US4044280A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiplexed segmented character display
Assignee: NCR Voyix Corp
•
Filing: 1975-10-30
•
Granted: 1977-08-23
•
Expires: 1995-10-30
Abstract
Abstract An enclosure containing an ionizable gas has electrodes mounted in opposition on opposite faces of the enclosure. A first set of electrodes on one side of the enclosure are energized in sequence. A second set of electrodes on the opposite side of the enclosure form a multiple-element character matrix in which groups of elements are electrically commoned so that the number of electrodes, and respective leads thereto, in the second set is less than the number of elements of the matrix. The electrodes of the first set are mounted and shaped so that each is opposite a plurality of electrodes of the first set, and so that the same electrode of the second set is opposite several electrodes of the first set. Thus different portions of the same electrodes of the first set, representing different elements of the matrix, can be separately actuated during the different time periods of energization of the electrodes of the first set. Thereby a time division multiplexed mode of operation of the character display is provided such that the number of leads to the display can be reduced significantly.
Inventors
- 👤 Anton P. Shulski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:07
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J11/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
In a segmented-matrix character display of the type comprising an enclosure containing a display medium and a plurality of opposing electrodes actively coupled electrically across at least a quantity of said display medium, the improvement wherein: a first set of at least three electrically separated electrodes is positioned on one side of said quantity of said display medium, a second set of at least three electrically separate electrodes is positioned on an opposite side of said quantity of said display medium, said second set of electrodes being positioned and shaped to form a multiple-character matrix of the type in which selected combination of elements forming said matrix can be actuated to display respective differently-shaped characters, at least one of said electrodes of said second set forming a plurality of elements of said matrix, which plurality of elements are commonly connected electrically, said first set of electrodes being positioned and shaped such that a projection thereof across said display medium on said second set of electrodes will cover said second set of electrodes, at least two adjacent electrodes of said first set being positioned so that a projection of the separation therebetween across said display medium will lie on said one electrode of said second set at a locus which divides said first electrode into a pair of adjacent elements of said matrix.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
222 words
In a segmented-matrix character display of the type comprising an enclosure containing a display medium and a plurality of opposing electrodes actively coupled electrically across at least a quantity of said display medium, the improvement wherein: a first set of at least three electrically separated electrodes is positioned on one side of said quantity of said display medium, a second set of at least three electrically separate electrodes is positioned on an opposite side of said quantity of said display medium, said second set of electrodes being positioned and shaped to form a multiple-character matrix of the type in which selected combination of elements forming said matrix can be actuated to display respective differently-shaped characters, at least one of said electrodes of said second set forming a plurality of elements of said matrix, which plurality of elements are commonly connected electrically, said first set of electrodes being positioned and shaped such that a projection thereof across said display medium on said second set of electrodes will cover said second set of electrodes, at least two adjacent electrodes of said first set being positioned so that a projection of the separation therebetween across said display medium will lie on said one electrode of said second set at a locus which divides said first electrode into a pair of adjacent elements of said matrix.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The display of claim 1 further including means for applying driving voltages to said electrodes, said voltages being sufficient to activate said display medium between driven electrodes, said means arranged to apply said driving voltages such that the individual electrodes of said first set are sequentially energized with respect to selected electrodes of said second set such that elements of a complete character will be actuated in sequence.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The display of claim 2 wherein said second set of electrodes are positioned and shaped to form a matrix in the shape of the numeral "8", said set consisting of less than seven electrodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The display of claim 3 wherein said second set of electrodes also includes a portion arranged to display a decimal point.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The display of claim 1 wherein said display medium comprises an ionizable gas, and said electrodes are electrically insulated from, yet capacitively coupled to, said gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The display of claim 1 wherein said second set of electrodes are positioned and shaped to form a matrix the shape of the numeral "8", said set consisting of less than seven electrodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
168 words
The display of claim 1 wherein said second set of electrodes are positioned and shaped to form a matrix in the shape of the numeral 8, the elements of said matrix comprising three parallel horizontal bars, the ends of the middle and top bars being joined by a left and right upper vertical bars, the ends of the middle and bottom bars being joined by left and right lower vertical bars, the upper horizontal and upper left vertical bars being connected electrically, the upper right vertical, middle horizontal, and lower left vertical bars being connected electrically, and the lower right vertical and bottom horizontal bars being connected electrically, and wherein said first set of electrodes are three in number, a first of which is mounted opposite said upper horizontal and upper right vertical bars, a second of which is mounted opposite said upper left vertical, middle horizontal and lower right vertical bars, and a third of which is mounted opposite said lower left vertical and lower horizontal bars.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The display of claim 7 further including means for energizing said first set of electrodes in numerical order sequentially with respect to selected ones of said second set of electrodes so as to display selected numerical characters by displaying portions thereof sequentially.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
The display of claim 1, wherein a plurality of said first and second sets of electrodes is provided to form a corresponding plurality of character display stations, and each of the corresponding electrodes in said first sets thereof are connected in common to corresponding ones of a first set of driving signal busses and each of the electrodes in said second sets are connected to individual driving signal busses in a corresponding plurality of second sets thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
The display of claim 9, further comprising a time division multiplex display driving means for repetitively applying driving signals to each of said driving signal busses of said first set during sequential time periods and for applying driving signals to preselected ones of said driving signal busses in said second sets during each of said sequential time periods to produce a displayed character at each of said character display stations.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
167 words
A character display comprising an enclosure containing an ionizable gas and electrodes on opposite sides of said enclosure actively coupled to said gas, characterized in that on one side of said enclosure the electrodes are at least three in number, constituting a first set, and on the other side of said enclosure, the electrodes are also at least three, in number, constituting a second set, and are arranged in a multi-element character display matrix, at least one electrode of said second set forming plural elements of said matrix and lying opposite plural electrodes of said first set such that said one electrode of said second set and one of said electrodes of said first set can jointly be energized to ionize the gas therebetween, at least one electrode of said first set lying opposite plural electrodes of said second set such that said one electrode of said first set and one of said electrodes of said second set can jointly be energized to ionize the gas therebetween.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
167 words
A character display comprising an enclosure containing an ionizable gas and electrodes on opposite sides of said enclosure actively coupled to said gas, characterized in that on one side of said enclosure the electrodes are at least three in number, constituting a first set, and on the other side of said enclosure, the electrodes are also at least three, in number, constituting a second set, and are arranged in a multi-element character display matrix, at least one electrode of said second set forming plural elements of said matrix and lying opposite plural electrodes of said first set such that said one electrode of said second set and one of said electrodes of said first set can jointly be energized to ionize the gas therebetween, at least one electrode of said first set lying opposite plural electrodes of said second set such that said one electrode of said first set and one of said electrodes of said second set can jointly be energized to ionize the gas therebetween.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
The display of claim 11 further including means for applying driving voltages to said electrodes, said voltages being sufficient to ionize the gas between driven electrodes, said means arranged to apply said driving voltages such that the individual electrodes of said first set are sequentially energized with respect to selected electrodes of said second set such that elements of a complete character will be actuated in sequence.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The display of claim 12 wherein said second set of electrodes are positioned and shaped to form a matrix the shape of the numeral 8, said set consisting of less than seven electrodes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The display of claim 11 wherein said electrodes are electrically insulated from, yet capacitively coupled to, said gas.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The display of claim 11 wherein said second set of electrodes are positioned and shaped to form a matrix the shape of the numeral 8, said set consisting of less than seven electrodes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
168 words
The display of claim 11 wherein said second set of electrodes are positioned and shaped to form a matrix in the shape of the numeral 8, the elements of said matrix comprising three parallel horizontal bars, the ends of the middle and top bars being joined by a left and right upper vertical bars, the ends of the middle and bottom bars being joined by left and right lower vertical bars, the upper horizontal and upper left vertical bars being connected electrically, the upper right vertical, middle horizontal, and lower left vertical bars being connected electrically, and the lower right vertical and bottom horizontal bars being connected electrically, and wherein said first set of electrodes are three in number, a first of which is mounted opposite said upper horizontal and upper right vertical bars, a second of which is mounted opposite said upper left vertical, middle horizontal and lower right vertical bars, and a third of which is mounted opposite said lower left vertical and lower horizontal bars.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
77 words
The display of claim 11, wherein a plurality of said first and second sets of electrodes is provided to form a corresponding plurality of character display stations, and each of the corresponding electrodes in said first sets thereof are connected in common to corresponding ones of a first set of driving signal busses and each of the electrodes in said second sets are connected to individual driving signal busses in a corresponding plurality of second sets thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
70 words
The display of claim 17, further comprising a time division multiplex display driving means for repetitively applying driving signals to each of said driving signal busses of said first set during sequential time periods and for applying driving signals to preselected ones of said driving signal busses in said second sets during each of said sequential time periods to produce a displayed character at each of said character display stations.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3855500A
Cited
US3781863A
Cited
US3811060A
Cited
US3760403A
Cited
US3711733A
Cited
US3725713A
Cited
US3938140A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-22 | 1981-02-21 | 1981-08-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-22 | 1985-02-21 | 1985-08-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-22 | 1989-02-21 | 1989-08-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |