Gas discharge device having a logic function

Claim 1

A method for controlling a discharge in gas discharge apparatus comprised of first support means for supporting first, second and third electrodes, each disposed in a first direction and covered with a first dielectric layer, said third electrode being disposed between said first and second electrodes; second support means for supporting a fourth electrode spaced from and disposed to traverse said first, second and third electrodes and covered with a second dielectric layer; and envelope means for confining a discharge gas between said first and second dielectric layers; said method comprising the steps of: applying between said third and fourth electrodes a first control voltage of a magnitude insufficient to produce a discharge in said discharge gas; and applying a second control voltage selectively to said first and second electrodes, said second Control voltage being selected to be of a magnitude higher than the discharge voltage between said first and fourth electrodes and the discharge voltage between the second and fourth electrodes, wherein said first control voltage impressed between said third and fourth electrodes is selected to be lower than a first lowered discharge voltage established between said third and fourth electrodes when a discharge is produced on only one of said first and second electrodes by said second control voltage, and to be higher than a second, further lowered discharge voltage established between said third and fourth electrodes when a discharge is produced on each of said first and second electrodes by said second control voltage whereby a discharge is produced across said discharge gas between said third and fourth electrodes as a result of the impression of said second control voltage to said first and second electrodes and of said first control voltage between said fourth and third electrodes.

Claim 2

A method for controlling a discharge in gas discharge apparatus comprised of first support means for supporting first, second and third electrodes, each disposed in a first direction and covered with a first dielectric layer, said third electrode being disposed between said first and second electrodes; second support means for supporting a fourth electrode spaced from and disposed to traverse said first, second and third electrodes and covered with a second dielectric layer; and envelope means for confining a discharge gas between said first and second dielectric layers; said method comprising the steps of: applying between said third and fourth electrodes a first control voltage of a magnitude insufficient to produce a discharge in said discharge gas; and applying a second control voltage selectively to said first and second electrodes, said second Control voltage being selected to be of a magnitude higher than the discharge voltage between said first and fourth electrodes and the discharge voltage between the second and fourth electrodes, wherein said first control voltage impressed between said third and fourth electrodes is selected to be lower than a first lowered discharge voltage established between said third and fourth electrodes when a discharge is produced on only one of said first and second electrodes by said second control voltage, and to be higher than a second, further lowered discharge voltage established between said third and fourth electrodes when a discharge is produced on each of said first and second electrodes by said second control voltage whereby a discharge is produced across said discharge gas between said third and fourth electrodes as a result of the impression of said second control voltage to said first and second electrodes and of said first control voltage between said fourth and third electrodes.

Claim 5

A method for controlling a discharge in gas discharge apparatus comprised of first support means for supporting first, second and third electrodes, each disposed in a first direction and covered with a first dielectric layer; second support means for supporting a fourth electrode spaced from and disposed to traverse said first, second and third electrodes and covered with a second dielectric layer, said third electrode disposed between said first and second electrodes; and envelope means for confining a discharge gas between said first and second dielectric layers, said method comprising the steps of: a. impressing a control voltage to at least one of said first and second electrodes to produce a discharge across said discharge gas from said fourth electrode to one of said first and second electrodes; and b. impressing, to said third electrode, an auxiliary pulse for establishing a wall charge at the portion of the surface of said first dielectric layer corresponding to said third electrode, due to the discharge resulting from the effect of said control voltage on the surface of said first dielectric layer corresponding to at least one of said first and second electrodes; and c. applying to said third electrode an inquiry pulse selected so that the sum of said inquiry pulse and a wall voltage produced by said attracted wall charge exceeds a discharge voltage, to effect a discharge across said discharge gas between said third and fourth electrodes in response to the impression of said control voltage to at least one of said first and second electrodes.

Claim 6

A method for controlling a discharge in gas discharge apparatus comprised of first support means for supporting first, second and third electrodes, each disposed in a first direction and covered with a first dielectric layer; second support means for supporting a fourth electrode spaced from and disposed to traverse said first, second and third electrodes and covered with a second dielectric layer, said third electrode disposed between said first and second electrodes; and envelope means for confining a discharge gas between said first and second dielectric layers, said method comprising the steps of: a. impressing a control voltage to at least one of said first and second electrodes to produce a discharge across said discharge gas from said fourth electrode to one of said first and second electrodes; and b. impressing, to said third electrode, an auxiliary pulse for establishing a wall charge at the portion of the surface of said first dielectric layer corresponding to said third electrode, due to the discharge resulting from the effect of said control voltage on the surface of said first dielectric layer corresponding to at least one of said first and second electrodes; and c. applying to said third electrode an inquiry pulse selected so that the sum of said inquiry pulse and a wall voltage produced by said attracted wall charge exceeds a discharge voltage, to effect a discharge across said discharge gas between said third and fourth electrodes in response to the impression of said control voltage to at least one of said first and second electrodes.

Claim 7

A method for controlling a discharge in gas diScharge apparatus comprised of first support means for supporting first, second and third electrodes, each disposed in a first direction and covered with a first dielectric layer; second support means for supporting a fourth electrode spaced from and disposed to traverse said first, second and third electrodes and covered with a second dielectric layer, said third electrode disposed between said first and second electrodes; and envelope means for confining a discharge gas between said first and second dielectric layers, said method comprising the steps of: a. impressing a control voltage to at least one of said first and second electrodes to produce a discharge across said discharge gas between said fourth electrode and said one electrode; b. impressing to said third electrode an auxiliary pulse for establishing at the surface of said first dielectric layer corresponding to said third layer, a wall charge due to the discharge resulting from the effect of said control voltage on the surface of said first dielectric layer corresponding to said one electrode; and c. applying to said third electrode an inquiry pulse of a magnitude selected so that, in the absence of said wall charge, it exceeds a discharge voltage but that, in the presence of said wall charge, the difference between said inquiry pulse and a wall voltage produced by said wall charge is lower than said discharge voltage, whereby the discharge between said third and fourth electrodes is effected as a result of a NOT-logic operation by the impression of said control voltage to at least one of said first and second electrodes when said inquiry pulse is impressed.

Claim 8

A method for controlling a discharge in gas diScharge apparatus comprised of first support means for supporting first, second and third electrodes, each disposed in a first direction and covered with a first dielectric layer; second support means for supporting a fourth electrode spaced from and disposed to traverse said first, second and third electrodes and covered with a second dielectric layer, said third electrode disposed between said first and second electrodes; and envelope means for confining a discharge gas between said first and second dielectric layers, said method comprising the steps of: a. impressing a control voltage to at least one of said first and second electrodes to produce a discharge across said discharge gas between said fourth electrode and said one electrode; b. impressing to said third electrode an auxiliary pulse for establishing at the surface of said first dielectric layer corresponding to said third layer, a wall charge due to the discharge resulting from the effect of said control voltage on the surface of said first dielectric layer corresponding to said one electrode; and c. applying to said third electrode an inquiry pulse of a magnitude selected so that, in the absence of said wall charge, it exceeds a discharge voltage but that, in the presence of said wall charge, the difference between said inquiry pulse and a wall voltage produced by said wall charge is lower than said discharge voltage, whereby the discharge between said third and fourth electrodes is effected as a result of a NOT-logic operation by the impression of said control voltage to at least one of said first and second electrodes when said inquiry pulse is impressed.

Claim 9

A method for a controlling a discharge in gas discharge apparatus comprised of first support means for supporting pluralities of each of first, second and third electrodes disposed in a plurality of electrode groups, each of said groups comprising a plurality of pairs of electrodes, each said pair including a first and a second electrode and having a corresponding third electrode disposed between said first and second electrodes of said pair at least one of said first, second and third electrodes, said first electrodes of each electrode group being connected in common to a respectively associated one of first common terminals respectively corresponding to said groups, and said electrodes of the corresponding pairs of said plural electrode groups being connected in common to a respectively associated one of second common terminals, said third electrodes of all said electrode groups being connected to a third common terminal, said first, second and third electrodes being covered with a first dielectric layer, second support means for supporting a fourth electrode spaced from and disposed to traverse said first, second and third electrodes and covered with a second dielectric layer; and envelope means for confining a discharge gas between said first and second dielectric layers, said method comprising the steps of; a. applying between said fourth electrode and said third electrodes a first control voltage of a magnitude insufficient to produce a discharge across said discharge gas; and b. applying a second control voltage to a selected one of each of said first and second common terminals for application thereof in turn to the first and second electrodes connected to said selected first and second common terminals, the first and second control voltage being of respective magnitudes selected to produce in cooperation with each other a discharge across said discharge gas between the third electrode disposed between said first and second electrodes of the pair to said first and second electrodes of which said second control voltage is applied, and said fourth electrode.

Claim 10

A method for a controlling a discharge in gas discharge apparatus comprised of first support means for supporting pluralities of each of first, second and third electrodes disposed in a plurality of electrode groups, each of said groups comprising a plurality of pairs of electrodes, each said pair including a first and a second electrode and having a corresponding third electrode disposed between said first and second electrodes of said pair at least one of said first, second and third electrodes, said first electrodes of each electrode group being connected in common to a respectively associated one of first common terminals respectively corresponding to said groups, and said electrodes of the corresponding pairs of said plural electrode groups being connected in common to a respectively associated one of second common terminals, said third electrodes of all said electrode groups being connected to a third common terminal, said first, second and third electrodes being covered with a first dielectric layer, second support means for supporting a fourth electrode spaced from and disposed to traverse said first, second and third electrodes and covered with a second dielectric layer; and envelope means for confining a discharge gas between said first and second dielectric layers, said method comprising the steps of; a. applying between said fourth electrode and said third electrodes a first control voltage of a magnitude insufficient to produce a discharge across said discharge gas; and b. applying a second control voltage to a selected one of each of said first and second common terminals for application thereof in turn to the first and second electrodes connected to said selected first and second common terminals, the first and second control voltage being of respective magnitudes selected to produce in cooperation with each other a discharge across said discharge gas between the third electrode disposed between said first and second electrodes of the pair to said first and second electrodes of which said second control voltage is applied, and said fourth electrode.