US3877006A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Driving method for a gas-discharge display panel and display systems using such a method
Assignee: Thales SA
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Filing: 1972-10-31
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Granted: 1975-04-08
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Expires: 1992-10-31
Abstract
Abstract A driving method for gas-discharge display panels consisting of a network of cells, the ionisation of which is controlled by signals applied between electrodes arranged in lines and columns, consists in utilising driving signals in two parts, in order to drive the various display cells of a panel, and for example, to write them so as to cause them to take part in the display or to erase them. A first part is applied indiscriminately to all the cells which it ionise, thus rendering them active. A second part, which is different in accordance with the command to be carried out, acts selectively upon the cells which it leaves active or which it neutralises.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean Philippe Reboul
- 👤 Jacques Portmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 06:56
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/22; G09G3/28; G09G3/288; G09G3/291; G09G3/293; G09G3/2932; G09G3/294; G09G3/296; G09G3/297
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
320 words
A control system for controlling a gas-discharge display panel having display cells filled with a gas which become luminescent when ionised by the application of a suitable signal between two electrodes associated with each cell and forming part of an array of crossed line and column electrodes, said cells when ionised becoming "active" cells with a memory potential due to electrical charges stored by said cells, the presence of such a memory potential for an active cell defining a state 1, while the absence of such a memory potential for a non-active cell defines a state 0, said control system comprising: means including a transcoder component and an addressing circuit for receiving information to be displayed on said panel and for distributing signals between the line and column electrodes of said panel, high voltage source means controlled by said transcoder component for providing a high voltage activation signal S.sub.1 which is applied between all the line and column electrodes of said panel, the amplitude V.sub.1 of said activation signal being high enough for setting all the display cells of the panel in their state 1, and low voltage source means for providing different low voltage selection signals S.sub.2 which are selectively applied between said line and column electrodes, said different low voltage selection signals S.sub.2 being: a write signal having an amplitude V.sub.2 such that, when applied by corresponding electrodes to cells set in their state 1 by said activation signal S.sub.1, said cells stay in their state 1, and a neutralization signal having an amplitude V.sub.3 such that, when applied by corresponding electrodes to cells set in their state 1 by said activation signal S.sub.1, a neutralization occurs and said cells are reset in their state 0, said low voltage source means being synchronized with said high voltage source means so that said selection signals are selectively applied after said activation signal has been applied between all said electrodes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
320 words
A control system for controlling a gas-discharge display panel having display cells filled with a gas which become luminescent when ionised by the application of a suitable signal between two electrodes associated with each cell and forming part of an array of crossed line and column electrodes, said cells when ionised becoming "active" cells with a memory potential due to electrical charges stored by said cells, the presence of such a memory potential for an active cell defining a state 1, while the absence of such a memory potential for a non-active cell defines a state 0, said control system comprising: means including a transcoder component and an addressing circuit for receiving information to be displayed on said panel and for distributing signals between the line and column electrodes of said panel, high voltage source means controlled by said transcoder component for providing a high voltage activation signal S.sub.1 which is applied between all the line and column electrodes of said panel, the amplitude V.sub.1 of said activation signal being high enough for setting all the display cells of the panel in their state 1, and low voltage source means for providing different low voltage selection signals S.sub.2 which are selectively applied between said line and column electrodes, said different low voltage selection signals S.sub.2 being: a write signal having an amplitude V.sub.2 such that, when applied by corresponding electrodes to cells set in their state 1 by said activation signal S.sub.1, said cells stay in their state 1, and a neutralization signal having an amplitude V.sub.3 such that, when applied by corresponding electrodes to cells set in their state 1 by said activation signal S.sub.1, a neutralization occurs and said cells are reset in their state 0, said low voltage source means being synchronized with said high voltage source means so that said selection signals are selectively applied after said activation signal has been applied between all said electrodes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
151 words
A control system according to claim 1 further comprising a holding signal generator applying between all the line and column electrodes of said display panel a periodic signal having an amplitude lower than that which would provide ionisation of a cell in the state 0 and at least equal to that which provides ionisation of a cell in the state 1, means for inhibiting application of said holding signal S.sub.E to the panel when a control signal made of an activation signal followed by a selection signal is applied to the panel, said inhibition being initiated when the polarity of said holding signal is the same as the polarity of said activation signal S.sub. 1 ; said holding signal providing a periodic ionisation of cells which have been set in state 1 by a control signal made of an activation signal followed by a write signal, said cells being thus displayed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
97 words
A control system according to claim 2 wherein said low voltage source means further delivers a third selection signal S.sub.2 which is an erasing signal having an amplitude V.sub.4 such that, when applied by corresponding electrodes to cells previously set in their state 1 and periodically ionised by said holding signal S.sub.E, an ionisation occurs and said cells are reset in their state 0, being thus erased, said low voltage source means being controlled by said transcoder component for applying to said cells to be erased said erasing signal and to the other cells said neutralisation signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A control system according to claim 2 wherein an electrical conditioning of the panel is effected by means for periodically applying to all the cells of the panel, at a frequency which is a sub-multiple of the frequency of the holding signal, a conditioning signal made of said activation signal S.sub.1 followed by said neutralisation signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
143 words
A control system according to claim 3 further comprising a clock synchronised by said transcoder component and synchronising said control system, wherein said addressing circuit comprises a line selector and a column selector controlled by said transcoder component for applying to said selected line and column electrodes the said different selection signals S.sub.2 that said line selector and column selector receive from said low voltage source means, wherein said high voltage source means comprises a high voltage generator which applies said activation signal S.sub.1 between all the electrodes of the panel through at least one line amplifier and one column amplifier, and wherein said low voltage source means comprises a D.C. low voltage generator whose output is connected to an amplitude modulator controlled by said transcoder component for delivering to said line and column selectors of said addressing circuit said selection signals S.sub.2.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
230 words
A control system according to claim 3 further comprising a clock synchronised by said transcoder component and synchronising said control system, wherein said addressing circuit comprises a line selector and a column selector controlled by said transcoder component for applying to said selected line and column electrodes the said different selection signals S.sub.2 that said line selector and column selector receive from said low voltage source means, wherein said high voltage source means comprises a high voltage generator which applies said activation signal S.sub.1 between all the electrodes of the panel through at least one line amplifier and one column amplifier, and wherein said low voltage source means comprises a D.C. voltage generator delivering a D.C. level S.sub.2 applied between all the line and column electrodes of the panel and an auxiliary signal generator controlled by said D.C. voltage generator for delivering auxiliary signals simultaneously with the deliverance by said D.C. voltage generator of said D.C. level S.sub.2, and by said transcoder component for delivering line and column auxiliary signals, said line and column auxiliary signals being applied between selected line and column electrodes through said line and column selector, said line and column auxiliary signals being pulse signals, the control of the amplitude of the resulting signal S.sub.2 applied between line and column electrodes being provided by controlling the relative phase shift between said line and column auxiliary signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A control system according to claim 6 wherein said auxiliary signal generator comprises a pulse generator delivering pulse signals to a variable delay device controlled by said transcoder component, said variable delay device delivering said line and column auxiliary signals shifted in phase relative to each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A control system according to claim 1 wherein said low voltage source is controlled by said transcoder component for applying to selected ones of said electrodes said write signal, and between other electrodes said neutralization signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |