Abstract There is disclosed a gas discharge display/memory device containing electrode arrays and an ionizable gaseous medium, the gaseous medium having incorporated therein an effective amount of helium sufficient to decrease the minimum applied voltage sufficient to sustain a gas discharge once initiated and increase the memory margin of the device. In the preferred embodiment, there is incorporated at least about 0.01 percent atoms of helium, based on the gaseous medium concentration after helium addition, to an initial gaseous medium consisting essentially of about 99.5 percent to about 99.99 percent atoms of neon and about 0.5 percent to about 0.01 percent atoms of at least one member selected from argon, xenon, and krypton. The gas discharge device is preferably of a display/memory type wherein electrical charges are stored on opposing dielectric surfaces.
IN A PROCESS FOR OPERATING A GAS DESCHARGE DISPLAY/MEMORY DEVICE CONTAINING AN IONIXABLE GASEOUS MEDIUM, THE DEVICE HAVING AT LEAST TWO OPPOSED ARRAYS OF ELECTRODES WITH AT LEAST ONE ARRAY BEING INSULATED FROM THE GASEOUS MEDIUM, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES DECREASING THE MINIMUM APPLIED VOLTAGE SUFFICIENT TO SUSTAIN A GAS DISCHARGE ONCE INITIATED AND INCREASING THE MEMORY MARGIN OF THE DEVICE BY INCORPORATING INTO THE IONIZABLE GASEOUS MEDIUM AT LEAST ABOUT 0.01% ATOMS OF HELIUM BASED ON THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF GASEOUS MEDIUM AFTER THE ADDITION OF THE HELIUM.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
IN A PROCESS FOR OPERATING A GAS DESCHARGE DISPLAY/MEMORY DEVICE CONTAINING AN IONIXABLE GASEOUS MEDIUM, THE DEVICE HAVING AT LEAST TWO OPPOSED ARRAYS OF ELECTRODES WITH AT LEAST ONE ARRAY BEING INSULATED FROM THE GASEOUS MEDIUM, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES DECREASING THE MINIMUM APPLIED VOLTAGE SUFFICIENT TO SUSTAIN A GAS DISCHARGE ONCE INITIATED AND INCREASING THE MEMORY MARGIN OF THE DEVICE BY INCORPORATING INTO THE IONIZABLE GASEOUS MEDIUM AT LEAST ABOUT 0.01% ATOMS OF HELIUM BASED ON THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF GASEOUS MEDIUM AFTER THE ADDITION OF THE HELIUM.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention of claim 1 within at least one electrode array comprises a matrix of electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the ionizable gas medium before the incorporation of the helium is a mixture of at least two rare gases selected from the group consisting of neon, argon, xenon, and krypton.