Display panel electrode termination

Claim 2

A display device comprising an envelope including a pair of flat, insulating plates which are parallel to each other and spaced apart to define a gasfilled electric discharge region between them, a plurality of cathode electrodes seated on one of the plates and a plurality of different electrical conductors connected to them and terminating along an edge of this first plate, at least one anode electrode seated on the other of said plates in association with selected ones of the cathode electrodes and having a lead terminating along an edge of this other plate, which edge is parallel to an adjacent edge of the first plate, the terminals of the cathode connectors and of the anode lead(s) being on opposing surfaces of the respective plates for receivably mating with external connecting means between the plates, and means for sealing the gas discharge region between the plates along a predetermined perimeter and leaving the cathode and anode terminals exposed for receiving the connecting means.

Claim 3

The display device of claim 1 wherein the edges of the plates on which the terminals of the cathode connectors and the terminals of the anode lead(s) are disposed are parallel to each other, and the connecting means comprise connector contacts for engaging the anode and cathode terminals between the plates.

Claim 4

The display device of claim 2 wherein the cathode connector terminals and the anode lead terminals on the respective plates are offset from each other for mating with horizontally spaced resilient contacts for the anodes and for the cathodes to be inserted between such terminals.

Claim 5

The display device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of cathode electrodes comprises a plurality of groups of cathodes arranged along a predetermined line, and wherein there is one electrode associated with each such group, and the terminals for the cathode connectors and for the anode leads are disposed along edges of the respective plates which are parallel to said predetermined line and are adjacent each other.

Claim 6

The display device of claim 4 wherein corresponding cathodes of the groups are interconnected, and the edges of the plates along which the terminals of the cathode connectors and the terminals of the anode leads are disposed are adjacent to each otheR for receiving shaped, resilient contact members, both for making connection with the anode and cathode terminals and for supporting the device.

Claim 7

An electrical display device comprising an envelope defined by a pair of flat, insulating plates which are parallel and spaced from each other, a plurality of first electrodes seated on one of the plates and having a plurality of associated connectors terminating along an edge of the first plate, at least one second electrode seated on the other of the plates and having a lead terminating along an edge of this other plate, which edge is parallel to an adjacent edge of the first plate, the terminals of the connectors and the lead(s) of the first and second electrodes being an opposing surfaces of the respective plates for receivably mating with external connecting means between the plates, and means for sealing a display-supporting medium in the envelope between the plates along a predetermined perimeter and leaving the terminals of the electrodes exposed for mating with the connecting means.

Claim 8

An electrical display device comprising an envelope defined by a pair of flat, insulating plates which are parallel and spaced from each other, a plurality of first electrodes seated on one of the plates and having a plurality of associated connectors terminating along an edge of the first plate, at least one second electrode seated on the other of the plates and having a lead terminating along an edge of this other plate, which edge is parallel to an adjacent edge of the first plate, the terminals of the connectors and the lead(s) of the first and second electrodes being an opposing surfaces of the respective plates for receivably mating with external connecting means between the plates, and means for sealing a display-supporting medium in the envelope between the plates along a predetermined perimeter and leaving the terminals of the electrodes exposed for mating with the connecting means.

Claim 9

The electrical display device of claim 6 wherein the edges of the plates on which the terminals of the electrodes are disposed are parallel to each other, and the connecting means comprise connector contacts for engaging the first and second electrodes at the respective terminals thereof between the plates.

Claim 10

The electrical display device of claim 7 wherein the connector terminals for the first electrodes and the second electrodes on the respective plates are horizontally offset from each other for mating with horizontally spaced resilient contacts for the first and second electrodes to be inserted between them and the opposing plate.

Claim 11

The electrical display device of claim 6 comprising a plurality of groups of first electrodes disposed in a row and a plurality of second electrodes associated with them, and the terminals for the electrodes are disposed along edges of the respective plates which are parallel to the rows of said electrodes.

Claim 12

The electrical display device of claim 9 wherein corresponding ones of the first electrodes are interconnected and the edges of the plates along which the terminals for the electrodes are disposed are adjacent each other for receiving the connecting means which comprise shaped, resilient contact members both for making connection with the electrode terminals and for supporting the device.

Claim 13

A panel-type display device comprising a cover plate and a base plate defining a display space between them, but extending beyond said display space, electrically responsive light-emitting means in said display space, a plurality of electrodes associated with said light-emitting means for operation thereof and including a set of first electrodes adjacent said base plate and a set of second electrodes, a plurality of connector contacts disposed on the facing surfaces of said plates, adjacent a peripheral edge of each of them, outside of the area of said display space, and a plurality of conductors each electrically connecting one of said connector contacts to one of said electrodes.

Claim 14

A panel-type display device comprising a cover plate and a base plate defining a display space between them, but extending beyond said display space, electrically responsive light-emitting means in said display space, a plurality of electrodes associated with said light-emitting means for operation thereof and including a set of first electrodes adjacent said base plate and a set of second electrodes, a plurality of connector contacts disposed on the facing surfaces of said plates, adjacent a peripheral edge of each of them, outside of the area of said display space, and a plurality of conductors each electrically connecting one of said connector contacts to one of said electrodes.

Claim 15

The display device of claim 11 further comprising a conductor housing supporting each of said conductors in spaced apart relationship and aligned for insertion between the plates.

Claim 16

The display device of claim 12 wherein said common edges of the plates are adjacent each other and further comprising a rigid frame situated between the plates and having at least one tab extending out from between the plates for engagement with the conductor housing.

Claim 17

A panel-type display device comprising a base plate and a cover plate defining a display space between them, but extending beyond said display space, a glow-supporting medium disposed in said display space, a plurality of electrodes associated with said glow-supporting medium for excitation thereof and including a set of first electrodes adjacent said base plate and a set oF second electrodes, said first and second electrodes having terminals situated along a common edge of the associated plates but offset from each other, the terminals of said first and second electrodes being disposed on opposing surfaces of the respective plates for receivably mating with external connecting means between them, and means sealing the glow-supporting medium in the display space between the plates along a suitable perimeter thereof which leaves the terminals of the electrodes outside the display space and accessible to the connecting means.

Claim 18

A panel-type display device comprising a base plate and a cover plate defining a display space between them, but extending beyond said display space, a glow-supporting medium disposed in said display space, a plurality of electrodes associated with said glow-supporting medium for excitation thereof and including a set of first electrodes adjacent said base plate and a set oF second electrodes, said first and second electrodes having terminals situated along a common edge of the associated plates but offset from each other, the terminals of said first and second electrodes being disposed on opposing surfaces of the respective plates for receivably mating with external connecting means between them, and means sealing the glow-supporting medium in the display space between the plates along a suitable perimeter thereof which leaves the terminals of the electrodes outside the display space and accessible to the connecting means.

Claim 19

A panel-type display device as in claim 14 wherein said common edges of the plates are parallel and adjacent each other and the terminals for the first and second electrodes are horizontally offset from each other for receivably mating with connecting means between the plates.

Claim 20

The device defined in claim 14 wherein said connectors include flexible portions which extend out of said insulating body, said flexible portions being insertible in a support plate at a selected angle whereby said device is disposed at a selected angle with respect to said support plate.

Claim 21

A display device comprising an envelope containing a display medium, two plates of insulating material integral with and extending from said envelope, said plates being spaced from one another and having the facing surfaces thereof substantially parallel, a plurality of electrodes within said envelope, and means for selectively energizing different combinations of said electrodes to produce different display patterns within said envelope, said energizing means including a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the facing surface of at least one of said plates, outside of said envelope, and a plurality of conductors each connected from one of said contacts into said envelope to a different one of the electrodes, said plates having a recess between their facing surfaces in the region of said contacts to receive an electrical connector device to make electrical connection with said contacts.

Claim 22

A display device comprising an envelope containing a display medium, two plates of insulating material integral with and extending from said envelope, said plates being spaced from one another and having the facing surfaces thereof substantially parallel, a plurality of electrodes within said envelope, and means for selectively energizing different combinations of said electrodes to produce different display patterns within said envelope, said energizing means including a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the facing surface of at least one of said plates, outside of said envelope, and a plurality of conductors each connected from one of said contacts into said envelope to a different one of the electrodes, said plates having a recess between their facing surfaces in the region of said contacts to receive an electrical connector device to make electrical connection with said contacts.

Claim 23

A combination including the display device of claim 17 and an electrical connector device having a plurality of outwardly projecting resilient contact fingers for insertion into the recess between the facing surfaces of the plates to establish electrical contact between said fingers and the electrical contacts on said facing surfaces.

Claim 24

The combination of claim 18 wherein said electrical connector device includes a plurality of mounting members which project therefrom to mount said display device in a substantially vertical plane.

Claim 25

The combination of claim 19 wherein said mounting members each include an inclined section to mount said display device at an angle inclined from a vertical plane.

Claim 26

A display device as in claim 17 wherein the energizing means includes a plurality of the electrical contacts on the facing surfaces of each of said plates, and wherein said conductors are also located on said plates, one extending from each contact, through the envelope wall, to one of said electrodes.

Claim 27

A display device as in claim 21 wherein the contacts are located along the outer edges of the plates to provide readily accessible terminals.

Claim 28

An electrical display device as in claim 22 wherein the electrical contacts on each of said plates are offset laterally from the contacts on the other plate.

Claim 29

A display device as in claim 17 wherein said plates are closely spaced in the region of the contacts to retain an electrical connector device in place.

Claim 30

A display device as in claim 17 wherein said display medium constitutes an ionizable gaseous atmosphere at a pressure capable of sustaining a glow discharge, wherein said electrodes are selectively energizable to establish a glow discharge between selective combinations of said electrodes, to provide different glow discharge patterns within said envelope, and wherein said energizing means includes a plurality of eLectrical contacts on the facing surfaces of each of said plates.

Claim 31

A display device as in claim 25 wherein said electrodes comprise a plurality of cathode and anode electrodes, wherein each of the contacts on the facing surface of one of said plates is connected by one of said conductors to one of said cathode electrodes, and wherein each of the contacts on the facing surface of the other one of said plates is connected by one of said conductors to one of said anode electrodes.

Claim 32

A display device comprising two plates of insulating material extending substantially parallel to one another with the facing surfaces thereof spaced from one another, a display medium located between the facing surfaces of said plates over a portion of their area, a plurality of electrodes in operating relationship to said display medium, and means for selectively energizing different combinations of said electrodes to provide different display patterns in said medium; said energizing means comprising a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the facing surface of at least one of said plates, outside of the area containing the display medium, and a plurality of conductors each connected from one of said contacts to a different one of said electrodes, said plates forming a recess between them in the area of said contacts to receive an electrical connector device to make electrical connection with said contacts.

Claim 33

A display device comprising two plates of insulating material extending substantially parallel to one another with the facing surfaces thereof spaced from one another, a display medium located between the facing surfaces of said plates over a portion of their area, a plurality of electrodes in operating relationship to said display medium, and means for selectively energizing different combinations of said electrodes to provide different display patterns in said medium; said energizing means comprising a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the facing surface of at least one of said plates, outside of the area containing the display medium, and a plurality of conductors each connected from one of said contacts to a different one of said electrodes, said plates forming a recess between them in the area of said contacts to receive an electrical connector device to make electrical connection with said contacts.

Claim 34

A display device as in claim 27 wherein the energizing means includes at least one of the electrical contacts on the facing surface of one of said plates and the remainder of the electrical contacts on the facing surface of other of said plates, with a conductor extending from each of said contacts to a different one of said electrodes.

Claim 35

A display device as in claim 28 wherein said electrical contacts are located adjacent one of the peripheral edges of said plates.

Claim 36

A display device as in claim 27 wherein at least certain of said electrodes are disposed on a first one of said plates, and at least a like number of said conductors and electrical contacts are located on the same plate, and wherein each such electrode is connected by one of said conductors on the same plate to one of said electrical contacts on the same plate.

Claim 37

A display device as in claim 30 wherein said certain electrodes constitute cathode electrodes and the remaining electrodes constitute anode electrodes, and wherein each such remaining electrode is connected by one of said conductors to an electrical contact located on the facing surface of the second one of said plates.

Claim 38

A display device comprising a display medium, a peripheral member surrounding said display medium, a pair of spaced parallel plates, one above and one below the display medium, said plates being joined to said peripheral member to form an enclosure about said display medium, with one edge of each of said plates extending beyond said peripheral member to provide an inner surface for supporting electrical contacts, a plurality of electrodes within said enclosure, and means for selectively energizing different combinations of said electrodes to provide different display patterns within said medium, said energizing means comprising a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the inner surface of at least one of said parallel plates, outside of said enclosure, and a plurality of conductors each connected from one of said electrical contacts through said peripheral member to a different one of said electrodes, said plates forming a recess between them in the area of said electrical contacts to receive an electrical connector device to make electrical connection with said contacts.

Claim 39

A display device comprising a display medium, a peripheral member surrounding said display medium, a pair of spaced parallel plates, one above and one below the display medium, said plates being joined to said peripheral member to form an enclosure about said display medium, with one edge of each of said plates extending beyond said peripheral member to provide an inner surface for supporting electrical contacts, a plurality of electrodes within said enclosure, and means for selectively energizing different combinations of said electrodes to provide different display patterns within said medium, said energizing means comprising a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the inner surface of at least one of said parallel plates, outside of said enclosure, and a plurality of conductors each connected from one of said electrical contacts through said peripheral member to a different one of said electrodes, said plates forming a recess between them in the area of said electrical contacts to receive an electrical connector device to make electrical connection with said contacts.

Claim 40

A display device as in claim 32 wherein said electrical contacts are all substantially aligned adjacent one edge of at least one of said plates.

Claim 41

A display device as in claim 32 wherein said enclosure is rectangular in shape, having a sHort side at each end of the display medium and two long sides along the legnth of the display medium, and wherein said plates extend beyond the peripheral member only along one of the long sides of the rectangle, and wherein said electrical contacts are all aligned adjacent said one long side of the rectangle.

Claim 42

A display device as in claim 34 wherein at least certain of said electrodes are disposed on a first one of said plates, and at least a like number of said conductors and electrical contacts are located on the same plate, and wherein each such electrode is connected by one of said conductors on the same plate to one of said electrical contacts on the same plate.

Claim 43

A display device as in claim 35 wherein said certain electrodes constitute cathode electrodes and the remaining electrodes constitute anode electrodes, and wherein each such remaining electrode is connected by one of said conductors to an electrical contact located on the facing surface of the second one of said plates.

Claim 44

A gas discharge display device comprising an envelope containing an ionizable gas at a pressure capable of sustaining a glow discharge, two insulating plates extending from said envelope, said plates being spaced from one another and having facing surfaces which are substantially parallel, a plurality of first electrodes spaced apart from one another along a surface within said envelope, a plurality of second electrodes spaced apart from one another and from said first electrodes within said envelope, means for selectively energizing different combinations of said first and second electrodes to produce different glow discharge patterns within the ionizable gas between said first and second electrodes, said energizing means including a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the facing surface of at least one of said parallel plates, outside of said envelope, and a plurality of conductors each connected from one of said contacts, through said envelope, to a different one of the electrodes, said plates having a recess between their facing surfaces in the region of said contacts to receive an electrical connector device to make electrical connection with said contacts.

Claim 45

A gas discharge display device comprising an envelope containing an ionizable gas at a pressure capable of sustaining a glow discharge, two insulating plates extending from said envelope, said plates being spaced from one another and having facing surfaces which are substantially parallel, a plurality of first electrodes spaced apart from one another along a surface within said envelope, a plurality of second electrodes spaced apart from one another and from said first electrodes within said envelope, means for selectively energizing different combinations of said first and second electrodes to produce different glow discharge patterns within the ionizable gas between said first and second electrodes, said energizing means including a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the facing surface of at least one of said parallel plates, outside of said envelope, and a plurality of conductors each connected from one of said contacts, through said envelope, to a different one of the electrodes, said plates having a recess between their facing surfaces in the region of said contacts to receive an electrical connector device to make electrical connection with said contacts.

Claim 46

A combination including the display device of claim 37 and an electrical connector device having a plurality of outwardly projecting resilient contact fingers for insertion into the recess between the facing surfaces of the plates to establish electrical contact between said fingers and the electrical contacts on said facing surfaces.

Claim 47

A display device as in claim 37 wherein said first and second electrodes are cathode and anode electrodes, respectively, and wherein said cathode electrodes are located along a facing surface of one of said plates, and at least a like number of said conductors and electrical contacts are located on the same surface, and wherein each such cathode electrode is connected by one of said conductors on the same surface to one of said electrical contacts on that surface.

Claim 48

A display device as in claim 37 wherein the energizing means includes a plurality of the electrical contacts on the facing surfaces of each of said plates, and wherein said conductors are also located on said plates, with one extending from each contact through the envelope wall, to one of said electrodes.

Claim 49

A gas discharge display panel having a plurality of side-by-side character positions along a predetermined line, in each of which any one of a predetermined number of characters can be displaed, comprising an envelope formed of front and rear plates sealed together along a closed perimeter surrounding the line of character positions to establish a gas tight enclosure about said character positions; both of said plates extending beyond the closed perimeter in at least one direction, and having their facing surfaces spaced apart outside of said envelope to provide a recess for receiving a connector device for supplying electrical energy to said envelope, an ionizable gas within said envelope at a pressure capable of sustaining a glow discharge, a plurality of groups of cathode electrodes arranged side-by-side along a surface within said envelope to form the side-by-side character positions, each cathode electrode being in the shape of a segment of a character to be displayed, a plurality of anode electrodes spaced from each other and from said cathode electrodes, each such anode electrode being located adjacent and operatively associated with one of said cathode electrode groups, means for selectively energizing said anode and cathode electrodes to form a side-by-side character display over said character positions, said energizing means including a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the facing surface of at least one of said plates, outside of said envelope, and a plurality of conductors each connected from one of said contacts through said envelope to a different one of said electrodes.

Claim 50

A gas discharge display panel having a plurality of side-by-side character positions along a predetermined line, in each of which any one of a predetermined number of characters can be displaed, comprising an envelope formed of front and rear plates sealed together along a closed perimeter surrounding the line of character positions to establish a gas tight enclosure about said character positions; both of said plates extending beyond the closed perimeter in at least one direction, and having their facing surfaces spaced apart outside of said envelope to provide a recess for receiving a connector device for supplying electrical energy to said envelope, an ionizable gas within said envelope at a pressure capable of sustaining a glow discharge, a plurality of groups of cathode electrodes arranged side-by-side along a surface within said envelope to form the side-by-side character positions, each cathode electrode being in the shape of a segment of a character to be displayed, a plurality of anode electrodes spaced from each other and from said cathode electrodes, each such anode electrode being located adjacent and operatively associated with one of said cathode electrode groups, means for selectively energizing said anode and cathode electrodes to form a side-by-side character display over said character positions, said energizing means including a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the facing surface of at least one of said plates, outside of said envelope, and a plurality of conductors each connected from one of said contacts through said envelope to a different one of said electrodes.

Claim 51

A display panel as in claim 41 wherein the energizing means includes a plurality of the electrical contacts on the facing surfaces of each of said plates, and wherein said conductors are also located on said plates, one extending from each contact through the envelope wall to one of said electrodes.

Claim 52

A display panel as in claim 41 wherein said plates extend beyond the closed perimeter in a direction perpendicular to the line of character positions to provide said facing surfaces outside the envelope along a region parallel to the line of characters, and wherein said electrical contacts are aligned along at least one of said facing surfaces substantially parallel to the line of characters.

Claim 53

A display panel as in claim 43 wherein the energizing means includes a plurality of the electrical contacts on the facing surfaces of each of said plates, and wherein said conductors are also located on said plates, one extending from each contact through the envelope wall to one of said electrodes.

Claim 54

A display panel as in claim 41, further including a plurality of elongated conductive runs extending along the inside surface of the rear plate within the envelope in the direction of the line of character positions, a layer of insulating material over said conductive runs with a group of apertures therethrough for each character position, the respective apertures in each such group being aligned with the respective conductive runs, wherein each cathode electrode has a portion thereof aligned with one of said apertures, and is connected through said aperture to the aligned conductive run, and wherein each of said conductive runs in connected by one of said conductors to one of the electrical contacts.

Claim 55

A gas discharge display panel having a plurality of side-by-side character positions along a predetermined line, in each of which any one of a number of characters can be displayed, comprising an envelope formed of front and rear plates sealed together along a closed perimeter surrounding the line of character positions to establish a gas tight enclosure about said character positions; at least said rear plate extending beyond the closed perimeter in a direction perpendicular to the direction of said predetermined line, an ionizable gas within said envelope at a pressure capable of sustaining glow discharge, a plurality of groups of cathode electrodes arranged side-by-side along said predetermined line, said cathode electrode groups being supported along the surface of the rear plate which faces the front plate to form the side-by-side character positions, each cathode electrode being in the shape of a segment of a character to be displayed, means for selectively energizing different combinations of said cathode electrodes in each of said cathode electrode groups to provide a multi-character display, the width of each such character, as displayed, being in the direction of said prEdetermined line, and the height thereof being perpendicular to such line, said energizing means comprising a plurality of anode electrodes, one located adjacent and operatively associated with each of said cathode electrode groups, and a plurality of conductive runs extending in insulatingly spaced relation to one another along the surface of the rear plate, each such conductive run being electrically connected to one of the cathode electrodes in each of said cathode electrode groups, and a plurality of electrical contacts spaced along the edge of the portion of the rear plate which extends outside of said closed perimeter perpendicular to the direction of said predetermined line, said contacts being disposed along a line which is generally parallel to said predetermined line, said conductive runs extending along the surface of the rear plate in the direction of said predetermined line throughout the full length of said character positions, and then continuing along said surface beyond said character positions to the closed perimeter of the envelope, and beyond said closed perimeter in spaced relation to one another on the surface of said rear plate, and onto the surface of the portion of said rear plate which extends beyond the closed perimeter in the direction perpendicular to said predetermined line, said conductive runs then continuing along said surface portion to the respective electrical contacts.

Claim 56

A gas discharge display panel having a plurality of side-by-side character positions along a predetermined line, in each of which any one of a number of characters can be displayed, comprising an envelope formed of front and rear plates sealed together along a closed perimeter surrounding the line of character positions to establish a gas tight enclosure about said character positions; at least said rear plate extending beyond the closed perimeter in a direction perpendicular to the direction of said predetermined line, an ionizable gas within said envelope at a pressure capable of sustaining glow discharge, a plurality of groups of cathode electrodes arranged side-by-side along said predetermined line, said cathode electrode groups being supported along the surface of the rear plate which faces the front plate to form the side-by-side character positions, each cathode electrode being in the shape of a segment of a character to be displayed, means for selectively energizing different combinations of said cathode electrodes in each of said cathode electrode groups to provide a multi-character display, the width of each such character, as displayed, being in the direction of said prEdetermined line, and the height thereof being perpendicular to such line, said energizing means comprising a plurality of anode electrodes, one located adjacent and operatively associated with each of said cathode electrode groups, and a plurality of conductive runs extending in insulatingly spaced relation to one another along the surface of the rear plate, each such conductive run being electrically connected to one of the cathode electrodes in each of said cathode electrode groups, and a plurality of electrical contacts spaced along the edge of the portion of the rear plate which extends outside of said closed perimeter perpendicular to the direction of said predetermined line, said contacts being disposed along a line which is generally parallel to said predetermined line, said conductive runs extending along the surface of the rear plate in the direction of said predetermined line throughout the full length of said character positions, and then continuing along said surface beyond said character positions to the closed perimeter of the envelope, and beyond said closed perimeter in spaced relation to one another on the surface of said rear plate, and onto the surface of the portion of said rear plate which extends beyond the closed perimeter in the direction perpendicular to said predetermined line, said conductive runs then continuing along said surface portion to the respective electrical contacts.

Claim 57

A display panel as in claim 46, wherein said closed perimeter has portions above and below and on the sides of said character positions, and wherein the electrical contacts are positioned along a line below said character positions, and said conductive runs pass thru the portion of the perimeter below the character positions and extend to said electrical contacts.

Claim 58

A display panel as in claim 47, wherein said conductive runs extend from the character positions at least at one side thereof, and then bend abruptly to pass through the portion of the closed perimeter below the character positions.

Claim 59

A gas discharge display panel having a plurality of side-by-side character positions along a predetermined line, in each of which any one of a number of characters can be displayed, comprising an envelope formed of front and rear plates sealed together along a closed perimeter surrounding the line of character positions to establish a gas tight enclosure about said character positions; at least said rear plate extending beyond the closed perimeter in a direction perpendicular to the line of side-by-side character positions, an ionizable gas within said envelope at a pressure capable of sustaining glow discharge, an assembly supported on the surface of the rear plate which faces the front plate including a plurality of conductive runs extending along said surface in the direction of the line of side-by-side character positions, a plurality of groups of cathode electrodes positioned side-by-side along said direction, each such group forming one of said character positions and each cathode electrode being in contact with at least one of said conductive runs, and an insulating layer covering said conductive runs and said surface in the area of the character positions, said insulating layer having a plurality of apertures therethrough, each aligned with one of said cathode electrodes, the cathode electrodes in each of said cathode electrode groups being disposed in substantially the same pattern, such pattern having a predetermined height to display characters of that height, and each cathode electrode being shaped in the form of a segment of a character to be displayed, each such conductive run being electrically connected to a correspondingly positioned cathode electrode in each of said cathode electrode groups, so that selective combinations of said cathode electrodes in each such group can be energized by a predetermined energization of said conductive runs to provide a multi-character display, a pluraLity of electrical contacts spaced along the edge of the portion of the rear plate which extends outside of said closed perimeter perpendicular to the line of the side-by-side character positions, said contacts being disposed along a line which is generally parallel to the line of character positions, at least the majority of said conductive runs extending along said surface within the height of said cathode electrode groups and then continuing along said surface beyond said character positions to the closed perimeter of the envelope, and beyond said closed perimeter in spaced relation to one another on the surface of said rear plate, and onto the surface of the portion of said rear plate which extends beyond the closed perimeter in the direction perpendicular the line of character positions, said conductive runs then continuing along said surface portion to the respective electrical contacts.

Claim 60

A gas discharge display panel having a plurality of side-by-side character positions along a predetermined line, in each of which any one of a number of characters can be displayed, comprising an envelope formed of front and rear plates sealed together along a closed perimeter surrounding the line of character positions to establish a gas tight enclosure about said character positions; at least said rear plate extending beyond the closed perimeter in a direction perpendicular to the line of side-by-side character positions, an ionizable gas within said envelope at a pressure capable of sustaining glow discharge, an assembly supported on the surface of the rear plate which faces the front plate including a plurality of conductive runs extending along said surface in the direction of the line of side-by-side character positions, a plurality of groups of cathode electrodes positioned side-by-side along said direction, each such group forming one of said character positions and each cathode electrode being in contact with at least one of said conductive runs, and an insulating layer covering said conductive runs and said surface in the area of the character positions, said insulating layer having a plurality of apertures therethrough, each aligned with one of said cathode electrodes, the cathode electrodes in each of said cathode electrode groups being disposed in substantially the same pattern, such pattern having a predetermined height to display characters of that height, and each cathode electrode being shaped in the form of a segment of a character to be displayed, each such conductive run being electrically connected to a correspondingly positioned cathode electrode in each of said cathode electrode groups, so that selective combinations of said cathode electrodes in each such group can be energized by a predetermined energization of said conductive runs to provide a multi-character display, a pluraLity of electrical contacts spaced along the edge of the portion of the rear plate which extends outside of said closed perimeter perpendicular to the line of the side-by-side character positions, said contacts being disposed along a line which is generally parallel to the line of character positions, at least the majority of said conductive runs extending along said surface within the height of said cathode electrode groups and then continuing along said surface beyond said character positions to the closed perimeter of the envelope, and beyond said closed perimeter in spaced relation to one another on the surface of said rear plate, and onto the surface of the portion of said rear plate which extends beyond the closed perimeter in the direction perpendicular the line of character positions, said conductive runs then continuing along said surface portion to the respective electrical contacts.

Claim 61

A gas discharge display panel having a plurality of side-by-side character positions along a predetermined line, in each of which any one of a number of characters can be displayed, comprising an envelope formed at front and rear plates sealed together along a closed perimeter surrounding the line of character positions to establish a gas tight enclosure about said character positions; at least one of said front and rear plates extending beyond the closed perimeter in a direction perpendicular to the line of side-by-side character positions, an ionizable gas within said envelope at a pressure capable of sustaining glow discharge, an assembly supported on the surface of the rear plate which faces the front plate including a plurality of conductive runs extending along said surface in the direction of the line of side-by-side character positions, a plurality of groups of cathode electrodes positioned side-by-side along said direction, each such group forming one of said character positions and each cathode electrode being in contact with at least one of said conductive runs, and an insulating layer covering said conductive runs and said surface in the area of the character positions, said insulating layer having a plurality of apertures therethrough, each aligned with one of said cathode electrodes, the cathode electrodes in each of said cathode electrode groups being disposed in substantially the same pattern, such pattern having a predetermined height to display characters of that height, and each cathode electrode being shaped in the form of a segment of a character to be displayed, each such conductive run being electrically connected to a correspondingly positioned cathode electrode in each of said cathode electrode groups, so that selective combinations of said cathode electrodes in each such group can be energized by a predetermined energization of said conductive runs to provide a multi-character display, a first plurality of electrical contacts spaced along the edge of the portion of one of said plates which extends outside of said closed perimeter perpendicular to the line of side-by-side character positions, said contacts being disposed along a line which is generally parallel to the line of character positions, at least the majority of said conductive runs extending along said surface within the height of said cathode electrode patterns throughout the length of said cathode electrode groups and then continuing along said surface beyond said character positions to the closed perimeter of the envelope, and beyond said closed perimeter in spaced relation to one another on the surface of said rear plate, and onto the surface of the portion of said one plate which extends beyond the closed perimeter in the direction perpendicular the line of character positions, said conductive runs then continuing along said surface portion to the respective electrical contacts of said first plurality, and a plurality of anode electrodes each positioned in operative relation with one of said cathode electrode groups and having a conDuctive lead extending therefrom, a second plurality of electrical contacts spaced along the edge of one of said plates outside of said closed perimeter, in line with said first plurality of electrical contacts, each of said anode leads extending to a conductor which passes along one of said plates outside of said closed perimeter to one of the electrical contacts of said second plurality.

Claim 62

A gas discharge display panel having a plurality of side-by-side character positions along a predetermined line, in each of which any one of a number of characters can be displayed, comprising an envelope formed at front and rear plates sealed together along a closed perimeter surrounding the line of character positions to establish a gas tight enclosure about said character positions; at least one of said front and rear plates extending beyond the closed perimeter in a direction perpendicular to the line of side-by-side character positions, an ionizable gas within said envelope at a pressure capable of sustaining glow discharge, an assembly supported on the surface of the rear plate which faces the front plate including a plurality of conductive runs extending along said surface in the direction of the line of side-by-side character positions, a plurality of groups of cathode electrodes positioned side-by-side along said direction, each such group forming one of said character positions and each cathode electrode being in contact with at least one of said conductive runs, and an insulating layer covering said conductive runs and said surface in the area of the character positions, said insulating layer having a plurality of apertures therethrough, each aligned with one of said cathode electrodes, the cathode electrodes in each of said cathode electrode groups being disposed in substantially the same pattern, such pattern having a predetermined height to display characters of that height, and each cathode electrode being shaped in the form of a segment of a character to be displayed, each such conductive run being electrically connected to a correspondingly positioned cathode electrode in each of said cathode electrode groups, so that selective combinations of said cathode electrodes in each such group can be energized by a predetermined energization of said conductive runs to provide a multi-character display, a first plurality of electrical contacts spaced along the edge of the portion of one of said plates which extends outside of said closed perimeter perpendicular to the line of side-by-side character positions, said contacts being disposed along a line which is generally parallel to the line of character positions, at least the majority of said conductive runs extending along said surface within the height of said cathode electrode patterns throughout the length of said cathode electrode groups and then continuing along said surface beyond said character positions to the closed perimeter of the envelope, and beyond said closed perimeter in spaced relation to one another on the surface of said rear plate, and onto the surface of the portion of said one plate which extends beyond the closed perimeter in the direction perpendicular the line of character positions, said conductive runs then continuing along said surface portion to the respective electrical contacts of said first plurality, and a plurality of anode electrodes each positioned in operative relation with one of said cathode electrode groups and having a conDuctive lead extending therefrom, a second plurality of electrical contacts spaced along the edge of one of said plates outside of said closed perimeter, in line with said first plurality of electrical contacts, each of said anode leads extending to a conductor which passes along one of said plates outside of said closed perimeter to one of the electrical contacts of said second plurality.

Claim 63

A connector device for supporting and making electrical connection to a flat display panel formed of two spaced plates hermetically sealed together along a predetermined closed periphery, with a series of electrical contact pads along the facing interior surfaces of the plates outside of the sealed periphery, comprising a series of electrically conductive members disposed side-by-side and spaced to coincide with the spacing of the electrical contact pads along the interior surfaces of the spaced plates, each of said conductive members including a resilient contact portion dimensioned to fit in pressing engagement between the interior surfaces of said spaced plates and an elongated tail portion extending from the contact portion to be inserted into an aperture of a support member for connection to an external conductor, each of said contact portions including a spring-like generally C-shaped arm or tongue which extends laterally in at least one direction from said portion, to give the contact portion a lateral dimension in said direction, the lateral dimension being substantially equal to the spacing between the spaced plates, the lateral dimension of the contact portions increasing in a direction away from the forward end of such portions to facilitate their insertion into the space between the spaced plates and into pressing engagement with the contact pads, and spacing means, independent of the display panel, attached to all of said conductive members for maintaining the spacing between said members.

Claim 64

A connector device for supporting and making electrical connection to a flat display panel formed of two spaced plates hermetically sealed together along a predetermined closed periphery, with a series of electrical contact pads along the facing interior surfaces of the plates outside of the sealed periphery, comprising a series of electrically conductive members disposed side-by-side and spaced to coincide with the spacing of the electrical contact pads along the interior surfaces of the spaced plates, each of said conductive members including a resilient contact portion dimensioned to fit in pressing engagement between the interior surfaces of said spaced plates and an elongated tail portion extending from the contact portion to be inserted into an aperture of a support member for connection to an external conductor, each of said contact portions including a spring-like generally C-shaped arm or tongue which extends laterally in at least one direction from said portion, to give the contact portion a lateral dimension in said direction, the lateral dimension being substantially equal to the spacing between the spaced plates, the lateral dimension of the contact portions increasing in a direction away from the forward end of such portions to facilitate their insertion into the space between the spaced plates and into pressing engagement with the contact pads, and spacing means, independent of the display panel, attached to all of said conductive members for maintaining the spacing between said members.

Claim 65

A device as in claim 51 wherein said spacing means in an elongated molded block with a series of apertures spaced along its length, and wherein each of said conductive members passes through one of said apertures.

Claim 66

A device as in claim 51 wherein the elongated tail portions of the conductive members are bent so as to support the display panel at an angle.

Claim 67

A connector device for making electrical connections to electrodes in a flat display panel formed of two spaced plates hermetically sealed together along a predetermined closed periphery, with some electrodes supported on each of the plates and a series of electrical contacts for the respective electrodes along the facing interior surfaces of the respective plates, outside of the sealed periphery, comprising a series of electrically conductive members equal in number to the total number of electrical contacts on the interior surfaces, said members being spaced side-by-side to coincide with the spacing of the electrical contacts, each of said conductive members including a first portion dimensioned to fit in pressing engagement between the spaced plates to engage an electrical contact on one of said plates or the other, but not both, and an elongated second portion extending from said first portion to be inserted into an aperture of a support member for connection to an external conductor, each of said first portions including a spring-like curved strip which projects in at least one direction from said first portion to give the first portion a lateral dimension in said direction, the lateral dimension being substantially equal to the spacing between the spaced plates, the lateral dimension of the first portions increasing in a direction away from the forward end of such portions to facilitate their insertion into the space between the interior surfaces of the spaced plates and into engagement with the contact pads, and spacing means, independent of the display panel, attached to all of said conductive members for maintaining the spacing between sAid members.

Claim 68

A connector device for making electrical connections to electrodes in a flat display panel formed of two spaced plates hermetically sealed together along a predetermined closed periphery, with some electrodes supported on each of the plates and a series of electrical contacts for the respective electrodes along the facing interior surfaces of the respective plates, outside of the sealed periphery, comprising a series of electrically conductive members equal in number to the total number of electrical contacts on the interior surfaces, said members being spaced side-by-side to coincide with the spacing of the electrical contacts, each of said conductive members including a first portion dimensioned to fit in pressing engagement between the spaced plates to engage an electrical contact on one of said plates or the other, but not both, and an elongated second portion extending from said first portion to be inserted into an aperture of a support member for connection to an external conductor, each of said first portions including a spring-like curved strip which projects in at least one direction from said first portion to give the first portion a lateral dimension in said direction, the lateral dimension being substantially equal to the spacing between the spaced plates, the lateral dimension of the first portions increasing in a direction away from the forward end of such portions to facilitate their insertion into the space between the interior surfaces of the spaced plates and into engagement with the contact pads, and spacing means, independent of the display panel, attached to all of said conductive members for maintaining the spacing between sAid members.

Claim 69

A device as in claim 54 wherein said spacing means is an elongated molded block with a series of apertures spaced along its length, and wherein the elongated second portion of each of said conductive members passes through one of said apertures and is secured to the wall of said one aperture.

Claim 70

A device as in claim 54 wherein only one end of the curved strip of each first portion is joined to the remainder of the first portion.