Optical write-in method and apparatus for a plasma display panel

Claim 2

In a plasma panel having gaseous discharge cells, each of said cells having a respective wall voltage and a gas volume, a method for changing the state of said cells comprising impinging a light flash on said cells causing photoemission into the respective gas volume of said cells thereby perturbing said respective wall voltage, while simultaneously discharging said cells.

Claim 3

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cells in said plasma panel are maintained in an on state by repetitively discharging said cells, the method further including changing the state of said cells by impinging said light flash during one of said repetitive discharges.

Claim 6

The method of transferring an image into a plasma panel as claimed in claim 3, wherein said plurality of discharge cells are initially in an off state prior to said transfer, and preventing said discharge cells in the light flash impinged portion of said panel from being changed to the on state.

Claim 7

The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said image contains at least two contrasting areas and wherein said light flash impinged on said plasma panel corresponds to one of said contrasting areas.

Claim 10

The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said cells in the light impinged portion of said plasma panel are changed from said on state to an off state for transferring said image on said panel.

Claim 11

The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said image contains at least two contrasting areas and wherein said impinging light flash on said plasma panel corresponds to one of said contrasting areas.

Claim 12

The method as claimed in claim 6, including applying a sustaining signal to said plasma panel for repetitively discharging said cells for maintaining said cells in the on state.

Claim 13

In a plasma panel system including a plasma panel having a plurality of gaseous discharge cells, each of said cells having a respective wall voltage and gas volume, and respective groups of cells being respectively maintained in at least two different on states by associated sustaining signals, a method for transferring an image into said plasma panel, said method comprising: providing a light flash corresponding to said image; and simultaneously impinging said light flash on said plasma panel during the repetitive discharge of one of said respective groups of cells causing photoemission into the respective gas volume of said cells thereby perturbing said respective wall voltage for changing the state of said cells on said light impinged portion of said panel, without changing the state of cells on the non-light impinged portion of said panel.

Claim 14

In a plasma panel system including a plasma panel having a plurality of gaseous discharge cells, each of said cells having a respective wall voltage and gas volume, and respective groups of cells being respectively maintained in at least two different on states by associated sustaining signals, a method for transferring an image into said plasma panel, said method comprising: providing a light flash corresponding to said image; and simultaneously impinging said light flash on said plasma panel during the repetitive discharge of one of said respective groups of cells causing photoemission into the respective gas volume of said cells thereby perturbing said respective wall voltage for changing the state of said cells on said light impinged portion of said panel, without changing the state of cells on the non-light impinged portion of said panel.

Claim 15

In a plasma panel having gaseous discharge cells, each of said cells having a respective wall voltage and a gas volume, apparatus for changing the state of selected cells comprising means for discharging said cells, and means for impinging a light flash on said cells simultaneously during the discharge thereof, said last mentioned means including means for causing photoemission into the respective gas volume of said cells for perturbing said respective wall voltage.

Claim 16

In a plasma panel having gaseous discharge cells, each of said cells having a respective wall voltage and a gas volume, apparatus for changing the state of selected cells comprising means for discharging said cells, and means for impinging a light flash on said cells simultaneously during the discharge thereof, said last mentioned means including means for causing photoemission into the respective gas volume of said cells for perturbing said respective wall voltage.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said cells in said plasma panel are maintained in an on state by means for repetitively discharging said cells, the apparatus further including means for changing the state of said cells by impinging said light flash during one of said repetitive discharges.

Claim 18

Apparatus for transferring an image to a plasma panel having a plurality of gaseous discharge cells, each of said cells having a respective wall voltage and gas volume, said apparatus comprising: means for providing a discharge signal to discharge said cells; means for providing a light flash corresponding to said image; means for impinging said light flash on at least a portion of said plasma panel; said last mentioned means including means for causing photoemission into the respective gas volume of said cells for perturbing said respective wall voltage; and means for simultaneously applying said discharge signal to said panel during said light flash for changing the state of cells on said panel being impinged with said light flash, thereby transferring said image to said panel.

Claim 19

Apparatus for transferring an image to a plasma panel having a plurality of gaseous discharge cells, each of said cells having a respective wall voltage and gas volume, said apparatus comprising: means for providing a discharge signal to discharge said cells; means for providing a light flash corresponding to said image; means for impinging said light flash on at least a portion of said plasma panel; said last mentioned means including means for causing photoemission into the respective gas volume of said cells for perturbing said respective wall voltage; and means for simultaneously applying said discharge signal to said panel during said light flash for changing the state of cells on said panel being impinged with said light flash, thereby transferring said image to said panel.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said plurality of discharge cells are intiailly in an off state prior to said transfer of said image into said panel, and including means for preventing said discharge cells in the light flash impinged portion of said panel from being changed to the on state.

Claim 21

Apparatus for transferring an image to a plasma panel having a plurality of gaseous discharge cells, each of said cells having a respective wall voltage and gas volume, said apparatus comprising: means for driving all of said discharge cells on said plasma panel to an on state; means for repetitively discharging said cells for maintaining said cells in said on state; means for providing a light flash corresponding to said image; and means for simultaneously impinging said light flash on at least a portion of said plasma panel during one of said repetitive discharges for changing the state of cells in the light impinged portion of said plasma panel without changing the state of cells in the non-light impinged portion of said panel; said last mentioned means including means for causing photoemission into the respective gas volume of said cells for perturbing said respective wall voltage.

Claim 22

Apparatus for transferring an image to a plasma panel having a plurality of gaseous discharge cells, each of said cells having a respective wall voltage and gas volume, said apparatus comprising: means for driving all of said discharge cells on said plasma panel to an on state; means for repetitively discharging said cells for maintaining said cells in said on state; means for providing a light flash corresponding to said image; and means for simultaneously impinging said light flash on at least a portion of said plasma panel during one of said repetitive discharges for changing the state of cells in the light impinged portion of said plasma panel without changing the state of cells in the non-light impinged portion of said panel; said last mentioned means including means for causing photoemission into the respective gas volume of said cells for perturbing said respective wall voltage.

Claim 23

In a plasma panel system including a plasma panel having a plurality of gaseous discharge cells, each of said cells having a respective wall voltage and gas volume, and respective groups of cells being respectively maintained in at least two different on states by associated sustaining signals, apparatus for transferring an image into said plasma panel, said apparatus comprising: means for providing a light flash corresponding to said image; and means for simultaneously impinging said light flash on said plasma panel during the repetitive discharge of one of said respective groups of cells for changing the state of said cells on said light impinged portion of said panel, without changing the state of cells on the non-light impinged portion of said panel; said last mentioned means including means for causing photoemission into the respective gas volume of said cells for perturbing said respective wall voltage.

Claim 24

In a plasma panel system including a plasma panel having a plurality of gaseous discharge cells, each of said cells having a respective wall voltage and gas volume, and respective groups of cells being respectively maintained in at least two different on states by associated sustaining signals, apparatus for transferring an image into said plasma panel, said apparatus comprising: means for providing a light flash corresponding to said image; and means for simultaneously impinging said light flash on said plasma panel during the repetitive discharge of one of said respective groups of cells for changing the state of said cells on said light impinged portion of said panel, without changing the state of cells on the non-light impinged portion of said panel; said last mentioned means including means for causing photoemission into the respective gas volume of said cells for perturbing said respective wall voltage.