Picture display device comprising a plurality of light producing elements

Claim 1

A picture display device comprising a first transparent, insulating plate member having a first electrode system comprising a plurality of elongated electrodes embedded in one surface thereof, a second insulating plate member having a plurality of longitudinal apertures orthogonal to its end surfaces and arranged in rows and columns, one surface of said second member confronting the surface of said first member having said electrodes embedded therein, said longitudinal apertures corresponding with said electrodes and having their walls coated with a phosphor material capable of converting ultraviolet radiation into visible light, a third insulating plate member having a plurality of additional apertures communicating wiTh said longitudinal apertures, a second electrode system comprising a plurality of elongated electrodes arranged between said second and third plate members and corresponding with said apertures, and a third electrode system arranged confronting the other surface of said third member, means for sealing said first, second and third members to form a sealed envelope, a mixture of mercury vapor and at least one rare gas for filling said apertures at such a pressure as to form within said sealed envelope a plurality of positive column discharges between said first and second electrodes systems when ignited, the length of said elongated apertures being at least twice the normal dimension thereof, whereby an ionization voltage applied between said second and third electrode systems reduces the ignition voltage required for said positive column discharges.