CA1060567A - Digital display member - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An improved digital display device is provided.
It includes (a) three spaced-apart surfaces; (b) five non-identical segments associated with such surfaces, the seg-ments being activatable by energy to be optically visible, two said spaced apart surfaces being opposite faces of a transparent substrate, and at least one segment being dis-posed on each face of said transparent substrate and (c) means selectively activatable to supply activating energy to one or more of the segments, thereby to pro-vide a visible representation of a selected alpha-numeric element. This type of structure minimizes the electrical connection and simplifies the construction.

Description

- / ~06056~
This invention relates to an imp~oved device for displaying characterS which become optically visible by means of activation by energy, such as, for example, radiant, electrical, magnetic, etc.
Devices of this character make use of elements which may be in the'form of matrices of dots, shapes'of various motifs; in the form of elements providing figure-8-type digit patterns; or as complete alpha-numeric characters.- Activation is generally by means of an external voltage source. With present forms of such devices, the'number'and type of electrical connection is large, and the devices are consequently relatively complex and expensive.
There are many types of electro-optical indicator devices' presently available. One such type is a cold cathoae gas tube which includes a stack of cathode electrodes, each of which is adapted to exhibit cathode glow.
Another type of known indicator device is the so-called matrix device, and includes a plurality of co-planar light-producing elements which are connected in different combinations, each providing a different character representation. The light-producing or glow elements may be cold cathodes, hot cathodes, neon bulbs, electroluminescent elements, light'reflecting elements, hot filaments, scattering elements, liquid crystals, or the like.
Electroluminescent semiconductor elements are often used in groups which form matrices of dots, stripes or various motifs, for example, for displaying alpha~numerical characters or for realizing optical coding panels, according to a predetermined arrangement.
Many readout devices have been developed and manufactured. One of such readout devices includes an evacuated enve~ope containing compon-ents which produce the desired indicia by electron bombardment of a fluorescent material on an anode. Other devices, containing a rarefied gas within a sealed envelope, show letters or numbers that are no, in the same plane and are therefore difficult to read. The'gas-filled readout devices also take some time to be activated and require the making and .

,: - - - , : . . : , . :

`` ~06056~ ~
~ breaking of a cons~derable current when transferring from one characterO . .
to another. ' Also known are fluorescent display tubes. One form of such ' display tube generally includes an insulating base,'and an anode formed of a plurality of fluorescent segments of a phosphor substance and dis-posed on the surface of the substrate. A screen grid electrode is closely placed on the substrate and is perforated at portions corres-ponding to the regions of respective fluorescent segments. A mesh con-trol electrode is disposed in front of the screen grid electrode to diverge an& control an electron current. Finally a cathode electrode is placed in front of the control electrode.
Another variant of such fluorescent displa~ tube is the luminescent alpha-numeric display tube.' One such tube includes means for emitting electrons or ion particles and fluorescent means including ;~
an insulating substrate and an array of fluorescent segments formed on one surface of the substrate.' Each segment is insulated from the other and is selectively activated by impingement of emitted electrons or ion '~i particles to present a desired pattern of luminescence. ,s Yet another type of display tube is the gaseous cold cathode ~!1 `:
indicator tube of the type using groups of cathode segments for providing ' ~ character representation. In segmented tubes of this type, each charac- '`
-~ ~ ter is displayed by electrically connecting and activating different .~:
~; combinations of cathode segments. This type of forming characters is ~
~ ~ ,. .
well known and, in fact, several types of electronic display devices ; ~ have been devised which utilize combina-lons of segments to provide dis-plays of tifferent characters.
Yet another type of display tube is tbe planar cathode element i gas discharge tube. .
Previously, planar cathode element gas discharge tubes i' operated on the principle that one of the electrodes ~as in proximity with or a part of the transparent faceplate, usually the anode, and the i~
other electrode was connected to the base, usually the cathode. The anode ~`'

-2-.. ,.. .. , .. . ~ , . . . . , . - . . , , ~ , , .

10~0567 ,..
consisted of a uniform electrical coating, such as, for example. tin oxide, and commonly cooperating with each o~ the cathode elements. The cathode generally consisted of a plurality of cathode elements deposited on or attached to the base plate. Each cathode element was connected to a common electrical source but selectîvely activatable. The four parts of a gas tube (anode plate, cathodelbase assembly, spacer and fill tube) are sealed together to form a hermetic envelope. The envelope is then evacuated, back filled with an ionizable gas such as, for example, neon, and sealed. To obtain the desired dîsplay information, D.C. power is 5, applied between the anode and a predetermined array of cathode elements causing the gas about the cathode elements to ionize and visibly form the desired number or letter.
Yet another type of indicator tube is the cold cathode gas tube known by the Trade Mark of NIXIE of Burroughs Corporation which has been used in numerous instruments for providing numerical readout of electronic circuit logic operations. Such instruments usually include three or more such tubes, and electronic calculators may include as many as sixteen or more.
Some of these'indicator tubes include a group of numeral-shaped cathode electrodes in a single tube envelope.
Also known is a display panel in which more than one group of cathode electrodes or segments are provided in a single flat display device. All of the corresponding cathode elements are connected inter-nally while still isolating the ionization discharge between each group of display segments from affecting the "on" or "off" state of the other groups of display segments and their anodes.
Another type of digit tube is known having a number of elec-trodes in the form of characters arranged one behind the other, parti-cularly where the characters are secured in the tube only on one side.
In such digit tubes, the electrodes which may have the form of characters, for example, letters or digits, are generally arranged one behind the other and are supported in the tube in that they are

- 3 -~0605f~7 .
successively threaded through one or two pins with the interposition of insulating spacing rings. This threading is a time-consuming ~ob and this may be avoided in that the characters are clamped between individual insulating frames, the frames being stacked. In the known constructions separate connection conductors or connec~ion conductors which form one assembly with the characters must always be arranged between the charac-ters and the current supply pins which likewise is ~ime consuming.
Electrical-optical display systems which have been devised in the past have generally been limited to the Kerr cell type of light switch. In such systems, a plurality of Kerr cells are utilized to form alpha-numeric characters upon a suitable photo-sensitive surface.
The class of substances known as "liquid crystals" have also been used in display devices. Liquid crystals have been found to be sensitive or responsive to temperature, pressure, foreign chemical com-pounds, and to electric and magnetic fields. Imaging systems are pro-vided wherein the imaging member comprises a liquid crystalline material.
Another type of liquid crystal element is provided which exhibits storage of its light scattering state after removal of the electric current initiating the state. The element comprises a mixture of cholesterol, a cholesterol derivative or a cholesteric liquid compound with a nematic liquid crystal of the type that exhibits non-destructive turbulent motion when an electric current of sufficient magnitude is passed therethrough.
Solid display devices are also provided which convert an electric signal into a picture by making use of light. A typical solid display device is an electro-optic device, in which electro-optic elements, whlch alter the angle of double refracted light in response to a voltage impressed thereon, are arranged in a predetermined pattern on a base plate to provide a display panel and wherein the display panel is 30- combined with-a polari~er-to provide--a display. The--display--device employing the electro-optic elements and one polarizer in combination is solid, and hence is small in size, easy to handle and stands long use.

., )S~ 7 However, the electro-optlc elements o~ the past have been defective in that brightness of display is not uniform unless their optical axes are arranged at predetermined angles.
Electro-optical light modulating devices capable of displaying closed patterns without the need for feed-throughs or electrode crossover isolation are known. Generally, electro-optical devices such as, for example, liquid crystal devices or electro-luminescent devices, consist of an active medium and electrode means on opposite sides of this medium for activating it. The medium is primarily activated only in the region ;
of overlap of the electrodes on opposite sides thereof.
Solid state displays of the type having a matrix arrangement of display elements and intersecting conductors for controlling the state of said elements, and in particular, magnetic-optical systems wherein the display elements selectively diffract incident light, are now known.
Magneto-optical systems known to the art are of the type which selectively write and erase with regard to discrete display elements within a fixed period of time, normally preferred to be short, but do not possess the property of ad~ustable persistence.
A number of phosphorescent, selectively energizable anodes mounted in an evacuated glass envelope with one or more thermionic cathodes positioned between the anodes and the display surface of the envelope is now known.
Eva-cuated lamps with~phosphorescent anodes are provided which are bombarded by an electron stream which must be bent in order to pro-vide an adequate display. In the latter type of device, the source of the electron stream is situated behind the display elements, i.e., out of the line of sight of the viewer.
Read-out devices are known which may employ a number of phosphorescent, selectively energizable anodes mounted in an evacuated glass envelope with one or more thermionic cathodes to provide an elec- -tron beam or beams with which the anodes are selectively bombarded. One type of such read-out device includes an electrically conductive ; ' .

- . . - .. .. , . . . : ~ . ,: : .. .

iOStj7 shielding layer disposed about a portion of the envelope of the device.
Since the anodes-to-cathode circuit carries current and the shielding layer does not carry current, it is advantageous to perform the blanking function by placing the shielding layer at the proper potential than by opening the anodes-to-cathode circuit.
Persistent radiation responsive display panels capable of con-verting light of one wavelength to light of another wavelength, and of reproducing images with a controlled persistence, are known. One type of persistent radiation responsive panel is embodied in a laminated cell construction, The different layers of lamination in the cell are arranged in a manner similar to that of a parallel plate capacitor, having a layer of phosphorescent and a layer of electroluminescent material sandwiched between parallel electrode plates.
The parallel electrode plates are usually composed of a thin trallsparent film of electrically conductive material, with two layers of material sandwiched therebetween. One of the layers is composed of a phosphorescent material having a selected suitable impedance change and which exhibits a relatively long impedance decay time after being excited by electromagnetic wave energy from a selected band of the spectrum. The other, or second layer, is composed of a suitable electroluminescent material.
Nearly all phosphorescent materials will also exhibit an elec-trical impedance change which persists after removal of the energy. The electroluminescent material layer is excited to luminescence by the application of an electric field applied through the panel.
A typical suitable material for the electroluminescent layer is a copper activated mixture of zinc oxide and zinc sulfide.
Known digital-display devices have comprised large display boards fabricated of incandescent lamp groupings, for example, which are adapted to be energized according-to-a preselected pattern to-produce the desired digits. Also suggested have been digital displays formed from glow-discharge devices.
.

1060~7 Visual indicating devices are now known consisting of a trans-parent or translucent panel on the back side of which are coated a plurality of materials which include an electroluminescent material. A
layer next to the transparent panel is of electrically conductive material which is a substantially transparent deposit of tin oxide or equivalent.
The tin oxide is obtained by coating the transparent panel with a very thin layer of tin chloride and thereafter oxidizing said tin chloride coating in an oxygen-rich atmosphere by heat.
On the side of the tin oxide coating not in contact with the panel are scattered particles of the electroluminescent material, such as, for example, activated zinc sulphide, the particles being in contact with the transparent panel and being of the order of 40 microns or less in diameter.
A discharge tube is now known having a gas filling in which given combinations of electrodes forming matrix groups are capable of producing luminous signals in the form of digits and/or characters. In particular the invention relates to an electric discharge tube comprising a plurality of electrodes, a number of which forms a matrix group, while given combinations of electrodes are capable of producing light effects forming legible signs. The electrodes are accommodated in an envelope consisting of a bottom plate with upright rims, on which a transparent, or translucent cover plate is fastened in a vacuum-tight manner.
Digital tubes in which a number of electrodes are arranged in the form of matrix and in which legible signs can be formed by causing given combinations of the parts of the matrix to luminesce are known.
It is also known to arrange these electrodes in a flat box-shaped envel-ope comprising a bottom plate with upright rims and a transparent cover plate.
Information displays may be roughly broken down into two cate-30 - gories: -(l?-active or light-generating-displays~ and-(2)_passive or light reflecting displays.

It is seen, therefore, that there are a large number of devices , ~ .

:; .:-: : : - ., . ~ . ~ , .

-- lO~iOS67 - for displaying characters which become optically visible by energy actuation. However, the particular shape of such characters has not -been sufficiently developed.
For example, NIXIE tubes use superposed characters which are alpha-numeric in toto, i.e. entirely numeric or alphabetic. In the case of LED's, the character pattern may be composed of seven light pipes, having either sharp ends, rounded ends or mitered corners.
It is therefore an object of a broad aspect of this invention to provide an improved device in which a significant improvement in the character pattern is-provided.
An object of another aspect of this invention is to provide an improved unit cell for a digital display device.
An ob~ect of another aspect of this invention is to provide the means for reducing the number of driving elements required by the digital display device.
By a broad aspect of this invention, an improved digital dis-play device is provided comprising: ta) three spaced-apart surfaces;
(b) five non-identical segments associated with such surfaces, the segments being activatable by energy to be optically visible, two such ~0 spaced-apart surfaces being opposite faces of a transparent substrate, and at least one segment being disposed on each face of the transparent substrate; and (c) Means selectively activatable to supply activating energy to selected one or more of the segments, thereby to provide a visible representation of a selected alpha-numeric element.
By another aspect of this invention, the three spaced-apart sur-faces comprise a base carrier plate, an intermediate optically trans-parent substrate and an optically transparent cover.
By a variant of this aspect, three of the segments are dis-posed on the base carrier plate, and one of the two remaining segments 30-~ is disp-osed on the bottom face of the intermediate substrate, while the last segment is disposed on the upper face of the intermediate substrate, and especially wherein the segments are cathodic, and wherein anodic -. . , - , . . : . : .. . ~ ~. :

~ 0567 ~, `
surfaces, electrically insulated from the'cathodic segments, are dis-posed'on the'upper'face'of the'base carrier'pla~e, on both faces of the intermediate substrate and on the'lower face of the cover.
By a second variant of this aspect, one of the segments is dis-posed on one face of the intermediate substrate, wherein three of the segments are disposed'on the'other'face of said intermediate substrate and wherein the final such segment is disposed'on the'lower face of the cover, especially wherein the'segments are cathodic, and wherein anodic surfaces, electrically insulated'from the cathodic segments, are disposed on the'upper'face of the'base carrier'plate,'on both faces'of the inter-mediate substrate, and on the'lower face'of the cover.
By a third aspect of this invention, the digital display device comprises a carrier base plate including a lower'surface, and a peri-pheral wall system enclosing the lower'surface;' a pair of mutually opposed surfaces for supporting an intermediate substrate plate within the peripheral wall structure in parallel spaced-apart relation to the lower surface; a cover'plate disposed'on the upper surface of the peri-.
~ pheral walls, and spacer means between the intermediate substrate and ~ ' '' ' . .
the cover plate. "'.' ;~ 20 By a variant of this aspect, the spacer means provides connec- ' ' tion to the segments to supply activating energy thereto. ''~
An important facet'of this invention is the particular shape of the five segments. The'five segments may be described as being on a 2 x 4 matrix grid in which the left hand column may be designated, (moving downwardly), sectors A, C, E, and G and the right hand column may~be similarly designated B, D, P and H. The sectors may be parallelo- '~ ;
gram-shaped in one variant, and right'angled parallelogram-shaped (i.e. ;-'' rectangular-shaped) in a second but equally preferable variant. ; -The first segment occupies parts of sectors B, D, F and H. It ` ' starts at the top right hand half of sector B, runs horizontally across the top of sector B to the'right hand edge, and then runs vertically down-wardly parallel to the'right'hand side of sector B, extending vertically downwardly along the right hand edges of sectors D,F and H to the bottom _ 9 _ ';:

` ~ ~o~05~7 . .
of sector H.
- The'second segments occupies'portions of sectors B, C, D, E, G, ,~

' and H. It starts at the mid point of the top of sector B, extends diag-i onally through the'lower'left hand portion of sector B, then through the '' ..
upper left hand portion of sector D, through the lower right hand portion of sector C and then diagonally bisects sector E from the upper right hand portions to the'lower left hand portion. It then extends further into sec-tor G extending to the'left hand side of the'sector in the upper left hand portion. It then'extends horizontally parallel to the'upper edge of sector ~ 10 G through to the'three quarter point of sector H where it extends downward-i~; ly parallel to the right hand side of H and commonly extends vertically downwards along to the three quarters point of section H therein ending in I a point.
.
The third segment occupies part of sectors C, D, F, G and H. It commences at the mid-point of the upper right hand portion of sector C, ' ~ extending horizontally across the upper right hand edge through to the ;~; upper right hand edge of sector D, then downwards parallel to the right ~ hand edges of sectors D, F and H through to the lower ri8ht hand edge of ' ~ ~ .
sector H. It then extends horizontally parallel to the bottom edges of H
~; ~ 20 and G and through to the lower left hand edge of sector G. It then extends ; I upwardly parallel to the left hand edges of sectors G, E and C to terminate , in the upper left hand portion of sector C.
The fourth segment occupies parts of sectors A and B. It com-mences near the mid-point of the left edge of sector A, extending verti-cally upwartly to the upper'edge thereof and then extends across the upper edges of sectors A aDd B to terminate at approximately the mid-point of the upper'edge of sector B. ' .
The fifth segment occupies sectors A, C, D, F, H ant G. It com-mences near the mid left hant edge of sector A and extends vertically do~n-30 - ~ardly parallel to this edge to the upper left hand edge of sector C. It then extends horizontally parallel to the upper edges and then downwardly parallel to the right'hand etges of sectors D, F ant H to the bottom right ~ ~ .

,~.. ,. .,. . .. .. ., j . , . .~ - , ., ., . . . . . , .:

--`- 1060567 hand edge of sector H. 'It then extends horizontally parallel to the bottom edges'of sectors H and G to terminate at the left hand edge of sector G.
In one variation, the first, second and fourth segments are disposed on the upper'surface of thë carrier'base plate,'the third seg-ment is disposed'on the'bottom face'of the'intermediate substrate, and the fifth segment is disposed'on the'upper'face of the intermediate l substrate.' ,, In a second variation, the'fifth segment is disposed on the lower surface of the'intermediate substrate,'the first, second and fourth segments are disposed on the'upper'surface of the intermediate substrate, ~
and the third segment is disposed'on the'lower surface of the cover. ';' In yet'another'variant, the'third segment is disposed on the ' lower surface of the intermediate substrate,'the first, second and : .
fourth segments are disposed'on the'upper'surface of the'intermediate ' substrate and the fifth segment i8 disposed on the'lower surface of the cover. "'' :, . :
The activatable elements, i.e., the five segments described - ' above, may be responsive to activation by a great variety of types of energy such as, for example,'electrical currents, magnetic and electric fields, ei'ectromagnetic radiation, thermal or heat energy, co-puscular radiation or currents. Among ~he'types'of elements are electroluminescent; ' thermally responsive;'gas filled'tubes such as, for example, neon tubes;
liquid crystals; electro-optical; magneto optical; light emitting diode;

~:. i: ::
fluorescent; phosphor anode;'thermionic cathode;'superposed digits; cold ' ;~
cathod electric discharge tube; vacuum fluorescent tube; planar gas dis-charge tube; plasma display tube; incandescent filaments; or piezoelec-tric.

For application of an aspect of this invention for thermo-chemical or incandescent devices, a back plate is provided'to support :

- 11 - ' ',, ~06()567 .--` .
heating filaments or heating zones. The back plate may be provided with support pins. The filaments may be coated with appropriate materials in the correct shape as previously described, or with a face plate which has openings for viewing, of the correct shape as previously described. It is possible to provide multi-faceted lenses to increase the viewing properties, or for bright filaments, a transpar-ent area with a rough, ground surface to provide a specular surface.
For application of an aspect of this invention in a gas or cathode glow device, the back plate would contain the conductive element~ -The substrate is coated with certain of the five segments on the frontor back thereof. A printed circuit anode may be provided or alternative-ly, a screen anode may be provided. The face plate may be provided with the rest of the segments and any desired masking.
For application of an aspect of this invention in an electro-:. . .
reflective device, an electro-reflective film is deposited on the sub-strate in an appropriate arrangement of the five segments in the shape as previously described. A masking element is provided definlng the segments. Electrode means are provided, as well as viewing means, e.g.
lenses.
~he construction according to another aspect of this invention may be provided by a superposed transparency. A multi-faceted lens may be provided for viewing. The reflective surface may be a specular sur-facè. Common segments may be provided as in overlapping control fila-ments for an electroluminescent device. Fibre optics and couplers on fibre optlcs face plate may be provided. A multi-lens face plate may be provided to break up the viewing of separate filaments, i.e. a frosted :
face plate or fibre optic glass tubes.
~; As noted above, the present invention includes many and varied aspects. This invention in its various aspects has wide applicabilities in various types of displa~ devices. For example~ the construction of an aspect of the present invention is usable in the context of Canadian Patent No. 753,723, namely for an indicator device including a matrix of ' "''~

~o605~7 , separate and distinct elements of the shapes previously described, each of which includes light-producing means, with the remaining structure being substantially unchanged.
The construction of another aspect of the present invention is furthermore usable in the context of Canadian Patent No. 927,920, namely an electroluminescent device of the type including a plurality of stacked layers defining at least a light-transmitting supporting sheet having shapes thereon of the five elements as previously defined, with the ~.
remaining structure being substantially unchanged.
The construction of yet another aspect of the present invention is usable in the context of Canadian Patent No. 873,501, namely a fluores-cent display tube including an anode electrode including a plurality of ;
fluorescent anode segments adapted to form characters or digits of the shapes previously described, with the remaining structure being substan-tially unchanged.
The construction of still another aspect of the present inven-tion is usable in the context of Canadian Patent No. 924,766,namely a luminescent display tube including an array of fluorescent segments of the shapes previously described disposed on one surface of said substrate, .
with the remaining structure being substantially unchanged.
; The construction of yet another aspect of the present invention is us:able in the context of Canadian Patent No. 770,729, namely, a cold cathode glow indicator lamp for displaying different characters and including cathodes, and conductive leads connected to one of the cathodes for selectively energizing the cathodes and producing a cathode glow of the shapes previously described at least along the viewing surface there-of, with the remaining structure being substantially unchanged.
: :
The construction of a further aspect of the present invention is usable in the context of Canadian Patent No. 929,578, namely, a glow discharge type tube for displaying symbols of patterns of the shapes , . .
~ previously described, and includes a plurality of relatively spaced .
cathodes arranged in a pattern to form an elemental part of a desired . - ' 13 - c .::
.

1060$6'~
`~
pattern of the shapes prevlously descr~bed, with the remaining structure being substantiall~ unchanged.
The construction of a still further aspect of the present invention is usable in the context of Canadian Patent No. 930,870, namely, a solid state number display device including a plurality of luminous diodes which are formed on the su~str.ate of the shapes previous-ly described and are arranged such that when they are suitably combined they can display any desired number, with the remaining structure being substantially unchanged. s ~ :
The construction of yet a still further aspect of the present ; invention is usable in the context of Canadian Patent No. 931,250, :.
namely, an imaging system including an imaging layer of the shapes pre- .. :
viously described, comprising cholesteric liquid crystalline material in .
an electrical field capable of having field strengths in the cholesteric-nematic phase transition field strength range of the liquid crystalline imaging material, with the remaining structure being substantially unchanged.
The construction of a further aspect of the present invention is usable in the context of Canadian Patent No. 955,320, namely, an electro-optic display device including electro-optic elements of the ;: .
; shapes previously described disposed therein at any desired angular orientation, with the remaining structure being substantially unchanged. .
The construction of a fur-ther aspect of the present invention is usable in the context of Canadian Patent No. 937,313, namely, an j.
~` :~` i ,, electro-optical light modulating device for portraying a predetermined ~ -image including sets of electrodes having shaped portions of the shapes previous b described defining a pattern corresponding to a different .
part of the desired closed image, with the remaining structure being ~: substantially unchanged.
: ~ 30 The construction of yet a further aspect of the present invention is.usable in the context of Canadian Patent No. 844,240, namely, a substrate upon which are disposed a plurality of thin films ., ~ . .

'-- 1060567 . . .
of the shapes previously described of a variable reflectance material defining a reflection pattern, w~th the remaining structure being sub-. .
stantially unchanged.
The construction of an aspect of the present invention is usable in the context of Canadian patent No. 914,746, namely, in a symbol display tu6e including a sealed envelope having a substantially cylindrical portion and a plurality o~ display elements of the shapes previously described, with the remaining structure being substantially unchanged.
The construction of a further aspect of the present invention is usable in the context of Canadian Patent No. 824,837, namely, a persistent radiation-responsive memory unit for storage and reproduction of images formed by incident radiation, and including an impedance image of the segments corresponding to the intensity of incident radiation, with the remaining structure being substantially unchanged. ;~
The construction of another aspect of the present invention i8 usable in the context of Canadian Patent No. 653,875, namely, an electroluminescent digital-display device for presenting any preselected numerical digit, and including a composite, three-surfaced electrode :::
which is comprised of $ive of the shapes previously described, with the remaining structure being substantially unchanged.
The construction of another aspect of the present invention is usable in the context of Canadian Patent No. 902,245, namely, an electroluminescent display device comprising a small electroluminescent diode of the shapes previously described, with the remaining structure belng substantially unchanged.
The construction of yet another aspect of the present inven-tion is usable in the context of Canadian Patent No. 816,814, namely, a hermetically sealed vacuum envelope, including a character formed trio , .
of electrodes of the shapes previously described made of metal and having openings formed therein in a predetermined pattern to facilitate - --" 1()60567 the formation of the characters, with the remaining structure being substantially unchanged.
The construction of a ~urther aspect of the present invention ~ ' is usable in the context of Canadian Patent No. 636,427, namely, that the particles of the electroluminescent material may be coated with black paint, lacquer, or e~uivalent light-absorbing material, so that, when the particles of the electroluminescent material of the shapes previously described are energized by an electric field so as to become luminescent, they will show up plainly through the transparent panel against this black background with a minimum of unwanted reflections of light from the front of the panel, with the remaining structure being substantially unchanged.
The construction of a further aspect of the present invention is usable in the context of Canadian Patent No. 935,501, namely, a hermetically sealed plasma display panel including a segmented conductor array of the shapes previously described, with the remaining structure being substantial}y unchanged.
- The construction of yet a further aspect of the present . , invention is usable in the context of Canadian Patent No. 802,469, namely, a passive display device including an array of heating elements of the shapes previously described upon one surface of a substrate with the remaining structure being substantially unchanged.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of ; :
a four-component system of an aspect of the present invention;

Figure-2 is a top plan view of the base component of one aspect of the present invention shown in Figure l; ~;

Figure 3 is a top plan of the bottom face of the intermediate :: ,:~ .
component of one aspect of this invention shown in Figure l;

30 -- Figure-4-is--a plan-view-~f-the-top face of-the intermediate component of one aspect of the present invention shown in Figure l;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of an electrical ~unction component . .

-. , j. .. ~ ~ :, - . , : :

)s~;~ . ;:
-; ::
6 ` of one aspect of this invention shown in Figure l;
Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the cover component of one aspect of the present invention shown in Figure l; ~ ~
Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of ~ :
a four-component system of another aspect of this invention; ;
Pigure 8 is a top plan view of the base component of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 7i :-Figure 9 is a plan view of the bottom face of the intermediate .~
. component of the embodiment of the invention shown in Pigure 7; : ~ .
`~ 10 Pigure 10 is a plan view of the top face of the intermediate ~ :
component of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 7; :;.
Pigure 11 i8 a top plan view of an electrical ~unction compon- ~:
ent of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 7; :.
Pigure 12 is a bottom plan view of the cover component of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 7; .
Figure 13 i8 an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a five-component system of yet another aspect of this invention;
Figure 14 i8 a top plan view of the base component of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 13; .
Figure 15 is a plan view of the bottom face of the .cover :
component of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 13;
Pigure 16 i8 a plan view of the top face of the intermediate :: .
~ , ~ .
: component of the embodiment of the invention shown in Pigure 13; .
Pigure 17 is a bottom plan view of the intermediate component ...
of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 17; ::
..
Figure 18 is an enlarged cross-section of a portion of the :
: segments and substrate representing digits according to aspects of the .: .;.
invention; and .
Pigures l9A - l9P are configurations of one version of ~: 30 stylistic representations of the five different segments, and combined, .
~-~ such segments which represent digits according to aspects of the present . .
invention, the combinations of such segments forming the ten digits. ..'''~

10605~;7 , Turning to Figures l - 6, the unit cell of a first embodiment of the invention includes a generall~ rectangular container 10 providing the first base component 1114, a transparent plate 50 providing the intermediate component 1113, a spacer 70 providing the electric junction component 1112 and a plate 90 providing the cover component 1111.
The container 10 includes four circumferential walls 11 capped by a circumferential ledge 12 on three sides and a ramp 13 leading to a main ledge 13a including a depressed central ledge 20 on the fourth side.
At the wall opposed to ramp 13 is a step 14 provided by a riser 15 from ;
the floor 16 of the container to another riser 18 leading to the ledge 12. The depressed ledge 20 includes a wall 20c sloping downwardly to the floor 16. The depressed ledge 20 forms wall sections 20a, shown and 20b.
The floor 16 is provided with three of the five cathodic i, segments providing representations of a portion of numerals, namely, the first segment 21, the second segment 22 and the fourth segment 23.
Also provided are the respective cathode lead-ins, along main ledge 13a ~ and depressed central ledge 20 and inclined ramp 13, as 24, 25 and 26, ! respectively. Also provided is a decimal point cathode 27 and its lead-in wire 28. In addition, anodic areas 29 and 30, provided with their anode lead-in lines 31 and 32 (for area 29) and 33 (for area 30). The anodic areas 29 and 30 are separated from the cathodic segments by areas ``
¦ of insulation 34.
Figures 3 and 4 show the bottom and top faces, respectively, of the intermediate component 50, i.e. component 1113, more clearly than Figure 1. The intermediate component 50 provides a suitable transparent substrate, and is of generally rectangula~ shape 51, but is provided with a rectangular tongue 52. On the bottom part of face 53 is a cathodic segment representative of a portion of a numeral, namely, the third segment~54. Seg~ent 54 is provided with~~a cathodic lead-in 55.
Also disposed on the botto~ surface 53 is an anodic layer 56, provided with an anode lead-in 57. Anodic layer 56 is separated from cathodic :

, ; ~ ~ , :

~0605f~7 segment 54 by an area o~ insulation 58.
On the top face 59 of intermediate component 50, l.e. compon-ent 1113, is a cathodic segment 60 representative of a portion of a numeral, namely, the fifth segment. ,The fifth segment 60 is provided with its cathode lead-in 61. Also disposed on the top face 59 is an anodic layer 62, provided with its anode lead-in 63. Anodic layer 62 is separated from cathodic segment ~0 by areas of lnsulation 64.
The fourth element, i.e. component 1112, is a spacer bar and electrical lead-in 70 which is of generally rectangular configuration 71 and is provided with a plurality of transverse cathode and anode outside connections 72 - 80, connected to cathode lead-ins 24, 25, 26, 28, 55 and 61 and anode lead-ins 31, 33, 36, 57 and 63. Also provided along the interior longitudinal edge 81 at the upper surface 82 of bar 70 and connected to transverse connection 73 is an anode connector 83 for use with the anode lead-in of the cover 90, to be described herein-after. -As seen in Figure 6, the cover 90 is of generally rectangular shape 91 and its bottom surface 92 is provided with an anodic layer 93.
Anodic layer 93 is provided with anode lead-in 94.
In summary, therefore, in Figures l - 6, the container lO may be made of electrically insulating, low vapour pressure material, such as, for example, ceramic, glass, or synthetic plastics. One side wall 11 has been removed to show the construction of one embodiment and one possible alternate layout of electrode elements 21, 22 and 23.
Such electrode elements 21, 22, 23 may be made in several ways.
Two examples are as follows: (1) first depositing by evaporation an electrical conductor of any type and then removing unwanted areas by electrochemical etching; or (2) by masking the areas to be electrode-free and then by depositing the electrode elements by evaporation, by sputtering, by electrodeposition, or by mechanically applying suitable conducting films or sheets to the desired areas.
The construct~on of the ramp 13 is preferably an inclined ~06~567 plane with rounded edges where it merges with depressed ledge 13 in order to facilitate the deposition of input cathode leads 24, 25, 26, 28 connec-ting to the cathode electrode elements 21, 22, 23, 27 and of anodic input leads 31, 32, 33 connected'to the anodic electrodes 29 and 30.
It also allows the connection by'means of input leads 72 - 80 contacting the spacer element 70 (which is, in fact, a lead-in device) between the base component and the lower surface 53 of the second element 50. '~
The height o the depressed central ledge 20 in the main ledge , 13a and the step 14 of the container 10 is sufficient to provide suitable spacing between the anode layer'54 on the lower surface 53 of the second element 50, and the cathodes 21, 22, 23 on the floor 16 of the container 10. Such height is preferably ~ust sufficient to provide a level sur-face extending across the top of the depressed ledge 13 and the top of the second element 50. The tongue 52 of the second element 50 fits into the inset 20 in the depressed ledge 13 of the container 10.
Coplanar surfaces are therefore preferably provided, Leads 72, 77, 78 and 80 on the bottom of the spacer 70 make contact with cathodic elements leads 28, 25, 24 and 26, respectively. Cathode element lead 55 on the bottom 53 of second element 50 makes contact, via leads 35, 36 with lead 74 on the bottom of spacer 70. Cathodic element lead 61 on the top surface of second element 50 contact lead 75 on the bottom of the second element 70. The anode elements 56, 29 and 30 are connected via leads 57, 31 and 32 to input 73, and anode element 62 is connected by lead 63 to input 76. The input leads are covered by an insulating film or masking in the region from the slope of the ramp 13 up to the respec-tive electrodes that they supply.
The intermediate component 50 has two surfaces: a lower face 53, and an upper face 59, wSich are used as electrode support faces.
The substrate is a thin, transparent material, for example, ceramic, glass, synthetic plastics material or mica for the deposited electrode elements which take the configuration as shown. The electrode elements ' , . . .

106(~5~

may be transparent conductors such as, for example, tin oxide or indium oxide. The electrode elements are applied to the upper and l~wer sur-faces of the substrate, for example, by first depositing tin onto the surfaces in question in the form of the required pattern, and then heating the material in an oxygen atmosphere to produce transparent tin - ;
oxide. The tongue 52 on the element 50 is of a size as to fit snugly into the centr~l depressed ledge 20 provided in the main ledge 13a, and the edge opposite the tongue 52 rest8 on the step 14 provided on the container. Lead-ins 55, 57, 61, 63 are deposited in a position i 10 suitable to make contact with appropriate lead-ins on the ramp struc-ture, as hereinbefore descirbed.
The spacer 70 serves as a means: firstly to provide electrical lead-ins from the outside circuitry to activate the electrodes;
secondly to act as a filler to plug the space between the lower surface 92 of the upper face plate 90 and the upper surface of the main ledge 13à; and thirdly to act as a spacer to provide the proper spacing , between the anode electrode 93 of face plate 90 and the cathode 60 on the upper surface 51 of the intermediate component 50. There is also a lead-in 83 which goes through the spacer 70 to provide a contact area on the upper surface of the spacer 70 to contact the anode lead-in 94 on the lower face 92 of plate 90.
The lead-ins may be separate embedded conductors, or they may be a foil pattern on a suitably shaped base so that contact is made to ~, the appropriate conductors on the top of the central depressed ledge 20 and of the intermediate component 50.
The plate 90 provides a cover for the cell unit and preferably is a transparent glass, ceramic, mica or synthetic plastics material.
It may also support an electrode, such as, for example, an anode 93 as ;
shown or any one of the other electrodes illustrated, provided suitable 30~- lead-in means are provided.-- In-thi~-embod~men*-, an-anode-93-is-provided--for better activation of the cathode on the intermediate component 50.
The face plate spacer 70 and intermediate component 50 are secured to the :' ' '. "' ' iO6()567 O ` container lO in such a manner as to provide a vacuum-tight hermetic seal, e.g. b~ cementing so that a gas of suitable pressure and kind may l be placed in the cell. The gas is provided to serve as a light emission , means.
The cell unit is evacuated by means of a tube37 secured to ` the container 10 at some convenient spot, e.g. by cementing. The gas originally contained in the cell unit is evacuated before refilling with ~! appropriate gas to serve as light emission means and the tube is then sealed off.
!: 10 Thus, Figures 1 - 6 illustrate electrode layout systems for the unit cell container lower surface 53 of substrate 50, upper surface 50 of substrate 50, and lower surface 92 of face plate 90 as viewed from j the top. Both anodes and cathodes may be deposited on the same surface to ensure proper activation of the units. A decimal indication is also shown as another variant of the invention, which is a useful modifica-tion. Anodes, cathodes and different segments of cathotes are deposited in such a manner as to be electrically insulated from each other.
This type of construction lents itself to the construction of many like digits in the same container where appropriate segments are constructed so as to make several ad~acent digits.
Turning now to Figures 7 - 12, the unit cell of this second embodiment of the invention includes a generally rectangular container 110 providing the base component 710, a substrate plate 130 providing the intermediate component 711, a spacer 170 providing the lead-in com-; ponent 7i2 and a plate 190 providing the cover component 713.
¦ The container 110 includes four circumferential walls 111 capped by a circumferential ledge 112 and a ramp structure 113 including a pair of lateral stepped ledges 113a, a pair of intermediate stepped ledges 113b, and a central depressed ledge 114. At the wall opposed to ramp structure 113 is a step 115 provided by a riser 116 from the floor 117 of the container 110 to a tread 118 and then a second riser 119.
The floor 117 is provided with an anodic layer 124 and three , .t~ - 22 -05~7 ' anode lead-ins 125, 126, 127 extending along the ledges 113a, 113b and 114, and down along the ramp 113. The ramp 113 and ledges 113a are provided with cathode lead-in 128 extending along the ramp 113 to the floor 117 for use with a cathodic numeral segment as will be described -hereinafter. The shallow inset 122'and the deep inset 121 is provided with a cathode lead'in 126 extending along the inclined step 120 to the floor 117for use with a second cathodic numeral segment as will be des-cribed hereinafter.
Figures 9 and 10 sho~ the intermediate component 130. The ' intermediate component 130 provides a suitable transparent substrate, and is generally of rectangular shape 131, but is provided with a rectangular tongue 132. On the bottom surface 133 (as shown in Figure 9) ' -is one cathodic segment representative of a portion of a numeral, namely, the fifth cathodic segment 134. Cathodic segment 134 is provided with a cathodic lead-in 135. Also disposed on the'bottom surface 133 is an anodic layer 136, provided with sn anode lead-in 137. Anodic layer 136 is separated from cathodic segment 134 ~y insulation 137.
On the top surface 138 (as seen in Figure 10) are three other ' cathodic segments representative of a portion of a numeral, namely, the first cathodic segment 139, the second cathodic segment 140 and the fourth cathodic segment 141. Segments 139, 140 and 141 are provided with cathode lead-ins 142, 143, 144, respectively. A decimal cathodic ; description 149 is also provided along with its cathode lead-in 150. Also disposed on the top surface 138 are anodic layers 145, 146, provided with anode lead-ins 147, 148 respectively. Anodic layers 145, 146 are separated from cathodic segments 139, 140, 141 by areas of insulation 147.
The lead-in element or spacer bar 170 is of generally rectan-gular configuration and is provided with a plurality of'metal foil printed circuit cathode and anode outside connections 172 - 180, connec-ted to cathode lead-ins 194 via 128, 150, 144, 143, 142 and 135 via 129 respectively and to anode lead-ins 196 via 126, 148, 147, 137 and 197 respectively.

_ 23 -:' ,. - .... -- , I~ ;, .: .

-l~()S67 , As seen in Figure 12, the cover l90 is of generally rectan-gular shape 191 and its bottom surface 192 is provided with a cathodic segment representative of a portion of a numeral, namely, the third segment 193, provided with its cathodic lead-in 194. The bottom surface 192 is also provided with an anodic layer 195. Anodic layer 195 is separated from cathodic segment 193 by insulation areas 197.
In summary, therefore, in Figures 7 - 12, the container is provided as in Figures 1 - 6 and is made of the same materials as des-cribed in Pigures 1 - 6. The electrodes in this unit cell are produced 10 on the same manner as described for Figures 1 - 6.
The ramp structure 113 is provided with a closable stepped inset including lateral plateaus 121, dropping down to steps 122 and then down into the depressed ledge 114 to allow transference of lead-in functions from two different levels, namely, from the lower surface 192 of the top cover 190 which supports the third segment electrode 193 and from the lower surface 138 of substrate 130 which supports the fifth electrode segment 139 to the intermediate level of the steps where the appropriate lead-in means 128, 129 may be contacted by lead-in means 177, 178 on spacer 170.
The substrate 130 has a tongue 132 which fits into depressed ledge 114 inset into the ramp structure 113. The other end of the sub- -~; strate 130 fits onto step 118 and under tube 160. The depressed ledge 114 : is of a depth equal to the thickness of the substrate 130. Substrate 130 may be made of a transparent low vapour pressure materialJ which may be ; the same as those described in Figures 1 - 6. Electrodes 134, 139, 140, 141, 193 which generate the numbers are deposited in positions such that proper alignment occurs where necessary to ensure proper generation of numerals. The electrodes 134, 139, 140, 141, 193 should be made of trans-parent conductors or conductors which do not impede the transmission of 30 light from the underlying electrodes. The lead-ins 137, 142, 143, 144, 196 to the electrodes 134, 139, 140, 141, 193 must be located to contact the lead-ins on steps 128, 129, 122, 121 and 172, 173, 174, 176, 177, 178 on spacer 170 so that electrical current may be applied to the desired -~ ,.~ .
- electrodes.
The spacer 170 is provided with metallization 172 - 180 on the ' bottom surface.' The spacer'170 serves 6Oth as a contactor for the lead-ins on tongue 132 and rests on stepped insets 122 and as a male plug to - '-contact outside wires. It is constructed to fit snugly into the space provided by stepped insets 122 and to project out past the container and surface. '-The cover'plate 190 is the'upper face plate upon whose lower surface is deposited the third electrode 193.
The face plate, of course, fits squarely onto the circumferen-tial ledge 112 of that container 110. The cathode lead-in 192 and the anode lead-in 196 on the bottom surface contact the leads 128 and 127 on ' the upper ledge 113. The'face plate 190, the spacer 170 and the tube ~
160 are all sealed hermetically. The active fluid or gas is introduced ~ ~' through the tube 160 which is then shut off. The electrodes 193, 195 on the lower surface are electrical conductors which do not substantially block the passage of light.
Thus, Figures 8 - 12 are views as seen from the top of the unit cell container 110, intermediate component bottom surface 133, intermediate component top surface 138, face plate bottom surface 192, and spacer 170 and patterns of conductors necessary to provide electrode and lead-in functions. All characters forming electrode lead-ins from ' where the spacer contacts them to the character electrodes themselves `
should be protected with an insulating film so that they will not be activated in those regions.
Turning now to Figures 13 - 18, the unit cell of a third embodiment of the invention includes a generally rectangular container 210 providing the base component 1313, a plate 230 providing the inter- ~
mediate component 1314, a pair of spacers 270, 285 providing spacer and ,' lead-in components 1315, 1316, and a plate 290 providing the cover com-ponent 1317.

The container 210 includes four circumferential walls 211 capped by a circumferential ledge 212. At one wall is a step 213 : i 5f~
` provided by a riser 214 from the floor 125 of the conteiner 210 to a tread 216 and then another riser 217. At the opposed wall is an open step 218 including a riser 219 but providing an open transverse slot instead of thé additional riser.
Figures 16 and 17 show the intermediate element 230. Th~s intermediate component 230 prov~des a suitable transparent substrate, and is of generally rectangular shape 231. On the bottom surface 232 ,~ (as shown in Pigures 17) is one segment representative of a portion of a numeral, namely, the fifth segment 233 in the form of an interdigitated 10 cathode/insulator/anode structure as sho~m in Figure 18. As shown in Figure 18, the anodic portion is separated from the cathodic portion by electrical insulation.
On the top surface 240 of the intermediate component 230 are three other cathodic segments representative of a portion of a numeral, namely, first segment 241, second segment 242, and fourth segment 243.
Segments 241, 242, 243 are also of the interdigitated cathode/insulator/
3~ ~ anode structure as shown in Figure 18 and are provided with cathode lead-ins 244. 245, and 246, respectlvely, ant anode lead-in 245A, and a common anode connection at 245B where the three elements come in close 20 ~uxtaposition near the top. Electrode lead-ins 234B, 235B provide elec-trical contact for the leads 294 and 294A through the intermediary .
spacer 270.
The spacer bar 270 is of generally rectangular configuration 271 and is provided with a plurality of transverse alternating cathodic ;~ conducting, non-conducting anode conducting strips 272 - 279. The :
cathode conducting strips may be connected to cathode lead-ins 234, 244, 245, 234B, 246 and 294 and the anode conducting strips may similarly be connected to anode lead-ins 234A, 235B, and 294A.
~ Spacer bar 283 is formed of an electrically insulating material 1 30 and is of generally rectangular shape 286.
As seen in Figure 15, the cover 290 is of generally rectangular shape 291 and its bottom surface is provided with a cathodic segment l~)tiUS6'~
.~, . ... .
` representative of a portion of a numeral, namely third segment 293 also of the interdigitated cat~odetinsulator/anode structure shown in Figure 18, and its associated cathode lead-in 294 and anode lead-in 294A.
In summary, therefore, in Figures 13 - 17, the unit cell container 210 may be made o~ the same electrically insulating, low vapour pressure materials as described in Figures 1 - 6. The electrodes may be made in the same manner as previou~ly disclosed in Figures 1 - 6.
The unit cell, formed of case 210, is constructed with a step - 216, 21O at each end. The substrate on plate 230 supports a different kind of electrode structure on each of the upper and lower surfaces, and is separated from the cover or face plate 290 by spacers 270 and 205. -The case 210 supports no electrodes of any kind, but does provide support for the electrode bearing substrates 230 and plate 290.
The electrodes 233, 241, 242, 243, 293 on substrate 230 and face plate 290 are of an interdigitated design, as shown in Figure 18. One set of figures represents the anode and the other set the cathode of the elec-trode system. If used ln a liquid crystal design, the spacing of the electrode element is typically a small fraction of an inch. A nematic liquid crystal, one which scatters light when activated, is placed in close contact with this system. The material between the electrodes catters light and therefore creates a number pattern in contrast to the surrounding liquid cyrstal which remains transparent. Spacer 270 is a polymeric elastic compound composed of alternating strips of electrically insulating and electrically conducting plastic known by the Trade Mark of Zebra strips and serves as a means of transferring current from the lower surface 292 of the upper plate to the upper surface of substrate 230 to provide connection from 234B to 294 and 235B to 294A. The pro-~ecting portion of the substrate serves as a male plug and in use, a female plug contacts the conductors 234, 234A, 234B, 244, 245, 245A, 246 on both surfaces 232, 240.
Thus, Figures 13 - 17 show the top views of the face plate 290 and electrode outlines 293 viewed from the top, the lower surface 232 of ' ':

.
the substrate 230 and the electrode outlines 233 as Yiewed from the top, the case 210, and the upper surface 240 of the substrate 230 as viewed from the top, with the associated electrode layouts 241, 242, 243. The interdigitated construction is not shown due to the fineness of its construction, but it should be noted that the anodes of the electrodes all connect to each other near their common upper coincldence points.
Of course, all cathodes are electrically insulated from all anodes (as shown in Figure 18).
It is possible to use this kind of construction for gas dis-charge tubes which produce cathode or anode glow, but in this case, the spacing would be wider. Both systems might be made by photoetching, for example, in order to maintain the precise tolerances required, but once constructed the tolerances would be maintained, thus giving a degree of freedom in construction, not now available to most liquid crystal systems.

~ ,' ' -: ~ '` " ': ', ' .

_ 28 -~: ' . ,' ,,:

-- 10605~;7 Figure 18 shows an enlarged cross-section of one of the five different shaped segments which, when'combined, form the digits, namely, ' segment 233. The substrate 230 supports an interdigitated cathode/insu-lator/anode structure. The substrate 230 supports an anode structure 254 including longitudinal sections and transverse sections. The cathode 250 is disposed between the transverse sec~ions of the anode 254, and also includes a longitudinal section. Insulating sp~cers 253 separate the -~
anode 254 from the cathode 250. :
Figure 19 includes Figures 19/A - 19/0. In Figures l9A - 19E ~
the shape of the five different segments a;re described on a 2 x 4 matrix .' . ' grid in which the left hand column is designated, (moving downwardly~, ~
sectors A, C, E, and G and the right'hand column is similarly designated ' B, D, F and H. . ~ :' The first segment occupies parts of sectors B, D, F and H. It starts at the top right hand half of sector B, runs horizontally across the top of sector B to the'right hand edge, and then runs vertically .
downwardly parallel to the right hand side of sector B, extending verti-cally downwards along the right hand edges of sectors D, F, and H to the bottom of sector H.
The second segment occupies portions of sectors B, C, D, E, G, and E. It starts at the mid-point of the top of sector B, extends diagonally through the lower'left hand portion of sector B, then through the upper left hand portion of sector D, through the lower right hand portion of sector C and then diagonally bisects sector E from the upper right hand portions to the'lower left hand portion. It then extends further into sector G extending to the left hand side of the sector in the upper left hand portion. It then extends horizontally parallel to the -~
upper edge of sector G through to the three quarter point of sector H
where it extends downwardly parallel to the right hand side of H and -commonly extends vertically downwards along to the three quarters point ;
of section H therein ending in a point.
The third segment occupies part of sectors C, D, F, G and H.

~0~iO5f~
.

It commences at the mid-point of the upper right hand portion of sector C, extending horizontally across the'upper'right hand edge through to the upper right'hand edge of sector D, then downwardly parallel to the right hand edges of sectors D, F, and H through to the lower right hand : edge of sector H. It then'extends horizontally parallel to the bottom edges of H and G and through to the lower left hand edge of sector G. It then extends upwardly parallel'to the'left hand edges`of sectors G, E
and C to terminate in the`upper left hand portion of sector C.
. The fourth segment, shown'in Figure 19D, occupies`parts of sectors A and B. It commences near the`mid-point of the'left edge of sector A, extending vertically upwardly to the upper edge thereof and then extends across the'upper'edges of sectors A and B to terminate at approximately the mid-point of the upper edge of sector B.
The fifth segment occupies`sectors A, C, D, F, H and G. It commences near the mid left.hand edge of sector A and extends vertically downwardly parallel to this edge to the upper left hand edge of sector C.
It then extends horizontally parallel to the upper edges and then down-wardly parallel`to the right'hand edges of sectors D, F and H to the bottom right hand edge of sector H. 'It then extends horizontally parallel to the bottom edges of sectors H and G to terminate at the left hand edge of sector G.
Figures l9A - 19E~ as shown'in the following table:`
Digit Segment .

1 first 1.
2 second and fourth ' .: `.
3 first, third and fourth ::

4 first and second fourth and fifth ` - '~
6 third, fourth and fifth 7 first and fourth '~
8 first, third, fourth and fifth `
9 first, fourth and fifth ~ :
0 third : .

- 30 - ~ ::

~ .

--- 10~567 Maskings may be applied, if desired, on the face plate, which masking may be opaque and conducting if it is to serve as an anode.
Masking may also be applied'around each element as laid down, or over -~
the'face.' There are many variations of cathode structure. They may be provided: on three surfaces, i.e.'on the'face plate and on two sides of '' the substrate; or on three'surfaces,-i.e.'on two sides'of the substrate, ~
on the back plane or on the'supporting container; or on three surfaces, ' i.e.'on two sides of one substrate and on the near side of another substrate; on three'surfaces, i;e.'on two sides of the substrate and on one appropriately indented edge; or on three surfaces, i.e. the face plate, the substrate and the'supporting container; or on three planes, particularly if they'are constructed'from thin strong wire. They may also be transparent or translucent materials deposited on the substrate;
or may be thin wires or gauzes to allow viewing of adjacent planes through holes in the gauze or perforated plates, or past adjacent wires.
There are many variations for connection of the electrodes to the electrode segments. Thus, such connections may be deposited on the substrate with the atthodes and anodes, and contacted at, or near, the bottom by pressure clips on the'lead-in wire; or they may be deposited on the substrate with the cathodes and the anodes and connected to the lead-in wires by means of conductive cement or solder; or they may have simple electrode connections. In the case of wire electrodes~ they may ' be spot welded to lead-in wires, or may be soldered thereto.
The base portion of the container of the unit cell may be pro- ';
vided with: a flat smooth surface inside for possible electrodes;
supporting ledges or "outcroppings" to support the intermediate substrate at an appropriate distance from the back; upper supporting edges, smooth and parallel to support the face plate; indentations in appropriate places'for passage of lead-in wires; sufficient supporting area near the bottom to give lead-in wires'some strength; and locating grooves for the intermediate substrates, the'spacers and the face plates.

'. ' ' , ,. ' ' ' . : ' , .

5~

The face plate may be transparent, flat and shaped to fit into designated space provided on the'bottom case, and may also be provided with masks'and filters. ' The'intermediate substrate may be provided with electrodes on two surfaces, or may be two'substrates'with electrodes'on three surfaces and with an interposed'anode substrate.''It may be made of transparent low vapour pressure, high melting point materialsg such as, for example, glass, mica, certain plastics`and ceramics, or crystalline materials.
The segments may be photo etched, printed, be formed'by sputtering, or evaporation techniques, or be provided'with third surfaces', or otherwise be machined into the edge of the'substrate.'The substrate should be of a shape to be located'and placed'onto the bottom plate and in connection with lead-in wires.
While not shown herein, other alternative structures may be used herein, for example:
(1) fluorescent device consisting of fluorescent separately activatable anodes;
(2) a projection device whose components are formed of projec-tions of the five segments, formed'onto one surface;
(3) hot filaments arranged in close juxtaposition; ~ ;
or (4) systems of light'emitting small area sources arranged and activated so as to produce a number of segments of the desired shape.

