JPH0132516B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a fluorescent display device having a fluorescent display tube comprising a cathode, an anode and a control electrode arranged opposite to the cathode, and in particular, the present invention relates to a fluorescent display device having a fluorescent display tube consisting of a cathode, an anode and a control electrode disposed opposite to the cathode, and in particular, the anode and the control electrode are connected to a substrate. This relates to a fluorescent display tube device including fluorescent display tubes arranged alternately in a comb-like pattern on the same plane, and each of which has a phosphor layer deposited on each of the two electrodes that emits light in a different color. be.

Conventionally, fluorescent display tubes used in fluorescent display tube devices include an anode formed into desired characters and figures and a phosphor layer coated on its surface.
A filament-shaped cathode placed opposite the filament-shaped cathode, and a grid-shaped control electrode (grid) interposed between the two are sealed in a vacuum container, and electrons emitted from the cathode are selectively absorbed. Many devices were used to display desired characters, figures, etc. by emitting light by projecting them against a desired anode.

Generally, a display body such as a character consisting of an anode is provided with a plurality of digits, and each display body is generally composed of a plurality of segments, and the above-mentioned spatial grid is divided for each display body (digit). It is.

In the above-mentioned fluorescent display tube, only the anode emits light and the grid does not emit light, so the color of the emitted light is fixedly determined by the phosphor layer coated on the anode. Ta.

On the other hand, in recent years, in application fields such as displaying the driving status of automobiles, there has been an increasing demand for multiple displays using color coding, such as displaying when a warning speed has been reached by changing the emitted light color in addition to digital speed display. It is worshiped.

However, conventional fluorescent display tubes have a drawback in that they cannot meet the above requirements because the emitted light colors are fixed and cannot be differentiated by color.

An object of the present invention is to take into account the problems such as multicolor light emission caused by the structural limitations of the fluorescent display device based on the prior art, and to arrange anodes and control electrodes alternately on the same plane, By adopting a structure in which phosphor layers emitting light in different colors are applied, the above-mentioned drawbacks are eliminated and an excellent fluorescent display tube device capable of multiple display by emitting multicolor light is provided. .

In accordance with the above-mentioned object, the present invention has a structure in which anodes and control electrodes formed in fragments are alternately arranged on the same plane in a comb-like manner so as to be interdigitated with each other in a segment of a display body, and It also has a light-emitting function by depositing a phosphor layer, and the anode and control electrode are coated with different phosphor layers that emit light in different colors, so that when the anode emits light and The gist of the present invention is to emit light in a different color when the control electrode emits light, and to emit light in a mixed color when both electrodes emit light.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a fluorescent display tube, in which a plurality of digit display elements 3 are mounted on a substrate 2 made of glass material or the like.
are formed, and each display body 3 is made up of a plurality of segments 4. A filament-shaped cathode 5 is stretched above the display body 3. 6 is a glass cover.

As shown in FIG. 2, the segments 4 in each display body 3 are a segment 4a, b segment 4
b, c segment 4c, ..., g segment 4g
In each segment 4, an anode A and a control electrode G are arranged on the substrate 2 in a comb-teeth-like manner, each of which constitutes a fragment F.

As shown in FIG. 3, the anode A
and control electrodes G are alternately arranged on the substrate 2 with an insulating space S between them, and a phosphor layer 7a is deposited on the surface of the anode A facing the cathode 5.
On the other hand, on the surface of the control electrode G, a phosphor layer 7g that emits light in a color different from that of the anode phosphor layer 7a is deposited. Examples of the material of the phosphor layer include ZnO, which emits a fringe color in the anode phosphor layer 7a.
The control electrode phosphor layer 7g contains a Zn phosphor that emits red light (Zn ₁ −xCdx): Ag, Al, (Y ₂ O ₂ S: Eu + In ₂ O ₃ ), SnO ₂ : Eu, etc. Fluorescent materials can be used.

The width and spacing between the electrodes A and G are preferably small in order to ensure a shielding effect and a connection between the displays. electrodes can be obtained.

A non-transparent insulating layer 8 is provided around the segment 4, and for example, a display outline is formed in which a window is defined by a portion surrounded by a broken line in FIG.
It is preferable that the insulating layer 8 has some conductivity, for example, by mixing a small amount of metal powder into glass powder, rather than being a complete insulator. When electrons from the insulating layer 8 adhere to the insulating layer 8, the electrons are released to effectively prevent the insulating layer 8 from being charged, and the inflow path of electrons to the electrodes is no longer adversely affected.

As shown in FIG. 4, the anodes A in each display body 3 are independently guided to the outside for each segment 4, and the anode _A1 of the a segment 4a is connected to the first segment signal line 9a, and the anode A1 of the a segment 4a is connected to the first segment signal line 9a, Anode A ₂ of 4b is connected to the second segment signal line 9b,...
The anodes A ₇ of the g segments 4g are respectively connected to the seventh segment signal line 9g, and the same segment 4 is connected to the same segment signal line 9 through the respective display bodies 3 ₁ , 3 ₂ , . . . , 3n. There is.

On the other hand, the control electrode G is commonly connected through each segment 4 in the display body 3, and the control electrode G in each display body 3 ₁ , 3 ₂ , . . . , 3n
G ₁ , G ₂ , ..., Gn are grid signal lines 10 ₁ ,
10 ₂ , . . . , 10n. Such a connection is a connection structure for dynamic driving in a multi-digit fluorescent display tube.

11 is a display scanning means, 12 is a light emission command signal means, 13 is a color-coded signal processing means, and the display scanning means 11 receives a display (digit) signal 14;
A display selection signal 15 is sequentially supplied to the control electrodes G. The light emission command signal means 12 receives the character signal 16 and selectively supplies a light emission command signal 17 to the anode A of the segment 4. The color-coded signal processing means 13 receives the color signal 18 and selects the control electrode G.
A light emitting voltage that enables light emission and a blocking release voltage that releases blocking of light emission are selectively assigned to the anode A and the anode A, respectively.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the construction of the display body scanning means 11, the light emission command signal means 12, and the color classification signal processing means 13.

The display scanning means 11 has a grid decoder 21, and the light emission command signal means 12 has a segment decoder 22, which are connected to the grid signal line 10 and the segment signal line 9, respectively, via the color-coded signal processing means 13. ing. The color-coded signal processing means 13 has a color decoder 23, and segments gate groups 25aH, 25aL, 25, which are AND gates, are connected via two OR gates 24a, 24b.
bH, 25bL, ..., 25gH, 25gL and grid gate group 26 ₁ H, 26 ₁ L, 26 ₂ H, 26 ₂ L,
..., connected to 26nH and 26nL. The segment gates 25aH and 25aL are connected to the segment signal line 9a connected to the a segment 4a via segment switches 27aH and 27aL. Similarly, each segment gate 25 is connected to a segment signal line 9 connected to each segment 4 via a segment switch 27. On the other hand, the grid gates 26 ₁ H and 26 ₁ L are connected to the grid signal line 10 ₁ connected to the grid G ₁ in the first digit display 3 ₁ via grid switches 28 ₁ H and 28 ₁ L. Similarly, each grid gate 26 is connected to a grid signal line 10 leading to grid G via a grid switch 28.

The grid signal line 10 is connected to the control electrode G, while being connected to the first blocking voltage power supply through a resistor.
_EK , and the segment signal line 9 is connected to each segment 4, while being connected to a second blocking voltage power source _-E'K via a resistor.

Grid switch _28H is the first light emitting voltage power supply
Eg _H , the grid switch 28 _L is connected to the first blocking release voltage power source Eg _L , and the segment switch 27H is connected to the second light emitting voltage power source Ea _H.
The segment switches 27L are each connected to a second deblocking voltage power source _EaL .

The above-mentioned blocking release voltage refers to a voltage that ensures the effect of equalizing the impact of electrons on adjacent electrodes and does not prevent the electrodes from emitting light, but does not prevent the electrodes from emitting light themselves. say.

What is shown in FIG. 6 is a time chart of the display body scanning signal and the light emission command signal.

In the above configuration, during a period in which a substantially positive blocking release voltage Eg _L is applied to the control electrode G in the display body 3 of the selected digit with respect to the cathode, any segment 4 in the display body 3 of the selected digit is fragmented. When an emission voltage Ea _H that is positive with respect to the cathode potential is applied to the anode A of F, there is no shielding effect for the anode A with respect to the electrons emitted from the cathode 5, so the anode A is prevented from being bombarded with electrons. When it receives light, it emits a border color. At this time, the control electrode G is not bombarded with electrons to the extent that it emits light, so it does not emit light.
On the other hand, at this time, the control electrode G also has a light emission voltage Eg _H
When this is applied, the control electrode G itself also emits red light, and together with the edge color light emission of the anode A, the segment 4 emits light in a mixed color. Next, when a negative blocking voltage -E _K is applied to the control electrode G, a negative electric field is generated on the control electrode G, while the control electrode G is arranged with the anode A in between. This blocks the positive electric field on the anode A, and the electrons that are about to hit the anode A from the cathode 5 are blocked, thereby preventing the anode A from emitting light.

On the other hand, even if a positive light emitting voltage Eg _H is applied to the control electrode G, a negative blocking voltage -
When E′ _K is applied, the electrons are shielded by the negative electric field generated by the anode A, and do not collide with the control electrode G, so that no light is emitted. Then, the blocking release voltage is applied to the anode A.
Only after Ea _L is applied, the control electrode G emits red light. At this time, if a positive light emitting voltage Ha _H is also applied to the anode A, the anode A will also emit light in a marginal color.

That is, a light emission voltage E _H is applied to one of the anode A and control electrode G that are adjacent to each other, and a blocking release voltage is applied to the other.
When E _L is applied, only one of the electrodes emits light; when a light emitting voltage E _H is applied to both, both electrodes emit light, producing a mixed color; and when a blocking voltage is applied to either one, the electrodes emit light. , both electrodes do not emit light.

Next, the dynamic driving system of a fluorescent display tube using a grid scan will be explained with reference to FIG. 6 as follows.

In the figure, A, B, and C represent grids _{G 1 ,} G ₂ , _and
Represents the scanning signal supplied to Gn, D, E,...
. . , J represent light emission command signals supplied to the a segment 4b, b segment 4b, .

Here, the number "1" of the border color is displayed on display 3 ₁ .
Display red number "2" on display 3 ₂ , display 3n
An example will be explained in which a mixed color number "0" is displayed.

The display body scanning means 11 first applies a blocking release voltage to the grid _G1 of the display body ₃₁ (FIG. 6 A30a), but the other grids _G2 to Gn
is maintained at a negative blocking voltage (Fig. 6 B3
1, C31c).

Thereafter, a voltage other than the blocking voltage, that is, a blocking release voltage or a light emission voltage, is sequentially applied to each control electrode in the same manner. At this time, all other control electrodes are kept at negative blocking voltages.

First digit display 3 ₁ is a green number “1”
When displaying, the control electrode G ₁ of the display body 3 ₁
However, as described above, only during the period when the blocking release voltage is applied from the display body scanning means 11 (FIG. 6 A30a), from the light emission command signal means 12, within the display body 3 ₁ of the first digit. , each segment that should emit light when displaying the number "1", i.e. b, c
A positive light emitting voltage is applied to the anodes A ₂ and A ₃ in segments 4b and 4c (Fig. 6 E32).
e, F32f).

At this time, the number "1" appears on the display tube 3 ₁ .
a, d, e, which should not emit light when displaying
f, g segments 4a, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g
A negative blocking voltage is applied to the anodes A ₁ , A ₄ , A ₅ , A ₆ , A ₇ (D31d, G3 in Fig. 6).
1g, H31h, I31i, J31j).

As a result, in the display body ₃₁ , the anodes _A2 and A3 in the b and c segments 4b and _4c emit green light to display "1". In this case,
Since the control electrode G ₁ is kept at the blocking release voltage,
The electrode does not emit light.

Thereafter, in the same manner, in each control electrode G, the anode A of the segment 4 that is to display an arbitrary number emits green light to display an appropriate number.

In this way, the blocking release voltage Eg _L is sequentially applied to the control electrode G of each digit of the display body 3 to advance the control electrode G, while the anode A in the segment 4 in which light is to be emitted within the display body 3 , in synchronization with the application of the blocking release voltage to the control electrode G,
If a positive light emitting voltage Ea _H is applied, the segment 4
The anode A inside emits green light and displays appropriate numbers.

Next, the red number “2” is displayed on the second digit display 3 ₂ .
When displaying, a light emitting voltage is applied to the control electrode _G2 of the display body ₃₂ by the display body scanning means 11 (FIG. 6B32b), but the other grids _G1 , _G0 is maintained at the blocking voltage (A31a, C31c in FIG. 6).

Only during the period when the display body scanning means ₁₁ applies the light emission voltage to the control electrode _G2 of the second digit display body 32 (FIG. 6B32b), the light emission command signal means 12 transmits the light emission voltage to the display body 3 Number “2” in ₂
Each segment that should emit light when displaying
a, b, d, e, g segment 4a, 4b, 4
A blocking release voltage is applied to the anodes A ₁ , A ₂ , A ₄ , A ₅ , A ₇ at points d and 4g (D30 in Fig. 6).
d, E30e, G30g, H30h, J30j).

At this time, a blocking voltage is applied to the anodes A ₃ and A ₆ in the c and f segments 4c and 4f, which should not emit light when displaying the number "2" (FIG. 6, F31f and I31i).

As a result, in the display body 3 ₂ , a, b, d,
The portion of the control electrode _G2 in the e and g segments 4a, 4b, 4d, and 4g emits red light and displays the number "2". In this case, the portion of the control electrode _G2 in the c and f segments 4c and 4f is
Since it receives a negative electric field due to the blocking voltage applied to the adjacent anodes A ₃ and A ₆ , it does not emit light.
In addition, the above a, b, d, e, g segments 4a,
Anodes A ₁ , A ₂ in 4b, 4d, 4e, 4g,
Since A ₄ , A ₅ , and A ₇ are maintained at the blocking release voltage, the anodes A ₁ , A ₂ , A ₄ , A ₅ , and A ₇ do not emit light.

In this way, the control electrode G of each digit of the display body 3 is sequentially applied with the light emitting voltage _Egh to advance, while the anode A of the segment 4 that is to cause the display body 3 to emit light is In contrast, the blocking release voltage is applied in synchronization with the application of the light emission voltage to the control electrode G.
When Ea _L is applied, the control anode G within the segment 4 emits red light and displays an appropriate number.

Next, when displaying the mixed color number "0" on the n-th digit display 3n, a light emitting voltage is applied to the control electrode Gn of the display 3n by the display scanning means 11. However, the other control electrode _G1 is maintained at the blocking voltage (FIG. 6 A31a, B31b).

Only during the period when the light emitting voltage is applied to the control electrode Gn of the n-th digit display body 3n (Fig. 6 C3
2c) From the light emission command signal means 12, each segment to be emitted when displaying the number "0" in the display body 3n, that is, a, b, c, d,
e, f segments 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4
Anodes A ₁ , A ₂ , A ₃ , A ₄ , A ₅ at e, 4f,
A light emission voltage is applied to A ₆ (Fig. 6 D3
2d, E32e, F32f, G32g, H32
h, I32i).

At this time, a blocking voltage is applied to the anode _A7 in the g segment 4g which should not emit light when displaying the number "0" (FIG. 6 J31j).

As a result, in the display body 3n, a, b,
c, d, e, f segments 4a, 4b, 4c, 4
The control electrode G _o portions in d, 4e, and 4f emit red light, and the a to f segments 4a
Anodes A ₁ , A ₂ , A ₃ , A ₄ , A ₅ , A ₆ at ~4f
will emit green light, and the number "0" will be displayed in the mixed color.

In this case, the portion of the control electrode G _o in the g segment 4g does not emit light due to the blocking voltage applied to the adjacent anode A ₇ .

In this way, the light emitting voltage (Eg _H ) is sequentially applied to the control electrode G of each display body 3 of each digit to advance it, while the anode of the segment 4 that is to be emitted within the display body 3 If a light emitting voltage (Ea _H ) is applied to A in synchronization with the application of the light emitting voltage to the control electrode G, the portion of the grid G in the segment 4 will emit red light, and at the same time, the anode A
emits green light, and appropriate numbers of mixed colors are displayed.

Subsequently, based on FIG.
1. The operation of selectively supplying the blocking voltage, blocking release voltage, and luminescent voltage to the fluorescent display tube by the light emission command signal means 12 and the color-coded signal processing means 13 will be explained as follows.

First, in order to cause the anode A to emit green light, the color decoder 23 receives the color signal 18 representing green from a central processing unit (not shown), decodes this, and outputs "1" as the green control signal 30. Segment gate group 25aH via OR gate 24a,
25bH, . Furthermore, "1" as the green control signal 30 indicates the grid gate groups 26 ₁ L, 26 ₂ L, . . .
..., 26nL are also supplied to each one input terminal,
The gate group is also given an opportunity to output "1".

Under such operating conditions, the grid decoder 21
Similarly, the display pause signal 14 is sent from the central processing unit, etc.
In response, this is decoded and "1" as the display selection signal 15 is sent to the grid gate groups 26 ₁ H, 26 ₁ L,
..., 26nH and 26nL are sequentially distributed to each other input terminal.

Then, at this time, the grid gate group 26, which has already received "1" from one input terminal,
₁ L, ..., 26nL receives "1" at both input terminals and sequentially and alternatively outputs "1", and the following grid switches 28 ₁ L, ..., 28nL sequentially and alternatively output "1". The grid _signal line 10 ₁ ,
. . , 10n, the first blocking release voltage Hg _L is sequentially and alternatively supplied.

Meanwhile, during this time, the segment decoder 22 similarly receives the character signal 16 from the central processing unit, etc., decodes it, and sends "1" as the light emission command signal 17 to each segment assigned to the segment to be emitted. Pair of segment gate groups 25aH and 25
aL, 25bH and 25bL, ..., 25gH and 25gL
are supplied in parallel to each other input terminal, giving the gate group an opportunity to output a "1".

Then, at this time, the or gate 24a has already been
Of the segment gate groups 25aH, . Outputs "1" and switches the corresponding segment switch 2
7H is turned "on", each indicator 3 which had been kept at the second blocking voltage -E' _K until this time
A second light emitting voltage Ea _H is supplied to the anode A in the segment to emit light through the segment signal line 9.

Next, in order to cause the control electrode G to emit red light, the color decoder 23 receives the color signal 18 representing red, decodes it, and sends "1" as the red control signal 31 to the grid gate via the OR gate 24b. It is supplied to one input terminal each of groups 26 ₁ H, 26 ₂ H, . . . , 26 nH. Furthermore, the red control signal 31
"1" is the segment gate group 25aL,
..., 25 gL are also supplied to each one input terminal.

When the segment decoder 22 similar to the above operates, the segment switch group 27L corresponding to the segment to be emitted is turned on, and the second blocking release voltage Ea _L is supplied to the segment to be emitted. Ru.

In addition, during the operation of the grid decoder 21 similar to that described above, the grid switch groups 28 ₁ H, . ,
A first light emission voltage Eg _H is supplied.

Furthermore, when both electrodes A and G are made to emit green and red mixed colors simultaneously, the color decoder 23 outputs "1" as the mixed color control signal 32 to the OR gate 24b.
Grid gate groups 26 ₁ H, 26 ₂ H,...
..., 26nH are supplied to one input terminal each.

Furthermore, "1" as the mixed color control signal 32 is
The signal is supplied to one input terminal of each of the segment gate groups 25aH, . . . , 25gH via the OR gate 24a.

In this case, among the segment switch groups 27aH, ..., 27gH, the one corresponding to the segment to be emitted is turned on, and the anode A of the segment to be emitted is connected to the second light emitting switch. The voltage Ea _H is supplied, while the grid switch groups 28 ₁ H, .
The first light emission voltage Eg _H is supplied.

Additionally, in the embodiments described above, since different phosphor layers are deposited on the anode A and the control electrode G, their emission starting voltages are generally different. Therefore, the above-mentioned first and second light emission voltages Ea _H , Hg _H ,
Regarding the first and second blocking voltages −E _K and −E′ _K ,
In many cases, separate optimal values are selected.

In addition, in the above embodiment, on both electrodes,
In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, since phosphors with different light emitting characteristics are coated, the electrode has a lower light emitting voltage than the control electrode G, which emits red light, as shown in FIG. an electrode having
Anode A, which emits green light, is made wider (Wa>
Wg) and good. By doing so, the influence of the electric field from the anode A to which a blocking voltage is applied can be increased on the control electrode G to which a high light emission voltage is applied, and the shielding effect can be enhanced.

Further, in the above embodiment, the green-emitting phosphor layer is deposited on the anode A, and the red-emitting phosphor layer is deposited on the control electrode G, but the present invention is not limited to these colors. Of course.

As described above, according to the present invention, in a fluorescent display device having a fluorescent display tube in which a filament-shaped cathode, an anode, and a control electrode are disposed facing each other, the anode and the control electrode are arranged on the same plane with comb teeth. The phosphor layers are arranged alternately as fragments that intersect with each other in a shape, and on both electrodes are phosphor layers that emit light in different colors when bombarded with electrons from the cathode. By doing this, the control electrode can also have a light emitting function, and the anode and control electrode can each emit light in different colors.
The multicolor light emitting display has the advantageous effect of making it possible to transmit multiple information.

Furthermore, display body scanning means, light emission command signal means,
By adopting a configuration including a color-coded signal processing means, it is possible to easily select light emission by color or mixed color, so that the meaning of the same character can be used in various ways depending on the color-coded color.

Moreover, since the spatial grid is eliminated by employing a planar grid, the grid does not interfere with observation, and there is also the additional effect that the brightness of the display is improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figure shows an embodiment of the invention.
The figure is an exploded perspective view of the whole, Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the main parts, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2, Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram of the connections, Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram of the main parts, and Figure 6 7 is a time chart of a display body scanning signal and a light emission command signal, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a main part of another embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Fluorescent display tube, 2... Substrate, 3... Display body, 4... Segment, 5... Cathode, F... Fragment, A... Anode, G... Control electrode, S...
Insulating space, 7a...Anode phosphor layer, 7g...Control electrode phosphor layer, 11...Display body scanning means, 12...
...Emission command signal means, 13...Color-coded signal processing means, 15...Display body selection signal, 17...Emission command signal, _EgH ...First light emission voltage, EaH...Second light emission voltage, EgL... …first blocking release voltage, EaL…
...Second blocking release voltage, -E _K ...First blocking voltage, -E′ _K ...Second blocking voltage.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. It has a display body consisting of a plurality of segments, each segment is arranged on the same plane of a substrate, an anode is commonly connected within each segment, and an insulating space is provided for the anode. control electrodes arranged alternately at intervals and connected in common within each display body; the surface of the anode facing the cathode is covered with an anode phosphor layer that emits light upon receiving electrons from the cathode; A control electrode phosphor layer that receives electrons from the cathode and emits light in a color different from that of the anode phosphor layer is deposited on the surface of the control electrode facing the cathode. For the fluorescent display tube and the control electrode of each display body held at a first blocking voltage -E _K that blocks light emission of the anode phosphor layer, in place of the first blocking voltage, a display body scanning means for supplying a display body selection signal; and a second blocking voltage −E′ _K belonging to the display body to which said display body selection signal is supplied and which prevents the control electrode phosphor layer from emitting light. Of each segment held in
a light emission command signal means for selectively supplying a light emission command signal instead of the second blocking voltage to the anode of the segment to be caused to emit light; In addition to selectively assigning the first light emission voltage Eg _H that enables the control electrode to release light emission from the anode phosphor layer and the first blocking release voltage Eg _L that releases the light emission blocking of the anode phosphor layer by the control electrode, A second emission voltage Ea _H that enables the phosphor layer to emit light
and a color-coded signal processing means for selectively assigning a second blocking release voltage Ea _L for releasing the blocking of light emission from the control electrode phosphor layer by the anode.