US4401982A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluorescent display tubes and method of driving the same
Assignee: NEC Corp
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Filing: 1981-05-01
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Granted: 1983-08-30
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Expires: 2001-05-01
Abstract
Abstract In a fluorescent display tube provided with a plurality of electrically isolated grids, spacings for electrically isolating the grids are arranged to divide portions of an anode to be integrally displayed.
Inventors
- 👤 Togo Miyazaki
- 👤 Junichi Suehiro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:55
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J31/00; H01J31/08; H01J31/10; H01J31/12; H01J31/15; G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/04; G09G3/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A fluorescent display tube comprising: an anode arranged on a substrate and coated with phosphor according to a predetermined pattern to be displayed; a plurality of grids disposed above said anode a predetermined distance apart therefrom, said grids being electrically isolated from each other for dividing said phosphor pattern into a plurality of sections; means for selectively energizing said grids; a cathode disposed above said grids a predetermined distance apart therefrom; and whereby said predetermined pattern is displayed according to said selectively energized grids and between adjacent selectively energized grids.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
A fluorescent display tube comprising: an anode arranged on a substrate and coated with phosphor according to a predetermined pattern to be displayed; a plurality of grids disposed above said anode a predetermined distance apart therefrom, said grids being electrically isolated from each other for dividing said phosphor pattern into a plurality of sections; means for selectively energizing said grids; a cathode disposed above said grids a predetermined distance apart therefrom; and whereby said predetermined pattern is displayed according to said selectively energized grids and between adjacent selectively energized grids.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The fluorescent display tube according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of grids are arranged in a plane substantially parallel with said substrate and spacings between divided sections of the grids have such small dimensions that they are substantially undetectable when viewed from outside of said tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The fluorescent tube according to claim 2 wherein said spacings are less than 1 mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fluorescent tube according to claim 1 wherein said grids are constituted by a mesh, and a frame surrounding the same.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
119 words
In a fluorescent display tube of the type comprising an anode having a phosphor layer coated thereon, a cathode facing said anode, and a plurality of electrically isolated grids positioned between said anode and said cathode for accelerating and controlling electrons emitted from said cathode toward said anode whereby light emitted by said anode is viewed from the outside of said tube through said grids, the improvement wherein digit dividing means for electrically isolating said plurality of grids are located such that said dividing means divides an integral display portion of said anode into sections to be displayed; wherein said dividing means is selectively controllable whereby said integral display portion may be viewed from the outside of said tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
119 words
In a fluorescent display tube of the type comprising an anode having a phosphor layer coated thereon, a cathode facing said anode, and a plurality of electrically isolated grids positioned between said anode and said cathode for accelerating and controlling electrons emitted from said cathode toward said anode whereby light emitted by said anode is viewed from the outside of said tube through said grids, the improvement wherein digit dividing means for electrically isolating said plurality of grids are located such that said dividing means divides an integral display portion of said anode into sections to be displayed; wherein said dividing means is selectively controllable whereby said integral display portion may be viewed from the outside of said tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
162 words
A fluorescent display tube comprising: a plurality of anodes mounted on a substrate and coated with phosphor according to a predetermined pattern to be displayed, said anodes being divided into two groups; a plurality of electrically isolated grids disposed above said anodes a predetermined distance apart therefrom; a means for selectively energizing said grids; a cathode disposed above said grids a predetermined distance apart therefrom; one of said anode groups being coated with phosphor in the form of a letter 8 and juxtaposed for displaying digits of a plurality of orders of magnitude; the other one of said anode groups being disposed apart from said one group; said grids being arranged such that they select orders of magnitude according to the anodes of said one group and that they divide said anodes into sections to be displayed by respective anodes of said second group; whereby said predetermined pattern is displayed according to said selectively energized grids and between adjacent selectively energized grids.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
162 words
A fluorescent display tube comprising: a plurality of anodes mounted on a substrate and coated with phosphor according to a predetermined pattern to be displayed, said anodes being divided into two groups; a plurality of electrically isolated grids disposed above said anodes a predetermined distance apart therefrom; a means for selectively energizing said grids; a cathode disposed above said grids a predetermined distance apart therefrom; one of said anode groups being coated with phosphor in the form of a letter 8 and juxtaposed for displaying digits of a plurality of orders of magnitude; the other one of said anode groups being disposed apart from said one group; said grids being arranged such that they select orders of magnitude according to the anodes of said one group and that they divide said anodes into sections to be displayed by respective anodes of said second group; whereby said predetermined pattern is displayed according to said selectively energized grids and between adjacent selectively energized grids.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of driving a fluorescent display tube of that type comprising an anode arranged on a substrate and coated with phosphor according to a predetermined pattern to be displayed; a plurality of grids disposed above said anode a predetermined distance apart therefrom, said grids being electrically isolated from each other for dividing said phosphor pattern into a plurality of sections, a means for selectively energizing said grids, whereby said predetermined pattern is displayed according to said selectively energized grids and between adjacent selectively energized grids; and a cathode disposed above said grids a predetermined distance spaced therefrom, said method comprising the steps of simultaneously applying a control signal to respective grids, and driving a selected anode by applying an anode selection signal.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of driving a fluorescent display tube of that type comprising an anode arranged on a substrate and coated with phosphor according to a predetermined pattern to be displayed; a plurality of grids disposed above said anode a predetermined distance apart therefrom, said grids being electrically isolated from each other for dividing said phosphor pattern into a plurality of sections, a means for selectively energizing said grids, whereby said predetermined pattern is displayed according to said selectively energized grids and between adjacent selectively energized grids; and a cathode disposed above said grids a predetermined distance spaced therefrom, said method comprising the steps of simultaneously applying a control signal to respective grids, and driving a selected anode by applying an anode selection signal.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
237 words
A method of driving a fluorescent tube of the type comprising a plurality of anode electrodes mounted on a substrate and coated with phosphor according to a predetermined pattern to be displayed, said anodes being divided into two groups; a plurality of electrically isolated grids disposed above the anodes a predetermined distance apart therefrom; a means for selectively energizing said grids, whereby said predetermined pattern is displayed according to said selectively energized grids and between adjacent selectively energized grids; and a cathode disposed above the grids a predetermined distance apart therefrom, one of said anode groups being coated with phosphor in the form of a letter 8 and juxtaposed for displaying digits of a plurality of orders of magnitude; the other one of said anode groups being disposed apart from said one group; said grids being arranged such that they can select orders of magnitude according to the anodes of said one group, and that they divide said anode into sections to be displayed by respective anodes of said second group, said method comprising the steps of supplying a control signal to said grids at different timings for selectively displaying said letter 8 shaped anodes of said one group; concurrently selecting corresponding anode segments for dynamically driving the same; selecting an anode of the other group to be displayed and simultaneously supplying a control signal to all grids disposed above said selected anode for driving said grids.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
237 words
A method of driving a fluorescent tube of the type comprising a plurality of anode electrodes mounted on a substrate and coated with phosphor according to a predetermined pattern to be displayed, said anodes being divided into two groups; a plurality of electrically isolated grids disposed above the anodes a predetermined distance apart therefrom; a means for selectively energizing said grids, whereby said predetermined pattern is displayed according to said selectively energized grids and between adjacent selectively energized grids; and a cathode disposed above the grids a predetermined distance apart therefrom, one of said anode groups being coated with phosphor in the form of a letter 8 and juxtaposed for displaying digits of a plurality of orders of magnitude; the other one of said anode groups being disposed apart from said one group; said grids being arranged such that they can select orders of magnitude according to the anodes of said one group, and that they divide said anode into sections to be displayed by respective anodes of said second group, said method comprising the steps of supplying a control signal to said grids at different timings for selectively displaying said letter 8 shaped anodes of said one group; concurrently selecting corresponding anode segments for dynamically driving the same; selecting an anode of the other group to be displayed and simultaneously supplying a control signal to all grids disposed above said selected anode for driving said grids.
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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) | 1986-08-29 | 1987-02-28 | 1987-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-29 | 1991-02-28 | 1991-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-29 | 1995-02-28 | 1995-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |