Patent US2228325A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4322659A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4322659A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Gas-discharge devices and display panels
Assignee: LUCITRON Inc (LUCITRON-DELAWARE") A CORP OF DE
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Filing: 1979-10-10
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Granted: 1982-03-30
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Expires: 1999-10-10
Abstract
Abstract A gas-discharge device is provided in which a dielectric member is disposed between a pair of metal members and has one or more openings to provide one or more gas-discharge cells. A surface portion of the dielectric member extends alongside a discharge path in each cell to be placed in a certain charge condition during a gas-discharge and to control field conditions and a timing delay to a subsequent discharge. With the proper applied operating voltage, which may be of alternating polarity, a repeated breakdown operation is obtained at a low frequency. For display applications, a panel is provided having a multiplicity of cells which are operable from a common operating voltage and which develop glow discharges at random times, thereby producing a random flashing or sparkling effect over at least a portion of the panel.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael De Jule
- 👤 Alan Sobel
- 👤 Ralph L. Meyer
- 👤 David Glaser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:49
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J17/00; H01J17/38; H01J17/48; H01J17/49; H01J17/491
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A gas-discharge device comprising: envelope means defining an enclosed space containing an ionizable gas, first and second electrode means within said envelope means, discharge-path means defining a gas-discharge path between a surface portion of said first electrode means and a surface portion of said second electrode means, said discharge-path means including charge-collecting means controlling field conditions along said path as a function of time for controlling the breakdown voltage and hence the time of production of a gas-discharge in said path, said discharge-path means defining a plurality of additional gas-discharge paths between surface portions of said first electrode means and surface portions of said second electrode means, and said discharge-path means including charge-collecting means controlling field conditions along said additional gas-discharge paths as a function of time for controlling the breakdown voltages and hence the time of production of gas discharges in said additional paths, said discharge-path means comprising at least one layer of a fabric material between said first and second electrode means having openings therethrough which provide said discharge paths.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
A gas-discharge device comprising: envelope means defining an enclosed space containing an ionizable gas, first and second electrode means within said envelope means, discharge-path means defining a gas-discharge path between a surface portion of said first electrode means and a surface portion of said second electrode means, said discharge-path means including charge-collecting means controlling field conditions along said path as a function of time for controlling the breakdown voltage and hence the time of production of a gas-discharge in said path, said discharge-path means defining a plurality of additional gas-discharge paths between surface portions of said first electrode means and surface portions of said second electrode means, and said discharge-path means including charge-collecting means controlling field conditions along said additional gas-discharge paths as a function of time for controlling the breakdown voltages and hence the time of production of gas discharges in said additional paths, said discharge-path means comprising at least one layer of a fabric material between said first and second electrode means having openings therethrough which provide said discharge paths.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
In a device as defined in claim 1, said fabric material being a woven material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
In a device as defined in claim 1, said fabric material being a felted material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
In a device as defined in claim 3, said felted material being a paper formed of ceramic fibers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
In a device as defined in claim 4, said paper being an aluminum oxide paper.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
In a device as defined in claim 1, said fabric material including glass fibers and being substantially free of organic materials.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
161 words
A gas-discharge device comprising: envelope means defining an enclosed space containing an ionizable gas, first and second electrode means within said envelope means, discharge-path means defining a gas-discharge path between a surface portion of said first electrode means and a surface portion of said second electrode means, said discharge-path means including charge-collecting means controlling field conditions along said path as a function of time for controlling the breakdown voltage and hence the time of production of a gas-discharge in said path, said charge-collecting means comprising a member of a dielectric material having an opening therein and having a surface portion extending away from said opening therein and defining a portion of said path, said first electrode means being disposed against said one face of said member of dielectric material and said surface portion of said first electrode means being an annular surface defining an opening larger than and in generally coaxial relation to said opening in said member of dielectric material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
161 words
A gas-discharge device comprising: envelope means defining an enclosed space containing an ionizable gas, first and second electrode means within said envelope means, discharge-path means defining a gas-discharge path between a surface portion of said first electrode means and a surface portion of said second electrode means, said discharge-path means including charge-collecting means controlling field conditions along said path as a function of time for controlling the breakdown voltage and hence the time of production of a gas-discharge in said path, said charge-collecting means comprising a member of a dielectric material having an opening therein and having a surface portion extending away from said opening therein and defining a portion of said path, said first electrode means being disposed against said one face of said member of dielectric material and said surface portion of said first electrode means being an annular surface defining an opening larger than and in generally coaxial relation to said opening in said member of dielectric material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
In a device as defined in claim 7, said surface portion of said second electrode means being opposite said opening in said member of dielectric material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
In a device as defined in claim 8, the area of said surface portion of said first electrode means being a small fraction of the area of said surface portion of said second electrode means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
In a device as defined in claim 8, the area of said surface portion of said second electrode means being a small fraction of the area of said surface portion of said first electrode means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
In a device as defined in claim 7, said surface portion of said member of dielectric material being of generally frusto-conical shape.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
In a device as defined in claim 7, said envelope means including a transparent wall adjacent said first electrode means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
In a device as defined in claim 12, said annular surface of said first electrode means being a generally frusto-conical surface facing said transparent wall for reflection of light produced by gas discharges out through said transparent wall.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
In a device as defined in claim 7, said envelope means including a transparent wall adjacent said second electrode means, said surface portion of said second electrode means being an annular surface defining an opening in generally coaxial relation to said opening in said member of dielectric material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
