Segment display panel with cathode groups

Claim 1

A method of fabricating a gas discharge display panel having a plurality of side-by-side character positions along a predetermined line, in each of which any one of a predetermined number of characters can be displayed, comprising the steps of forming a plurality of elongated conductive runs along the inside surface of a back plate of insulating material in the direction intended for the line of character positions, depositing a layer of insulating material on said conductive runs with a plurality of side-by-side groups of apertures therein, one such group at each character position, placing into position on said insulating layer at each character position a unitary cathode structure formed of a plurality of cathode segments interconnected into a frame-like assembly by conductive bridging members, said unitary structure being placed into position at each character position such that each cathode segment thereof covers one of the apertures of the aperture group located at the character position, connecting said cathode segments electrically through their respective underlying apertures to the exposed conductive runs and thereby mounting said cathode segments in place, while the cathode segments are still interconnected in said frame-like assembly, thereafter severing the conductive bridging members between said cathode segments to render the cathode segments of each group electrically isolated from one another, mounting an anode electrode adjacent each cathode segment group, and placing a transparent front plate over said cathode segments and said anode electrodes and forming a gas-tight seal between said front and back plates.

Claim 2

A method of fabricating a gas discharge display panel having a plurality of side-by-side character positions along a predetermined line, in each of which any one of a predetermined number of characters can be displayed, comprising the steps of forming a plurality of elongated conductive runs along the inside surface of a back plate of insulating material in the direction intended for the line of character positions, depositing a layer of insulating material on said conductive runs with a plurality of side-by-side groups of apertures therein, one such group at each character position, placing into position on said insulating layer at each character position a unitary cathode structure formed of a plurality of cathode segments interconnected into a frame-like assembly by conductive bridging members, said unitary structure being placed into position at each character position such that each cathode segment thereof covers one of the apertures of the aperture group located at the character position, connecting said cathode segments electrically through their respective underlying apertures to the exposed conductive runs and thereby mounting said cathode segments in place, while the cathode segments are still interconnected in said frame-like assembly, thereafter severing the conductive bridging members between said cathode segments to render the cathode segments of each group electrically isolated from one another, mounting an anode electrode adjacent each cathode segment group, and placing a transparent front plate over said cathode segments and said anode electrodes and forming a gas-tight seal between said front and back plates.

Claim 6

A method of fabricating a gas discharge display device having a plurality of side-by-side character positions along a predetermined line, in each of which any one of a predetermined number of characters can be displayed, comprising the steps of forming a back plate of insulating material with a plurality of side-by-side groups of electrical contacts, one at each character position, bringing into position at each character position a unitary cathode structure formed of a plurality of cathode segments interconnected into a frame-like assembly by conductive bridging members, said unitary structure being brought into position at each character position such that each cathode segment thereof is aligned with one of the electrical contacts of the electrical contact group located at the character position, electrically connecting each said cathode segment to its aligned electrical contact and thereby mounting said cathode segments in place, while the cathode segments are still interconnected in said frame-like assembly, thereafter severing the conductive bridging members between said cathode segments to render the cathode segments of each group electrically isolated from one another, mounting an anode electrode adjacent each cathode segment group, and placing a transparent front plate over said cathode segments and said anode electrodes and forming a gas-tight seal between said front and back plates.

Claim 7

A method of fabricating a gas discharge display device having a plurality of side-by-side character positions along a predetermined line, in each of which any one of a predetermined number of characters can be displayed, comprising the steps of forming a back plate of insulating material with a plurality of side-by-side groups of electrical contacts, one at each character position, bringing into position at each character position a unitary cathode structure formed of a plurality of cathode segments interconnected into a frame-like assembly by conductive bridging members, said unitary structure being brought into position at each character position such that each cathode segment thereof is aligned with one of the electrical contacts of the electrical contact group located at the character position, electrically connecting each said cathode segment to its aligned electrical contact and thereby mounting said cathode segments in place, while the cathode segments are still interconnected in said frame-like assembly, thereafter severing the conductive bridging members between said cathode segments to render the cathode segments of each group electrically isolated from one another, mounting an anode electrode adjacent each cathode segment group, and placing a transparent front plate over said cathode segments and said anode electrodes and forming a gas-tight seal between said front and back plates.

Claim 8

A method of fabricating a gas discharge display device having an array of cathode segments, different combinations of which can be selectively energized to display different characters, comprising the steps of forming a back plate of insulating material with a group of electrical contacts exposed on at least one side thereof, bringing into position over said contacts a unitary cathode structure formed of a plurality of cathode segments interconnected into a frame-like assembly by conductive bridging members, said unitary structure being brought into position such that each cathode segment thereof is aligned with one of said contacts, connecting each said cathode segment to its aligned electrical contact to mount said cathode segments in place, while the cathode segments are still interconnected in said frame-like assembly, thereafter severing the conductive bridging members between said cathode segments to render them electrically isolated from one another, mounting an anode electrode adjacent said cathode segments, and placing a transparent front cover over said cathode segments and said anode electrode and forming a gas-tight seal between said front cover and back plate.

Claim 9

A method of fabricating a gas discharge display device having an array of cathode segments, different combinations of which can be selectively energized to display different characters, comprising the steps of forming a back plate of insulating material with a group of electrical contacts exposed on at least one side thereof, bringing into position over said contacts a unitary cathode structure formed of a plurality of cathode segments interconnected into a frame-like assembly by conductive bridging members, said unitary structure being brought into position such that each cathode segment thereof is aligned with one of said contacts, connecting each said cathode segment to its aligned electrical contact to mount said cathode segments in place, while the cathode segments are still interconnected in said frame-like assembly, thereafter severing the conductive bridging members between said cathode segments to render them electrically isolated from one another, mounting an anode electrode adjacent said cathode segments, and placing a transparent front cover over said cathode segments and said anode electrode and forming a gas-tight seal between said front cover and back plate.