Display device

Claim 2

A display device comprising: an indicator tube having a base plate of insulating material; a plurality of indicator units aligned on one side of said plate, each of said indicator units comprising a plurality of cathode segments arranged in a predetermined configuration on said base plate and at least one anode electrode forming a part of each indicator unit disposed on said base plate; a transparent cover sealed to said base plate and spaced above said cathode segments and said anode electrodes thereby forming a closed chamber with said cathode segments and anode electrodes therein; an ionizable gas in said chamber; means for applying a bias potential to each of said indicator units between the anodes and selected ones of said cathode segments thereof on a time sequential basis beginning with a first one of said indicator units and continuing through a last one of said indicator units; and means for locally ionizing said gas adjacent said first indicator unit, means for energizing said last means immediately prior to the time when said first indicator unit is energized, whereby the time for causing said first indicator unit to glow is substantially the same as for said remaining indicator units.

Claim 3

A display device according to claim 1, wherein said means for locally ionizing said gas includes a cathode electrode and an anode electrode.

Claim 4

A display device according to claim 1, wherein said means for locally ionizing said gas includes a luminescent element disposed in proximity to said first indicator unit on said base plate.

Claim 5

A device according to claim 1 in which each of said cathode segments and each of said anode segments have a thin nickel coating thereon.

Claim 6

An indicator unit comprising: a base plate of insulating material; a plurality of indicator units on one side of the base plate; a transparent cover sealed to said base plate and forming a chamber therewith enclosing said indicator units; an ionizable gas within said chamber; each of said indicator units including a plurality of cathode segments in a discrete pattern located in a single plane; and at least one anode segment for each of said indicator units in the plane of said cathode segments; an electrode for each indicator unit having portions which surrounds the cathode segments of that indicator unit and located in the same plane as said cathode segments; the cathode segments of each indicator unit being connected through leads to similarly positioned cathode segments of all indicator units; means during each indicating cycle for Time sequentially applying a bias potential to each of said anode segments sufficient to cause ionization of gas adjacent those cathode segments of each indicator unit whose anode segment is so biased when such cathode segments are given a decoding potential negative with respect to said anode segment potential; means for sequentially connecting a decoding potential to those cathode segments of each indicator tube to form the desired pattern; means for applying a biasing potential to said electrode with a potential insufficient to cause ionization but sufficient to act as an ion barrier; keep-alive electrode means adjacent said indicator unit which is first to be energized during each indicating cycle; and means for energizing said keep-alive electrode means each cycle just prior to the energization of the first of said indicator units in said cycle.

Claim 7

An indicator unit comprising: a base plate of insulating material; a plurality of indicator units on one side of the base plate; a transparent cover sealed to said base plate and forming a chamber therewith enclosing said indicator units; an ionizable gas within said chamber; each of said indicator units including a plurality of cathode segments in a discrete pattern located in a single plane; and at least one anode segment for each of said indicator units in the plane of said cathode segments; an electrode for each indicator unit having portions which surrounds the cathode segments of that indicator unit and located in the same plane as said cathode segments; the cathode segments of each indicator unit being connected through leads to similarly positioned cathode segments of all indicator units; means during each indicating cycle for Time sequentially applying a bias potential to each of said anode segments sufficient to cause ionization of gas adjacent those cathode segments of each indicator unit whose anode segment is so biased when such cathode segments are given a decoding potential negative with respect to said anode segment potential; means for sequentially connecting a decoding potential to those cathode segments of each indicator tube to form the desired pattern; means for applying a biasing potential to said electrode with a potential insufficient to cause ionization but sufficient to act as an ion barrier; keep-alive electrode means adjacent said indicator unit which is first to be energized during each indicating cycle; and means for energizing said keep-alive electrode means each cycle just prior to the energization of the first of said indicator units in said cycle.

Claim 8

A device according to claim 5 in which each of said indicator units and each of said barrier electrodes have an electro-plated coating of nickel thereon.

Claim 9

A display device comprising: A plurality of indicator units formed on a plate of an insulating material for sequential energization, each of said plurality of indicator units consisting of a plurality of first electrode segments lying in a single plane arranged in a predetermined configuration and at least one second electrode in proximity to each indicator unit group of said first electrode segments also lying in said single plane; a plurality of first leads each connected to corresponding ones of said first electrode segments of said indicator units; a plurality of second leads each connected to a different one of said second electrodes of said indicator units; a transparent cover of an insulating material covering at least one side of said insulating plate to form an envelope; an ionizable gas sealed in said envelope; and means for producing ionized charged particles within said envelope adjacent at least one of said indicator units prior to activation of said one indicating unit.

Claim 10

A display device comprising: A plurality of indicator units formed on a plate of an insulating material for sequential energization, each of said plurality of indicator units consisting of a plurality of first electrode segments lying in a single plane arranged in a predetermined configuration and at least one second electrode in proximity to each indicator unit group of said first electrode segments also lying in said single plane; a plurality of first leads each connected to corresponding ones of said first electrode segments of said indicator units; a plurality of second leads each connected to a different one of said second electrodes of said indicator units; a transparent cover of an insulating material covering at least one side of said insulating plate to form an envelope; an ionizable gas sealed in said envelope; and means for producing ionized charged particles within said envelope adjacent at least one of said indicator units prior to activation of said one indicating unit.

Claim 11

A display device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said indicator units lie on said insulating plate in alignment with one another and said transparent cover is mounted on said plate so as to accommodate all of the said indicator units and ionized charged particle producing means.

Claim 12

A display device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said charged particle producing means comprises an anode electrode and a cathode electrode to be supplied with a predetermined voltage therebetween.

Claim 13

A display device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said cathode and anode electrodes of said charged particle producing means are formed on said insulating plate.

Claim 14

A display device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said particle producing means lies in alignment with said indicator units.

Claim 15

A display device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said particle producing means is an electric-to-light conversion element.

Claim 16

A display device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said electric-to-light conversion element is disposed on said insulating plate.

Claim 17

A display device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said electric-to-light conversion element is energized by turning on a power source switch.

Claim 18

A display device comprising an indicator tube having: a base plate of insulating material; a plurality of indicator units aligned on one side of said plate, each of said indicator units comprising a plurality of cathode segments arranged in a predetermined configuration on said base plate and at least one anode electrode forming a part of each indicator unit disposed on said base plate; a transparent cover sealed to said base plate and spaced above said cathode segments and said anode electrodes thereby forming a closed chamber with said cathode segments and anode electrodes therein; an ionizable gas in said chamber; means for applying a bias potential to each of said indicator units between the anodes and selected ones of said catHode segments thereof on a time sequential basis beginning with a first one of said indicator units and continuing through a last one of said indicator units; and means for locally ionizing said gas adjacent said first indicator unit, means for energizing said last means immediately prior to the time when said first indicator unit is energized, whereby the time for causing said first indicator unit to glow is substantially the same as for said remaining indicator units, said base plate having a transparent portion therethrough adjacent said first indicator unit, and wherein said means for locally ionizing said gas includes a light producing source below said transparent portion for ionizing the gas adjacent said first indicator unit just prior to energization of said first indicator unit.

Claim 19

A display device comprising an indicator tube having: a base plate of insulating material; a plurality of indicator units aligned on one side of said plate, each of said indicator units comprising a plurality of cathode segments arranged in a predetermined configuration on said base plate and at least one anode electrode forming a part of each indicator unit disposed on said base plate; a transparent cover sealed to said base plate and spaced above said cathode segments and said anode electrodes thereby forming a closed chamber with said cathode segments and anode electrodes therein; an ionizable gas in said chamber; means for applying a bias potential to each of said indicator units between the anodes and selected ones of said catHode segments thereof on a time sequential basis beginning with a first one of said indicator units and continuing through a last one of said indicator units; and means for locally ionizing said gas adjacent said first indicator unit, means for energizing said last means immediately prior to the time when said first indicator unit is energized, whereby the time for causing said first indicator unit to glow is substantially the same as for said remaining indicator units, said base plate having a transparent portion therethrough adjacent said first indicator unit, and wherein said means for locally ionizing said gas includes a light producing source below said transparent portion for ionizing the gas adjacent said first indicator unit just prior to energization of said first indicator unit.