US3796997A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical read-out/read-in apparatus for plasma display/memory panels
Assignee: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Filing: 1972-11-24
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Granted: 1974-03-12
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Expires: 1992-11-24
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for determining the state of selected cells in a plasma panel, including control drive means supplying a control signal during an interrogation interval between sustaining discharges capable of changing the state of a cell if the cell is in a state (A) but not if the cell is in another state (B), optical read-out means for detecting any changes in the state of a selected cell during the interrogation interval, and means for restoring the selected cell to the original state (A) if the cell was changed to state (B). Apparatus for transferring information on an image bearing document into the plasma panel by interrogating all of the cells on the panel and restoring selected cells in response to information determined by optical read-out means during said interrogation, whereby the image is then associated with selected cells on the panel.
Inventors
- 👤 R Johnson
- 👤 W Coates
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:29
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/038; G06F3/0386; G11; G11C; G11C11/00; G11C11/21; G11C11/26; G11C11/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
Apparatus for determining the state of selected cells in a plasma panel, said apparatus comprising: control drive means for supplying a control signal capable of changing the state of selected cells; means coupling said control drive means to a selected cell during an interrogation interval for changing the state of said cell if in a state (A) but not if in another state (B); optical read-out means for detecting changes in the state of said selected cell during said interrogation interval; and means for selectively coupling said control drive means to said selected cell during said interrogation interval for restoring said cell to the original state (A).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus for determining the state of selected cells in a plasma panel, said apparatus comprising: control drive means for supplying a control signal capable of changing the state of selected cells; means coupling said control drive means to a selected cell during an interrogation interval for changing the state of said cell if in a state (A) but not if in another state (B); optical read-out means for detecting changes in the state of said selected cell during said interrogation interval; and means for selectively coupling said control drive means to said selected cell during said interrogation interval for restoring said cell to the original state (A).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control drive means includes means for supplying a sustaining signal to said plasma panel for maintaining the state of said cells in a repetitive sustaining discharge sequence; and said apparatus includes timing means coupled to said control drive means and said optical read-out means to enable said interrogation interval intermediate said sustaining discharge sequence.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
158 words
In plasma panel apparatus, including a plurality of gaseous discharge cells, sustain/control drive means for supplying (1) selective write and erase control signals for respectively entering and erasing information by changing the state of said cells, and (2) sustaining signals for sustaining entered information in said panel in a repetitive sustaining sequency, thereby maintaining the state of said cells, the improvement comprising: interrogation means for respectively applying an interrogating signal to said cells during an interval intermediate said sustaining sequence for changing the state of said cell, enabling a gaseous discharge and a corresponding light output during said interval; restoration means for reStoring the state of cells changed during respective intervals; and optical read-out means for detecting and indicating a light output from the respective cells interrogated during said intervals, whereby those cells providing said light output are in one of said states and those cells not providing said light output are in the other of said states.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
158 words
In plasma panel apparatus, including a plurality of gaseous discharge cells, sustain/control drive means for supplying (1) selective write and erase control signals for respectively entering and erasing information by changing the state of said cells, and (2) sustaining signals for sustaining entered information in said panel in a repetitive sustaining sequency, thereby maintaining the state of said cells, the improvement comprising: interrogation means for respectively applying an interrogating signal to said cells during an interval intermediate said sustaining sequence for changing the state of said cell, enabling a gaseous discharge and a corresponding light output during said interval; restoration means for reStoring the state of cells changed during respective intervals; and optical read-out means for detecting and indicating a light output from the respective cells interrogated during said intervals, whereby those cells providing said light output are in one of said states and those cells not providing said light output are in the other of said states.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said interrogation means includes means for coupling one of said control signals corresponding to said interrogating signal to respective cells during said interval for changing the state of said cell; and said restoration means includes selective means for coupling the other of said control signals to selected cells during said respective interval if said light output is detected by said optical read-out means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, including means for coupling said erase control signal to respective cells during said interval for changing the state of cells in the ON state, and for coupling said write control signal to cells which changed states in response to said erase signal so as to restore said cells to their ON state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, including means for coupling said write control signal to respective cells during said interval for changing the state of cells in the OFF state, and for coupling said erase control signal to cells which changed states in response to said write signal so as to restore said cells to their OFF state.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for transferring an image from an image bearing document to a plasma panel of gaseous discharge cells, via optical read-out apparatus, comprising: locating said image bearing documents intermediate said optical read-out apparatus and the plasma panel; driving all of said cells into the ON light-emitting state for directing light to said image bearing document such that portions of said light are blocked by portions of said image bearing document; interrogatively scanning said plasma panel by sequentially changing each ON cell to the OFF state; while simultaneously sequentially determining with said optical read-out apparatus for each of said cells whether light emitting therefrom was visible through said image bearing document or was substantially blocked immediately prior to the respective cell state change from ON to OFF during said interrogative scanning; and restoring to the ON state one of the two groups of cells respectively associated with said determined visible or substantially blocked conditions, whereby said image is transferred to a corresponding one of said two groups of cells on said panel.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for transferring an image from an image bearing document to a plasma panel of gaseous discharge cells, via optical read-out apparatus, comprising: locating said image bearing documents intermediate said optical read-out apparatus and the plasma panel; driving all of said cells into the ON light-emitting state for directing light to said image bearing document such that portions of said light are blocked by portions of said image bearing document; interrogatively scanning said plasma panel by sequentially changing each ON cell to the OFF state; while simultaneously sequentially determining with said optical read-out apparatus for each of said cells whether light emitting therefrom was visible through said image bearing document or was substantially blocked immediately prior to the respective cell state change from ON to OFF during said interrogative scanning; and restoring to the ON state one of the two groups of cells respectively associated with said determined visible or substantially blocked conditions, whereby said image is transferred to a corresponding one of said two groups of cells on said panel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the group of cells whose associated light output was determined by said read-out apparatus as visible through said image bearing document are restored to the ON state after being interrogatively scanned, so that said image is represented on said plasma panel by the group of cells whose associated light output was substantially blocked.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for transferring an image from an image bearing document to a plasma panel of gaseous discharge cells via optical read-out apparatus comprising: sequentially driving said cells from the OFF to the ON light emitting state such that portions of said light are blocked by portions of said image bearing document; while simultaneously determining with said optical read-out apparatus for each of said cells whether light emitting therefrom was visible through said image bearing document or was substantially blocked when said sequential driving of said cells to the ON state; and restoring to the OFF state one of the two groups of cells respectively associated with said determined visible or substantially blocked conditions, whereby said image is transferred to a corresponding one of said two groups of cells on said panel.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for transferring an image from an image bearing document to a plasma panel of gaseous discharge cells via optical read-out apparatus comprising: sequentially driving said cells from the OFF to the ON light emitting state such that portions of said light are blocked by portions of said image bearing document; while simultaneously determining with said optical read-out apparatus for each of said cells whether light emitting therefrom was visible through said image bearing document or was substantially blocked when said sequential driving of said cells to the ON state; and restoring to the OFF state one of the two groups of cells respectively associated with said determined visible or substantially blocked conditions, whereby said image is transferred to a corresponding one of said two groups of cells on said panel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the group of cells whose associated light output was determined by said read-out apparAtus as substantially blocked by a portion of said image bearing document are restored to the OFF state, so that said image is represented by the group of cells whose associated light output was substantially blocked.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
126 words
Apparatus for transferring an image from an image bearing document to a plasma panel of gaseous discharge cells comprising: optical read-out means positioned to view light emitted from said gaseous discharge cells which passes through said image bearing document; means for sequentially driving said cells to the ON light emitting state so that a first group of said cells are visible by said optical read-out means whereas a second group of cells are substantially blocked by a portion of said image bearing document and are therefore not visible by said optical read-out apparatus; and means for selectively restoring to the OFF state the group of cells which are substantially blocked by a portion of said image bearing document, whereby said image is transferred to the panel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
126 words
Apparatus for transferring an image from an image bearing document to a plasma panel of gaseous discharge cells comprising: optical read-out means positioned to view light emitted from said gaseous discharge cells which passes through said image bearing document; means for sequentially driving said cells to the ON light emitting state so that a first group of said cells are visible by said optical read-out means whereas a second group of cells are substantially blocked by a portion of said image bearing document and are therefore not visible by said optical read-out apparatus; and means for selectively restoring to the OFF state the group of cells which are substantially blocked by a portion of said image bearing document, whereby said image is transferred to the panel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, including means for initially driving all of said cells to the ON state and for sustaining said cells in the ON state by a repetitive sustaining sequence; and timing means for sequentially driving said cells to the ON state intermediate respective sustaining sequences.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said timing means includes means for activating said read-out apparatus in synchronism with the sequential driving of said cells to the ON state.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-11 | 1977-09-10 | 1978-03-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-11 | 1981-09-10 | 1982-03-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-11 | 1985-09-10 | 1986-03-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |