US3849688A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Display panel having rows and columns of cells with wide viewing angle
Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 1973-06-28
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Granted: 1974-11-19
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Expires: 1993-06-28
Abstract
Abstract The display panel comprises first and second layers of communicating gas-filled display cells. The first layer includes a first plate having slots or grooves, with first electrodes seated in the grooves, and second electrodes supported by the plate so that the first and second electrodes and the gas in the slots between them form a first layer of cells. An apertured center cell sheet having rows and columns of apertures or cells is seated on the second electrodes. The apertured center cell sheet includes deep longitudinal slots which extend down from the top surface thereof, and a thin rib at the base of each slot includes the cell apertures. Third electrodes are disposed between the apertured cell sheet and the panel face plate. The second and third electrodes and the gas-filled space between them comprise the second layer of cells.
Inventors
- 👤 T Maloney
- 👤 D Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:39
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J17/00; H01J17/38; H01J17/48; H01J17/49; H01J17/492; H01J17/494
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
386 words
A display panel comprising a first insulating plate having a top surface and a bottom surface and having a plurality of first parallel grooves in said top surface, a first anode electrode in each said first groove, a plurality of second parallel cathode electrodes spaced from said first electrodes and oriented at an angle to said first electrodes so that each second electrode crosses a plurality of first electrodes, each crossing of a first electrode and a second electrode spaced therefrom defining a gas volume which comprises a first gas cell, a second plate having top and bottom surfaces and positioned above and in sandwich relation with said first plate, a plurality of second parallel grooves formed in said top surface of said second plate and extending downwardly therein to close to said bottom surface thereof, each of said second grooves being generally vertically aligned with one of said first grooves in said first plate, a plurality of cross ribs disposed in each of said second grooves, said cross ribs being spaced apart along each of said second grooves with a portion of a cathode disposed in the space between each pair of cross ribs, said cross ribs extending from near the bottom surface of said second plate toward the top surfaCe thereof, said cross ribs being of a thickness which is considerably less than the thickness of said second plate, the space between adjacent pairs of said cross ribs defining apertures which are operated as second cells and each of which is aligned with a first cell, third electrodes positioned on the top surface of said second plate, each aligned with a group of said apertures whereby a portion of each third electrode is aligned with a portion of a second electrode and a portion of a first electrode at each said aperture, and a top glass viewing plate covering said third electrodes, said first plate, second plate, and viewing plate being sealed together with an ionizable gas included inside said panel and in said cells, said thin cross ribs providing isolation between said adjacent cathodes while permitting a viewer looking through said viewing window along each of said slots to see all of said cathode electrodes aligned with said display cells even when said viewer views said panel over a relatively wide viewing angle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
386 words
A display panel comprising a first insulating plate having a top surface and a bottom surface and having a plurality of first parallel grooves in said top surface, a first anode electrode in each said first groove, a plurality of second parallel cathode electrodes spaced from said first electrodes and oriented at an angle to said first electrodes so that each second electrode crosses a plurality of first electrodes, each crossing of a first electrode and a second electrode spaced therefrom defining a gas volume which comprises a first gas cell, a second plate having top and bottom surfaces and positioned above and in sandwich relation with said first plate, a plurality of second parallel grooves formed in said top surface of said second plate and extending downwardly therein to close to said bottom surface thereof, each of said second grooves being generally vertically aligned with one of said first grooves in said first plate, a plurality of cross ribs disposed in each of said second grooves, said cross ribs being spaced apart along each of said second grooves with a portion of a cathode disposed in the space between each pair of cross ribs, said cross ribs extending from near the bottom surface of said second plate toward the top surfaCe thereof, said cross ribs being of a thickness which is considerably less than the thickness of said second plate, the space between adjacent pairs of said cross ribs defining apertures which are operated as second cells and each of which is aligned with a first cell, third electrodes positioned on the top surface of said second plate, each aligned with a group of said apertures whereby a portion of each third electrode is aligned with a portion of a second electrode and a portion of a first electrode at each said aperture, and a top glass viewing plate covering said third electrodes, said first plate, second plate, and viewing plate being sealed together with an ionizable gas included inside said panel and in said cells, said thin cross ribs providing isolation between said adjacent cathodes while permitting a viewer looking through said viewing window along each of said slots to see all of said cathode electrodes aligned with said display cells even when said viewer views said panel over a relatively wide viewing angle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The panel defined in claim 1 wherein said cross ribs have a rectangular cross-section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The panel defined in claim 1 wherein said cross ribs have a generally triangular cross-section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The panel defined in claim 1 wherein the greater portion of each said second electrode is exposed in the aperture between adjacent cross ribs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
The panel defined in claim 1 wherein said second electrodes comprise metal strips which extend along columns of said first and second cells, each of said strips having a generally rectangular cross-section and having generally parallel edges, each cross rib in a groove being seated on adjacent second electrodes in contact with the edge portions thereof so that the greater portion of the associated portion of a second electrode is exposed between adjacent cross ribs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The panel defined in claim 1 wherein said first electrodes and said third electrodes are elongated and are oriented generally in the same directions, said second electrodes being elongated and oriented perpendicular to said first and third electrodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The panel defined in claim 1 wherein said first and third electrodes are elongated wires and said second electrodes are elongated flat strips.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The panel defined in claim 1 wherein said first and third electrodes are elongated wires and said second electrodes are elongated flat strips which have apertures at each region where a second electrode crosses a first electrode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The panel defined in claim 1 wherein said first electrodes are seated in said grooves and said second electrodes are seated on the top surface of said first plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
282 words
A display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope having a viewing window and including a first insulating plate having a top surface and a bottom surface and having a plurality of parallel first grooves in said top surface, a first anode electrode in each said first groove, a plurality of second parallel cathode electrodes spaced from said first electrodes and oriented at an angle to said first electrodes so that each second electrode crosses a plurality of first electrodes, each crossing of a first anode electrode and a second cathode electrode spaced therefrom defining a gas volume which comprises a first gas cell, a second insulating plate having top and bottom surfaces and seated on said second cathode electrode, said second plate having a plurality of apertures arrayed in rows and columns, with each aperture comprising a second gas cell and aligned with and exposing a portion of a cathode electrode, said second plate having a plurality of second grooves formed in its top surface and extending downwardly to close to said bottom surface, said second grooves being oriented transverse to said cathode electrodes and being defined by longitudinal walls having substantially the same thickness as said second plate, there being a series of said apertures spaced apart at the base of each of said second grooves, said apertures being spaced apart by a thin cross rib which extends between adjacent ones of said longitudinal walls, said cross ribs having a height which is considerably less than the height of said longitudinal walls, said cross ribs permitting said cathodes exposed in each of said second grooves to be visible to a viewer looking through said viewing window over a relatively wide viewing angle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
282 words
A display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope having a viewing window and including a first insulating plate having a top surface and a bottom surface and having a plurality of parallel first grooves in said top surface, a first anode electrode in each said first groove, a plurality of second parallel cathode electrodes spaced from said first electrodes and oriented at an angle to said first electrodes so that each second electrode crosses a plurality of first electrodes, each crossing of a first anode electrode and a second cathode electrode spaced therefrom defining a gas volume which comprises a first gas cell, a second insulating plate having top and bottom surfaces and seated on said second cathode electrode, said second plate having a plurality of apertures arrayed in rows and columns, with each aperture comprising a second gas cell and aligned with and exposing a portion of a cathode electrode, said second plate having a plurality of second grooves formed in its top surface and extending downwardly to close to said bottom surface, said second grooves being oriented transverse to said cathode electrodes and being defined by longitudinal walls having substantially the same thickness as said second plate, there being a series of said apertures spaced apart at the base of each of said second grooves, said apertures being spaced apart by a thin cross rib which extends between adjacent ones of said longitudinal walls, said cross ribs having a height which is considerably less than the height of said longitudinal walls, said cross ribs permitting said cathodes exposed in each of said second grooves to be visible to a viewer looking through said viewing window over a relatively wide viewing angle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
260 words
A display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope including an array of scanning cells disposed in rows and columns, first and second electrode means associated with said scanning cells for energizing said cells column-by-column, said first electrode means comprising a plurality of cathode electrode strips adapted to exhibit cathode glow and disposed parallel to each other spaced apart in a common plane, an insulating plate seated on said cathode electrodes and having a top surface and a bottom surface, an array of display cells formed in said plate and disposed in rows and columns, each column of said display cells being aligned with one of said cathode electrodes and the display cells in each row, each being aligned with a separate cathode electrode, a plurality of slots formed in said insulating plate and oriented transverse to said cathode electrodes and aligned with the rows of said display cells, said slots being of such depth that only thin insulating ribs remain within said slots, each such rib being positioned between two adjacent cathode electrodes and between two adjacent display cells so that a portion of a cathode electrode is exposed between two adjacent ones of said ribs, and a face plate viewing window over said insulating plate and forming a portion of said envelope, said thin cross ribs providing isolation between adjacent cathodes while permitting a viewer looking through said viewing window along each of said slots to see all of said cathode electrodes aligned with said display cells even when said viewer views said panel over a relatively wide viewing angle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
260 words
A display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope including an array of scanning cells disposed in rows and columns, first and second electrode means associated with said scanning cells for energizing said cells column-by-column, said first electrode means comprising a plurality of cathode electrode strips adapted to exhibit cathode glow and disposed parallel to each other spaced apart in a common plane, an insulating plate seated on said cathode electrodes and having a top surface and a bottom surface, an array of display cells formed in said plate and disposed in rows and columns, each column of said display cells being aligned with one of said cathode electrodes and the display cells in each row, each being aligned with a separate cathode electrode, a plurality of slots formed in said insulating plate and oriented transverse to said cathode electrodes and aligned with the rows of said display cells, said slots being of such depth that only thin insulating ribs remain within said slots, each such rib being positioned between two adjacent cathode electrodes and between two adjacent display cells so that a portion of a cathode electrode is exposed between two adjacent ones of said ribs, and a face plate viewing window over said insulating plate and forming a portion of said envelope, said thin cross ribs providing isolation between adjacent cathodes while permitting a viewer looking through said viewing window along each of said slots to see all of said cathode electrodes aligned with said display cells even when said viewer views said panel over a relatively wide viewing angle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-18 | 1978-05-20 | 1978-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-18 | 1982-05-20 | 1982-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-18 | 1986-05-20 | 1986-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |