US4464657A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Modular waveform generator for plasma display panels
Assignee: L3Harris Interstate Electronics Corp
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Filing: 1981-06-12
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Granted: 1984-08-07
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Expires: 2001-06-12
Abstract
Abstract Complex waveforms used to control a plasma panel are formed as sequences of common elemental waveform modules. These modules are combined in various orders into strings capable of performing various functions on the plasma panel. Large scale parallel addressing is accomplished by forming a string of several sustain modules, followed by a write or erase module.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael J. Marentic
- 👤 Daniel A. Manseau
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 01:30
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/22; G09G3/28; G09G3/288; G09G3/296; G09G3/291; G09G3/292; G09G3/2927; G09G3/294; G09G3/2944; G09G2310/00; G09G2310/02; G09G2310/0232; G09G2320/00; G09G2320/06; G09G2320/0626; G09G3/297
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
An AC plasma panel system, comprising: a plasma panel driver circuit; and means for providing input waveforms for said driver circuit, said means comprising: means for providing waveforms of different arbitrary lengths, each of said waveforms of different arbitrary lengths for accomplishing a different function on said panel, wherein one of said functions is a write function and another of said functions is a sustain function.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
An AC plasma panel system, comprising: a plasma panel driver circuit; and means for providing input waveforms for said driver circuit, said means comprising: means for providing waveforms of different arbitrary lengths, each of said waveforms of different arbitrary lengths for accomplishing a different function on said panel, wherein one of said functions is a write function and another of said functions is a sustain function.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An AC plasma panel system as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for providing waveforms of different arbitrary lengths comprises: first and second memories, said first memory addressing said second memory.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
An AC plasma panel system as defined in claim 2 wherein said second memory stores data defining elemental waveform components and wherein said first memory stores data defining combinations of elemental waveform components for providing said waveforms of different arbitary lengths.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An AC plasma panel system as defined in claim 3 wherein two of said combinations of elemental waveform components include identical elemental waveform components.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
An AC plasma panel system as defined in claim 1 wherein said waveforms of different arbitrary lengths accomplish a write function on said AC plasma panel in a time period greater than 20 microseconds and a sustained function on said AC plasma panel system in a period shorter than 20 microseconds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An AC plasma panel system as defined in claim 1 wherein said different functions comprise a write, erase, sustain and bulk-erase function.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
An AC plasma panel system as defined in claim 6 wherein said different functions additionally comprise a distributed conditioning function.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
An AC plasma panel system as defined in claim 7 wherein said different functions additionally comprise a variable brightness function.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
43 words
A method of generating complex waveforms for an AC plasma panel, comprising: storing data defining partial waveforms for writing and sustaining said panel; and accessing said data in a predetermined sequential order to define a waveform comprising plural ones of said partial waveforms.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
43 words
A method of generating complex waveforms for an AC plasma panel, comprising: storing data defining partial waveforms for writing and sustaining said panel; and accessing said data in a predetermined sequential order to define a waveform comprising plural ones of said partial waveforms.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of generating complex waveforms as defined in claim 9 wherein said partial waveforms include a positive discharge, negative discharge, write, erase and bulk-erase partial waveform.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of generating complex waveforms as defined in claim 9 additionally comprising: generating a clocking signal at the completion of accessing of said data defining partial waveforms.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of generating complex waveforms as defined in claim 9 additionally comprising: generating a clocking signal upon completion of accessing of said data in a predetermined order to indicate the completion of a waveform.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method of generating complex waveforms as defined in claim 9 wherein said accessing step permits accessing of plural waveforms to permit the brightness of said AC plasma panel to be varied.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of generating complex waveforms as defined in claim 9 wherein said accessing step accesses said data in a pair of predetermined orders, said predetermined orders having different lengths.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A plasma panel waveform generator comprising: a first memory storing elemental waveform components; and a second memory storing instructions for assembling said components in plural sequential orders into waveform strings.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A plasma panel waveform generator comprising: a first memory storing elemental waveform components; and a second memory storing instructions for assembling said components in plural sequential orders into waveform strings.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A plasma panel waveform generator as defined in claim 15 in which said second memory addresses said first memory.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A plasma panel waveform generator as defined in claim 15 in which said elemental waveform components stored within said first memory have different lengths.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A plasma panel waveform generator as defined in claim 15 wherein said waveform strings include a variable number of said elemental waveform components.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
A plasma panel waveform generator as defined in claim 15 wherein said first and second memories comprise read-only-memories.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A plasma panel waveform generator as defined in claim 15 wherein said first memory stores data defining an end to said elemental waveform components.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
A plasma panel waveform generator as defined in claim 20 wherein said data defining an end of said elemental waveform components accesses data from said second memory.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
A plasma panel waveform generator as defined in claim 15 wherein said second memory stores data defining the end of said waveform strings.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
A plasma panel waveform generator as defined in claim 22 wherein said data defining the end of said waveform strings enables addressing of said second memory.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
45 words
A modular waveform generator for a plasma panel, comprising: first means for generating partial waveforms for operating said plasma panel; and second means for assembling said partial waveforms generated by said first means in plural sequential orders into strings to perform functions on said panel.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
45 words
A modular waveform generator for a plasma panel, comprising: first means for generating partial waveforms for operating said plasma panel; and second means for assembling said partial waveforms generated by said first means in plural sequential orders into strings to perform functions on said panel.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
A modular waveform generator for a plasma panel as defined in claim 24 wherein said functions include write, erase and sustain functions for said plasma panel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
A modular waveform generator for a plasma panel as defined in claim 25 wherein said operations include common elements of said write, erase and sustain functions.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
A modular waveform generator for a plasma panel as defined in claim 24 wherein said first and second means comprise read-only-memories.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
38 words
An AC plasma panel waveform generator comprising: means for providing a write and an erase waveform having a duration in excess of 71 microseconds; and means for providing a sustain waveform having a duration less than 20 microseconds.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
38 words
An AC plasma panel waveform generator comprising: means for providing a write and an erase waveform having a duration in excess of 71 microseconds; and means for providing a sustain waveform having a duration less than 20 microseconds.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
43 words
A method of providing logic signals for controlling a plasma panel, comprising: generating basic waveform components common to more than one function; and assembling at least two of said basic waveform components into a string to perform a function on said plasma panel.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
43 words
A method of providing logic signals for controlling a plasma panel, comprising: generating basic waveform components common to more than one function; and assembling at least two of said basic waveform components into a string to perform a function on said plasma panel.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
41 words
A method of addressing an AC plasma panel, comprising: writing new displays onto said panel during a data loading and writing period having a first duration; and periodically permitting initiation of said writing step at intervals shorter than said first duration.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
41 words
A method of addressing an AC plasma panel, comprising: writing new displays onto said panel during a data loading and writing period having a first duration; and periodically permitting initiation of said writing step at intervals shorter than said first duration.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of addressing an AC plasma panel as defined in claim 30 wherein said first duration is longer than 71 microseconds.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of addressing an AC plasma panel as defined in claim 30 wherein said second duration is shorter than 20 microseconds.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
55 words
An AC plasma panel waveform generator, comprising: means for driving electrodes in said panel in response to partial input waveforms assembled in sequential series; and means for generating, as said input waveforms, a write and a sustained waveform, each having a different duration, which duration is the minimum duration required to adequately perform its function.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
55 words
An AC plasma panel waveform generator, comprising: means for driving electrodes in said panel in response to partial input waveforms assembled in sequential series; and means for generating, as said input waveforms, a write and a sustained waveform, each having a different duration, which duration is the minimum duration required to adequately perform its function.
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) | 1987-08-07 | 1988-02-06 | 1988-08-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-08-07 | 1992-02-06 | 1992-08-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-08-07 | 1996-02-06 | 1996-08-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |