Display of time-dependent vector information

Claim 2

In a process for operating a gaseous discharge display/memory device comprising a multiplicity of gas discharge cells, an ionizable gaseous medium, a phosphor at each cell with radiation from the gas discharge exciting the phosphor, a plurality of electrodes, and means connected to said plurality of electrodes for addressing said electrodes in sequence at varying rates to display a moving target, the improvement which comprises displaying time-dependent vector information as color difference by the device by selecting a gaseous medium and phosphor wherein the visual color output of the gas discharge is different from that of the phosphor and wherein the luminscence rise or decay time of the phosphor is substantially longer than the rise or decay time of the radiation emission of the gas discharge, such that when one discharge site formed by at least two electrodes is initiated and a previously-initiated discharge site is erased, the newly initiated site has the color of the gas discharge, the erased site has the color of the decaying phosphor, and those cells -which have been previously initiated and have been in the ON state for a period of time longer than the rise time of the phosphor - exhibit a color which combines the output of both the phosphor and gas discharge, and the color of a fast moving target is that of the gas during discharge and the color of a slower moving or stationary target is the resultant color of the gas during discharge plus the color of the phosphor during luminescence.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein the phosphor is a photoluminescent phosphor.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 2 wherein the phosphor is selected from activated or non-activated zinc sulfide, zinc-cadmium sulfide, zinc-sulfo-selenide, zinc-silicate, zinc-beryllo-silicate, magnesium silicate, calcium tungstate, magnesium tungstate, calcium phosphate, cadmium borate, zinc borate, magnesium arsenate, zinc oxide, magnesium fluoride, and magnesium flyorogermanate.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 1 wherein the phosphor is a manganese activated zinc silicate.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 3 wherein the gaseous medium comprises at least one rare gas.

Claim 7

In a gaseous discharge display/memory device comprising a multiplicity of gas discharge cells, an ionizable gaseous medium, and a phosphor at each cell, radiation from a gas discharge at a cell exciting the phosphor at said cell, and means connected to each of said multiplicity of gas discharge cells for addressing predetermined of said electrodes in sequence at varying rates to display a moving target, the improvement wherein the visual color output of the gas discharge is different from that of the phosphor and wherein the luminescence rise or decay time of the phosphor is substantially longer than the rise or decay time of the radiation emission of the gas discharge, such that when one discharge cell is initiated and a previously initiated discharge cell is erased, the newly initiated cell has the color of the gas discharge, the erased cell has the color of the decaying phosphor, and those cells which have been previously initiated and have been in the ON state for a period of time longer than the rise time of the phosphor exhibit a color which combines the output of both the phosphor and the gas discharge, whereby vector information is displaved as color difference by the device, the color of a fast moving target being that of the gas during discharge and the color of a slower moving or stationary target being the resultant color of the gas during discharge plus the color of the phosphor during luminescence.

Claim 8

In a gaseous discharge display/memory device comprising a multiplicity of gas discharge cells, an ionizable gaseous medium, and a phosphor at each cell, radiation from a gas discharge at a cell exciting the phosphor at said cell, and means connected to each of said multiplicity of gas discharge cells for addressing predetermined of said electrodes in sequence at varying rates to display a moving target, the improvement wherein the visual color output of the gas discharge is different from that of the phosphor and wherein the luminescence rise or decay time of the phosphor is substantially longer than the rise or decay time of the radiation emission of the gas discharge, such that when one discharge cell is initiated and a previously initiated discharge cell is erased, the newly initiated cell has the color of the gas discharge, the erased cell has the color of the decaying phosphor, and those cells which have been previously initiated and have been in the ON state for a period of time longer than the rise time of the phosphor exhibit a color which combines the output of both the phosphor and the gas discharge, whereby vector information is displaved as color difference by the device, the color of a fast moving target being that of the gas during discharge and the color of a slower moving or stationary target being the resultant color of the gas during discharge plus the color of the phosphor during luminescence.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 6 wherein the phosphor is a photoluminescent phosphor.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 7 wherein the phosphor is selected from activated or non-activated zinc sulfide, zinc-cadmium sulfide, zinc-sulfo-selenide, zinc-silicate, zinc-beryllo-silicate, magnesium silicate, calcium tungstate, magnesium tungstate, calcium phosphate, cadmium borate, zinc borate, magnesium arsenate, zinc oxide, magnesium fluoride, and magnesium flyorogermanate.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 6 wherein the phosphor is a manganese activated zinc silicate.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 9 wherein the gaseous medium comprises at least one rare gas.

Claim 13

In the operation of a gaseous discharge display/memory device characterized by an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of dielectric material members having opposed charge sotrage surfaces which dielectric material members are respectively backed by a series of parallel-like electorde members, the electrode members behind one dielectric material member being transversely oriented with respect to the electrode members behind the opposing dielectric material member so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge volumes, each constituting of a discharge site, a phosphor on at least one of said dielectric material members at each discharge site, and means connected to said plurality of electrode members for addressing said electrode members in sequence at varying rates to display a moving target, the improvement which comprises displaying time-dependent vector information as color difference by selecting a gaseous medium and phosphor wherein the visual color output of the gas discharge is different form that of the phosphor and wherein the luminescence rise or decay time of the phosphor is substantially longer than the rise or decay time of the radiation emission of the gas discharge, such that when one discharge site formed by at least two electrodes is initiated and a previously-initiated discharge site is erased, the newly initiated site has the color of the gas discharge, the erased site has the color of the decaying phosphor, and those cells -which have been previously initiated and have been in the ON state for a period of time longer than the rise time of the phosphor - exhibit a color which combines the output of both the phosphor and gas discharge, and the color of a fast moving target is that of the gas during discharge and the color of a slower moving or stationary target is the resultant color of the gas during discharge plus the color of the phosphor during luminescence.

Claim 14

In the operation of a gaseous discharge display/memory device characterized by an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of dielectric material members having opposed charge sotrage surfaces which dielectric material members are respectively backed by a series of parallel-like electorde members, the electrode members behind one dielectric material member being transversely oriented with respect to the electrode members behind the opposing dielectric material member so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge volumes, each constituting of a discharge site, a phosphor on at least one of said dielectric material members at each discharge site, and means connected to said plurality of electrode members for addressing said electrode members in sequence at varying rates to display a moving target, the improvement which comprises displaying time-dependent vector information as color difference by selecting a gaseous medium and phosphor wherein the visual color output of the gas discharge is different form that of the phosphor and wherein the luminescence rise or decay time of the phosphor is substantially longer than the rise or decay time of the radiation emission of the gas discharge, such that when one discharge site formed by at least two electrodes is initiated and a previously-initiated discharge site is erased, the newly initiated site has the color of the gas discharge, the erased site has the color of the decaying phosphor, and those cells -which have been previously initiated and have been in the ON state for a period of time longer than the rise time of the phosphor - exhibit a color which combines the output of both the phosphor and gas discharge, and the color of a fast moving target is that of the gas during discharge and the color of a slower moving or stationary target is the resultant color of the gas during discharge plus the color of the phosphor during luminescence.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 11 wherein the phosphor is a photoluminescent phosphor.

Claim 16

In a gaseous discharge display/memory device comprising an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric material charge storage members backed by a plurality of electrode members, the electrode members behind one dielectric material member being transversely oriented with respect to the electrode members behind the opposing dielectric material member so as to define a plurality of discharge volumes each constituting a discharge cell, a phosphor on at least volumes, of said dielectric material members at each discharge cell, radiation from a gas discharge at a discharge cell exciting the phosphor at said cell, and means connected to each of said plurality of electrode members for addressing said electrode members in sequence at varying rates to display a moving target, the improvement wherein the visual color output of the gas discharge is different from that of the phosphor and wherein the luminescence rise or decay time of the phosphor is substantially longer than the rise or decay time of the radiation emission of the gas discharge, such that when one discharge cell is initiated and a previously initiated discharge cell is erased, the newly initiated cell has the color of the gas discharge, the erased cell has the color of the decaying phosphor, and those cells which have been previously initiated and have been in the ON state for a period of time longer than the rise time of the phosphor exhibit a color which combines the output of both the phosphor and the gas discharge, whereby vector information is displayed as color difference by the device, the color of a fast moving target being that of the gas during discharge and the color of a slower moving or stationary target being the resultant color of the gas during discharge plus the color of the phosphor during luminescence.

Claim 17

In a gaseous discharge display/memory device comprising an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric material charge storage members backed by a plurality of electrode members, the electrode members behind one dielectric material member being transversely oriented with respect to the electrode members behind the opposing dielectric material member so as to define a plurality of discharge volumes each constituting a discharge cell, a phosphor on at least volumes, of said dielectric material members at each discharge cell, radiation from a gas discharge at a discharge cell exciting the phosphor at said cell, and means connected to each of said plurality of electrode members for addressing said electrode members in sequence at varying rates to display a moving target, the improvement wherein the visual color output of the gas discharge is different from that of the phosphor and wherein the luminescence rise or decay time of the phosphor is substantially longer than the rise or decay time of the radiation emission of the gas discharge, such that when one discharge cell is initiated and a previously initiated discharge cell is erased, the newly initiated cell has the color of the gas discharge, the erased cell has the color of the decaying phosphor, and those cells which have been previously initiated and have been in the ON state for a period of time longer than the rise time of the phosphor exhibit a color which combines the output of both the phosphor and the gas discharge, whereby vector information is displayed as color difference by the device, the color of a fast moving target being that of the gas during discharge and the color of a slower moving or stationary target being the resultant color of the gas during discharge plus the color of the phosphor during luminescence.

Claim 18

The invention of claim 13 wherein the phosphor is a photoluminescent phosphor.

Claim 19

In a process for the manufacture of a gaseous discharge display/memory device wherein a gas chamber is formed by assembling a pair of opposed dielectric material charge storage members in spaced and sealed relationship and a plurality of electrode members behind each dielectric material charge storage member, the electrode members behind one dielectric material member being transversely oriented with respect to the electrode members behind the opposing dielectric material member so as to define a plurality of discharge volumes, each constituting a discharge cell, and means connected to said electrode members is provided for addressing said electrode members in sequence at varying rates to display a moving target, the improvement which comprises filling the gas chamber with an ionizable gaseous medium having one visual color output upon gaseous discharge and applying a phosphor having a different visual color output to at least one of said dielectric material members at each discharge cell, the luminescence rise or decay time of the phosphor being substantially longer than the rise or decay time of the radiation emission of the gas discharge, such that when one discharge cell is initiated and a previously initiated discharge cell is erased, the newly initiated cell has the color of the gas discharge, the erased cell has the color of the decaying phosphor, and those cells which have been previously initiated and have been in the ON state for a period of time longer than the rise time of the phosphor exhibit a color which combines the output of both the phosphor and the gas discharge, whereby vector information is displayed as color difference by the device, the color of a fast moving target being that of the gas during discharge and the color of a slower moving or stationary target being the Resultant color of the gas during discharge plus the color of the phosphor during luminescence.

Claim 20

In a process for the manufacture of a gaseous discharge display/memory device wherein a gas chamber is formed by assembling a pair of opposed dielectric material charge storage members in spaced and sealed relationship and a plurality of electrode members behind each dielectric material charge storage member, the electrode members behind one dielectric material member being transversely oriented with respect to the electrode members behind the opposing dielectric material member so as to define a plurality of discharge volumes, each constituting a discharge cell, and means connected to said electrode members is provided for addressing said electrode members in sequence at varying rates to display a moving target, the improvement which comprises filling the gas chamber with an ionizable gaseous medium having one visual color output upon gaseous discharge and applying a phosphor having a different visual color output to at least one of said dielectric material members at each discharge cell, the luminescence rise or decay time of the phosphor being substantially longer than the rise or decay time of the radiation emission of the gas discharge, such that when one discharge cell is initiated and a previously initiated discharge cell is erased, the newly initiated cell has the color of the gas discharge, the erased cell has the color of the decaying phosphor, and those cells which have been previously initiated and have been in the ON state for a period of time longer than the rise time of the phosphor exhibit a color which combines the output of both the phosphor and the gas discharge, whereby vector information is displayed as color difference by the device, the color of a fast moving target being that of the gas during discharge and the color of a slower moving or stationary target being the Resultant color of the gas during discharge plus the color of the phosphor during luminescence.

Claim 21

The invention of claim 15 wherein the phosphor is a photoluminescent phosphor.

Claim 22

A gas discharge display/memory device comprising in combination, a pair of spaced-apart non-conductive support members, a pair of conductor arrays arranged one on each of the confronting surfaces of said support members, the arrays being in transverse relative orientation so as to provide a series of cross-points therebetween, each defining a discharge cell, a thin dielectric material coating on the confronting surfaces of each of the support members and conductor arrays defining therebetween a sealed gas chamber with said discharge units in open photonic communication, means connected to said conductor arrays for addressing said discharge cells in sequence at varying rates to display a moving target, a phosphor having one visual color output on at least one of said dielectric material members at each discharge cell, and an ionizable gaseous medium having a different visual color output contained in said gas chamber, the luminescence rise or decay time of the phosphor being substantially longer than the rise or decay time of the radiation emission of the gas discharge, such that when one discharge cell is initiated and a previously initiated discharge cell is erased, the newly initiated cell has the color of the gas discharge, the erased cell has the color of the decaying phosphor, and those cells which have been previously initiated and have been in the ON state for a period of time longer than the rise time of the phosphor exhibit a color which combines the output of both the phosphor and the gas discharge, whereby vector information is displayed as color difference by the device, the color of a fast moving target being that of the gas during discharge and the color of a slower moving or stationary target being the resultant color of the gas during discharge plus the color of the phosphor during luminescence.

Claim 23

A gas discharge display/memory device comprising in combination, a pair of spaced-apart non-conductive support members, a pair of conductor arrays arranged one on each of the confronting surfaces of said support members, the arrays being in transverse relative orientation so as to provide a series of cross-points therebetween, each defining a discharge cell, a thin dielectric material coating on the confronting surfaces of each of the support members and conductor arrays defining therebetween a sealed gas chamber with said discharge units in open photonic communication, means connected to said conductor arrays for addressing said discharge cells in sequence at varying rates to display a moving target, a phosphor having one visual color output on at least one of said dielectric material members at each discharge cell, and an ionizable gaseous medium having a different visual color output contained in said gas chamber, the luminescence rise or decay time of the phosphor being substantially longer than the rise or decay time of the radiation emission of the gas discharge, such that when one discharge cell is initiated and a previously initiated discharge cell is erased, the newly initiated cell has the color of the gas discharge, the erased cell has the color of the decaying phosphor, and those cells which have been previously initiated and have been in the ON state for a period of time longer than the rise time of the phosphor exhibit a color which combines the output of both the phosphor and the gas discharge, whereby vector information is displayed as color difference by the device, the color of a fast moving target being that of the gas during discharge and the color of a slower moving or stationary target being the resultant color of the gas during discharge plus the color of the phosphor during luminescence.

Claim 24

The invention of claim 17 wherein the phosphor is a photoluminescent phosphor.

Claim 25

A process for displaying time-dependent vector information as color difference on a multiple gaseous discharge display/memory device containing an ionizable gaseous medium, a plurality of discharge cells, each formed of at least two electrodes, a phosphor at each discharge cell and excitable by radiation from discharge of said gaseous medium, and means connected to said electrodes for addressing said electrode members in sequence at varying rates to display a moving target, said process comprising a. incorporating a gaseous medium and phosphors in said device, the visual color output of said gaseous medium when discharged being different from that of the phosphors and the luminescence rise or decay time of said phosphors being substantially longer than the rise or decay time of the radiation emission of the gas discharge, b. initiating discharge of a series of cells in sequence and simultaneously erasing the earliest previously initiated cells in sequence, c. such that the most recently initiated cell of the series exhibits the color of the gas discharge, the most recently erased cell exhibits the color of the phosphors, and those cells which have been previously initiated and have been in the ON state for a period of time longer than the rise time of the phosphors exhibit a color which is the combination of the output of both the gas discharge and the output of the phosphors.

Claim 26

A process for displaying time-dependent vector information as color difference on a multiple gaseous discharge display/memory device containing an ionizable gaseous medium, a plurality of discharge cells, each formed of at least two electrodes, a phosphor at each discharge cell and excitable by radiation from discharge of said gaseous medium, and means connected to said electrodes for addressing said electrode members in sequence at varying rates to display a moving target, said process comprising a. incorporating a gaseous medium and phosphors in said device, the visual color output of said gaseous medium when discharged being different from that of the phosphors and the luminescence rise or decay time of said phosphors being substantially longer than the rise or decay time of the radiation emission of the gas discharge, b. initiating discharge of a series of cells in sequence and simultaneously erasing the earliest previously initiated cells in sequence, c. such that the most recently initiated cell of the series exhibits the color of the gas discharge, the most recently erased cell exhibits the color of the phosphors, and those cells which have been previously initiated and have been in the ON state for a period of time longer than the rise time of the phosphors exhibit a color which is the combination of the output of both the gas discharge and the output of the phosphors.

Claim 27

A gaseous discharge display/memory device for displaying time-dependent vector information as color difference and comprising a multiplicity of gas discharge cells, an ionizable gaseous medium, means for addressing said gas discharge cells in sequence at varying rates to display a moving target and a plurality of phosphors excitable by radiation for discharge of said gaseous medium, the visual color output of said gaseous medium when discharged being different from that of the phosphors, and the luminescence rise or decay time of said phosphors being substantially longer than the rise or decay time of the radiation emission of the gas discharge, such that when discharge is initiated in sequence in a series of cells and simultaneously the earliest previously initiated cells are erased in sequence the most recently initiated cell of the series exhibits the color of the gas discharge, the most recently erased cell exhibits the color of the phosphors, and those cells which have been previously initiated and have been in the ON state for a period of time longer than the rise time of the phosphors exhibit a color which is the combination of the output of both the phosphors and the gas discharge.

Claim 28

A gaseous discharge display/memory device for displaying time-dependent vector information as color difference and comprising a multiplicity of gas discharge cells, an ionizable gaseous medium, means for addressing said gas discharge cells in sequence at varying rates to display a moving target and a plurality of phosphors excitable by radiation for discharge of said gaseous medium, the visual color output of said gaseous medium when discharged being different from that of the phosphors, and the luminescence rise or decay time of said phosphors being substantially longer than the rise or decay time of the radiation emission of the gas discharge, such that when discharge is initiated in sequence in a series of cells and simultaneously the earliest previously initiated cells are erased in sequence the most recently initiated cell of the series exhibits the color of the gas discharge, the most recently erased cell exhibits the color of the phosphors, and those cells which have been previously initiated and have been in the ON state for a period of time longer than the rise time of the phosphors exhibit a color which is the combination of the output of both the phosphors and the gas discharge.