In a device as defined in claim 14, said envelope means including a second transparent wall adjacent said first electrode means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
163 words
A gas-discharge device comprising: envelope means defining an enclosed space containing an ionizable gas, first and second electrode means within said envelope means, discharge-path means defining a gas-discharge path between a surface portion of said first electrode means and a surface portion of said second electrode means, said discharge-path means including charge-collecting means controlling field conditions along said path as a function of time for controlling the breakdown voltage and hence the time of production of a gas-discharge in said path, said discharge-path means defining a plurality of additional gas-discharge paths between surface portions of said first electrode means and surface portions of said second electrode means, and said discharge-path means including charge-collecting means controlling field conditions along said additional gas-discharge paths as a function of time for controlling the breakdown voltages and hence the time of production of gas discharges in said additional paths, said first electrode means comprising a metal sheet having a plurality of openings aligned with said discharge paths.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
163 words
A gas-discharge device comprising: envelope means defining an enclosed space containing an ionizable gas, first and second electrode means within said envelope means, discharge-path means defining a gas-discharge path between a surface portion of said first electrode means and a surface portion of said second electrode means, said discharge-path means including charge-collecting means controlling field conditions along said path as a function of time for controlling the breakdown voltage and hence the time of production of a gas-discharge in said path, said discharge-path means defining a plurality of additional gas-discharge paths between surface portions of said first electrode means and surface portions of said second electrode means, and said discharge-path means including charge-collecting means controlling field conditions along said additional gas-discharge paths as a function of time for controlling the breakdown voltages and hence the time of production of gas discharges in said additional paths, said first electrode means comprising a metal sheet having a plurality of openings aligned with said discharge paths.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
184 words
A gas-discharge device comprising: envelope means defining an enclosed space containing an ionizable gas, first and second electrode means within said envelope means, discharge-path means defining a gas-discharge path between a surface portion of said first electrode means and a surface portion of said second electrode means, said discharge-path means including charge-collecting means controlling field conditions along said path as a function of time for controlling the breakdown voltage and hence the time of production of a gas-discharge in said path, said discharge-path means defining a plurality of additional gas-discharge paths between surface portions of said first electrode means and surface portions of said second electrode means, and said discharge-path means including charge-collecting means controlling field conditions along said additional gas-discharge paths as a function of time for controlling the breakdown voltages and hence the time of production of gas discharges in said additional paths, said envelope means including a transparent wall; and said first electrode means having a plurality of openings therethrough permitting viewing of light produced by said discharges through said transparent wall, said first electrode means being of a woven material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
184 words
A gas-discharge device comprising: envelope means defining an enclosed space containing an ionizable gas, first and second electrode means within said envelope means, discharge-path means defining a gas-discharge path between a surface portion of said first electrode means and a surface portion of said second electrode means, said discharge-path means including charge-collecting means controlling field conditions along said path as a function of time for controlling the breakdown voltage and hence the time of production of a gas-discharge in said path, said discharge-path means defining a plurality of additional gas-discharge paths between surface portions of said first electrode means and surface portions of said second electrode means, and said discharge-path means including charge-collecting means controlling field conditions along said additional gas-discharge paths as a function of time for controlling the breakdown voltages and hence the time of production of gas discharges in said additional paths, said envelope means including a transparent wall; and said first electrode means having a plurality of openings therethrough permitting viewing of light produced by said discharges through said transparent wall, said first electrode means being of a woven material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
216 words
A gas-discharge device comprising: envelope means defining an enclosed space containing an ionizable gas, first and second electrode means within said envelope means, discharge-path means defining a gas-discharge path between a surface portion of said first electrode means and a surface portion of said second electrode means, said discharge-path means including charge-collecting means controlling field conditions along said path as a function of time for controlling the breakdown voltage and hence the time of production of a gas-discharge in said path a voltage-supply means for supplying an operating voltage to said first and second electrode means to produce a repeated breakdown operation in which each gas discharge is extinguished after production thereof to leave said charge-collecting means in a certain charge condition and to allow said charge-collecting means to control the time to a next subsequent gas discharge, said device and said voltage-supply means being so arranged and interconnected as to obtain an asymmetrical operation in which the current flow between said first and second electrode means during gas discharges is substantially greater in one direction than in the other direction and said first and second electrode means having different characteristics with respect to at least one of a number of attributes including areas, geometry, work function and secondary-emission ratio to contribute to said asymmetrical operation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
216 words
A gas-discharge device comprising: envelope means defining an enclosed space containing an ionizable gas, first and second electrode means within said envelope means, discharge-path means defining a gas-discharge path between a surface portion of said first electrode means and a surface portion of said second electrode means, said discharge-path means including charge-collecting means controlling field conditions along said path as a function of time for controlling the breakdown voltage and hence the time of production of a gas-discharge in said path a voltage-supply means for supplying an operating voltage to said first and second electrode means to produce a repeated breakdown operation in which each gas discharge is extinguished after production thereof to leave said charge-collecting means in a certain charge condition and to allow said charge-collecting means to control the time to a next subsequent gas discharge, said device and said voltage-supply means being so arranged and interconnected as to obtain an asymmetrical operation in which the current flow between said first and second electrode means during gas discharges is substantially greater in one direction than in the other direction and said first and second electrode means having different characteristics with respect to at least one of a number of attributes including areas, geometry, work function and secondary-emission ratio to contribute to said asymmetrical operation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-03-29 | 1985-09-28 | 1986-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-03-29 | 1989-09-28 | 1990-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-03-29 | 1993-09-28 | 1994-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |