US4205392A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Gas discharge display device
Assignee: OI Glass Inc
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Filing: 1975-11-10
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Granted: 1980-05-27
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Expires: 1995-11-10
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a gas discharge device containing at least two electrodes, at least one of the electrodes being insulated from the gas by a dielectric member. There is particularly disclosed a multiple gaseous discharge display/memory panel having an electrical memory and capable of producing a visual display, the panel being characterized by an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric material charge storage members, each of which is respectively backed by an array of electrodes, the electrodes behind each dielectric material member being oriented with respect to the electrodes behind the opposing dielectric material member so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge units. At least one dielectric insulating member contains a predetermined beneficial amount of a source of at least one transition element selected from V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Tc, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Pd, and Pt. The selected element or elements may be utilized in any suitable form, such as a compound, mineral, and/or elements. Likewise, such may be incorporated into the dielectric by any suitable means, including being applied as a layer within the dielectric or on the surface thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard W. Byrum, Jr.
- 👤 Roger E. Ernsthausen
- 👤 Michael E. Fein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 20:25
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J11/00; H01J11/20; H01J11/34; H01J11/38; G; G11; G11C; G11C11/00; G11C11/21; G11C11/26; G11C11/28; H01J11/10; H01J11/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
In a gas discharge device containing at least two electrodes defining a gas discharge site, at least one of the electrodes being insulated from the gas by a dielectric member, the improvement wherein the gas-contacting surface of at least one dielectric member contains a non-conductive inorganic oxide of at least one transition metal selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ta, Cr, Mn, Tc, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Pd, and Pt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
In a gas discharge device containing at least two electrodes defining a gas discharge site, at least one of the electrodes being insulated from the gas by a dielectric member, the improvement wherein the gas-contacting surface of at least one dielectric member contains a non-conductive inorganic oxide of at least one transition metal selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ta, Cr, Mn, Tc, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Pd, and Pt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the transition metal oxide is a continuous dielectric layer on the gas-contacting surface of the dielectric member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein the layer has a thickness of at least 100 angstrom units.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the transition metal oxide is a discontinuous layer on the gas-contacting surface of the dielectric member, said transition metal oxide being positioned at each gas discharge site physically isolated from transition metal oxide positioned at any other gas discharge site.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 4 wherein the layer has a thickness of at least 100 angstrom units.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
127 words
In a multiple gaseous discharge display/memory panel having an electrical memory and capable of producing a visual display, the panel being characterized by an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric material charge storage members, each of which dielectric members is respectively backed by an array of electrodes, the electrodes behind each dielectric member being oriented with respect to the electrodes behind the opposing dielectric member so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge units, the improvement wherein the gas-contacting surface of at least one dielectric member contains a non-conductive inorganic oxide of at least one transition metal selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ta, Cr, Mn, Tc, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Pd, and Pt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
127 words
In a multiple gaseous discharge display/memory panel having an electrical memory and capable of producing a visual display, the panel being characterized by an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric material charge storage members, each of which dielectric members is respectively backed by an array of electrodes, the electrodes behind each dielectric member being oriented with respect to the electrodes behind the opposing dielectric member so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge units, the improvement wherein the gas-contacting surface of at least one dielectric member contains a non-conductive inorganic oxide of at least one transition metal selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ta, Cr, Mn, Tc, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Pd, and Pt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein the gaseous medium is a mixture comprising at least one rare gas selected from a member of the group consisting of neon, argon, xenon, and krypton.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claim 7 wherein the gaseous medium mixture also contains at least one member selected from the group consisting of mercury and helium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein the layer has a thickness range of about 200 angstrom units to about 1 micron.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 5 wherein the layer has a thickness range of about 200 angstrom units to about 1 micron.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein the transition metal oxide is a continuous dielectric layer on the gas-contacting surface of the dielectric member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 11 wherein the layer has a thickness of at least 100 angstrom units.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 12 wherein the layer has a thickness range of about 200 angstrom units to about 1 micron.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein the transition metal oxide is a discontinuous layer on the gas-contacting surface of the dielectric member, said transition metal oxide being positioned at each gas discharge site physically isolated from transition metal oxide positioned at any other gas discharge site.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 14 wherein the layer has a thickness of at least 100 angstrom units.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 15 wherein the layer has a thickness range of about 200 angstrom units to about 1 micron.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a gas discharge device comprising at least two electrodes defining a gas discharge site, at least one of the electrodes being insulated from the gas by a dielectric member, the improvement wherein the gas-contacting surface of at least one dielectric member consists of a non-conductive inorganic oxide of at least one transition metal selected from the group consisting of V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Tc, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Pd and Pt in an amount sufficient to provide lower operating voltages which are more uniform, thermal stability and decreased aging cycle time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a gas discharge device comprising at least two electrodes defining a gas discharge site, at least one of the electrodes being insulated from the gas by a dielectric member, the improvement wherein the gas-contacting surface of at least one dielectric member consists of a non-conductive inorganic oxide of at least one transition metal selected from the group consisting of V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Tc, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Pd and Pt in an amount sufficient to provide lower operating voltages which are more uniform, thermal stability and decreased aging cycle time.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention of claim 17 wherein the transition metal oxide is a continuous dielectric layer on the gas-contacting surface of the dielectric member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 18 wherein the layer has a thickness of at least 100 angstrom units.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 19 wherein the layer has a thickness range of about 200 angstrom units to about 1 micron.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention of claim 17 wherein the transition metal oxide is a discontinuous layer on the gas-contacting surface of the dielectric member, said transition metal oxide being positioned at each gas discharge site physically isolated from transition metal oxide positioned at any other gas discharge site.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 21 wherein the layer has a thickness of at least 100 angstrom units.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 22 wherein the layer has a thickness range of about 200 angstrom units to about 1 micron.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
105 words
An article of manufacture comprising a dielectric body having a structural configuration for use in a gas discharge display/memory device, said dielectric body having at least one electrode on one side thereof and on the opposite side thereof having a layer of a non-conductive inorganic oxide of at least one transition metal selected from the group consisting of V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Tc, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Pd and Pt in direct contact with the surface of the body in an amount sufficient to provide lower operating voltages which are more uniform, thermal stability and decreased aging cycle time.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
105 words
An article of manufacture comprising a dielectric body having a structural configuration for use in a gas discharge display/memory device, said dielectric body having at least one electrode on one side thereof and on the opposite side thereof having a layer of a non-conductive inorganic oxide of at least one transition metal selected from the group consisting of V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Tc, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Pd and Pt in direct contact with the surface of the body in an amount sufficient to provide lower operating voltages which are more uniform, thermal stability and decreased aging cycle time.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 24 wherein the layer has a thickness of at least 100 angstrom units.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 25 wherein the layer has a thickness range of about 200 angstrom units to about 1 micron.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
168 words
In the method of operating a gas discharge display/memory device comprising an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of dielectric material members having opposed gaseous medium contacting surfaces, which dielectric material members are respectively backed by a series of parallel-like electrode members, the electrode members behind each dielectric material member being transversely oriented with respect to the electrode members behind the opposing dielectric material members so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge volumes, each constituting a discharge unit, and wherein the gas is selectively ionized within each discharge unit by operating voltages applied to the transversely oriented electrode members, the improvement which comprises decreasing the operating voltages of the device by coating the gaseous medium contacting surface of each opposed dielectric material member with a layer of a non-conductive inorganic oxide of at least one transition metal selected from the group consisting of V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Tc, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Pd and Pt.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
168 words
In the method of operating a gas discharge display/memory device comprising an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of dielectric material members having opposed gaseous medium contacting surfaces, which dielectric material members are respectively backed by a series of parallel-like electrode members, the electrode members behind each dielectric material member being transversely oriented with respect to the electrode members behind the opposing dielectric material members so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge volumes, each constituting a discharge unit, and wherein the gas is selectively ionized within each discharge unit by operating voltages applied to the transversely oriented electrode members, the improvement which comprises decreasing the operating voltages of the device by coating the gaseous medium contacting surface of each opposed dielectric material member with a layer of a non-conductive inorganic oxide of at least one transition metal selected from the group consisting of V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Tc, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Pd and Pt.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 27 wherein the layer has a thickness of at least 100 angstrom units.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 28 wherein the layer has a thickness range of about 200 angstrom units to about 1 micron.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-05-27 | 1983-11-26 | 1984-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-05-27 | 1987-11-26 | 1988-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-05-27 | 1991-11-26 | 1992-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |