Television display panel having gas discharge cathodo-luminescent elements

Claim 2

A cathodo-luminescent device comprising: wall means defining an enclosure for receiving an ionizable gas at a predetermined pressure, said wall means having opposed first and second ends; pg,21 cathode means disposed at said first end of said enclosure and adapted to have a voltage V0; high voltage anode means disposed at said second end of said enclosure and adapted to receive a relatively high accelerating voltage V2; phosphor means disposed at said high voltage anode means for emitting light when bombarded by high energy electrons accelerated to said high voltage anode means; and discharge anode means adapted to receive an applied voltage V1 substantially lower than said accelerating voltage V2, V2 - V1 being of a predetermined magnitude effective to accelerate free electrons to energy levels capable of exciting said phosphor means to emit light, V1 - V0 being of a predetermined mAgnitude effective to support a gas discharge between said cathode means and said discharge anode means, said discharge anode means being disposed directly between said first and second ends of said enclosure and spaced from said high voltage anode means a predetermined distance which is insufficient, considering said gas pressure and said voltage difference V2 - V1 between said high voltage anode means and said discharge anode means to support a gas discharge therebetween, said discharge anode means defining electron-transmissive openings for permitting free electrons generated in a discharge established between said cathode and said discharge anode means to pass through said discharge anode means and to be accelerated by said high voltage anode means into impingement with said phosphor means.

Claim 3

The apparatus defined by claim 1 including control means within said enclosure adapted to receive a variable electrical signal for controlling the flow of electrons to said phosphor means.

Claim 4

The apparatus defined by claim 1 including moderating means disposed between said first and second ends of said enclosure for causing free electrons accelerated from said discharge anode means to said high voltage anode means to have a substantially narrower range of energies than the range of energies of the free electrons generated in the gas discharge.

Claim 5

The apparatus defined by claim 3 wherein said functions of said discharge anode means and said moderating means are combined in a structure comprising baffle means substantially less transmissive to high energy electrons than to low energy electrons.

Claim 6

The apparatus defined by claim 4 wherein said structure is arranged so as to generate secondary electrons when struck by high energy electrons.

Claim 7

A cathodo-luminescent device comprising: wall means defining an enclosure fo receiving an ionizable gas at a predetermined pressure, said wall means having first and second ends; cathode means disposed at said first end of said enclosure and adapted to have a voltage V0; high voltage anode means disposed at said second end of said enclosure and adapted to receive a relatively high accelerating voltage V2; phosphor means disposed at said high voltage anode means for emitting light when bombarded by high energy electrons accelerated to said high voltage anode means; and discharge anode means including a secondary electron emissive surface material and adapted to receive an applied voltage V1 substantially lower than said accelerating voltage V2, V2 - V1 being of a predetermined magnitude effective to accelerate free electrons to energy levels capable of readily exciting said phosphor means to emit light, V1 - V0 being of a predetermined magnitude effective support a gas discharge between said cathode means and said discharge anode means, said discharge anode means being disposed directly between said first and second ends of said enclosure and spaced from said high voltage anode means a predetermined distance which is insufficient, considering said gas pressure and said voltage difference V2 -V1 between said high voltage anode means and said discharge anode means, to support a gas discharge therebetween, said discharge anode means defining electro-transmissive openings which are substantially less transmissive to high energy electrons than to low energy electrons for permitting relatively low energy free electrons generated in the gas discharge and secondary electrons generated at said second anode means to be drawn through said discharge anode means and accelerated by said high voltage anode means into impingement with said phosphor means.

Claim 8

A cathodo-luminescent device comprising: wall means defining an enclosure fo receiving an ionizable gas at a predetermined pressure, said wall means having first and second ends; cathode means disposed at said first end of said enclosure and adapted to have a voltage V0; high voltage anode means disposed at said second end of said enclosure and adapted to receive a relatively high accelerating voltage V2; phosphor means disposed at said high voltage anode means for emitting light when bombarded by high energy electrons accelerated to said high voltage anode means; and discharge anode means including a secondary electron emissive surface material and adapted to receive an applied voltage V1 substantially lower than said accelerating voltage V2, V2 - V1 being of a predetermined magnitude effective to accelerate free electrons to energy levels capable of readily exciting said phosphor means to emit light, V1 - V0 being of a predetermined magnitude effective support a gas discharge between said cathode means and said discharge anode means, said discharge anode means being disposed directly between said first and second ends of said enclosure and spaced from said high voltage anode means a predetermined distance which is insufficient, considering said gas pressure and said voltage difference V2 -V1 between said high voltage anode means and said discharge anode means, to support a gas discharge therebetween, said discharge anode means defining electro-transmissive openings which are substantially less transmissive to high energy electrons than to low energy electrons for permitting relatively low energy free electrons generated in the gas discharge and secondary electrons generated at said second anode means to be drawn through said discharge anode means and accelerated by said high voltage anode means into impingement with said phosphor means.

Claim 9

The apparatus defined by claim 6 including control grid means adapted to receive a variable electrical signal for controlling the flow of electrons to said phosphor means, said control grid means cooperating with said discharge anode means to control the flow of electrons through said openings.

Claim 10

Television display apparatus for reproducing an image represented in an input video signal, comprising: an array of selectively addressable cathodo-luminescent elements, each comprising: wall means defining an enclosure for receiving an ionizable gas at a predetermined pressure, said wall means having opposed first and second ends, cathode means disposed at said first end of said enclosure and adapted to have a voltage V0, high voltage anode means disposed at said second end of said enclosure and adapted to receive a relatively high accelerating voltage V2, phosphor means disposed at said high voltage anode means for emitting light when bombarded by high energy electrons accelerated to said high voltage anode means, discharge anode means adapted to receive an applied voltage V1 substantially lower than said accelerating voltage V2, V2 - V1 being of a predetermined magnitude effective to accelerate free electrons to energy levels capable of exciting said phosphor means to emit light, V1 - V0 being of a predetermined magnitude effective to support a gas discharge between said cathode means and said discharge anode means, said discharge anode means being disposed directly between said first and second ends of said enclosure and spaced from said high voltage anode means a predetermined distance which is insufficient, considering said gas pressure and said voltage difference V2 - V1 between said high voltage anode means and said discharge anode means, to support a gas discharge therebetween, said discharge anode means defining electron-transmissive openings for permitting free electrons generated in a discharge established between said cathode and said discharge anode means to be drawn through said discharge anode means and accelerated by said high voltage anode means into impingement with said phosphor means, and control means within said enclosure for controlling the flow of electrons to said phosphor means; and means responsive to an input video signal and coupled to said control means for selectively addressing said elements and for applying said video signal thereto to cause said video signal to be reproduced as a spatially varying light image.

Claim 11

Television display apparatus for reproducing an image represented in an input video signal, comprising: an array of selectively addressable cathodo-luminescent elements, each comprising: wall means defining an enclosure for receiving an ionizable gas at a predetermined pressure, said wall means having opposed first and second ends, cathode means disposed at said first end of said enclosure and adapted to have a voltage V0, high voltage anode means disposed at said second end of said enclosure and adapted to receive a relatively high accelerating voltage V2, phosphor means disposed at said high voltage anode means for emitting light when bombarded by high energy electrons accelerated to said high voltage anode means, discharge anode means adapted to receive an applied voltage V1 substantially lower than said accelerating voltage V2, V2 - V1 being of a predetermined magnitude effective to accelerate free electrons to energy levels capable of exciting said phosphor means to emit light, V1 - V0 being of a predetermined magnitude effective to support a gas discharge between said cathode means and said discharge anode means, said discharge anode means being disposed directly between said first and second ends of said enclosure and spaced from said high voltage anode means a predetermined distance which is insufficient, considering said gas pressure and said voltage difference V2 - V1 between said high voltage anode means and said discharge anode means, to support a gas discharge therebetween, said discharge anode means defining electron-transmissive openings for permitting free electrons generated in a discharge established between said cathode and said discharge anode means to be drawn through said discharge anode means and accelerated by said high voltage anode means into impingement with said phosphor means, and control means within said enclosure for controlling the flow of electrons to said phosphor means; and means responsive to an input video signal and coupled to said control means for selectively addressing said elements and for applying said video signal thereto to cause said video signal to be reproduced as a spatially varying light image.

Claim 12

The apparatus defined by claim 8 including moderating means disposed between said first and second ends of said enclosure for causing free electrons accelerated from said discharge anode means to said high voltage anode means to have a substantially narrower range of initial energies than the range of energies of the free electrons generated in the gas discharge.

Claim 13

The apparatus defined by claim 9 wherein said functions of said discharge anode means and said moderating means are combined in a structure comprising baffle means substantially less transmissive to high energy electrons than to low energy electrons.

Claim 14

The apparatus defined by claim 10 wherein said structure is arranged so as to generate secondary electrons when struck by high energy electrons.

Claim 15

The apparatus defined by claim 9 wherein said cathodo-luminescent elements extend sideways to encompass one television line.

Claim 16

The apparatus defined by claim 9 wherein said cathodo-luminescent elements and said control means are arranged in an X-Y matrix each defining one image element,

Claim 17

Television display apparatus for reproducing an image represented by an input video signal, comprising: an array of selectively addressable cathodo-luminescent elements, comprising: wall means defining an enclosure for receiving an ionizable gas at a predetermined pressure, said wall means having opposed first and second ends, cathode means disposed at said first end of said enclosure and adapted to have a voltage V0, high voltage anode means disposed at said second end of said enclosure and adapted to receive a relatively high acceleRating voltage V2, phosphor means disposed at said high voltage anode means for emitting light when bombarded by high energy electrons accelerated to said high voltage anode means, and discharge anode means composed of a secondary electron-emissive material and adapted to receive an applied voltage V1 substantially lower than said accelerating voltage V2, V2 - V1 being of a predetermined magnitude effective to accelerate free electrons to energy levels capable of readily exciting said phosphor means to emit light, V1 - V0 being of a predetermined magnitude effective to support a gas discharge between said cathode means and said discharge anode means, said discharge anode means being disposed directly between said first and second ends of said enclosure and spaced from said high voltage anode means a predetermined distance which is insufficient, considering said gas pressure and the voltage difference V2 - V1 between said high voltage anode means and said discharge anode means, to support a gas discharge therebetween, said discharge anode means defining electron-transmissive openings which are substantially less transmissive to high energy electrons than to low energy electrons for permitting relatively low energy free electrons generated in the gas discharge and secondary electrons generated at said discharge anode means to be drawn through said discharge anode means and accelerated by said high voltage anode means into impingement with said phosphor means, and control means within said enclosure for controlling the flow of electrons to said phosphor means; and means responsive to an input video signal and coupled to said control means for selectively addressing said elements and for applying said video signal thereto to cause said video signal to be reproduced as a spatially varying light image.

Claim 18

Television display apparatus for reproducing an image represented by an input video signal, comprising: an array of selectively addressable cathodo-luminescent elements, comprising: wall means defining an enclosure for receiving an ionizable gas at a predetermined pressure, said wall means having opposed first and second ends, cathode means disposed at said first end of said enclosure and adapted to have a voltage V0, high voltage anode means disposed at said second end of said enclosure and adapted to receive a relatively high acceleRating voltage V2, phosphor means disposed at said high voltage anode means for emitting light when bombarded by high energy electrons accelerated to said high voltage anode means, and discharge anode means composed of a secondary electron-emissive material and adapted to receive an applied voltage V1 substantially lower than said accelerating voltage V2, V2 - V1 being of a predetermined magnitude effective to accelerate free electrons to energy levels capable of readily exciting said phosphor means to emit light, V1 - V0 being of a predetermined magnitude effective to support a gas discharge between said cathode means and said discharge anode means, said discharge anode means being disposed directly between said first and second ends of said enclosure and spaced from said high voltage anode means a predetermined distance which is insufficient, considering said gas pressure and the voltage difference V2 - V1 between said high voltage anode means and said discharge anode means, to support a gas discharge therebetween, said discharge anode means defining electron-transmissive openings which are substantially less transmissive to high energy electrons than to low energy electrons for permitting relatively low energy free electrons generated in the gas discharge and secondary electrons generated at said discharge anode means to be drawn through said discharge anode means and accelerated by said high voltage anode means into impingement with said phosphor means, and control means within said enclosure for controlling the flow of electrons to said phosphor means; and means responsive to an input video signal and coupled to said control means for selectively addressing said elements and for applying said video signal thereto to cause said video signal to be reproduced as a spatially varying light image.

Claim 19

A cathodo-luminescent television display device, comprising: means defining an enclosure for receiving an ionizable gas at a predetermined pressure; a viewing screen at one end of said enclosure including first anode means adapted to receive a relatively high accelerating voltage V2 and having disposed thereon phosphor means of pre-selected spectral characteristics for emitting light when bombarded by high energy electrons; cathode means within said enclosure disposed in a plane parallel to said screen and adapted to have a voltage V0; electrode means within said enclosure including gas discharge barrier means and discharge anode means both disposed between and oriented parallel to said cathode means and said screen, said discharge anode means being adapted to receive an applied voltage V1 substantially lower than said accelerating voltage V2, V2 - V1 being of a predetermined magnitude effective to accelerate free electrons to energy levels capable of readily exciting said phosphor means to emit light, V1 - V0 being of a predetermined magnitude effective to support a gas discharge between said cathode means and said discharge anode means, said discharge anode means being spaced from said high voltage anode means a predetermined distance which is insufficient, considering said gas pressure and said voltage difference V2 - V1 between said high voltage anode means and said discharge anode means, to support a gas discharge therebetween, said discharge anode means defining electron-transmissive openings for permitting free electrons generated in a discharge established between said cathode and said discharge anode means to be drawn through said discharge anode means and accelerated by said high voltage anode means into impingement with said phosphor means; control grid means within said enclosure for controlling the flow of electrons to said phosphor means; and means responsive to an input video signal and coupled to said control grid means for selectively addrEssing said elements and for applying said video signal thereto to cause said video signal to be reproduced as a spatially varying light image.

Claim 20

A cathodo-luminescent television display device, comprising: means defining an enclosure for receiving an ionizable gas at a predetermined pressure; a viewing screen at one end of said enclosure including first anode means adapted to receive a relatively high accelerating voltage V2 and having disposed thereon phosphor means of pre-selected spectral characteristics for emitting light when bombarded by high energy electrons; cathode means within said enclosure disposed in a plane parallel to said screen and adapted to have a voltage V0; electrode means within said enclosure including gas discharge barrier means and discharge anode means both disposed between and oriented parallel to said cathode means and said screen, said discharge anode means being adapted to receive an applied voltage V1 substantially lower than said accelerating voltage V2, V2 - V1 being of a predetermined magnitude effective to accelerate free electrons to energy levels capable of readily exciting said phosphor means to emit light, V1 - V0 being of a predetermined magnitude effective to support a gas discharge between said cathode means and said discharge anode means, said discharge anode means being spaced from said high voltage anode means a predetermined distance which is insufficient, considering said gas pressure and said voltage difference V2 - V1 between said high voltage anode means and said discharge anode means, to support a gas discharge therebetween, said discharge anode means defining electron-transmissive openings for permitting free electrons generated in a discharge established between said cathode and said discharge anode means to be drawn through said discharge anode means and accelerated by said high voltage anode means into impingement with said phosphor means; control grid means within said enclosure for controlling the flow of electrons to said phosphor means; and means responsive to an input video signal and coupled to said control grid means for selectively addrEssing said elements and for applying said video signal thereto to cause said video signal to be reproduced as a spatially varying light image.