,:

- 32 - ~ ~

Claims (14)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive prop-erty or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An improved digital display device comprising: (a) three spaced-apart surfaces; (b) five non-identical segments associated with such surfaces, the segments being activatable by energy to be optically visible, two of said spaced-apart surfaces being opposite faces of a transparent component, and at least one segment being disposed on each face of said transparent component; and (c) means selectively activat-able to supply activating energy to selected one or more of the segments, thereby to provide a visible representation of a selected object.

2. The digital display device of claim 1 wherein said three spaced-apart surfaces comprise a base carrier plate, an intermediate optically transparent substrate and an optically transparent cover.

3. The digital display device of claim 2 wherein three of said segments are disposed on said base carrier plate, and wherein one of the two remaining segments is disposed on the bottom face of the intermediate substrate,while the last segment is disposed on the upper face of the intermediate substrate.

4. The digital display device of claim 3 wherein said segments are cathodic, and wherein anodic surfaces, electrically insulated from said cathodic segments are disposed on the upper face of said base carrier plate, both faces of said intermediate substrate and on the lower face of said cover.

5. The digital display device of claim 1 wherein one of said segments is disposed on one face of said intermediate component, wherein three of said segments are disposed on the other face of said intermediate component and wherein the final said segment is on the lower face of said cover.

6. The digital display device of claim 5 wherein said segments are cathodic, and wherein anodic surfaces, electrically insulated from said cathodic segments, are disposed on the upper face of said base component, both faces of said intermediate component and on the lower face of said cover.

7. Ah improved digital display device comprising four compon-ents providing three spaced-apart surfaces and five non-identical seg-ments associated with such surfaces, the segments being activated by energy to be optically visible, the first of said components being the base component, said base component comprising of a floor section and wall sections on three sides, and a recessed section at the fourth side, said floor section of said base component providing the first of said surfaces, said surface accepting at least one of said five non-identical segments, the second of said four components being a transparent inter-mediate component providing the other two of said three spaced-apart surfaces on each of the two surfaces of said transparent intermediate component, each of said two surfaces of said transparent intermediate component accepting at least one of said five non-identical segments, said intermediate component adapted to cover at least partially the floor section of said base component, a spacer component is provided for comforming to the recessed surface of said fourth side of said base component, a fourth cover component providing an optically transparent cover for said base, said transparent intermediate component and said spacer component, and means selectively activatable to supply activating energy to selected one or more of said five non-identical segments, thereby to provide a visible representation of a selected integer.

8. The digital display device of claim 7 wherein said spacer component provides connection to said segments to supply activating energy thereto.

9. The digital display device of claim 7 wherein said spacer component provides a filler to plug the space created by the recessed section in said base component and said cover component.

10. The digital display device of claim 7 wherein said wall sections of said base component comprise a circumferential ledge, and a pair of lateral stepped ledges positioned opposite said recessed section of said fourth wall and a ramp structure extending from the floor to said recessed section of said fourth wall.

11. The digital display device of claim 7 wherein said base component accepts two spacer bars at each end thereof, the first of said two spacer bars providing electrical lead-ins from the outside circuitry to activate the electrodes.

12. The improved digital display device of claim 1, wherein said five non-identical segments may be described as being on a 2 x 4 matrix grid in which the left hand column may be designated, (moving downwardly), sectors A, C, E, and G and the right hand column may be similarly designated B, D, F and H, and wherein the first segment occup-ies parts of sectors B, D, F and H, starts at the top right hand half of sector B, runs horizontally across the top of sector B to the right hand edge, and then runs vertically downwardly parallel to the right hand side of sector B, extending vertically downwardly along the right hand edges of sectors D, F, and H to the bottom of sector H; the second segment occupies portions of sectors B, C, F, E, G, and H, starts at the mid-point of the top of sector B, extends diagonally through the lower left hand portion of sector B, then through the upper left hand portion of sector D, through the lower right hand portion of sector C and then diagonally bisects sector E from the upper right hand portions to the lower left hand portion, then extends further into sector G extending to the left hand side of the sector in the upper left hand portion, then extends horizontally parallel to the upper edge of sector G through to the three quarter point of sector H where it extends downwardly parallel to the right hand side of H and commonly extends vertically downwardly along to the three quarters point of section H therein ending in a point;

the third segment occupies part of sectors C, D, F, G and H, commencing at the mid-point of the upper right hand portion of sector C, extending horizontally across the upper right hand edge through to the upper right hand edge of sector D, then downwardly parallel to the right hand edges of sectors D, F and H through to the lower right hand edge of sector H, then extends horizontally parallel to the bottom edges of H and G and through to the lower left hand edge of sector G, then extends upwardly parallel to the left hand edges of sectors G, E and C to terminate in the upper left hand portion of sector C; the fourth segment occupies parts of sectors A and B, commencing near the mid-point of the left edge of sector A, extending vertically upwardly to the upper edge thereof and then extends across the upper edges of sectors A and B to terminate at approximately the mid-point of the upper edge of sector B; and the fifth segment occupies sectors A, C, D, F, H and G, commencing near the mid left hand edge of sector A and extending vertically downwardly parallel to this edge to the upper left hand edge of sector C, then ex-tending horizontally parallel to the upper edges and then downwardly parallel to the right hand edges of sectors D, F and H to the bottom right hand edge of sector H, then extends horizontally parallel to the bottom edges of sectors H and G to terminate at the left hand edge of sector G.

13. The improved digital display device of claim 12, wherein said sectors are parallelogram-shaped.

14. The improved digital display device of claims 7, 9 or 11 wherein said five non-identical segments may be described as being on a 2 x 4 matrix grid in which the left hand column may be designated, (moving downwardly), sectors A, C, E, and G and the right hand column may be similarly designated B, D, F and H, and wherein the first segment occupies parts of sectors B, D, F and H, starts at the top right hand half of sector B, runs horizontally across the top of sector B to the right hand edge, and then runs vertically downwardly parallel to the right hand side of sector B, extending vertically downwardly along the right hand edges of sectors D, F, and H to the bottom of sector H; the second segment occupies portions of sectors B, C, F, E, G and H, starts at the mid-point of the top of sector B, extends diagonally through the lower left hand portion of sector B, then through the upper left hand portion of sector D, through the lower right hand portion of sector C

and then diagonally bisects sector E from the upper right hand portions to the lower left hand portion, then extends further into sector G
extending to the left hand side of the sector in the upper left hand portion, then extends horizontally parallel to the upper edge of sector G through to the three quarter point of sector H where it extends down-wardly parallel to the right hand side of H and commonly extends verti-cally downwardly along to the three quarters point of section H therein ending in a point; the third segment occupies part of sectors C, D, f, G and H, commencing at the mid-point of the upper right hand portion of sector C, extending horizontally across the upper right hand edge through to the upper right hand edge of sector D, then downwardly parallel to the right hand edges of sectors D, F and H through to the lower right hand edge of sector N, then extends horizontally parallel to the bottom edges of H and G and through to the lower left hand edge of sector G, then extends upwardly parallel to the left hand edges of sectors G, E and C to terminate in the upper left hand portion of sector C; the fourth segment occupies parts of sectors A and B, commencing near the mid-point of the left edge of sector A, extending vertically upwardly to the upper edge thereof and then extends across the upper edges of sectors A and B
to terminate at approximately the mid-point of the upper edge of sector B; and the fifth segment occupies sectors A, C, D, F, H and G, commen-cing near the mid left hand edge of sector A and extending vertically downwardly parallel to this edge to the upper left hand edge of sector C, then extending parizontally parallel to the upper edges and then down wardly parallel to the right hand edges of sectors D, F and H to the bottom right hand edge of sector H, then extends horizontally parallel to the bottom edges of sectors H and G to terminate at the left hand edge of sector G.