US4065699A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cathode assembly for two-dimensional scanned gas discharge display panel
Assignee: WALTER E HELLER WESTERN Inc
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Filing: 1977-01-24
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Granted: 1977-12-27
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Expires: 1997-01-24
Abstract
Abstract An improved cathode assembly for a gas discharge display panel is disclosed providing a first series of cathode elements in a first direction and a second series of cathode elements in a second direction. A separate "keep-alive" element and "initiate signal" element are also provided. The keep-alive element maintains a localized source of ionized gas at all times. Upon activation of the initiate signal element, the ionized gas moves from the keep-alive element to the initiate signal element. The first direction elements are then sequentially activated to cause the ionized gas to pass from the initiate signal element sequentially to each of the first direction elements until the selected first direction element has been reached. The second direction elements are then sequentially activated to cause the ionized gas to pass from the selected first direction cathode element to the second direction cathode elements in sequence until the selected second direction element has been reached. As employed in a multi-layer display, when the ionized gas has reached the selected first-second coordinate on the cathode assembly, normal addressing of the anode and/or cathode elements within the gas discharge display panel can be initiated to cause the desired panel illumination to take place. An insulated spacer defining channels is used in the cathode assembly to guide the gas discharge along the desired path, being so shaped as to prevent the ionized gas from moving out of the selected first direction coordinate along the second direction cathode element.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert W. Baird, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 04:03
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04G; G04G9/00; G04G9/02; G04G9/04; G04G9/042; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/22; G09G3/28; G09G3/282; G09G3/285
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
288 words
An improved cathode assembly for providing a two dimensional scan in gas discharge display apparatus comprising: a. a plurality of first cathode elements disposed end to end in close adjacent spaced relationship along a first path; b. a plurality of second cathode elements disposed side by side in parallel spaced relationship adjacent one side of said first path of said first cathode elements; c. a plurality of insulating spacers disposed on said second cathode elements, said spacers each extending from between adjacent ones of said first cathode elements across said plurality of second cathode elements to form a plurality of channels from said first cathode elements across said second cathode elements; d. means for causing an ionizable gas adjacent one of said first cathode elements to ionize; e. first scan signal generator means operably connected to said first cathode elements for sequentially applying an electrical potential to said first cathode elements to cause the ionization to move from adjacent said one of said first cathode elements to the next adjacent of said first elements and thence to the next adjacent of said first elements seriatim until the ionized gas is disposed adjacent a selected one of said first cathode elements; f. second scan signal generator means operably connected to said second cathode elements for sequentially applying an electrical potential to said second cathode elements to cause the ionization to move from adjacent said selected one of said first cathode elements to the portion of the next adjacent of said second cathode elements disposed within one of said channels and thence to the next adjacent of said second cathode elements within said channel seriatim until the ionized gas is disposed adjacent a selected one of said second cathode elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
288 words
An improved cathode assembly for providing a two dimensional scan in gas discharge display apparatus comprising: a. a plurality of first cathode elements disposed end to end in close adjacent spaced relationship along a first path; b. a plurality of second cathode elements disposed side by side in parallel spaced relationship adjacent one side of said first path of said first cathode elements; c. a plurality of insulating spacers disposed on said second cathode elements, said spacers each extending from between adjacent ones of said first cathode elements across said plurality of second cathode elements to form a plurality of channels from said first cathode elements across said second cathode elements; d. means for causing an ionizable gas adjacent one of said first cathode elements to ionize; e. first scan signal generator means operably connected to said first cathode elements for sequentially applying an electrical potential to said first cathode elements to cause the ionization to move from adjacent said one of said first cathode elements to the next adjacent of said first elements and thence to the next adjacent of said first elements seriatim until the ionized gas is disposed adjacent a selected one of said first cathode elements; f. second scan signal generator means operably connected to said second cathode elements for sequentially applying an electrical potential to said second cathode elements to cause the ionization to move from adjacent said selected one of said first cathode elements to the portion of the next adjacent of said second cathode elements disposed within one of said channels and thence to the next adjacent of said second cathode elements within said channel seriatim until the ionized gas is disposed adjacent a selected one of said second cathode elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improved cathode assembly of claim 1 wherein: said plurality of spacers is comprised of a dielectric material deposited directly onto said second cathode elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improved cathode assembly of claim 1 wherein: a. said first path is a straight line; and, b. said channels form straight lines orthogonal to said first path.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The improved cathode assembly of claim 1 wherein: a. said first path is circular; b. said second electrodes are disposed on circles concentric to said first path; and, c. said channels are disposed along radii of said concentric circles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
321 words
An improved cathode assembly for providing a two dimensional scan in gas discharge display apparatus comprising: a. a substrate; b. a plurality of first cathode elements disposed on said substrate in close adjacent spaced relationship along a first path; c. a plurality of second cathode elements disposed on said substrate, each of said second cathode elements being disposed along the length of ones of a plurality of second paths parallel to said first path, said second cathode elements being in close adjacent spaced relationship to each other; d. an insulating material disposed on said first cathode elements, said second cathode elements and said substrate and having channels therein for containing an ionizable gas, said channels extending from adjacent ones of said first cathode elements across said second cathode elements; c. means for causing an ionizable gas adjacent one of said first cathode elements to ionize; f. first scan signal generator means operably connected to said first cathode elements for sequentially applying an electrical potential to said first cathode elements to cause the ionization to move from adjacent said one of said first cathode elements to the next adjacent of said first elements and thence to the next adjacent of said first elements seriatim until the ionized gas is disposed adjacent a selected one of said first cathode elements; g. second scan signal generator means operably connected to said second cathode elements for sequentially applying an electrical potential to said second cathode elements to cause the ionization to move from adjacent said selected one of said first cathode elements to the portion of the next adjacent of said second cathode elements bounded by a selected one of said channels and thence to the next adjacent of said second cathode elements bounded by said channel seriatim until the ionized gas is disposed adjacent an area on said cathode defined by said selected one of said second cathode elements bounded by said selected channel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
321 words
An improved cathode assembly for providing a two dimensional scan in gas discharge display apparatus comprising: a. a substrate; b. a plurality of first cathode elements disposed on said substrate in close adjacent spaced relationship along a first path; c. a plurality of second cathode elements disposed on said substrate, each of said second cathode elements being disposed along the length of ones of a plurality of second paths parallel to said first path, said second cathode elements being in close adjacent spaced relationship to each other; d. an insulating material disposed on said first cathode elements, said second cathode elements and said substrate and having channels therein for containing an ionizable gas, said channels extending from adjacent ones of said first cathode elements across said second cathode elements; c. means for causing an ionizable gas adjacent one of said first cathode elements to ionize; f. first scan signal generator means operably connected to said first cathode elements for sequentially applying an electrical potential to said first cathode elements to cause the ionization to move from adjacent said one of said first cathode elements to the next adjacent of said first elements and thence to the next adjacent of said first elements seriatim until the ionized gas is disposed adjacent a selected one of said first cathode elements; g. second scan signal generator means operably connected to said second cathode elements for sequentially applying an electrical potential to said second cathode elements to cause the ionization to move from adjacent said selected one of said first cathode elements to the portion of the next adjacent of said second cathode elements bounded by a selected one of said channels and thence to the next adjacent of said second cathode elements bounded by said channel seriatim until the ionized gas is disposed adjacent an area on said cathode defined by said selected one of said second cathode elements bounded by said selected channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improved cathode assembly of claim 5 wherein: said first and second paths form concentric circles and said channels lie along radii of said circles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improved cathode assembly of claim 5 wherein: said first and second paths are parallel straight lines and said channels are disposed orthogonally to said paths.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
221 words
The method of moving an ionized gas to a selected area of a cathode assembly disposed in close spaced relationship to an anode and having an ionizable gas disposed therebetween comprising the steps of: a. applying an electrical potential between an initiator cathode element of said cathode assembly and said anode to create an area of ionized gas at a first location; b. applying an electrical potential in sequence to a plurality of first cathode elements of said cathode assembly to cause said ionized gas to move along said first cathode elements seriatim from said initiator cathode element to a selected one of said first cathode elements related to a first coordinate of the selected area of the cathode assembly; c. applying an electrical potential in sequence to a plurality of second cathode elements of said cathode assembly to cause said ionized gas to move along said second cathode elements seriatim from said selected one of said first cathode elements to a selected one of said second cathode elements defining a second coordinate of the selected area of the cathode assembly; and, d. guiding said ionized gas within a channel from said selected one of said first cathode elements across said second cathode elements whereby said ionized gas will be constrained within the first coordinate bounds at said second cathode element.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
221 words
The method of moving an ionized gas to a selected area of a cathode assembly disposed in close spaced relationship to an anode and having an ionizable gas disposed therebetween comprising the steps of: a. applying an electrical potential between an initiator cathode element of said cathode assembly and said anode to create an area of ionized gas at a first location; b. applying an electrical potential in sequence to a plurality of first cathode elements of said cathode assembly to cause said ionized gas to move along said first cathode elements seriatim from said initiator cathode element to a selected one of said first cathode elements related to a first coordinate of the selected area of the cathode assembly; c. applying an electrical potential in sequence to a plurality of second cathode elements of said cathode assembly to cause said ionized gas to move along said second cathode elements seriatim from said selected one of said first cathode elements to a selected one of said second cathode elements defining a second coordinate of the selected area of the cathode assembly; and, d. guiding said ionized gas within a channel from said selected one of said first cathode elements across said second cathode elements whereby said ionized gas will be constrained within the first coordinate bounds at said second cathode element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3753041A
Cited
US3781599A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-12-26 | 1981-06-27 | 1981-12-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-12-26 | 1985-06-27 | 1985-12-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-12-26 | 1989-06-27 | 1989-12-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |