US3833832A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic conditioning of gas discharge panels by inversion internal extension
Assignee: OI Glass Inc
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Filing: 1973-06-22
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Granted: 1974-09-03
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Expires: 1993-06-22
Abstract
Abstract The conditioning or priming of multicelled gas discharge display-memory panels, of the type in which a discharge in a hermetically enclosed ionizable gas generates charges alternately collectable on pairs of discrete areas of spaced dielectric surfaces which are backed by conductors of first and second conductor arrays to define a plurality of discharge cells, is enhanced and their operation made more reliable by periodically inverting the state of all cells in the panel. Extension of the interval of inversion of the discharge state of the panel beyond the half period of a normal sustainer voltage cycle increases the probability that the cells normally in the ''''off state'''' will be transferred to the ''''on state.'''' This improvement permits less frequent inversions of discharge state without detriment to the cell writing reliability of the panel thereby enhancing the contrast ratio between ''''on'''' cells and ''''off'''' cells. A clocking circuit for regular sustainer voltage cycles and for a regular, periodic, extended interval device inverting sustainer voltage is shown with a number of sustainer wave form constructions for the inverting condition.
Inventors
- 👤 M Fein
- 👤 J Schermerhorn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:06
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/22; G09G3/28; G09G3/288; G09G3/291; G09G3/294; G09G3/296; G09G3/297; G09G2310/00; G09G2310/02; G09G2310/0243; G09G2310/0254; G09G2320/00; G09G2320/02; G09G2320/0228
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
The method of operating a gas discharge display/memory panel of the type in which a discharge in an enclosed ionizable gas generates charges alternately collectible on pairs of discrete areas of spaced dielectric surfaces which are backed by conductors of first and second conductor arrays respectively to define a plurality of discharge cells, each including a pair of opposed discrete charge storage areas comprising: applying trains of a plurality of cycles of a first alternating sustaining voltage wave form having a regular cycle period across the first and second conductor arrays; selectively interposing between said trains a second alternating sustaining voltage wave form having levels displaced from the first sustaining voltage to apply voltages across the first and second conductor arrays tending to invert the discharge states of aLl cells comprised of conductors of the first and second conductor arrays from the discharge states established for those cells during application of the first sustaining voltage; and extending the time interval of application of an excursion of the second sustaining voltage in the direction of the displacement of the second sustaining voltage from the first sustaining voltage for a time interval exceeding the time interval of an excursion in that direction of the regular cycle of the first sustaining voltage wave form.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
211 words
The method of operating a gas discharge display/memory panel of the type in which a discharge in an enclosed ionizable gas generates charges alternately collectible on pairs of discrete areas of spaced dielectric surfaces which are backed by conductors of first and second conductor arrays respectively to define a plurality of discharge cells, each including a pair of opposed discrete charge storage areas comprising: applying trains of a plurality of cycles of a first alternating sustaining voltage wave form having a regular cycle period across the first and second conductor arrays; selectively interposing between said trains a second alternating sustaining voltage wave form having levels displaced from the first sustaining voltage to apply voltages across the first and second conductor arrays tending to invert the discharge states of aLl cells comprised of conductors of the first and second conductor arrays from the discharge states established for those cells during application of the first sustaining voltage; and extending the time interval of application of an excursion of the second sustaining voltage in the direction of the displacement of the second sustaining voltage from the first sustaining voltage for a time interval exceeding the time interval of an excursion in that direction of the regular cycle of the first sustaining voltage wave form.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 1 including the step of maintaining each train of the first alternating sustaining voltage wave form for a long interval relative to the interval of application of the second alternating sustaining voltage wave form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of extending the excursion of the second sustaining voltage is during the initial excursion of the second sustaining voltage in the direction of the displacement of the second sustaining voltage from the first sustaining voltage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein the length of the extended interval of excursion is a direct function of the length of the interval the train of cycles of the first sustaining voltage is maintained between applications of the second sustaining voltage wave form.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein the interval the train of cycles of the first sustaining voltage wave form is applied is of the order of a millisecond.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the regular period is of the order of 20 microseconds and wherein the extension of the excursion of the second sustaining voltage is of the order of 40 microseconds.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
380 words
The method of operating a gas discharge display/memory panel of the type in which a discharge in an enclosed ionizable gas generates charges alternately collectible on pairs of discrete areas of spaced dielectric surfaces which are backed by conductors of first and second conductor arrays respectively, each pair of opposed discrete charge storage areas comprising a discharge cell, comprising: imposing trains of a plurality of cycles of a first alternating sustainer voltage wave form having a regular cycle period between the first and second conductor arrays to develop a first ''''off'''' cell wall voltage for cells in the ''''off'''' discharge state and a first ''''on'''' discharge state periodic alternating wall voltage for cells in the ''''on'''' discharge state having charges alternately collectible on the dielectric surfaces; between each train of the first alternating voltage shifting the sustainer voltage level applied between the first and second conductor arrays to an inversion level which has an inversion ''''off'''' cell wall voltage for cells in the ''''off'''' discharge state which is essentially at the cell wall voltage level of the first ''''on'''' discharge state cell wall voltage and which has an inversion ''''on'''' cell wall voltage for cells in the ''''on'''' discharge state which is essentially at the cell wall voltage level of the first ''''off'''' discharge state cell wall voltage, whereby those cells in the ''''off'''' discharge state during imposition of the first sustainer voltage tend to be shifted to the ''''on'''' discharge state during imposition of the inversion level voltage and those cells in the ''''on'''' discharge state during imposition of the first sustainer voltage tend to be shifted to the ''''off'''' discharge state during imposition of the inversion level voltage; maintaining the sustainer voltage shift for a time interval exceeding half the time interval of a regular period of the first sustainer voltage wave form to facilitate the transfer of cells which were in the ''''off'''' discharge state during imposition of the first sustainer voltage to the ''''on'''' discharge state during the period of said shift; and shifting the sustainer voltage level to a level near the first ''''off'''' cell wall voltage whereby the cells transferred to the ''''on'''' state during the maintained shift of sustainer level have a cell wall voltage level near the first ''''off'''' cell wall voltage.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
380 words
The method of operating a gas discharge display/memory panel of the type in which a discharge in an enclosed ionizable gas generates charges alternately collectible on pairs of discrete areas of spaced dielectric surfaces which are backed by conductors of first and second conductor arrays respectively, each pair of opposed discrete charge storage areas comprising a discharge cell, comprising: imposing trains of a plurality of cycles of a first alternating sustainer voltage wave form having a regular cycle period between the first and second conductor arrays to develop a first ''''off'''' cell wall voltage for cells in the ''''off'''' discharge state and a first ''''on'''' discharge state periodic alternating wall voltage for cells in the ''''on'''' discharge state having charges alternately collectible on the dielectric surfaces; between each train of the first alternating voltage shifting the sustainer voltage level applied between the first and second conductor arrays to an inversion level which has an inversion ''''off'''' cell wall voltage for cells in the ''''off'''' discharge state which is essentially at the cell wall voltage level of the first ''''on'''' discharge state cell wall voltage and which has an inversion ''''on'''' cell wall voltage for cells in the ''''on'''' discharge state which is essentially at the cell wall voltage level of the first ''''off'''' discharge state cell wall voltage, whereby those cells in the ''''off'''' discharge state during imposition of the first sustainer voltage tend to be shifted to the ''''on'''' discharge state during imposition of the inversion level voltage and those cells in the ''''on'''' discharge state during imposition of the first sustainer voltage tend to be shifted to the ''''off'''' discharge state during imposition of the inversion level voltage; maintaining the sustainer voltage shift for a time interval exceeding half the time interval of a regular period of the first sustainer voltage wave form to facilitate the transfer of cells which were in the ''''off'''' discharge state during imposition of the first sustainer voltage to the ''''on'''' discharge state during the period of said shift; and shifting the sustainer voltage level to a level near the first ''''off'''' cell wall voltage whereby the cells transferred to the ''''on'''' state during the maintained shift of sustainer level have a cell wall voltage level near the first ''''off'''' cell wall voltage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 7 including the step of maintaining the first alternating sustainer voltage wave form for a long interval relative to the interval the shift of the sustainer voltage level to the inversion level is maintained.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 8 wherein the length of the interval of the shift of the sustainer voltage level to the inversion level is a direct function of the length of the interval the alternating sustainer voltage wave form is maintained.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 8 wherein the interval the first alternating sustainer voltage wave form is maintained is of the order of a millisecond.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein the regular period is of the order of twenty microseconds and wherein the maintained interval is of the order of 40 microseconds.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein the shift of the sustainer voltage level near the first ''''off'''' cell wall voltage is maintained for an interval of the order of one half the regular period.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein the interval the sustainer voltage level is shifted to the inversion level is of the order of 40 microseconds.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
200 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein the first alternating sustainer voltage is produced by: alternately shifting the component of the sustainer applied to a first array of conductors between a reference voltage and a first small voltage displaced from the reference voltage; alternately shifting the component of the sustainer applied to a second array of conductors between a second small voltage of the general magnitude and direction from the reference voltage of said first small voltage and a third voltage at least equal to the second voltage in magnitude and in a direction from the reference voltage opposite the second voltage; wherein the shift to said inversion level is produced by shifting the component applied to the second array to the second small voltage and shifting the component applied to the first array to a fourth voltage displaced from the reference voltage opposite the first voltage and of a value of the general magnitude of the third voltage; and wherein the shift to the first ''''off'''' cell wall voltage is produced by shifting the component applied to the second array to the reference voltage level and shifting the component applied to the first array to the fourth voltage level.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 14 wherein the first voltage equals the second voltage and the third voltage equals the fourth voltage.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
182 words
In a circuit for maintaining a distribution of starting charge particles in a gas discharge display/memory panel of the type in which a discharge in an enclosed ionizable gas generates charges alternately collectible on pairs of discrete areas of spaced dielectric surfaces which are backed by conductors of first and second conductor arrays respectively to define a plurality of discharge cells each including a pair of opposed discrete charge storage areas comprising, means for applying successive trains of cycles of a first level sustaining voltage across said first and second conductor arrays alternating at regular cycle periods; means effective between successive trains for selectively shifting said sustaining voltage to a second-level to apply voltages across said first and second conductor arrays tending to invert the discharge state of all cells comprised of conductors of said first and second conductor arrays; and means to extend the time interval of an excursion of the shifted sustaining voltage in the direction augmented by said shifted level for an interval exceeding the interval of such excursion during a regular period for said first level sustaining voltage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
182 words
In a circuit for maintaining a distribution of starting charge particles in a gas discharge display/memory panel of the type in which a discharge in an enclosed ionizable gas generates charges alternately collectible on pairs of discrete areas of spaced dielectric surfaces which are backed by conductors of first and second conductor arrays respectively to define a plurality of discharge cells each including a pair of opposed discrete charge storage areas comprising, means for applying successive trains of cycles of a first level sustaining voltage across said first and second conductor arrays alternating at regular cycle periods; means effective between successive trains for selectively shifting said sustaining voltage to a second-level to apply voltages across said first and second conductor arrays tending to invert the discharge state of all cells comprised of conductors of said first and second conductor arrays; and means to extend the time interval of an excursion of the shifted sustaining voltage in the direction augmented by said shifted level for an interval exceeding the interval of such excursion during a regular period for said first level sustaining voltage.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The circuit according to claim 16 wheRein said extending means defines an interval which is at least several times said excursion during a regular period.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The circuit according to claim 16 wherein said extending means is operated during the initial excursion of said shifted sustaining voltage.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The circuit according to claim 16 including means to actuate said shifting means in response to the application of a predetermined number of alternations of the first level sustaining voltage by said applying means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
62 words
The circuit according to claim 18 wherein said shifting means includes means for applying one cycle of alternation of the sustaining voltage at the second level; means to terminate application of the sustaining voltage at the second level and to apply the first level sustaining voltage upon the completion of one cycle of alternation of the sustaining voltage at the second level.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
53 words
The circuit according to claim 16 wherein said applying means includes a first clock means having a given period which establishes the regular periods of the sustaining voltage alternations; and wherein said shifting means includes a second clocking means having a second given period at least several times said first mentioned given period.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
The circuit according to claim 16 including means to generate an excursion of the shifted sustaining voltage in the direction opposite the shifted level for an interval equal to the interval of an excursion in said direction of a regular period of the sustaining voltage.
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) | 1977-09-02 | 1978-03-04 | 1978-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-02 | 1982-03-04 | 1982-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-02 | 1986-03-04 | 1986-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |