrays includes a periodic voltage for sustaining discharges once initiated, said periodic sustainer voltage being of a magnitude insufficient to initiate a discharge at any site but of sufficient magnitude to maintain discharges once initiated at any site, and a data entering discharge initiating signal voltage for algebraic addition to said sustainer voltage potential, the improvement comprising, supplying a separate sustainer potential to said border conductors, controlling said separate sustainer potential to control the on condition of said border sites, including the step of increasing the voltage level of said border sustainer voltage above a selected level for a selected time interval to turn the border on.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention defined in claim 1 including the step of minimizing the aging of said border sites by modifying the rate of discharge at said border sites during long periods of no addressing to the normal viewing area of said panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention defined in claim 1 including the step of minimizing the aging of said border sites by applying an erase signal voltage to said border sites preceeding long periods of no information being displayed in the normal viewing area of said panel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said border sustainer voltage level is higher than the normal sustainer voltage level to said row-column conductor arrays, including lowering the level of said sustainer voltage over a long period of use.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention defined in claim 4 wherein said higher voltage level is 3-10 volts above said normal sustainer voltage level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention defined in claim 1 including the step of shifting the time of said border sustainer voltage so that the discharge border sites occur near the time of the leading edge of information write pulses to said row-column conductor arrays.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
179 words
In a gaseous discharge display panel having row-column conductor arrays non-conductively coupled to a gas discharge medium in a chamber space between said row and said column conductor arrays and row and column border conductor arrays cooperating with the ends of the conductors in the row-column conductor arrays to define border sites which, for the purpose of photon conditioning of information display sites in the panel, are on during the entry of information to be displayed on said panel, the improvement of said panel which comprises, a sEparate controllable border sustainer voltage supply means connected to said border conductor arrays, control timing circuit means for controlling said border sites by controlling said controllable border sustainer voltage supply, said control timing circuit means including providing a control signal for causing the output voltage level of said border sustaining supply means to rise above a predetermined level, which predetermined level is insufficient in the absence of immediately previous discharges at said border sites to sustain discharges thereat, and for a selected time interval to at least turn on said border sites.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
179 words
In a gaseous discharge display panel having row-column conductor arrays non-conductively coupled to a gas discharge medium in a chamber space between said row and said column conductor arrays and row and column border conductor arrays cooperating with the ends of the conductors in the row-column conductor arrays to define border sites which, for the purpose of photon conditioning of information display sites in the panel, are on during the entry of information to be displayed on said panel, the improvement of said panel which comprises, a sEparate controllable border sustainer voltage supply means connected to said border conductor arrays, control timing circuit means for controlling said border sites by controlling said controllable border sustainer voltage supply, said control timing circuit means including providing a control signal for causing the output voltage level of said border sustaining supply means to rise above a predetermined level, which predetermined level is insufficient in the absence of immediately previous discharges at said border sites to sustain discharges thereat, and for a selected time interval to at least turn on said border sites.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention defined in claim 7 wherein controllable border sustainer supply includes means for supplying a plurality of voltage level output voltages, and means connecting one of said output voltages to said border conductor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention defined in claim 7 said control timing circuit means including means for relatively shifting the time of firing of said border sites to a time just preceeding the addressing of information to be displayed at said information display sites.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention defined in claim 9 wherein said information pulses on selected row-column conductors in said arrays are relatively timed to occur with the leading edge of the border sustainer voltage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention defined in claim 7 said control timing circuit means including means for controlling said border sustainer voltage supply to turn all said border sites off during long idle periods of addressing information display sites in 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) | 1977-01-14 | 1977-07-16 | 1978-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-14 | 1981-07-16 | 1982-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-14 | 1985-07-16 | 1986-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |