DE2234199A1 - ELECTRIC GLIME DISCHARGE PLAYER - Google Patents

Description

PHD. 32169.. Vd / EVH.

Herbert Schein

Patent * · !!

ti V. Philips "Gloeilarr.penfabriektB

AkfcNoi. PHB-32.169 of 11 July 1972

Electric glow discharge display device.

The invention relates to an electric glow discharge display device having a matrix of Anode-cathode-electrode pairs, which have one in the mentioned Device existing gas atmosphere determine a matrix of separately addressable glinun discharge trajectories, which device also has an addressing system with 3ich intersecting electrodes, the anodes of each row dor matrix via an electrical resistor connection each connected to a common return feeder which forms part of the address system.

Such a device can "play back easier Patterns, such as diagrams, numbers, words or the like, verv / endot wordon. The excitation of the individual discharge lines in de: rar ti {; on Vorriehturig-oii can dadur * ch werdon, das.'j

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Each of these tracks is fed separately from an external circuit. In this way, the device can contain an anode common to all elements and individual connections to each cathode. This is conceivable for small total numbers of elements, for example a 7 ^x 5 matrix. for the larger matrices, however, the required number of individual connections with the device soon becomes inadmissible and it becomes necessary to find another form of addressing each element, such as an addressing system with crossing electrodes in which an element is only used during the period in which the row and the column containing this element are excited (a so-called "cross-bftr ^lt ~ electrode system).

In a particular Ausführungaform the cathode with each other in linear groups, for example in ^u columns ", connected vährend the anodes to each other in a too diener column vertical linear array, in eg"", are connected. (The Ausdrüci 9" rows Row "and "column" are ± n here namely comparative dent sense used;.. in practice, the matrix directed in such a way to be, the rows from top to down and the columns of page extend au side) A current limiting resistor is connected to each Anodenroiho or each Cathode column connected in series in order to limit the current through the discharges. Since each ütrombegronzerwidorstaml can only control one discharge at a time, the resistance must be distributed temporally between all discharges on soiner Roiho odor column «If aicli also dlo fii.rori-

.UtIe Ln den Kathodfin - :; pal. lon i. n find on, muhsom

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the anode rows have been switched cyclically. If η ranks are present, a discharge cannot occur during oinor time which is greater than a fraction * 1 / n of the total time is, (in practice the naximalο I3etciobszeit is everyone Discharge is even shorter because of its finite switch-on time ,be). This effect has the disadvantage that5? boim running each Discharge at least η times the required mean luminous efficacy must result. The zoit of a cycle must also be sufficient be fast, uin a flicker effect when playing 'to prevent.

This can possibly be prevented by

that the device is designed such that each

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Element remains ignited once energized until an "off" pulse is applied to that element. This is theoretically possible because, once a discharge has been started, the voltage required to maintain it

required discharge is lower than that Is the voltage that is required to start this discharge. So if the row and "column conductors are on one relative Pcfc 'initial difference, the greater than the withstand voltage for dio discharge, but less than If their ignition voltage is, all elements remain extinguished until the voltage between the row and column conductors is reached corresponding to a certain element instantaneously to is increased above the ignition voltage. When this takes place

* "the relevant E" -ϊιηοηΐ g3ignited and it also remains " in the KÜrid & th state after the instant increased Tension is sunk on their initial proposition. To this

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Way, successive elements can be energized one after the other will and will remain ignited unless action is taken be hit by which they are deleted one after the other. This can be done in that the voltage between the row and the column conductor according to a certain

Element is reduced instantly.

A significant problem arises when attempting to excite a device in response to these voices. The current limiting resistors cannot, as with the one described above; cyclical procedures, to be distributed over time «A resistance must be permanently connected in series with each display element either in its anode or in its cathode line. This can be achieved relatively easily if either

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all individual anodes or, as in the display tube from Type 1251. » those under the registered trade mark , "Mullard", is available for purchase, all individual cathodes have separate external connections; in a paneol with This is difficult for a large number of display elements and in such a case it is advantageous to use the to include individual resistances in the panel itself.

From Dutch patent application no. 6,807,093 is an electric glass charge reproducing device known to have an electrical resistance layer with ei ^ am Phosphor vanadate glass on the anode conductors of an addressing system with intersecting electrodes. The stream too

A separate discharge must be carried out in this way. corresponding tall of the resistance layer fliesson, where di * eö layer Geffective a separate resistor in series

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rait every discharge supplies. ·

The purpose of the invention is to provide another solution for obtaining individual series opponents.

According to the invention is. an electric glow discharge reproducer of the type mentioned in the introduction, that the "anodes, the electrical resistance connections and the row supply conductors are formed by thin films deposited on an inner surface of a transparent Viewing window of the device put down and that at least most of the electrical resistance connections and the series feed conductor with a electrically insulating layer is coated.

. Under "a thin PiIm" there is an electrical one

conductive film or resistive film, which im Vacuum or · Deposited in a reduced pressure atmosphere is. . . «

The insulating layer extends practically without interruption over practically the entire inner surface mentioned,

with the exception of yoii interruptions at the stole of each anode film. ■. O

A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that a single electrically conductive layer is present on top of the insulating layer, where it covers each of the thin film dielectric constant connections, and that the aforementioned conductive layer is on top of the insulating layer 'Corresponding to the anode layer is in electrical connection.

Any electrical resistance connection mentioned exists

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preferably from a film of electrically resistive material in the form of a railroad track.

The aforementioned electrical resistance material is made preferably made of nichrome and said anode and said series supply conductors are preferably by a Nichrome film is formed which is thicker than the film which forms the aforementioned electrical resistance connections.

Another preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the cathodes and the column feed conductors for the cathodes contain elongated electrical conductors which extend through a block of electrically insulating material so that each elongated conductor on the bottom of each other The cavity of a column of cavities in a main surface of said block is exposed, the inner surface of the above-mentioned observation window facing the aforementioned main surface and the anode films in alignment with the open ends of the cavities and being separated from these cavities.

"Preference sw ed se" narrows each cavity from its own

open end to its bottom,

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing, for example, “Show it?

Pig *. 1 shows a plan view of part of a glow discharge display tube according to the invention, Fig. 2 in perspective in cross section the part according to

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: v5. I. with an observation window, and

3 is a plan view of the inner surface of a Part of the observation window ».

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In Fig. 1, a block 1 of electrically insulating material is cast around a set of conductive cathode strips 2, which form the one electrode of an addressing system with intersecting electrodes and which are vacuum-tight through the sides of the block 1. The · obrere face of the block 1 is "b with a matrix of cavities provided which extend down to r.ach -z \\ the. Strip 2. On diose, a part of the" strip 2 in each cavity exposed.

The upper surface of the. Block 1 is provided with two parallel ribs provided S & tzen h ,, which extend in dejx Lan ^ s- and width directions of the block 1, so that the

single egg .. Kohlräumo 3 are separated from each other. '·. '

FIG. 2 shows a perspective cross-section along the line II-II of FIG. This rix ^ pe is e'tv.'as higher than the rib h, _t so that there is a clear gap of, for example, 25 μm between the upper sides of the ribs h and the inner surface of the observation fan plate 9, so that the finished Röhro cJ..cichmHssig pumped and can be filled with gas. The observation fan split 9 karui made of glass ρ ο in, which can be bought rr.tor dem. Type No. "7039 Corning" is available. . .

Soft glass can also be used for block 1 » The block 1 can be made of <le: n material that is available for sale under the '.,' aro.n.i.riohen "Fusii-.e ΪΙ" and

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consists of oinom glass with an expansion coefficient ontcn, dor adapted to that of Nickel-Ei, .cn on a suitable Veiso is ι when such a material is used for the strips 2 will.

The ribs 4 shown in FIG. 2 can also be omitted will. '..' · *.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the inner surface part of the observation window 9 »on this inner surface is a matrix of anode electrodes 10 made of gold or Nichrome dejected. The matrix of anode electrodes corresponds to the matrix of cathode cavities 3. The anodes Each row of the matrix is provided with a tube feed conductor (which conductors are also made of gold or nichrome) 'over

is connected to a single row * resistance, DEI obtained as a mäandorfärmige thin layer 12 of electrically Widerstendsraaterial which may be made of nichrome again and that is deposited on the surface of the window. 9 A supply wire or strip 14 is connected to the terminal "of each anode supply conductor 3 11 which, if it is made of nichrome, can be either all-gold or only gold-plated at its terminals during manufacture". The entire surface of the window 9 with the deposited layers is covered with A layer of electrical insulating material, not shown, such as evaporated silicon oxide or RF-atomized silicon dioxide, is coated, except at the locations of the

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Anodes 10. and dör Ancrüerizufufleiterkommen 13. Desired-.

if canoe then a qinzel.no transparent electric conductive layer (not shown), e.g. made of nichrome,

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on this insulation layer over a, part of the l.'id it rose 12 or over all of this resistance,

to make contact with the corresponding anode 10 and to effectively enlarge their surface.

It is desirable that the anodes 10 and supply conductor 11 have a low resistance "To achieve this,""* to i when the Anodenolektroden 10 ViderstandsUahneh 12 and the supply conductor 11, all of precipitated" are made Nichrora, the conductive layers 11 have a thickness of several .Tausend a, while the electrodes 10 and the WID ^s erstaridsbahnen 12 forming layers has a thickness of some hundreds of Λ can have. the, 3o may be prepared by the fact that the whole surface of the plate 9 with a Niehronischient is coated with a thickness of a few thousand A * so that the terminal * 13 is coated with gold, that this upper

¹ trains 'are subjected to a photolithographic etching process' so that the nichrome only remains at the points of the anodes 10 and the conductors 11 and niehrom / gold on the terminals 13,. that the entire surface of the plate is coated with a nichrome layer with a thickness of .100 X, and that this coating is subjected to a photolithographic etching process, so that this chrome remains only at the points of the electrodes 1C of the tracks 12 and the conductor 1 ι . The whole surface of the dex plate 9 with the nichrome layers can be covered with silicon or silicon dioxide with a thickness of ejbva 1 yum, except at the ends of the clamps 13 (i.e.

up to a borderline 15) »where this silicon oxide or -Dioxide then only at the points of the electrodes 10 through

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photolithographic process to expose these electrodes is etched. The above-mentioned individual conductive layers can then be used on each electrode 10 and each resistance lane 12 will be knocked down.

If the resistor tracks 12 made of nichrome with a

• ο

They can consist of more than a few hundred A.

• *

Uo mm .-- be long and 20 µm wide, giving each track a resistance of 2 χ 10? - 2 10 ° Ω is obtained, depending on how the layers are deposited and which heating schemes are then used when assembling the panel. The electrodes can each have the shape of a square with a side of 0.3 mra for a total dimension of the discharge cell of 1.5 mm χ 1.5 »mn or with a side of 0.1 now for a total dimension of the cell of I ₄ O χ 1.0 mm.

_T In a practical Ausftlhrungsform the cavities 3 in a rectangular matrix with a in Fig. 2 'form shown, have been attached, said ribs but not k

• Preserve present. Each cavity had a dimension of 0 _r 8 χ 0.8 mm. On the top and tapered z \ ') 0 _t h χ 0.4 mr at its bottom, while the distance between the cathode and

The floor, every cavity and the observation window 0.625 mtn was. The depth of a cavity was 0.6 mm. The ; Voids were spaced 1.0 mra apart Center points away from each other (same as electrodes 10, which should correspond to these cavities).

After the Feiistex * plate all around on the top the rib, which enclosed the obcro surface of the block 1,

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was attached so that each anode electrode 10 is centrally above a cavity was »with the supply wires or strips 1 * f passed through the sealing material in a vacuum-tight manner the interior of the tube is vented via a pump tube (not shown) and with a Penning gas atmosphere or pure neon filled in with a pressure of several hundred torr. Then * the tube was closed

The finished tube was then aged by having an operating potential between each cathode and anode supply conductors was applied, which potential during several Hours was sustained,

Ee has been found to be the application of an operating potential above each discharge path the development of optical radiation in the negative part of the column of the obtained Glow discharge resulted in the positive part of the Column of discharge was practically suppressed. There were also often small anode discharges as a result of the small anode surfaces available.. .- -

* During operation, a positive potential of, for example, 250 V with respect to the cathode strips 2 was applied to the supply wires or strips i4, this potential being the maximum holding potential of glow discharges in the cavities 3 (which can be, for example, 220 V. ) exceeded, but fell below the minimum ignition voltage of the same. Subsequently, an additional positive pulse of, for example I50 V was alternately on each wire 'or strips \ applied h, wherein the length of these pulses sufficient VRAR to ensure that each of the corresponding Anödenkathodenentiaduiigsbalri Ίη. li ^ ilio lit. Every

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The pulse length can then be 1j50 / usoc. ^Sofox% t after each ku "sätzlichen Inipuls (and lh before the supply of the corresponding pulse to the next conductor), the potential at the corresponding conductor Ik during, for example, 150 / usec to about 30 V below its original value lowered, wherein XugAeich positive Inipulse of, for example, 30 V were fed to those cathode conductors 2 which corresponded to the intersections with the relevant conductor i4 at which a discharge was not desired. The potential at these cross points was thus immediately reduced to 190 V (below their holding potential) and the corresponding discharges were extinguished, so that only the desired discharges remained. This was repeated for the remainder of the rows to build up the desired display. .

Said nichrome electrodes 10 are semipermeable and any glinunont charge can be observed there. Even if the electrodes 1Q were also opaque, would be It is of course still possible to discharge through the Gaps between adjacent parts of the resistance tracks •to observe.

In the absence of the above-mentioned single conductive layer on each anode 10 and each resistor track are precipitated, it can be shown that the silicon oxide or -dioxide layer on the surface of the plate 9 at Operation is charged and on this a lagging effect

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the Röhrq- caused. In order to avoid dysfunctional, one layer "

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high "resistance (with a resistance of 10,000 Ω per Square) on the whole surface of plate 9 niodor ^ oschlago: naphdem the silicon oxide or dioxide has been attached

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Claims (1)

- j »■ * · ■. ' · PUB.32169. PATENT ANSPTiUECIIo: 1 »1 Electric Glimra Discharge Display Device with a matrix of anode-cathode-electrode pairs, which form a matrix of separately addressable glow discharge paths via a gas * atmosphere present in the device mentioned determine which device is also using an addressing system * - * ·
contains intersecting electrodes, the anodes of each row of the matrix being separately connected via an electrical resistance connection to a common row supply conductor which forms part of the addressing system, thereby 4 I. marked that dio anodes, the electrical resistance connections and the row feed conductors are formed by thin films that are transparent on an inner surface The device's observation window is knocked down are, and that at least most of the electrical Resistance connections and the series supply conductor is coated with an electrically insulating layer. Z » Playback device according to claim 1, characterized in that the insulating layer is practically underneath ) broke over practically the entire named inner surface extends, with the exception of interruptions at the point every anode film. 3. Playback device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized characterized by having a single electrically conductive layer on top of the insulating layer, where dosed, each - from a thin Film existing electrical resistance connection, is present and that the mentioned conductive layers 209885/0896 _v) pud.321 69. electrically connected to the corresponding anode layer stand. kr reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized gels rzeicuiet that each said electrical resistors andsverbindung of a film of electrically resistive material in the form of a meandering path consists ** 5 · reproducing apparatus according to claim h _t characterized gekonnzeichnet that the said electrical resistance material nichrome is and that the mentioned anodes and the mentioned heron supply conductors are formed by a nichrome film, the thickness of which is greater than that of the film, which forms the mentioned electrical wide-band connections. 6 * playback device according to claim 1, 2, 3 »^ or characterized in that the cathodes and the gap feed conductors elongated electrical conductors for the cathodes which extend through a block of electrically insulating material so that each elongated: Ladder on * the bottom of each cavity of a column of cavities free in a main surface of the mentioned block is logged, with the inner surface of the observation window facing the main surface mentioned and the anode films are aligned with and separated from the open ends of the cavities. 7 device according to Anspimch o, characterized in that that each cavity extends from its open end to its own Tapered ground. 209U85 / Q89G $ 4 Blank page