Discharge display device (plasma-panel)

Claim 2

A discharge display device in the form of a plasma panel, comprising: a gas-filled, gas-tight housing; a primary discharge arrangement in said housing, said primary discharge arrangement including a common first cathode, a first insulating matrix spaced from said first cathode and comprising a first insulating plate having a plurality of holes therethrough arranged in an array of rows and columns and corresponding in number to a desired number of image points, a plurality of first anodes carried on one side of said first insulating plate facing said first cathode, each of said anodes associated with a respective row of holes and extending about the edge of the holes, and a plurality of control electrodes carried on the other side of said first insulating plate, each of said control electrodes associated with a respective column of holes and extending about the edge of the holes, the cathode, first anodes and control electrodes adapted to be connected to potentials to cause electrons to emerge from the holes in a controlled fashion from the gas discharge; and a plurality of main d.c. discharge paths, each of said discharge paths being defined by a second cathode and a second anode and being divided by and including a second insulating matrix aligned with said first insulating matrix, each of said second cathodes and said second anodes adapted to be connected to a potential to cause each of said d.c. discharge paths to be ignited by electrons received from the holes of said first insulating matrix.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1, wherein said second insulating matrix is spaced from said first insulating matrix and comprises a second insulating plate having a plurality of holes therethrough aligned with the holes of said first insulating matrix, said second cathodes forming a cathode common to all of said discharge paths, said common second cathode carried on one surface of said second insulating plate facing said control electrodes and including a plurality of holes therethrough aligned with the holes in said second insulating plate, a front viewing screen sealed to said housing, said second anodes carried on said screen in the form of anode rings each aligned with and extending into a respective hole in said second insulating plate on the other side of said second cathode to form individual discharge cells, conductor paths carried on said side of said screen adjacent and spaced from said anode rings, and a resistance carried on said screen connecting said anode rings and said conductor paths, said second cathode and said conductor paths adapted to receive potentials and electrons received in the individual discharge cells are effective to trigger ignition.

Claim 4

The device of claim 2, wherein said common second cathode comprises projections about the edge of each hole in said common second cathode, each of said projections extending into the respective hole in said second insulating plate.

Claim 5

The device of claim 2, wherein each of said first and second insulating plates comprises a material having a low vapor pressure, and wherein the holes in said first and second insulating plates have common axes.

Claim 6

The device of claim 3, wherein said first and second insulating plates consist of glass.

Claim 7

The device of claim 3, wherein said first and second insulating plates consist of ceramic.

Claim 8

The device of claim 3, wherein said first and second insulating plates consist of a synthetic material.

Claim 9

The device of claim 2, wherein said viewing screen comprises glass.

Claim 10

The device of claim 2, wherein said resistance comprises a layer of electrically resistive material carried on said other surface of said screen at least in areas between associated conductor paths and anode rings.

Claim 11

The device of claim 9, wherein said resistive material comprises carbon.

Claim 12

The device of claim 9, wherein said resistive material comprises CERMET type material.

Claim 13

The device of claim 9, wherein said resistive material comprises deposited resistive material.

Claim 14

The device of claim 2, wherein the transmission coefficient of said first and second matrices is greater than 20%.

Claim 15

The device of claim 2, comprising a luminescence substance carried by said screen within said rings.

Claim 16

The device of claim 14, wherein said luminescence substance is also carried on the walls of said holes in said second insulating plate.

Claim 17

The device of claim 14, wherein said luminescence substance comprises material which is responsive to bombardment to produce a color display.

Claim 18

The device of claim 9, wherein said resistive material is carried directly on said screen and said conductor paths and anode rings are carried on said resistive material.

Claim 19

A discharge display device in the form of a plasma panel, comprising: a first cathode; a first insulating plate parallel to said first cathode and including a plurality of holes therethrough arranged in an array of rows and columns and corresponding in number to a desired number of image points, a plurality of first anodes carried on one side of said first insulating plate facing said first cathode, each of said anodes associated with a respective row of holes and extending about the edge of the holes, and a plurality of control electrodes carried on the other side of said first insulating plate, each of said control electrodes associated with a respective column of holes and extending about the edge of the holes, the cathode, first anodes and control electrodes adapted to be connected to potentials to cause a gas discharge and electrons to emerge from the holes in a controlled fashion from the gas discharge; and a second insulating plate parallel to said first insulating plate and including a plurality of holes therethrough aligned with the holes of said first insulating plate to receive electrons, a second cathode carried on one surface of said second insulating plate facing said control electrodes and including a plurality of holes therethrough aligned with the holes in said second insulating plate, a front viewing screen parallel to said second insulating plate, a plurality of apertured second anodes carried on said screen with each of said second anodes aligned with and extending into a respective hole in said second insulating plate on the other side of said second cathode to form individual discharge cells, conductor paths carried on said side of said screen adjacent and spaced from said apertured second anodes, and a resistance carried on said screen connecting said second anodes and said conductor paths, said second cathode and said conductor paths adapted to receive potentials, and the electrons received in the individual discharge cells being effective to trigger ignition.

Claim 20

A discharge display device in the form of a plasma panel, comprising: a first cathode; a first insulating plate parallel to said first cathode and including a plurality of holes therethrough arranged in an array of rows and columns and corresponding in number to a desired number of image points, a plurality of first anodes carried on one side of said first insulating plate facing said first cathode, each of said anodes associated with a respective row of holes and extending about the edge of the holes, and a plurality of control electrodes carried on the other side of said first insulating plate, each of said control electrodes associated with a respective column of holes and extending about the edge of the holes, the cathode, first anodes and control electrodes adapted to be connected to potentials to cause a gas discharge and electrons to emerge from the holes in a controlled fashion from the gas discharge; and a second insulating plate parallel to said first insulating plate and including a plurality of holes therethrough aligned with the holes of said first insulating plate to receive electrons, a second cathode carried on one surface of said second insulating plate facing said control electrodes and including a plurality of holes therethrough aligned with the holes in said second insulating plate, a front viewing screen parallel to said second insulating plate, a plurality of apertured second anodes carried on said screen with each of said second anodes aligned with and extending into a respective hole in said second insulating plate on the other side of said second cathode to form individual discharge cells, conductor paths carried on said side of said screen adjacent and spaced from said apertured second anodes, and a resistance carried on said screen connecting said second anodes and said conductor paths, said second cathode and said conductor paths adapted to receive potentials, and the electrons received in the individual discharge cells being effective to trigger ignition.

Claim 21

A process for operating a discharge display device in the form of a plasma panel which has a gas-filled, gas-tight housing having primary auxiliary discharge and main d.c. discharge paths, the primary auxiliary discharge paths including a common cathode, a first insulating matrix spaced from said first cathode and comprising a first insulating plate having a plurality of holes therethrough arranged in an array of rows and columns and corresponding in number to a desired number of image points, a plurality of first anodes carried on one side of the first insulating plate facing the first cathode, each of the anodes associated with a respective row of holes and extending about the edge of the holes, and a plurality of control electrodes carried on the other side of the first insulating plate, each of the control electrodes associated with a respective column of holes and extending about the edge of the holes, the main d.c. discharge paths divided by and including a second insulating matrix aligned with the first insulating matrix, each of the d.c. discharge paths being ignited by electrons received from the holes of the first insulating matrix, the second insulating matrix spaced from the first insulating matrix and including a second insulating plate having a plurality of holes therethrough aligned with the holes of the first insulating matrix, a common second cathode carried on one surface of the second insulating plate facing the control electrodes and including a plurality of holes therethrough aligned with the holes in the second insulating plate, a front viewing screen sealed to the housing, a plurality of second anodes carried on the screen in the form of anode rings each of which is aligned with and extends into a respective hole in the second insulating plate on the other side thereof from the second cathode form individual discharge cells, conductor paths carried on the screen adjacent and spaced from the anode rings and a resistance carried on the screen connecting the anode rings and the conductor paths, the process including the steps of: applying a first predetermined potential to the first cathode; applying pulses in sequence to the first anodes to obtain a stepped discharge rhythm across the device in the primary auxiliary discharge paths; applying a second predetermined potential to the second anodes while holding the second cathode at a reference potential so that the potential therebetween is insufficient to cause ignition in the main d.c. discharge paths; and applying a third predetermined potential to the control electrodes, which third potential is greater than the potential applied to the first cathode, and increasing the potential of the control electrodes above the third predetermined potential to cause electrons to emerge from the primary auxiliary discharge paths and enter and cause ignition in the main d.c. discharge paths.

Claim 22

A process for operating a discharge display device in the form of a plasma panel which has a gas-filled, gas-tight housing having primary auxiliary discharge and main d.c. discharge paths, the primary auxiliary discharge paths including a common cathode, a first insulating matrix spaced from said first cathode and comprising a first insulating plate having a plurality of holes therethrough arranged in an array of rows and columns and corresponding in number to a desired number of image points, a plurality of first anodes carried on one side of the first insulating plate facing the first cathode, each of the anodes associated with a respective row of holes and extending about the edge of the holes, and a plurality of control electrodes carried on the other side of the first insulating plate, each of the control electrodes associated with a respective column of holes and extending about the edge of the holes, the main d.c. discharge paths divided by and including a second insulating matrix aligned with the first insulating matrix, each of the d.c. discharge paths being ignited by electrons received from the holes of the first insulating matrix, the second insulating matrix spaced from the first insulating matrix and including a second insulating plate having a plurality of holes therethrough aligned with the holes of the first insulating matrix, a common second cathode carried on one surface of the second insulating plate facing the control electrodes and including a plurality of holes therethrough aligned with the holes in the second insulating plate, a front viewing screen sealed to the housing, a plurality of second anodes carried on the screen in the form of anode rings each of which is aligned with and extends into a respective hole in the second insulating plate on the other side thereof from the second cathode form individual discharge cells, conductor paths carried on the screen adjacent and spaced from the anode rings and a resistance carried on the screen connecting the anode rings and the conductor paths, the process including the steps of: applying a first predetermined potential to the first cathode; applying pulses in sequence to the first anodes to obtain a stepped discharge rhythm across the device in the primary auxiliary discharge paths; applying a second predetermined potential to the second anodes while holding the second cathode at a reference potential so that the potential therebetween is insufficient to cause ignition in the main d.c. discharge paths; and applying a third predetermined potential to the control electrodes, which third potential is greater than the potential applied to the first cathode, and increasing the potential of the control electrodes above the third predetermined potential to cause electrons to emerge from the primary auxiliary discharge paths and enter and cause ignition in the main d.c. discharge paths.

Claim 23

The process of claim 19, comprising the steps of: increasing the potential applied to selected ones of the first anodes; and decreasing the potential applied to selected control electrodes to draw electrons from the main d.c. discharge paths associated with the intersections of the selected anodes and the control electrodes to extinguish gas discharge in those main d.c. discharge paths.