Gas discharge display and memory panel with magnesium oxide coatings

Claim 2

IN A GAESOUS DISCHARGE DEVICE COMPRISING AN IONIZABLE GASEOUS MEDIUM AND AT LEAST ONE DIELECTRIC CHARG STORAGE MEMBER IN CONTACT WITH THE GASEOUS MEDIUM AND AT LEAST ONE ELECTRODE INSULATED FROM THE GASEOUS MEDIUM BY A DIELECTRIC MEMBER, THE IMPROVEMENT WHEREIN THE GASEOUS MEDIUM CONTACTING PORTION OF THE DIELECTRIC MEMBER CONSISTS OF MAGNESIUM OXIDE IN AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO SUBSTANTIALLY DECREASE THE OPERATING VOLTAGES OF THE DISCHARGE DEVICE.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein the dielectric member consists of magnesium oxide.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1 wherein the dielectric member is coated with a layer of magnesium oxide.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 3 wherein the magnesium oxide layer is continuous.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 3 wherein the magnesium oxide layer is discontinuous.

Claim 7

In a gaseous discharge display/memory device comprising an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric gaseous medium contacting surfaces and at least one electrode insulated from the gaseous medium by each dielectric member, the inprovement wherein each dielectric surface consists of magnesium oxide in an amount sufficient to substantially decrease the operating voltages of the device.

Claim 8

In a gaseous discharge display/memory device comprising an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric gaseous medium contacting surfaces and at least one electrode insulated from the gaseous medium by each dielectric member, the inprovement wherein each dielectric surface consists of magnesium oxide in an amount sufficient to substantially decrease the operating voltages of the device.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 6 wherein each dielectric gaseous medium contacting surface consists of a magnesium oxide layer applied to a dielectric base material.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 7 wherein the thickness of the magnesium oxide layer on each dielectric surface is at least about 200 A.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 7 wherein the magnesium oxide layer thickness on each dielectric surface ranges from about 200 A. up to about 10,000 A.

Claim 12

In a gaseous discharge display/memory device comprising an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric material gaseous medium contacting surfaces backed by electrode members, the electrode members behind each dielectric material surface being oriented with respect to the electrode material members behind the opposing dielectric material surface so as to define a plurality of discharge units, the improvement wherein a layer of magnesium oxide is applied to each opposed dielectric material surface in an amount sufficient to decrease the operating voltages of the device.

Claim 13

In a gaseous discharge display/memory device comprising an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric material gaseous medium contacting surfaces backed by electrode members, the electrode members behind each dielectric material surface being oriented with respect to the electrode material members behind the opposing dielectric material surface so as to define a plurality of discharge units, the improvement wherein a layer of magnesium oxide is applied to each opposed dielectric material surface in an amount sufficient to decrease the operating voltages of the device.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 10 wherein the thickness of the magnesium oxide layer on each dielectric surface is at least about 200 A.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 10 wherein the magnesium oxide layer thickness on each dielectric surface ranges from about 200 angstrom units up to about 10,000 A.

Claim 16

An article of manufacture comprising a dielectric body having a structural configuration for use in a gaseous discharge display/memory device, said dielectric body having at least one electrode on one side thereof and on the opposite side thereof having a deposit of magnesium oxide in direct contact with the surface of the body in an amount sufficient to provide substantially decreased operating voltages in the gaseous discharge device.

Claim 17

An article of manufacture comprising a dielectric body having a structural configuration for use in a gaseous discharge display/memory device, said dielectric body having at least one electrode on one side thereof and on the opposite side thereof having a deposit of magnesium oxide in direct contact with the surface of the body in an amount sufficient to provide substantially decreased operating voltages in the gaseous discharge device.

Claim 18

The invention of claim 13 wherein the thickness of the magnesium oxide deposit is at least about 200 A.

Claim 19

The invention of claim 13 wherein the thickness of the magnesium oxide deposit ranges from about 200 A. to about 10,000 A.

Claim 20

In the method of operating a gaseous discharge display/memory device comprising an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of dielectric material members having opposed gaseous medium contacting surfaces, which dielectric material members are respectively backed by a series of parallel-like electrode members, the electrode members behind each dielectric material member being transversely oriented with respect to the electrode members behind the opposing dielectric material members so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge volumes, each constituting a discharge unit, and wherein the gas is selectively ionized within each discharge unit by operating voltages applied to the transversely oriented electrode members, the improvement which comprises substantially decreasing the operating voltages of the device by coating the gaseous medium contacting surface of each opposed dielectric material with a layer of magnesium oxide.

Claim 21

In the method of operating a gaseous discharge display/memory device comprising an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of dielectric material members having opposed gaseous medium contacting surfaces, which dielectric material members are respectively backed by a series of parallel-like electrode members, the electrode members behind each dielectric material member being transversely oriented with respect to the electrode members behind the opposing dielectric material members so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge volumes, each constituting a discharge unit, and wherein the gas is selectively ionized within each discharge unit by operating voltages applied to the transversely oriented electrode members, the improvement which comprises substantially decreasing the operating voltages of the device by coating the gaseous medium contacting surface of each opposed dielectric material with a layer of magnesium oxide.

Claim 22

The invention of claim 16 wherein the thickness of the magnesium oxide layer on the surface of each dielectric material member is at least about 200 A.

Claim 23

The invention of claim 16 wherein the thickness of the magnesium oxide layer on the surface of each dielectric material member ranges from about 200 A. to about 10,000 A.

Claim 24

A gas discharge display/memory device comprising, in combination, a pair of spaced-apart non-conductive support members, a pair of conductor arrays arranged one on each of the confronting surfaces of said support members, the arrays being in transverse relative orientation so as to provide a series of cross-points therebetween, and a dielectric material coating on the confronting surfaces of each of the support members and over the conductor arrays for defining therebetween a sealed gas chamber, the surface of each of said dielectric material coating including a further coating of magnesium oxide in an amount sufficient to provide substantially decreased operating voltages.

Claim 25

A gas discharge display/memory device comprising, in combination, a pair of spaced-apart non-conductive support members, a pair of conductor arrays arranged one on each of the confronting surfaces of said support members, the arrays being in transverse relative orientation so as to provide a series of cross-points therebetween, and a dielectric material coating on the confronting surfaces of each of the support members and over the conductor arrays for defining therebetween a sealed gas chamber, the surface of each of said dielectric material coating including a further coating of magnesium oxide in an amount sufficient to provide substantially decreased operating voltages.

Claim 26

The invention of claim 19 wherein the thickness of the magnesium oxide coating on each dielectric surface is at least about 200 A.

Claim 27

The invention of claim 20 wherein the thickness of the magnesium oxide coating on each dielectric surface ranges from about 200 A. up to about 10,000 A.