US3852609A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control apparatus for supplying operating potentials
Assignee: OI Glass Inc
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Filing: 1972-12-08
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Granted: 1974-12-03
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Expires: 1992-12-08
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a system for supplying operating potentials which is particularly useful with load devices wherein at least two transversely oriented conductors are dielectrically isolated from a gaseous discharge medium between the conductors. The system utilizes wave form generators for supplying sustainer potentials and an addressing matrix for combining manipulating pulses with the sustainer potentials. Novel transformer-diode clamping means are provided to reverse bias the collector-base junctions of output transistors in the addressing circuits which are normally driven to a saturated condition except when a particular discharge site is being addressed. The reverse bias system is used to provide a reverse bias signal, in series opposition with the continuously applied turn-on signal, which will both bring the transistor out of saturation and turn it off quickly.
Inventors
- 👤 E Peters
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:34
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/22; G09G3/28; G09G3/288; G09G3/296; G09G3/297; G09G3/291; G09G3/294
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
318 words
In a system for supplying operating potentials to a load device wherein at least two transversely oriented conductors are dielectrically isolated from a gas discharge medium between said two conductors, comprising a. means for applying a load sustaining potential having at least two different potential levels to one of the transverse conductors including a parallel path having at least two branches, a first branch having a first unidirectional device connected therein for permitting currEnt flow in a first direction, a second branch having a second unidirectional device connected therein for permitting current flow in a second direction; b. means for applying a load signal potential across the end connections of said parallel path; c. transistor means having a base-emitter junction, a collectorbase junction, a collector electrode, a base electrode, and an emitter-electrode and having an emitter-collector circuit connected in one of said branches to permit current flow in the same direction as the unidirectional device in that branch so as to control current flow in said one branch; d. means for applying a turn-on signal to the base-emitter junction of the transistor means having a magnitude which is sufficient to drive said transistor means into saturation and allow current flow through the emitter-collector circuit thereof; and e. means for establishing a reverse bias on the collector-base junction of said transistor means including means for applying a reverse bias signal to said base-emitter junction, isolating diode means connected to prevent current flow between the collector electrode and the base electrode of the transistor means in response to collector potentials that would establish a forward bias across said base-emitter junction and permitting flow of current from said reverse bias signal across said collector-base junction in a reverse direction to discharge th minority carriers from said saturated junction to enable said transistor means to turn off quickly, and means for connecting a reverse bias source to said reverse bias applying means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
318 words
In a system for supplying operating potentials to a load device wherein at least two transversely oriented conductors are dielectrically isolated from a gas discharge medium between said two conductors, comprising a. means for applying a load sustaining potential having at least two different potential levels to one of the transverse conductors including a parallel path having at least two branches, a first branch having a first unidirectional device connected therein for permitting currEnt flow in a first direction, a second branch having a second unidirectional device connected therein for permitting current flow in a second direction; b. means for applying a load signal potential across the end connections of said parallel path; c. transistor means having a base-emitter junction, a collectorbase junction, a collector electrode, a base electrode, and an emitter-electrode and having an emitter-collector circuit connected in one of said branches to permit current flow in the same direction as the unidirectional device in that branch so as to control current flow in said one branch; d. means for applying a turn-on signal to the base-emitter junction of the transistor means having a magnitude which is sufficient to drive said transistor means into saturation and allow current flow through the emitter-collector circuit thereof; and e. means for establishing a reverse bias on the collector-base junction of said transistor means including means for applying a reverse bias signal to said base-emitter junction, isolating diode means connected to prevent current flow between the collector electrode and the base electrode of the transistor means in response to collector potentials that would establish a forward bias across said base-emitter junction and permitting flow of current from said reverse bias signal across said collector-base junction in a reverse direction to discharge th minority carriers from said saturated junction to enable said transistor means to turn off quickly, and means for connecting a reverse bias source to said reverse bias applying means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
A system as defined in claim 1 in which a. said reverse bias applying means includes a transformer having primary and secondary windings, b. said secondary winding being connected to said base electrode of said transistor means, and said primary winding being connected to receive current from said reverse bias source and induce a reverse bias signal on said secondary winding.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
203 words
A system as defined in claim 1 in which a. said means for applying a load signal potential includes means for selectively applying pulses to the end connections of said parallel path, and in which b. said means for applying a turn-on signal to a base electrode of said transistor means includes means for continuously supplying a turn-on signal to said base electrode which has a magnitude sufficient to drive said transistor means into deep saturation, and in which c. said means for establishing a reverse bias on the collector-base junction of said transistor means includes means for selectively applying said reverse bias signal to said base electrode after a load signal pulse has been initiated and for terminating said reverse bias signal before the termination of said load signal pulses, with the reverse bias signal having a polarity and a magnitude sufficient to inhibit application of a resultant turn-on signal to said base electrode thereby rapidly bringing said transistor means out of saturation and turning it off, the termination of said reverse bias signal allowing the transistor to be rapidly driven back into saturation, thus providing a load signal pulse having steep leading and trailing edges for combination with said sustaining potential.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
227 words
In a system for supplying operating potential to a load device wherein at least two transversely oriented conductors are dielectrically isolated from a gaseous discharge medium between said two conductors, comprising a. voltage wave form generating means adapted to be connected to a transverse conductor; b. said voltage wave form generating means including means for applying a potential to said transverse conductor, and transistor means having a base-emitter junction, a collector-base junction, a collector electrode, a base electrode, and an emitter-electrode and having an emitter-collector circuit connected to said conductor for controlling the applied potential; c. means for applying a turn-on signal to the base-eMitter junction of the transistor means having a magnitude sufficient to drive said transistor into saturation; and d. means for establishing a reverse bias on the collector-baee junction of said transistor means including means for applying a reverse bias signal to said base-emitter junction, isolating diode means connected to prevent current flow between the collector and base electrodes in response to potential differences that would establish a forward bias across said base-emitter junction and permitting flow of current from said reverse bias signal across said collector-base junction in a reverse direction to discharge the minority carriers from the saturated junction to enable said transistor means to turn off quickly, and means for connecting a reverse bias source to said reverse bias applying means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
227 words
In a system for supplying operating potential to a load device wherein at least two transversely oriented conductors are dielectrically isolated from a gaseous discharge medium between said two conductors, comprising a. voltage wave form generating means adapted to be connected to a transverse conductor; b. said voltage wave form generating means including means for applying a potential to said transverse conductor, and transistor means having a base-emitter junction, a collector-base junction, a collector electrode, a base electrode, and an emitter-electrode and having an emitter-collector circuit connected to said conductor for controlling the applied potential; c. means for applying a turn-on signal to the base-eMitter junction of the transistor means having a magnitude sufficient to drive said transistor into saturation; and d. means for establishing a reverse bias on the collector-baee junction of said transistor means including means for applying a reverse bias signal to said base-emitter junction, isolating diode means connected to prevent current flow between the collector and base electrodes in response to potential differences that would establish a forward bias across said base-emitter junction and permitting flow of current from said reverse bias signal across said collector-base junction in a reverse direction to discharge the minority carriers from the saturated junction to enable said transistor means to turn off quickly, and means for connecting a reverse bias source to said reverse bias applying means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
191 words
A system as defined in claim 4 in which a. said means for applying a potential includes means for selectively applying pulses to said transverse conductor; and in which b. said means for applying a turn-on signal to a base electrode of said transistor means includes means for continuously supplying turn-on signal to said base electrode which has a magnitude sufficient to drive said transistor means into deep saturation; and in which c. said means for establishing a reverse bias on the collector-base junction of said transistor means includes means for selectively applying said reverse bias signal to said base electrode after a potential pulse has been initiated and for terminating said reverse bias signal before the termination of said potential pulse, with the reverse bias signal having a polarity and a magnitude sufficient to inhibit application of a resultant turn-on signal to said base electrode thereby rapidly bringing said transistor means out of saturation and turning it off, the termination of said reverse bias signal allowing the transistor to be rapidly driven back into saturation, thus providing a resultant potential pulse on said conductor having steep leading and trailing edges.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3343128A
Cited
US3470391A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-02 | 1978-06-03 | 1978-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-02 | 1982-06-03 | 1982-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-02 | 1986-06-03 | 1986-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |