GB1331250A - Gas discharge displays - Google Patents

Abstract

1331250 Gas discharge display panels SPERRY RAND CORP 30 Dec 1970 [15 Jan 1970] 61714/70 Heading H1D A gas discharge display comprising a pair of spaced electrically-insulating members 10, 11 sealed to form a gas tight structure for an ionizable gas, a plurality of external electrode elements 14 on the exterior surface of one member so as to be separated from the gas, and at least one internal electrode element 16 intermediate the insulating members and in contact with the other member, the internal electrode element having a plurality of holes defining the outline of a plurality of individual gas cells, the other insulating member being transparent for viewing. Sputter inducing conduction currents are reduced, current being predominantly displacement type. Members 10, 11 may be glass or quartz 5 to 10 thou. thick and holes in intermediate transparent or opaque dielectric member 12 may be ultrasonically drilled or chemically etched, e.g. several thousand or up to tens of thousands in number. Electrodes 14, 16 may be of Cr or Al, 1000 Š thick and 0À030 inch wide with 0À020 diameter holes, spaced 0À062 inch. Sealing of the insulating members may be by epoxy and a tube (not shown) in the side enables outgassing and filling with Ne at 300 torr for example. Ignition, as by A.C. signals, may employ a continuous sustaining signal (e.g. 300 kH 3 ), followed by a writing signal adding to the sustaining signal as it crosses from negative to positive, followed by an erasure signal, or may be ignited by a single potential greater than the firing potential. The walls between the cells may be opaque material coated. Fig. 2 (not shown) is a fixed format alpha-numeric display, with preferably, but not necessarily, single metallic electrode (24), and evaporated electrodes (26), conforming to the holes in electrode (24), and preferably operating without sustaining potential. Excitation may be short A.C. bursts, e.g. 4 or 5 cycles of a 300 kc/s. signal at a repetition rate of 1 to 300 kc/s., dimming control achieved by varying the duty rate. Insulator (23) may be replaced by a metal shim having discharge cells formed in it. Alpha-numeric and other displays such as scenes are exemplified.