US3882349A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-position, gaseous discharge, character display panel including auxiliary, cathode transfer electrodes
Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 1974-06-13
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Granted: 1975-05-06
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Expires: 1994-06-13
Abstract
Abstract A multi-position character display panel includes a gas-filled envelope which contains a plurality of groups of cathode segments arrayed in a line of character positions, with a single anode electrode provided for all of the groups of segments. In each group of cathode segments, the segments are long, narrow, rectangular members arrayed in a figure ''''8'''' pattern. In addition, a group of transfer cathodes is disposed adjacent to the lower edge of each figure 8 pattern and between each such pattern for use in transferring cathode glow through each group of cathode segments and from each group of cathode segments to the next group of cathode segments. The panel is operated by energizing the anode and the first of the transfer cathodes associated with the first group of cathode segments, then energizing each of the cathode segments for the character to be displayed in the first character position as determined by the input information, then transferring back to the first transfer electrode, then to the second transfer electrode and the associated decimal point, if required, then to the third transfer electrode, and then to the first transfer electrode of the next group of cathode segments. The same cycle is repeated for the second character position and the others in the series of character positions.
Inventors
- 👤 George E Holz
- 👤 James A Ogle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:42
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J17/00; H01J17/38; H01J17/48; H01J17/49; H01J17/491
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
A multi-position character display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope consisting of a base plate and a face plate having a viewing window and containing, a plurality of groups of display cathode electrodes adapted to be energized in different combinations to display characters, the cathodes in each group being so positioned that cathode glow can transfer readily from one cathode to an adjacent cathode in a selected sequence through the display cathodes of each group whereby each display cathode is in glowtransfer proximity to at least one other display cathode whereby every cathode of each group can be energized and caused to exhibit cathode glow, an anode electrode in operative relation with each of said groups of display cathode electrodes, and a plurality of groups of auxiliary cathode electrodes disposed adjacent to and between each group of display cathode electrodes, said auxiliary cathode electrodes being disposed in series, with adjacent electrodes being close to each other so that cathode glow can transfer readily from one to another, said auxiliary electrodes also being positioned close to selected ones of said display cathode electrodes so that cathode glow can transfer readily from an auxiliary cathode electrode to at least one display cathode electrode in each said group of display cathodes whereby characters can be displayed by each group of display cathodes by means of cathode glow transferred along each group of auxiliary cathode electrodes and from each group of auxiliary cathode electrodes through each group of display cathode electrodes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
246 words
A multi-position character display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope consisting of a base plate and a face plate having a viewing window and containing, a plurality of groups of display cathode electrodes adapted to be energized in different combinations to display characters, the cathodes in each group being so positioned that cathode glow can transfer readily from one cathode to an adjacent cathode in a selected sequence through the display cathodes of each group whereby each display cathode is in glowtransfer proximity to at least one other display cathode whereby every cathode of each group can be energized and caused to exhibit cathode glow, an anode electrode in operative relation with each of said groups of display cathode electrodes, and a plurality of groups of auxiliary cathode electrodes disposed adjacent to and between each group of display cathode electrodes, said auxiliary cathode electrodes being disposed in series, with adjacent electrodes being close to each other so that cathode glow can transfer readily from one to another, said auxiliary electrodes also being positioned close to selected ones of said display cathode electrodes so that cathode glow can transfer readily from an auxiliary cathode electrode to at least one display cathode electrode in each said group of display cathodes whereby characters can be displayed by each group of display cathodes by means of cathode glow transferred along each group of auxiliary cathode electrodes and from each group of auxiliary cathode electrodes through each group of display cathode electrodes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The display panel defined in claim 1 wherein each of said groups of display cathodes defines a figure 8 pattern which has an upper margin and a lower margin, said auxiliary cathode electrodes being disposed along said lower margin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The display panel defined in claim 2 wherein said auxiliary cathodes are axially aligned in a series.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The display panel defined in claim 2 wherein said groups of display cathodes are arrayed in a series along the length of said panel, and said auxiliary cathodes are axially aligned in a series along the entire length of said panel in operative relation with said series of groups of display cathodes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
141 words
The display panel defined in claim 1 wherein each group of display cathode electrodes defines a figure 8 pattern and includes two upper vertical segments, two lower vertical segments, and three parallel horizontal segments including top, middle, and lower horizontal segments, the two lower vertical segments extending beyond the lowermost horizontal segment toward the lower edge of said panel, said top horizontal segment being generally aligned with the upper ends of said two upper vertical segments, said middle horizontal segment being disposed adjacent to the lower ends of said two upper vertical segments and adjacent to the upper ends of said two lower vertical segments, and said lower horizontal segment being disposed between the upper and lower ends of said two lower vertical segments, said auxiliary electrodes being disposed adjacent to the lower free ends of said two lower vertical electrodes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The display panel defined in claim 1 and including an auxiliary anode electrode for said auxiliary cathode electrodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The panel defined in claim 6 wherein said auxiliary anode electrode is coplanar with said auxiliary cathode electrodes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The display panel defined in claim 1 and including means obstructing said auxiliary cathode electrodes from view.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The display panel defined in claim 8 wherein said means comprises an opaque member supported on said base plate of said panel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The display panel defined in claim 1 wherein each group of auxiliary cathode electrodes includes three conductive segments.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The panel defined in claim 1 and including a plurality of first conductive runs, each interconnecting corresponding display cathode electrodes in each said group of display cathodes, and a plurality of second conductive runs, each interconnecting corresponding auxiliary cathode electrodes in each said group of auxiliary cathode electrodes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
87 words
The panel defined in claim 1 and including circuit means for energizing the auxiliary cathodes in each group of auxiliary cathodes in a series and simultaneously energizing selected ones of the associated display cathodes in each group of display cathodes to display a character, the auxiliary cathodes being energized and the selected display cathodes being energized by the transfer of cathode glow from one electrode to another electrode with glow being transferred only from one electrode to an adjacent electrode with which it is in glow-transfer relationship.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The panel defined in claim 1 wherein said anode is positioned on said face plate facing said groups of display cathodes and spaced therefrom a distance of about 20 mils, the gas pressure in said envelope being about 400 Torr.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3824582A
Cited
US3798502A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-05 | 1978-11-04 | 1979-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-05 | 1982-11-04 | 1983-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-05 | 1986-11-04 | 1987-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |