Panel-type display device having display cells and auxiliary cells for operating them

Claim 2

A display panel including an envelope filled with a gas for supporting cathode glow and having a viewing window for viewing cathode glow, a plurality of discrete gas-filled display cells arrayed in rows and columns, said cells having substantially identical mechanical and electrical characteristics, there being first, last, and intermediate columns of said display cells, at least two electrodes associated with each of said display cells, gas communication paths providing communication between each display cell and the adjacent display cell in its row, means coupled to the electrodes of said display cells for turning on said columns of display cells cyclically and in turn beginning with the first column and proceeding to the last, a plurality of discrete auxiliary cells, each aligned with and communicating through a gas communication path with one of said display cells and accordingly with a row of display cells, said auxiliary cells being arrayed in a column in communication with but preceding said first column of display cells, said auxiliary cells being mechanically substantially identical to said display cells but having different operating characteristics whereby said auxiliary cells can be fired more readily than said display cells to provide excited particles to facilitate the turn-on of said first column of display cells when operating potentials are applied to its electrodes, and at least two electrodes associated with each of said auxiliary cells, said two electrodes being substantially identiCal in size and shape to the corresponding electrodes associated with said display cells.

Claim 3

The panel defined in claim 1 wherein the electrode-to-electrode spacing in said auxiliary cells is smaller than in said display cells.

Claim 4

The panel defined in claim 2 wherein said smaller electrode-to-electrode spacing is achieved by means of tabs extending from one electrode toward the other electrode in each auxiliary cell.

Claim 5

The panel defined in claim 2 wherein each of said two electrodes in said auxiliary cells comprises an anode and a cathode, and said smaller electrode-to-electrode spacing is achieved by means of tabs extending from a cathode to the associated anode in each auxiliary cell.

Claim 6

The panel defined in claim 4 wherein the cathodes associated with said auxiliary cells comprise a common electrode strip extending along and aligned with each auxiliary cell and having a tab entering each auxiliary cell.

Claim 7

The panel defined in claim 3 wherein said smaller electrode-to-electrode spacing is achieved by means of tabs extending from the anode in an auxiliary cell to the associated cathode.

Claim 8

The panel defined in claim 3 wherein said tabs are generally rectangular shaped.

Claim 9

The panel defined in claim 3 wherein said tabs are generally sharply pointed.

Claim 10

A display panel including an insulating plate having a plurality of display cells arrayed in rows and columns and filled with an ionizable gas, said plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, said columns of cells communicating with each other through channels in said plate, an array of first electrodes adjacent to said bottom surface and each aligned with a column of cells, an array of second electrodes adjacent to said top surface of said plate and each aligned with a row of cells, said gas-filled display cells having substantially identical electrical characteristics, substantially identical anodes and cathodes, and substantially the same characteristic firing potential, and a plurality of auxiliary gas-filled cells communicating through channels in said plate with selected ones of said display cells and having their own anodes and cathodes and having substantially the same mechanical characteristics as said display cells but having different electrical characteristics from said display cells whereby said auxiliary cells turn on more readily than said display cells.

Claim 11

A display panel including an insulating plate having a plurality of display cells arrayed in rows and columns and filled with an ionizable gas, said plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, said columns of cells communicating with each other through channels in said plate, an array of first electrodes adjacent to said bottom surface and each aligned with a column of cells, an array of second electrodes adjacent to said top surface of said plate and each aligned with a row of cells, said gas-filled display cells having substantially identical electrical characteristics, substantially identical anodes and cathodes, and substantially the same characteristic firing potential, and a plurality of auxiliary gas-filled cells communicating through channels in said plate with selected ones of said display cells and having their own anodes and cathodes and having substantially the same mechanical characteristics as said display cells but having different electrical characteristics from said display cells whereby said auxiliary cells turn on more readily than said display cells.

Claim 12

The panel defined in claim 9 wherein said columns of display cells include a first column, a last column, and intermediate columns, and said auxiliary cells are provided as a column disposed adjacent to said first column of display cells and adapted to turn on and fire after the last column of display cells has fired in a scanning cycle in which each column of display cells fires in turn beginning with the first and ending with the last.

Claim 13

A display panel including an insulating plate having a plurality of display cells arrayed in rows and columns and filled with an ionizable gas, said plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, said plate having gas communication channels extending from column to column of said cells, an array of first electrodes adjacent to said bottom surface and each aligned with a column of cells, said first electrodes lying in substantially a common first plane, an array of second electrodes adjacent to said top surface of said plate and each aligned with a row of cells, said second electrodes lying in substantially a common second plane, said gas-filled display cells having substantially identical mechanical and electrical characteristics, substantially identical first electrodes and second electrodes, and substantially identical electrode spacing and substantially the same characteristic firing potential, and a plurality of auxiliary gas-filled cells communicating through channels in said plate with selected ones of said display cells and being mechanically similar thereto, and having auxiliary first electrodes which lie in said fiRst plane and auxiliary second electrodes which lie in said second plane, said auxiliary first and second electrodes including means which cause them to have a closer spacing than the first and second electrodes of said display cells whereby said auxiliary cells have a lower firing voltage than said display cells.

Claim 14

A display panel including an insulating plate having a plurality of display cells arrayed in rows and columns and filled with an ionizable gas, said plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, said plate having gas communication channels extending from column to column of said cells, an array of first electrodes adjacent to said bottom surface and each aligned with a column of cells, said first electrodes lying in substantially a common first plane, an array of second electrodes adjacent to said top surface of said plate and each aligned with a row of cells, said second electrodes lying in substantially a common second plane, said gas-filled display cells having substantially identical mechanical and electrical characteristics, substantially identical first electrodes and second electrodes, and substantially identical electrode spacing and substantially the same characteristic firing potential, and a plurality of auxiliary gas-filled cells communicating through channels in said plate with selected ones of said display cells and being mechanically similar thereto, and having auxiliary first electrodes which lie in said fiRst plane and auxiliary second electrodes which lie in said second plane, said auxiliary first and second electrodes including means which cause them to have a closer spacing than the first and second electrodes of said display cells whereby said auxiliary cells have a lower firing voltage than said display cells.

Claim 15

The panel defined in claim 11 wherein the cathodes associated with said auxiliary cells are constituted by a metallic strip adjacent to said bottom surface of said plate and aligned with said auxiliary cells.

Claim 16

The panel defined in claim 12 wherein the portion of said metallic strip aligned with each auxiliary cell is narrowed to increase the current density thereon when an auxiliary cell is fired.

Claim 17

A display system comprising a display panel and drive circuits therefor, said display panel including, a plurality of discrete gas-filled display cells arrayed in rows and columns, said cells having substantially identical mechanical and electrical characteristics, at least two electrodes associated with each of said display cells, gas communication paths providing communication between each cell and the adjacent cell in its row, a plurality of discrete auxiliary cells, each aligned with and communicating through gas communication paths with one of said display cells and accordingly with the row of display cells associated therewith, said auxiliary cells being mechanically substantially identical to said display cells but having different operating characteristics whereby said auxiliary cells can be fired more readily than said display cells, and at least two electrodes associated with each of said auxiliary cells, said drive circuits including circuit means coupled to the electrodes of said display cells for applying operating potential thereto to cause each column of cells to fire in turn, and circuit means for generating pulses coupled to the electrodes of said auxiliary cells for applying firing pulses thereto to turn said auxiliary cells on whereby the subsequent turn on of the adjacent display cells is facilitated by the diffusion of excited particles from said auxiliary cells through said gas communication paths to said adjacent display cells.

Claim 18

A display system comprising a display panel and drive circuits therefor, said display panel including, a plurality of discrete gas-filled display cells arrayed in rows and columns, said cells having substantially identical mechanical and electrical characteristics, at least two electrodes associated with each of said display cells, gas communication paths providing communication between each cell and the adjacent cell in its row, a plurality of discrete auxiliary cells, each aligned with and communicating through gas communication paths with one of said display cells and accordingly with the row of display cells associated therewith, said auxiliary cells being mechanically substantially identical to said display cells but having different operating characteristics whereby said auxiliary cells can be fired more readily than said display cells, and at least two electrodes associated with each of said auxiliary cells, said drive circuits including circuit means coupled to the electrodes of said display cells for applying operating potential thereto to cause each column of cells to fire in turn, and circuit means for generating pulses coupled to the electrodes of said auxiliary cells for applying firing pulses thereto to turn said auxiliary cells on whereby the subsequent turn on of the adjacent display cells is facilitated by the diffusion of excited particles from said auxiliary cells through said gas communication paths to said adjacent display cells.

Claim 19

A display system comprising a display panel and drive circuits therefor, said display panel including, a plurality of discrete gas-filled display cells arrayed in rows and columns, said cells having substantially identical mechanical and electrical characteristics, at least two electrodes associated with each of said display cells, gas communication paths providing communication between each cell and the adjacent cell in its row, a plurality of discrete auxiliary cells, each aligned with and communicating through gas communication paths with one of said display cells and accordingly with the row of display cells associated therewith, and at least two electrodes associated with each of said auxiliary cells, said drive circuits including first circuit means coupled to the electrodes of said display cells for applying operating potential thereto to cause each column of cells to fire in turn, and second circuit means for generating pulses coupled to the electrodes of said auxiliary cells for applying firing pulses thereto to turn said auxiliary cells on whereby the subsequent turn on of the adjacent display cells is facilitated by the diffusion of excited particles from said auxiliary cells through said gas communication paths to said adjacent display cells.

Claim 20

A display system comprising a display panel and drive circuits therefor, said display panel including, a plurality of discrete gas-filled display cells arrayed in rows and columns, said cells having substantially identical mechanical and electrical characteristics, at least two electrodes associated with each of said display cells, gas communication paths providing communication between each cell and the adjacent cell in its row, a plurality of discrete auxiliary cells, each aligned with and communicating through gas communication paths with one of said display cells and accordingly with the row of display cells associated therewith, and at least two electrodes associated with each of said auxiliary cells, said drive circuits including first circuit means coupled to the electrodes of said display cells for applying operating potential thereto to cause each column of cells to fire in turn, and second circuit means for generating pulses coupled to the electrodes of said auxiliary cells for applying firing pulses thereto to turn said auxiliary cells on whereby the subsequent turn on of the adjacent display cells is facilitated by the diffusion of excited particles from said auxiliary cells through said gas communication paths to said adjacent display cells.

Claim 21

The system defined in claim 15 wherein said display cells include a first column, a last column, and intermediate columns, and said auxiliary cells are provided as a column adjacent to said first column of display cells, said second circuit means being adapted to turn on said column of auxiliary cells after said last column of display cells has fired in a scanning cycle of said display cells.

Claim 22

The system defined in claim 15 wherein said pulses generated by said second circuit means are generally of greater amplitude and time duration than said operating potential applied by said first circuit means to the electrodes of said display cells whereby firing and turn-on of said auxiliary cells is insured at the beginning of a scanning cycle of said display cells.

Claim 23

The panel defined in claim 1 wherein all of the corresponding electrodes of said panel lie in substantially the same plane.

Claim 24

The panel defined in claim 1 wherein one of the electrodes associated with each display cell and auxiliary cell is a cathode and the other electrode associated with each display cell and auxiliary cell is an anode, said cathodes all lying in substantially the same plane, said anodes all lying in substantially the same plane.

Claim 25

A display panel including an envelope filled with an ionizable gas capable of sustaining cathode glow, an insulating plate in said envelope including a plurality of discrete gas-filled cells arrayed in rows and columns, said cells having substantially identical mechanical characteristics, said plate including gas communication slots extending between the columns of cells, with each cell in a column being in gas communication with the corresponding cell in the adjacent column, there being a first column of cells, a last column of cells, and an intermediate column of cells, said plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a plurality of first identical, elongated electrodes disposed adjacent to said top surface of said plate and all lying in a common plane, each being aligned with and in operative relation with a row of said cells, a plurality of second identical, elongated electrodes disposed adjacent to said bottom surface of said plate and all lying in a common plane, each second electrode being aligned with and in operative relation with a column of said cells, the second electrode associated with said first column of cells having projections which extend toward the portions of said first electrodes which lie above it whereby the firing potential required to ionize said first column of cells is reduced, said first electrodes and said second electrodes including means for turning on each column of cells in turn cyclically beginning with the first and proceeding therefrom to the last, said projections on said second electrode associated with said first column of cells and insuring the firing of said first column of cells and thus insuring the firing of each of said cells cyclically and in turn.

Claim 26

A display panel including an envelope filled with an ionizable gas capable of sustaining cathode glow, an insulating plate in said envelope including a plurality of discrete gas-filled cells arrayed in rows and columns, said cells having substantially identical mechanical characteristics, said plate including gas communication slots extending between the columns of cells, with each cell in a column being in gas communication with the corresponding cell in the adjacent column, there being a first column of cells, a last column of cells, and an intermediate column of cells, said plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a plurality of first identical, elongated electrodes disposed adjacent to said top surface of said plate and all lying in a common plane, each being aligned with and in operative relation with a row of said cells, a plurality of second identical, elongated electrodes disposed adjacent to said bottom surface of said plate and all lying in a common plane, each second electrode being aligned with and in operative relation with a column of said cells, the second electrode associated with said first column of cells having projections which extend toward the portions of said first electrodes which lie above it whereby the firing potential required to ionize said first column of cells is reduced, said first electrodes and said second electrodes including means for turning on each column of cells in turn cyclically beginning with the first and proceeding therefrom to the last, said projections on said second electrode associated with said first column of cells and insuring the firing of said first column of cells and thus insuring the firing of each of said cells cyclically and in turn.

Claim 27

The display panel defined in claim 20 wherein said first electrodes are substantially identical in size and shape and said second electrodes are substantially identical in size and shape except for said projections.

Claim 28

The panel defined in claim 21 wherein said first electrodes are small-diameter wires and said second electrodes are relatively wide metal strips.

