Multiple position display panel having spurious glow suppressor

Claim 2

A display panel comprising a sealed gas-filled envelope having a viewing window and including an insulating base plate having top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of elongated conductors supported on said base plate and each carrying a plurality of cathode electrode segments spaced apart along its length and spaced from the surface of the base plate, said segments being arrayed in groups on said conductors, with a segment of different conductors being included in each group and each group comprising a display position in said panel, an anode electrode positioned beneath said cathode segments and adjacent the base plate in operative relation with each said group of cathode segments, and an auxiliary electrode electrically isolating the segment groups with their associated anode electrodes from each other.

Claim 3

The display panel of claim 1 further comprising slotted insulating means for supporting the plurality of elongated conductors along at least a portion of their lengths.

Claim 4

A multiple-position character display panel comprising an insulating plate having top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of electrode connectors disposed on said plate, a plurality of Cathode electrode segments spaced apart and coupled to each of the said connectors, an anode electrode for each character position situated proximate a corresponding group of the cathode segments, slotted insulating means positioned about the junctions of said cathode segments and said electrode connectors, a spurious glow inhibiting electrode electrically isolating the cathode segments from all anodes other than their associated anode electrodes, and a gaseous atmosphere sealed in a light-transmitting envelope surrounding the cathode segments and the anode electrodes, including an ionizable gas at a pressure capable of sustaining cathode glow discharge.

Claim 5

A multiple-position character display panel comprising an insulating plate having top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of electrode connectors disposed on said plate, a plurality of Cathode electrode segments spaced apart and coupled to each of the said connectors, an anode electrode for each character position situated proximate a corresponding group of the cathode segments, slotted insulating means positioned about the junctions of said cathode segments and said electrode connectors, a spurious glow inhibiting electrode electrically isolating the cathode segments from all anodes other than their associated anode electrodes, and a gaseous atmosphere sealed in a light-transmitting envelope surrounding the cathode segments and the anode electrodes, including an ionizable gas at a pressure capable of sustaining cathode glow discharge.

Claim 6

The display device of claim 3 wherein the cathode electrode segments are carried by the electrode connectors and the anode electrodes comprise a plurality of slotted conductive members having slots for receiving said junctions of the display segments.

Claim 7

A segmented electrode character display panel comprising an insulating plate having top and bottom surfaces and a plurality of grooves therein, a plurality of elongated conductors, each disposed in one of said grooves and carrying a protruding cathode electrode segment for each character position, second insulating means providing a light-transmitting enclosure with the insulating plate over the cathodes, an anode electrode for each character position situated proximate the corresponding group of display segments, an auxiliary electrode partially surrounding and electrically isolating the cathode electrode segments from all anodes other than the associated anode electrodes, and a gaseous atmosphere sealed in the enclosure between the insulating members, including an ionizable gas at a pressure capable of sustaining cathode glow discharge.

Claim 8

A segmented electrode character display panel comprising an insulating plate having top and bottom surfaces and a plurality of grooves therein, a plurality of elongated conductors, each disposed in one of said grooves and carrying a protruding cathode electrode segment for each character position, second insulating means providing a light-transmitting enclosure with the insulating plate over the cathodes, an anode electrode for each character position situated proximate the corresponding group of display segments, an auxiliary electrode partially surrounding and electrically isolating the cathode electrode segments from all anodes other than the associated anode electrodes, and a gaseous atmosphere sealed in the enclosure between the insulating members, including an ionizable gas at a pressure capable of sustaining cathode glow discharge.

Claim 9

The segmented electrode character display panel of claim 5 wherein the anode electrodes comprise planar mesh screen members situated proximate the associated groups of cathode segments and third insulating means isolates the elongated conductors between cathode segments from discharges in the panel.

Claim 10

The segmented electrode character display panel of claim 5 in which the anode electrodes comprise slotted conductive members inserted beneath the associated groups of cathode segments and the auxiliary electrode comprises an elongated foraminous member overlying the cathode segments and having ridges extending downwardly between adjacent segments on the elongated conductors.

Claim 11

A multiple position display panel comprising a sealed gas-filled envelope having a viewing window and including an insulating base plate having top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of elongated conductors supported on said base plate and each having a plurality of cathode electrode segments coupled to it along its length by connecting tabs, the segments being positioned on said conductors in groups, with one segment of each conductor included in a group and each group comprising a display position in said panel, a pair of slotted insulating plates which abut against each other over said conductors, with segment connecting tabs situated within the slots, an anode electrode positioned in operative relation with each group of the cathode segments, and an auxiliary electrode partially surrounding and electrically isolating each cathode segment group with its associated anode electrode.

Claim 12

A multiple position display panel comprising a sealed gas-filled envelope having a viewing window and including an insulating base plate having top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of elongated conductors supported on said base plate and each having a plurality of cathode electrode segments coupled to it along its length by connecting tabs, the segments being positioned on said conductors in groups, with one segment of each conductor included in a group and each group comprising a display position in said panel, a pair of slotted insulating plates which abut against each other over said conductors, with segment connecting tabs situated within the slots, an anode electrode positioned in operative relation with each group of the cathode segments, and an auxiliary electrode partially surrounding and electrically isolating each cathode segment group with its associated anode electrode.

Claim 13

The multiple position display panel of claim 8 in which the cathode electrode segments are metal strips carried by the elongated conductors and selected ones of the strips and their connecting tabs are twisted at angles to said conductors to form character display matrixes in the panel.

Claim 14

The multiple position display panel of claim 8 wherein the slotted insulating plates are positioned with their slots opposing one another over the elongated conductors and the anode electrodes are slotted for receiving connecting tabs beneath the cathode segments but above the opposed insulating pLates, the auxiliary electrode overlying the segments.

Claim 15

A display device comprising a sealed envelope having a viewing window and including an insulating base plate, a plurality of groups of cathode segments, said groups being disposed side-by-side along a surface of the base plate, a plurality of elongated conductors extending along that surface of the base plate and being coupled to the cathode segments by connecting stems, an insulating layer situated over the elongated conductors and having openings through which pass the connecting stems for the cathode segments, an anode for each group of cathode segments having at least two substantially flat members separated by a slot and being positioned beneath the cathode segments of the associated group about their connecting stems above the insulating layer so that the slot(s) receive the stems and the anode is spaced from the cathode segments and their stems, and a gaseous atmosphere sealed in the region surrounding the cathode segments and the anodes, including an ionizable gas at a pressure capable of sustaining cathode glow discharge.

Claim 16

A display device comprising a sealed envelope having a viewing window and including an insulating base plate, a plurality of groups of cathode segments, said groups being disposed side-by-side along a surface of the base plate, a plurality of elongated conductors extending along that surface of the base plate and being coupled to the cathode segments by connecting stems, an insulating layer situated over the elongated conductors and having openings through which pass the connecting stems for the cathode segments, an anode for each group of cathode segments having at least two substantially flat members separated by a slot and being positioned beneath the cathode segments of the associated group about their connecting stems above the insulating layer so that the slot(s) receive the stems and the anode is spaced from the cathode segments and their stems, and a gaseous atmosphere sealed in the region surrounding the cathode segments and the anodes, including an ionizable gas at a pressure capable of sustaining cathode glow discharge.

Claim 17

A display device comprising a sealed envelope having a viewing window and including an insulating base plate, a plurality of groups of cathode segments, said groups being disposed side-by-side along a surface of the base plate, a plurality of elongated conductors extending along that surface of the base plate and being coupled to the cathode segments by connecting stems, an insulating layer situated over the elongated conductors and having openings through which extend the connecting stems for the cathodes, an anode for each group of cathode segments disposed beneath the cathode segments of the associated group about their connecting stems and above the insulating layer and spaced from the cathode segments and their connecting stems, and a gaseous atmosphere sealed in the region surrounding the cathode segments and the anodes, including an ionizable gas at a pressure capable of sustaining cathode glow discharge.

Claim 18

A display device comprising a sealed envelope having a viewing window and including an insulating base plate, a plurality of groups of cathode segments, said groups being disposed side-by-side along a surface of the base plate, a plurality of elongated conductors extending along that surface of the base plate and being coupled to the cathode segments by connecting stems, an insulating layer situated over the elongated conductors and having openings through which extend the connecting stems for the cathodes, an anode for each group of cathode segments disposed beneath the cathode segments of the associated group about their connecting stems and above the insulating layer and spaced from the cathode segments and their connecting stems, and a gaseous atmosphere sealed in the region surrounding the cathode segments and the anodes, including an ionizable gas at a pressure capable of sustaining cathode glow discharge.

Claim 19

The display device of claim 12 wherein the anodes comprise substantially flat conductive members situated on the insulating layer and having at laeast one slot for receiving the connecting stems of associated cathode segments without contact.

Claim 20

The display device of claim 12 wherein the anodes comprise slotted conductive members having at least two substantially flat fingers separated by a slot of suitable shape for receiving the connecting stems of associated cathode segments in spaced-apart relationship.

Claim 21

A display device comprising a sealed gas-filled envelope including an insulating base plate and a face plate having a viewing window, a plurality of groups of cathode segments disposed side-by-side above the top surface of said base plate, a plurality of elongated conductors which extend adjacent to the top surface of said base plate and are coupled to the cathode segments, corresponding cathode segments in each group being connected to the same conductor, an insulating layer disposed between said elongated conductors and said cathode segments, and an anode electrode for each group of cathode segments positioned beneath the cathode segments of each group and between said cathode segments and said insulating layer.

Claim 22

A display device comprising a sealed gas-filled envelope including an insulating base plate and a face plate having a viewing window, a plurality of groups of cathode segments disposed side-by-side above the top surface of said base plate, a plurality of elongated conductors which extend adjacent to the top surface of said base plate and are coupled to the cathode segments, corresponding cathode segments in each group being connected to the same conductor, an insulating layer disposed between said elongated conductors and said cathode segments, and an anode electrode for each group of cathode segments positioned beneath the cathode segments of each group and between said cathode segments and said insulating layer.

Claim 23

The display device of claim 15 wherein said anode electrodes have terminals disposed along a side of said base plate, and said elongated conductors extend from at least one end of said base plate as terminals for the cathode segments to which each is connected.

Claim 24

The display device of claim 15 wherein said device includes relatively long opposed top and bottom edges and opposed ends, and said anode electrodes have their terminals disposed along one of said long edges, and said elongated conductors are externally accessible at at least one of said ends.

Claim 25

A display device comprising a sealed gas-filled envelope including an Insulating base plate and a face plate having a viewing window, a plurality of groups of cathode segments disposed side-by-side above the top surface of said base plate, a plurality of elongated conductors which extend adjacent to the top surface of said base plate and are coupled to the cathode segments, corresponding cathode segments in each group being connected to the same conductor, an insulating layer disposed between said elongated conductors and said cathode segments, an anode electrode for each group of cathode segments positioned beneath the cathode segments of each group and between said cathode segments and said insulating layer, and a shield electrode having a portion in operative relation with each of said groups of cathode segments.

Claim 26

A display device comprising a sealed gas-filled envelope including an Insulating base plate and a face plate having a viewing window, a plurality of groups of cathode segments disposed side-by-side above the top surface of said base plate, a plurality of elongated conductors which extend adjacent to the top surface of said base plate and are coupled to the cathode segments, corresponding cathode segments in each group being connected to the same conductor, an insulating layer disposed between said elongated conductors and said cathode segments, an anode electrode for each group of cathode segments positioned beneath the cathode segments of each group and between said cathode segments and said insulating layer, and a shield electrode having a portion in operative relation with each of said groups of cathode segments.

Claim 27

A display panel comprising a sealed gas-filled envelope including an insulating base plate and a face plate having a viewing window, a plurality of groups of cathode segments disposed side-by-side above the top surface of said base plate, a plurality of elongated conductors which extend adjacent to the top surface of said base plate and are coupled to the cathode segments, corresponding cathode segments in each group being connected to the same conductor, and an anode electrode for each group of cathode segments positioned beneath the cathode segments of each group and between said cathode segments and said base plate.

Claim 28

A display panel comprising a sealed gas-filled envelope including an insulating base plate and a face plate having a viewing window, a plurality of groups of cathode segments disposed side-by-side above the top surface of said base plate, a plurality of elongated conductors which extend adjacent to the top surface of said base plate and are coupled to the cathode segments, corresponding cathode segments in each group being connected to the same conductor, and an anode electrode for each group of cathode segments positioned beneath the cathode segments of each group and between said cathode segments and said base plate.

Claim 29

The display panel of claim 19 wherein said anode electrodes having terminals disposed along a side of said base plate, and said elongated conductors extend from at least one end of said panel as terminals for the cathode segments to which each is connected.

Claim 30

The panel defined in claim 19 wherein said cathodes comprise metal strips and each said anode comprises at least one metal strip.

Claim 31

The display device of claim 19 wherein said panel includes relatively long opposed top and bottom edges and opposed ends, and said anode electrodes have their terminals disposed along one of said long edges, and said elongated conductors are externally accessible at at least one of said ends.

Claim 32

A display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope having a viewing window and a base plate hermetically sealed thereto along a predetermined perimeter, said base plate having a top surface facing said viewing window, an ionizable gas within said envelope at a pressure capable of sustaining glow discharge, a plurality of groups of cathode segments disposed along said base plate and adjacent to the top surface thereof facing said viewing window, each group of segments comprising a character position at which a character can be displayed by selected glowing cathode segments, a plurality of common cathode conductors for making contact to said cathode segments and for connecting said cathode segments to external circuit elements, said cathode segments comprising metal strips, each secured to a common cathode conductor, each common cathode conductor thus being connected to the same cathode strip in each said group, and an anode electrode associated with each group of cathode segments, each such anode electrode including a metal strip disposed beneath its group of cathode segments remote from said viewing window.

Claim 33

A display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope having a viewing window and a base plate hermetically sealed thereto along a predetermined perimeter, said base plate having a top surface facing said viewing window, an ionizable gas within said envelope at a pressure capable of sustaining glow discharge, a plurality of groups of cathode segments disposed along said base plate and adjacent to the top surface thereof facing said viewing window, each group of segments comprising a character position at which a character can be displayed by selected glowing cathode segments, a plurality of common cathode conductors for making contact to said cathode segments and for connecting said cathode segments to external circuit elements, said cathode segments comprising metal strips, each secured to a common cathode conductor, each common cathode conductor thus being connected to the same cathode strip in each said group, and an anode electrode associated with each group of cathode segments, each such anode electrode including a metal strip disposed beneath its group of cathode segments remote from said viewing window.