Gas panel with multi-directional shifting arrangement

Claim 2

A gas panel for storing, displaying, and selectively shifting information from one place therein to another comprising: an envelope filled with an illuminable gas, a plurality of N vertical conductors disposed in parallel on one side of said envelope, wherein N is any integer which is a multiple of three, a plurality of W horizontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of said envelope orthogonally to the N vertical conductors, where W is any integer which is a multiple of three, the illuminable gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors defining gas cells, first signal means coupled to a given portion of said envelope for writing therein binary information by igniting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent binary ones and zeros, second signal means for supplying a sequence of discrete signals P1, P2, and P3 for shifting information horizontally, means connecting the P1 signals to the vertical conductors 1,4,7, . . . N-2, means connecting the P2 signals to the vertical conductors 2,5,8, . . . N-1, and means connecting the P3 signals to the vertical conductors 3,6,9, . . . N whereby each set of three successive vertical lines is energized seriatim by the signals P1, P2, and P3 in the direction of the horizontal shift of binary information, third signal means for supplying a sequence of discrete signals R1, R2, and R3 for shifting information vertically, means connecting the R1 signals to the horizontal conductors 1,4,7, . . . W-2, means connecting the R2 signals to the horizontal conductors 2,5,8, . . . W-1, and means connecting the R3 signals to the horizontal conductors 3,6,9, . . . W, whereby each set of three successive horizontal lines is energized seriatim by the signals R1, R2, and R3 in the direction of the vertical shift of binary information, fourth signals means for supplying a train of normalize signals, means coupling the train of normalize signals to each horizontal conductor on which new information is written and shifted horizontally, said train of normalize signals being composed of discrete signals which occur in time between each of the pulses P1, P2, and P3, said second signal means including additional means for continuing to supply P3 signals on the associated vertical conductors to sustain ignited gas cells whenever no horizontal shifting of binary information takes place, and said third means including further means for continuing to supply R3 signals to the associated horizontal conductors to sustain ignited gas cells whenever no vertical shifting of binary information takes place.

Claim 3

A gas panel for storing, displaying, and selectively shifting information from one place therein to another comprising: an envelope filled with an illuminable gas, a plurality of N vertical conductors disposed in parallel on one side of said envelope, where N is any integer which is a multiple of three, a plurality of W horizontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of said envelope orthogonally to the N vertical conductors, where W is any integer which is A multiple of three, the illuminable gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors defining gas cells, first signal means coupled to a given portion of said envelope for writing therein binary information by igniting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent binary ones and zeros, and second signal means coupled to said vertical conductors for shifting binary information selectively from the gas cell to another along said horizontal conductors, normalize signal means for supplying a train of discrete signals, said normalize signal means being connected to all horizontal lines which receive and shift binary information written in the gas panel, and third signal means coupled to the horizontal conductors for shifting binary information selectively from one gas cell to another along said vertical conductors.

Claim 4

A gas panel for storing, displaying, and selectively shifting information from one place therein to another comprising: an envelope filled with an illuminable gas, a plurality of N vertical conductors disposed in parallel on one side of said envelope, where N is any integer which is a multiple of three, a plurality of W horizontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of said envelope orthogonally to the N vertical conductors, where W is any integer which is A multiple of three, the illuminable gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors defining gas cells, first signal means coupled to a given portion of said envelope for writing therein binary information by igniting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent binary ones and zeros, and second signal means coupled to said vertical conductors for shifting binary information selectively from the gas cell to another along said horizontal conductors, normalize signal means for supplying a train of discrete signals, said normalize signal means being connected to all horizontal lines which receive and shift binary information written in the gas panel, and third signal means coupled to the horizontal conductors for shifting binary information selectively from one gas cell to another along said vertical conductors.

Claim 5

A gas panel for storing, displaying, and selectively shifting information from one place therein to another comprising: an envelope filled with an illuminable gas, a plurality of vertical conductors disposed in parallel on one side of said envelope, a plurality of horizontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of said envelope orthogonally to the plurality of vertical conductor, the illuminable gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors defining gas cells, writing means coupled to a given portion of said envelope for writing binary information therein by igniting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent binary ones and zeros, said writing means including at least one additional horizontal conductor disposed parallel with said plurality of horizontal conductors on the opposite side of said envelope, at least one additional vertical conductor disposed parallel with said plurality of vertical conductors on the one side of said envelope, first signal means coupled to said additional vertical conductor for applying a signal equal to or greater than the ignition potential of the gas when writing a binary one and no signal when writing a binary zero, second means coupled to said additional horizontal line for supplying a train of normalize signals thereto when shifting information horizontally, third signal means for supplying a repetitive sequence of discrete signals P1, P2, and P3 when shifting information horizontally, means connecting the P1 signals to the vertical conductors 1,4,7, . . . N-2, where N is any integer which is a multiple of three, means connecting the P2 signals to the vertical conductors 2,5,8, . . . N-1, and means connecting the P3 signals to the vertical conductors 3,6,9, . . . N, whereby each set of three vertical conductors is energized seriatim by the successive signals P1, P2, and P3 in the direction of the horizontal shift of binary information, fourth signal means for supplying a repetitive sequence of signals R1, R2, and R3 when shifting information vertically, means connecting the R1 signals to the horizontal conductors 1, 4,7, . . . W-2, where W is any integer which is a multiple of three, means connecting the R2 signals to the horizontal conductors 2,5,8, . . . W-1, and means connecting the R3 signals to the horizontal conductors 3,6,9, . . . W, whereby each set of three horizontal conductors is energized seriatim by the successive signals R1, R2 and R3 in the direction of the vertical shift of binary information, said third signal means including additional means for continuing to supply P3 signals on the associated vertical conductors to sustain ignited gas cells whenever no horizontal shifting of binary information takes place, and said fourth signal means includes further means for continuing to supply R3 signals to the associated horizontal conductors to sustain ignited gas cells whenever no vertical shifting of binary information takes place.

Claim 6

A gas panel for storing, displaying, and selectively shifting information from one place therein to another comprising: an envelope filled with an illuminable gas, a plurality of vertical conductors disposed in parallel on one side of said envelope, a plurality of horizontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of said envelope orthogonally to the plurality of vertical conductor, the illuminable gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors defining gas cells, writing means coupled to a given portion of said envelope for writing binary information therein by igniting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent binary ones and zeros, said writing means including at least one additional horizontal conductor disposed parallel with said plurality of horizontal conductors on the opposite side of said envelope, at least one additional vertical conductor disposed parallel with said plurality of vertical conductors on the one side of said envelope, first signal means coupled to said additional vertical conductor for applying a signal equal to or greater than the ignition potential of the gas when writing a binary one and no signal when writing a binary zero, second means coupled to said additional horizontal line for supplying a train of normalize signals thereto when shifting information horizontally, third signal means for supplying a repetitive sequence of discrete signals P1, P2, and P3 when shifting information horizontally, means connecting the P1 signals to the vertical conductors 1,4,7, . . . N-2, where N is any integer which is a multiple of three, means connecting the P2 signals to the vertical conductors 2,5,8, . . . N-1, and means connecting the P3 signals to the vertical conductors 3,6,9, . . . N, whereby each set of three vertical conductors is energized seriatim by the successive signals P1, P2, and P3 in the direction of the horizontal shift of binary information, fourth signal means for supplying a repetitive sequence of signals R1, R2, and R3 when shifting information vertically, means connecting the R1 signals to the horizontal conductors 1, 4,7, . . . W-2, where W is any integer which is a multiple of three, means connecting the R2 signals to the horizontal conductors 2,5,8, . . . W-1, and means connecting the R3 signals to the horizontal conductors 3,6,9, . . . W, whereby each set of three horizontal conductors is energized seriatim by the successive signals R1, R2 and R3 in the direction of the vertical shift of binary information, said third signal means including additional means for continuing to supply P3 signals on the associated vertical conductors to sustain ignited gas cells whenever no horizontal shifting of binary information takes place, and said fourth signal means includes further means for continuing to supply R3 signals to the associated horizontal conductors to sustain ignited gas cells whenever no vertical shifting of binary information takes place.

Claim 7

A gas panel for storing, displaying and seleCtively shifting information from one place therein to another comprising: an envelope filled with an illuminable gas, a plurality of N vertical conductors disposed in parallel on one side of said envelope, where N is any integer which is a multiple of three, a plurality of horizontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of said envelope orthogonally to the N vertical conductors, the illuminable gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors defining WN gas cells, writing means coupled to a given portion of said envelope for writing therein binary information by igniting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent binary ones and zeros, said first means including an additional vertical conductor disposed parallel to the N vertical conductors on one side of said envelope, at least one additional horizontal conductor disposed parallel with the W horizontal conductors on the opposite side of said envelope, first signal means coupled to the additional horizontal conductor for applying a signal equal to or greater than the ignition potential of the illuminable gas to write a binary one and no signal to write a binary zero, second signal means coupled to each of the horizontal conductors for supplying a train of normalize signals thereto, third signal means for supplying a repetitive sequence of signals P1, P2, and P3 when shifting information horizontally, means connecting the P1 signals to the vertical conductors 1,4, 7, . . . N-2, means connecting the P2 signals to the vertical conductors 2,5,8, . . . N-1, and means connecting the P3 signals to the vertical conductors 3,6,9, . . . N, whereby each set of three vertical conductors is energized seriatim by the successive signals P1,P2, and P3 in the direction of the horizontal shift of binary information.

Claim 8

A gas panel for storing, displaying and seleCtively shifting information from one place therein to another comprising: an envelope filled with an illuminable gas, a plurality of N vertical conductors disposed in parallel on one side of said envelope, where N is any integer which is a multiple of three, a plurality of horizontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of said envelope orthogonally to the N vertical conductors, the illuminable gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors defining WN gas cells, writing means coupled to a given portion of said envelope for writing therein binary information by igniting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent binary ones and zeros, said first means including an additional vertical conductor disposed parallel to the N vertical conductors on one side of said envelope, at least one additional horizontal conductor disposed parallel with the W horizontal conductors on the opposite side of said envelope, first signal means coupled to the additional horizontal conductor for applying a signal equal to or greater than the ignition potential of the illuminable gas to write a binary one and no signal to write a binary zero, second signal means coupled to each of the horizontal conductors for supplying a train of normalize signals thereto, third signal means for supplying a repetitive sequence of signals P1, P2, and P3 when shifting information horizontally, means connecting the P1 signals to the vertical conductors 1,4, 7, . . . N-2, means connecting the P2 signals to the vertical conductors 2,5,8, . . . N-1, and means connecting the P3 signals to the vertical conductors 3,6,9, . . . N, whereby each set of three vertical conductors is energized seriatim by the successive signals P1,P2, and P3 in the direction of the horizontal shift of binary information.

Claim 9

A gas panel for storing, displaying, and selectively shifting information from one place therein to another comprising: an envelope filled with an illuminable gas, a plurality of vertical conductors disposed in parallel on one side of said envelope, a plurality of horizontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of said envelope orthogonally to the vertical conductors, the illuminable gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors defining gas cells, first signal means coupled to a given portion of said envelope for writing therein binary information by igniting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent binary ones and zeros, second signal means coupled to said vertical conductors and said horizontal conductors for shifting binary information selectively from one gas cell to another along said horizontal and vertical conductors, said second means including a source of discrete signals which supplies a repetitive sequence of signals P1, P2, and P3 for shifting information horizontally, means connecting the P1 signals to the vertical conductors 1,4,7, . . . N-2, where N is any integer which is a multiple of 3, means connecting the P2 signals to the vertical conductors 2,5,8, . . . N-1, and means connecting the P3 signals to the vertical conductors 3,6,9, . . . N, whereby each set of 3 vertical conductors is energized seriatim by the successive signals P1, P2 and P3 in the direction of the horizontal shift of binary information, and said second signal means including a further source of discrete signals which supplies a repetitive sequence of signals R1,R2 and R3, means connecting the R1 signals to the horizontal conductors 1,4,7, . . . W-2, where W is any integer which is a multiple of three, means connecting the R2 signals to the horizontal conductors 2,5,8, . . . W-1, and means connecting the R3 signals to the horizontal conductors 3,6,9, . . . W, whereby each set of three horizontal conductors is energized seriatim by the successive signals R1, R2 anD R3 in the direction of the vertical shift of binary information.

Claim 10

A gas panel for storing, displaying, and selectively shifting information from one place therein to another comprising: an envelope filled with an illuminable gas, a plurality of vertical conductors disposed in parallel on one side of said envelope, a plurality of horizontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of said envelope orthogonally to the vertical conductors, the illuminable gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors defining gas cells, first signal means coupled to a given portion of said envelope for writing therein binary information by igniting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent binary ones and zeros, second signal means coupled to said vertical conductors and said horizontal conductors for shifting binary information selectively from one gas cell to another along said horizontal and vertical conductors, said second means including a source of discrete signals which supplies a repetitive sequence of signals P1, P2, and P3 for shifting information horizontally, means connecting the P1 signals to the vertical conductors 1,4,7, . . . N-2, where N is any integer which is a multiple of 3, means connecting the P2 signals to the vertical conductors 2,5,8, . . . N-1, and means connecting the P3 signals to the vertical conductors 3,6,9, . . . N, whereby each set of 3 vertical conductors is energized seriatim by the successive signals P1, P2 and P3 in the direction of the horizontal shift of binary information, and said second signal means including a further source of discrete signals which supplies a repetitive sequence of signals R1,R2 and R3, means connecting the R1 signals to the horizontal conductors 1,4,7, . . . W-2, where W is any integer which is a multiple of three, means connecting the R2 signals to the horizontal conductors 2,5,8, . . . W-1, and means connecting the R3 signals to the horizontal conductors 3,6,9, . . . W, whereby each set of three horizontal conductors is energized seriatim by the successive signals R1, R2 anD R3 in the direction of the vertical shift of binary information.

Claim 11

A gas panel for storing, displaying and selectively shifting information from one place therein to another comprising: an envelope filled with an illuminable gas, a plurality of vertical conductors disposed in parallel on one side of said envelope, a plurality of horizontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of said envelope orthogonally to the vertical conductors, the illuminable gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors defining gas cells, first signal means coupled to a given portion of said envelope for writing therein binary information by igniting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent binary ones and zeros, second signal means coupled to said vertical conductors for shifting binary information selectively from one gas cell to another along said horizontal conductors, said first signal means being disposed to write in gas cells adjacent to each horizontal conductor on a vertical line not connected to the second means, said second signal means including third signal means coupled to the vertical conductors for energizing sets of the vertical conductors by a sequence of signals with the vertical conductors in each set being energized seriatim by successive signals of each sequence, and normalize signal means coupled to each horizontal conductor, said normalize signal means energizing each horizontal conductor with a train of signals which is interspersed with the signals provided by the third signal means whereby each individual signal of the train of the normalize signal means occurs in time between each pair of signals from the third means.

Claim 12

A gas panel for storing, displaying and selectively shifting information from one place therein to another comprising: an envelope filled with an illuminable gas, a plurality of vertical conductors disposed in parallel on one side of said envelope, a plurality of horizontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of said envelope orthogonally to the vertical conductors, the illuminable gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors defining gas cells, first signal means coupled to a given portion of said envelope for writing therein binary information by igniting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent binary ones and zeros, second signal means coupled to said vertical conductors for shifting binary information selectively from one gas cell to another along said horizontal conductors, said first signal means being disposed to write in gas cells adjacent to each horizontal conductor on a vertical line not connected to the second means, said second signal means including third signal means coupled to the vertical conductors for energizing sets of the vertical conductors by a sequence of signals with the vertical conductors in each set being energized seriatim by successive signals of each sequence, and normalize signal means coupled to each horizontal conductor, said normalize signal means energizing each horizontal conductor with a train of signals which is interspersed with the signals provided by the third signal means whereby each individual signal of the train of the normalize signal means occurs in time between each pair of signals from the third means.