Claim 29

The panel defined in claim 20 wherein said second electrodes are connected in groups to individual drive means for applying operating potential thereto, with the electrodes of each group being separated by at least one electrode of another group, whereby when operating potential is applied to one member of a group, it is applied to all members of its group, said second electrode associated with said first columns of cells being separately connected to a drive source of operating potential of its own whereby, when operating potential is applied thereto, it is not applied to any other second electrode.

Claim 30

A display panel and system therefor including an envelope filled with a gas for supporting cathode glow, said envelope having a viewing window for viewing cathode glow, a plurality of first discrete gas-filled cells arrayed in rows and columns and having upper ends and lower ends, said cells having substantially identical mechanical and electrical characteristics, there being first, last, and intermediate columns of said first Cells, said cells being adapted to be scanned column by column from the first to the last, an anode electrode adjacent to the upper ends of said first cells and aligned with each row of said first cells, a cathode electrode adjacent to the lower ends of said first cells and aligned with each column of said first cells, gas communication paths between each first cell and the adjacent first cell in its row whereby excited particles can diffuse from an ON cell to an adjacent OFF cell, said cathode electrodes being connected in groups with each cathode of one group being separated by cathodes of the other groups, a separate drive circuit means for applying operating potential connected to each said group of cathode electrodes, said drive circuit means being adapted to apply operating potential to each of said cathode electrodes in turn, in conjunction with operating potential applied to said anode electrodes, to cause each column of first cells to be fired in turn from first to last, a column of auxiliary cells adjacent to said first column of first cells, each auxiliary cell being aligned with and communicating through a gas communication path, with the corresponding first cell in the adjacent first column of first cells, said auxiliary cells being mechanically substantially identical to said first cells, said auxiliary cells having upper ends which are substantially coplanar with the upper ends of said first cells and lower ends which are substantially coplanar with the lower ends of said first cells, said anode electrodes being each in operative relation with one of said auxiliary cells and lying adjacent to the upper end thereof, an auxiliary cathode electrode positioned adjacent to the lower ends of said auxiliary cells and aligned with the column of auxiliary cells, said anode electrodes lying in substantially one plane and all of said cathode electrodes lying in substantially one plane, said auxiliary cathode electrode including projections into each auxiliary cell which project toward and decrease the spacing between said auxiliary cathode and the associated anode electrodes positioned at the upper ends of said auxiliary cells whereby a favorably low firing potential can fire said auxiliary cells, and separate circuit means coupled to said auxiliary cathode electrode for applying operating potential thereto in conjunction with operating potential applied to said anodes for firing said auxiliary cells and for providing excited particles for turning on said first column of said first cells at the beginning of a scanning cycle.

Claim 31

A display panel and system therefor including an envelope filled with a gas for supporting cathode glow, said envelope having a viewing window for viewing cathode glow, a plurality of first discrete gas-filled cells arrayed in rows and columns and having upper ends and lower ends, said cells having substantially identical mechanical and electrical characteristics, there being first, last, and intermediate columns of said first Cells, said cells being adapted to be scanned column by column from the first to the last, an anode electrode adjacent to the upper ends of said first cells and aligned with each row of said first cells, a cathode electrode adjacent to the lower ends of said first cells and aligned with each column of said first cells, gas communication paths between each first cell and the adjacent first cell in its row whereby excited particles can diffuse from an ON cell to an adjacent OFF cell, said cathode electrodes being connected in groups with each cathode of one group being separated by cathodes of the other groups, a separate drive circuit means for applying operating potential connected to each said group of cathode electrodes, said drive circuit means being adapted to apply operating potential to each of said cathode electrodes in turn, in conjunction with operating potential applied to said anode electrodes, to cause each column of first cells to be fired in turn from first to last, a column of auxiliary cells adjacent to said first column of first cells, each auxiliary cell being aligned with and communicating through a gas communication path, with the corresponding first cell in the adjacent first column of first cells, said auxiliary cells being mechanically substantially identical to said first cells, said auxiliary cells having upper ends which are substantially coplanar with the upper ends of said first cells and lower ends which are substantially coplanar with the lower ends of said first cells, said anode electrodes being each in operative relation with one of said auxiliary cells and lying adjacent to the upper end thereof, an auxiliary cathode electrode positioned adjacent to the lower ends of said auxiliary cells and aligned with the column of auxiliary cells, said anode electrodes lying in substantially one plane and all of said cathode electrodes lying in substantially one plane, said auxiliary cathode electrode including projections into each auxiliary cell which project toward and decrease the spacing between said auxiliary cathode and the associated anode electrodes positioned at the upper ends of said auxiliary cells whereby a favorably low firing potential can fire said auxiliary cells, and separate circuit means coupled to said auxiliary cathode electrode for applying operating potential thereto in conjunction with operating potential applied to said anodes for firing said auxiliary cells and for providing excited particles for turning on said first column of said first cells at the beginning of a scanning cycle.