Display panel wherein each scanning cell is associated with a plurality of display cells

Claim 2

A display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope and including in said envelope a plurality of first cells arrayed in rows and columns and each including a first electrode and a second electrode for receiving potentials for use in ionizing and firing said cells, said first cells being arrayed in a layer and comprising sources of excited particles when ionized, a plurality of second display cells arrayeD in rows and columns and each including a third electrode and a portion of one of said second electrodes as its operating electrodes, said second display cells being arrayed in a layer adjacent to said layer of first cells and in gas communication therewith, said second electrodes being disposed between said first cells and said second cells and dimensioned to permit gas communication therebetween, each first cell communicating with a plurality of said second cells through said second electrodes whereby, when one of said first cells is fired by means of operating potentials applied to its first electrode and second electrode, one or more of the associated display cells can be fired by potentials applied simultaneously to the associated third electrodes.

Claim 3

The panel defined in claim 1 wherein each said first electrode is an anode electrode, each said second electrode is a cathode electrode, and each said third electrode is an anode electrode.

Claim 4

The panel defined in claim 2 wherein each cathode electrode is a generally flat strip having a series of apertures, each aperture providing gas communication between a first cell and a second cell.

Claim 5

The panel defined in claim 2 wherein each cathode electrode is a generally flat strip having a series of apertures, each aperture providing gas communication between a first cell and a second cell, each first cell communicating through apertures in the associated cathode with a plurality of second cells.

Claim 6

The panel defined in claim 2 wherein each first anode electrode is in operative relation with a plurality of said first cells, each cathode electrode is in operative relation with a plurality of said first cells and said second display cells, and each second anode electrode is in operative relation with a plurality of said second display cells.

Claim 7

The panel defined in claim 2 wherein said first cells and said second cells are arrayed in rows and columns, each first anode electrode is in operative relation with a row of said first cells, each cathode electrode is in operative relation with a column of said first cells and said second display cells, and each second anode electrode is in operative relation with a row of said second display cells.

Claim 8

A display panel as defined in claim 2 wherein said first cells are arrayed in rows and columns, said first anodes are elongated electrodes, each in operative relation with a row of said first cells, said cathode electrodes are elongated electrodes, each in operative relation with a column of said first cells, said second display cells are arrayed in rows and columns, there being two rows of such second cells positioned in operative relation with each row of first cells, said second anode electrodes each being in operative relation with one row of said second cells, each cathode electrode having an aperture in communication with each associated second display cell for providing communication between each first cell and the two display cells associated therewith.

Claim 9

A display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope including a base plate of insulating material having a plurality of slots formed in the top surface thereof, a first anode electrode seated in each of said slots, a plurality of cathode electrodes seated on said top surface of said base plate and oriented at 90* to said anode electrodes, each cathode electrode crossing each first anode electrode, each crossing defining a scanning gas cell, each cathode having a series of apertures extending along its length, a second insulating plate seated on said first plate and having a plurality of rows and columns of display cells, there being a plurality of rows of display cells associated with each slot in said base plate and each row of scanning cells, whereby each column of display cells is arranged in groups, each group being associated with one scanning cell, each cathode and its serieS of apertures being aligned with a column of said display cells, and each scanning cell being in gas communication with a group of display cells in each column of display cells through the apertures in the associated cathode electrode, and an insulating viewing plate seated on said second insulating plate.

Claim 10

A display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope including a base plate of insulating material having a plurality of slots formed in the top surface thereof, a first anode electrode seated in each of said slots, a plurality of cathode electrodes seated on said top surface of said base plate and oriented at 90* to said anode electrodes, each cathode electrode crossing each first anode electrode, each crossing defining a scanning gas cell, each cathode having a series of apertures extending along its length, a second insulating plate seated on said first plate and having a plurality of rows and columns of display cells, there being a plurality of rows of display cells associated with each slot in said base plate and each row of scanning cells, whereby each column of display cells is arranged in groups, each group being associated with one scanning cell, each cathode and its serieS of apertures being aligned with a column of said display cells, and each scanning cell being in gas communication with a group of display cells in each column of display cells through the apertures in the associated cathode electrode, and an insulating viewing plate seated on said second insulating plate.

Claim 11

The panel defined in claim 8 wherein there are two rows of display cells associated with each row of scanning cells, and each cathode has two separate holes providing communication between each scanning cell and each of the two associated display cells.

Claim 12

The panel defined in claim 8 wherein said two separate cathode holes have diameters of the order of 3 to 5 mils.