JPS5931996A - Fluorescent display tube apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

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 invention relates to a fluorescent display 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 electrode that emits light in a different color. .

Conventionally, fluorescent display tubes used in fluorescent display devices include an anode formed into desired characters and shapes and a phosphor layer coated on its surface, and an anode placed opposite the anode. A 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 bombarded with a desired anode. Therefore, devices that emit light to display desired characters, figures, etc. were often used.

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 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 deposited on the anode.

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 multi-displays using color coding, such as displaying when a warning speed has been reached by changing the emitted light color, in addition to digitally displaying speed. .

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, by arranging anodes and control electrodes alternately on the same plane, and placing each electrode on each of the two electrodes. By adopting a structure in which phosphor layers that emit 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 The anode and the control electrode are coated with different phosphor layers that emit light in different colors, so that when the anode emits light and the control electrode The gist of the present invention is to emit light in a different color when both electrodes emit light, and to emit light in a mixed color when both electrodes emit light together.

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, on which a plurality of digit display elements 3 are formed on a substrate 2 made of a glass material or the like, and the name display element 3 also consists 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.
are a segment 4a, b segment 4b, 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 anodes A and the control electrodes G are alternately arranged on the substrate 2 with an insulating space S between them, and the surface of the anode A facing the cathode 5 is , a phosphor layer 7a is deposited, and on the other hand, a phosphor layer 7g that emits light in a different color from the anode phosphor layer 7a is deposited on the surface of the control electrode G. Examples of the material for the phosphor layer include ZnO, which emits green light, for the anode phosphor layer 7a:
The control electrode phosphor layer 7g contains a Zn phosphor that emits red light (Zn1-xCdx): Ag, Al or (Y2O2S).
:Eu+In2O3) or SnO2:Eu can be used.

The width and spacing between the electrodes A and G are preferably small in order to ensure shielding effect and display connection. For example, suitable electrodes can be obtained by applying thin film forming technology used in semiconductor manufacturing technology. be able to.

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. army.

When the electrons adhere to the insulating layer 8, the electrons are released and the insulating layer 8 is effectively prevented from being charged, so that the inflow path of electrons to the electrodes is not adversely affected.

As shown in FIG. 4, the anodes A in each display body 3 are independently led 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.
, the anode A2 of the b segment 4b is connected to the second segment signal line 9b, and the anode A2 of the g segment 4g is connected to the second segment signal line 9b.
7 are respectively connected to the seventh segment signal line 9g, and the respective display bodies 31, 32, . . . , 3
Same segment 4 through same segment signal line 9
It is connected to the.

On the other hand, within the display body 3, the control electrode G is commonly connected through each segment 4, and the control electrode G is connected in common through each segment 4 in the display body 31,
Control electrodes G2, G2 at 32, ..., 3n
, . . . , Gn are grid signal lines 101 and 1, respectively.
02, ..., 10n. Such a connection is a connection structure for dynamic driving in a multi-digit fluorescent display tube.

11 is a display body scanning means, 12 is a light emission command signal means, 13
is color-coded signal processing means, and the display scanning means 11 receives the display (digit) signal 14 and sequentially supplies the display selection signal 15 to the control electrode 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 signal processing means 13 receives the color signal 18 and generates a control current 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 shows the display body scanning means 11 and the light emission command signal means 1.
2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of color-coded signal processing means 13. FIG.

The display scanning means 11 has a grid decoder 21, the light emission command signal means 12 has a segment decoder 22, and the color components are connected to the grid signal line 10 and the segment signal line 9 through the signal processing means 13, respectively. has been done.

The signal processing means 13 has a color decoder 23 and two OR gates 24a . Segment gate groups 25aH, 25aL, 25, which are both AND gates, are connected via gate 24b.
bH, 25bL, ..., 25gH, 25gL and grid gate groups 261H, 261H, 262H, 26
Connected to 2L, . . . , 26nH, 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, grid gate 261H, 2
61L is connected to the grid signal line 101 connected to the grid G1 in the first digit display 31 via grid switches 281H and 281L. Similarly, each grid gate 26 is connected to each grid G via a grid switch 28 and to the grid signal line 10 .

The grid signal line 10 is connected to the control electrode G and connected to the first blocking voltage power supply (-Ek) via a resistor, and the segment signal line 9 is connected to each segment 4, while the resistor via the second blocking voltage supply (-E′k
).

The grid switch 28H is connected to the first light emitting voltage power source (EgH
), the grid switches 28L are connected to a first deblocking voltage power source (EgL), the segment switch 27H is connected to a second emitting voltage power source (EFIH), and the segment switch 27L is connected to a second deblocking voltage power source (EFIH). (Ea
L) respectively.

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 current from emitting light, but does not cause the current to emit light itself. 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, the control electrode G in the display body 3 of the selected digit has a substantially positive blocking release voltage (EgL) with respect to the cathode.
) is applied to the anode A of the fragment F of any segment 4 in the display body 3, if a positive light emitting voltage (EaH) with respect to the cathode potential is applied, the cathode with respect to the anode A is applied. Since there is no shielding effect against the electrons emitted from the anode 5, the anode A emits green light upon being bombarded with electrons. At this time, the control electrode G does not receive enough electrons to emit light, so it does not emit light.

On the other hand, at this time, the light emission voltage (EgH) is also applied to the control electrode G.
When this is applied, the control electrode G itself also emits red light, and together with the green light emission of the anode A, the segment 4 emits light in a mixed color. Next, a negative blocking voltage (-E
K), a negative electric field is generated on the control electrode G. On the other hand, since the control electrode G is arranged with the anode A in between, this creates a positive electric field on the anode A. cut off the
The cathode 5 also blocks electrons that are about to strike the anode, and light emission to the anode is prevented.

On the other hand, even if a positive emission voltage (EgH) is applied to the control electrode G, a negative blocking voltage (-E'K) is applied to the adjacent anode A.
If the electrons are made fine, the electrons will be shielded by the negative electric field generated at the anode, and will not collide with the control electrode G, so that no light will be emitted. Then, only after the blocking release voltage (EaL) is applied to the anode A,
The control electrode G emits red light. Moreover, at this time, if a positive light emitting voltage (EaH) is also applied to the anode A, the anode A
Similarly, it also emits green light.

That is, when a light emitting voltage (EH) is applied to one of the anode A and control electrode G that are adjacent to each other and a blocking release voltage (EL) is applied to the other, only the one electrode emits light and the light emitting voltage (EH) is applied to both of them. When EH) is applied, both electrodes emit light, resulting in a mixed color, and when a blocking voltage is applied to either one, both electrodes do not emit light.

Next, the dynamic driving method of a fluorescent display tube using grid scanning will be explained below with reference to FIG.

In the figure, (A), (B), and (C) are arbitrary display bodies 3.
, for example, the grids G1, G of the display bodies 31, 32, 3n
2, 21 representing the scanning signal supplied to Gn, (D)
, (E), ..., (J) are a segment 4a, b segment 4b, . . . common to each digit display body 3, respectively.
. . . represents a light emission command signal supplied to the g segment 4g.

Here, an example will be explained in which a green number "1" is displayed on the display 31, a red number "2" is displayed on the display 32, and a mixed color number "0" is displayed on the display 3n. .

The display body scanning means 11 first applies a blocking release voltage to the grid G1 of the display body 31 (sixth
(A) 30a), the other grids G2 to Gn are kept at a negative blocking voltage (Fig. 6 (B) 31b, (C)
31c).

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.

When displaying the green number "1" on the first digit display 31, a fine blocking release voltage is applied to the control electrode G1 of the display 31 from the display scanning means 11 as described above. (30a in FIG. 6(A)), each segment to be emitted when displaying the number "1" is sent from the light emission command signal means 12 in the display body 31 of the first digit,
That is, anode A2 in b, c segments 4b, 4c,
A positive light emission voltage is applied to A3 (Fig. 6 (E
)32e, (F)32f).

At this time, in the display tube 31, the anodes A1 and A in the a, d, e, f, and g segments 4a, 4d, 4e, 4f, and 4g that should not emit light when displaying the number "1"
4, A negative blocking voltage is applied to A5, A6, and A7 (Fig. 6 (D) 31d, (G) 31g, (H) 31
h, (I) 31i, (J) 31J).

As a result, in the display body 31, the b and c segments 4
Anodes A2 and A3 in b and 4c emit green light,
1” is displayed. Note that in this case, since the control electrode G1 is maintained 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 express the appropriate number.

In this way, the blocking release voltage (EgL) is sequentially applied to the control electrode G of each display body 3 of each digit to cause the control electrode G to advance. When a positive light emitting voltage (EaH) is applied to the anode A in synchronization with the application of the blocking release voltage to the control electrode G, the anode A in the segment 4 emits green light,
It displays appropriate numbers.

Next, when displaying the red number "2" on the second digit display 32, the display scanning means 11 scans the control electrode G of the display 32.
A light emitting voltage is applied to 2 (Fig. 6 (B) 32
b), the other grids G1 and Gn are maintained at the blocking voltage (FIGS. 6(A) 31a and (C) 31c).

[
6(B) 32b), each segment to be emitted from the light emission command signal means 12 when displaying the number "2" in the display body 32, that is, a, b, d, c, g segment 4a , 4b, 4d, 4e, 4g anode A1,
A blocking release voltage is applied to A2, A4, A5, and A7 (Fig. 6 (D) 30d, (E) 30e, (G) 30
g, (H) 30h, (J) 30j).

At this time, a blocking voltage is applied to the anodes A3 and A6 in the c and f segments 4c and 4f, which should not emit light when displaying the number "2" (Fig. 6(F) 31f, (I
)3i).

As a result, in the display body 32, the control electrode G20 portions in the a, b, d, e, and g segments 4a, 4b, 4d, 4e, and 4g emit red light to display the number "2". In this case, the portions of the control electrode G2 in the c and f segments 4c and 4f receive a negative electric field due to the blocking voltage applied to the adjacent anodes A3 and A6, and therefore do not emit light. In addition, anodes A1, A in the a, b, d, e, g segments 4a, 4b, 4d, 4e, 4g
2. Since A4, A5, and A7 are maintained at a blocking layer voltage removal voltage, the anodes A1, A2, A4, A5, and A7 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 to cause the display body 3 to emit light. , if a blocking release voltage (EaL) is applied in synchronization with the application of the light emission voltage to the control electrode G, the control anode G part in the segment 4 will emit red light,
It displays appropriate numbers.

Next, when displaying the mixed color number "0" on the n-th digit display 3n, the display scanning means 11 scans the control electrode G of the display 3n.
A light emission voltage is applied to n (Fig. 6(C) 32
c) The other control electrodes G1 and G2 are maintained at the blocking voltage (FIG. 6 (A) 31a, (B) 31b).

Only during the period when the light emission voltage is applied to the control electrode Gn of the display body 3n of the n-th digit (FIG. 6(C) 32c), the light emission command signal means 12 sends the number "0" in the display body 3n. Each segment that should be emitted when displaying "
That is, a, b, c, d, e, f segments 4a, 4b,
Anodes A1, A2, A3 in 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f
, A4, A5, and A6 (Fig. 6 (D) 32d, (E) 32e, (F) 32t, (G)
)32g, (H)32h, (I)32i).

At this time, a blocking voltage is applied to the anode A7 in the g segment 4g that should not emit light when displaying the number "0" (FIG. 6 (J) 31j).

As a result, in the display body 3n, a, b, c, d, e
, the portions of the control electrodes Gn in the f segments 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, and 4f emit red light, and
Anodes A1, A2 in the a-f segments 4a-4f
, A3, A4, A5, and A6 emit green light, and the number "0" is displayed in the mixed color.

In this case, the control electrode G in g segment 4g
The part n is the blocking voltage G applied to the adjacent anode A7.
Therefore, it does not emit light.

In this way, the control electrode G of the display body 3 of each digit is sequentially applied with the light emission voltage (EgH) to advance, while the anode A of the segment 4 to be caused to emit light within the display body 3. However, if a light emitting voltage (EaH) is applied 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 will be It emits green light and displays appropriate mixed color numbers.

Next, based on FIG. 5, the display scanning means 11, the light emission command signal means 12, and the color-coded signal processing means 13 selectively supply the blocking voltage, blocking release voltage, and light emission voltage to the fluorescent display tube. The operation to be performed is as follows.

First, when the anode A is to emit green light, a color signal 18 indicating green is received from a central processing unit (not shown), etc.
The color decoder 23 decodes this and supplies "1" as the green control signal 30 to each one input terminal of the segment gate groups 25aH, 25bH, . . . , 25gH via the OR gate 24a, "1" for the gate group
give an opportunity to output. Furthermore, "1" as the green control signal 30 indicates the grid gate groups 261L, 262L, .
..., 26nL are also supplied to each one input terminal, and the gate group is also given an opportunity to output "1".

Under such operating conditions, the grid decoder 21 similarly receives the display signal 14 from the central processing unit, decodes it, and outputs "1" as the display selection signal 15 to the grid gate groups 261H, 261L, ......, 26nH
, 26nL are sequentially distributed to each other input terminal.

Then, at this time, the grid gate group 261L, which has already received "1" from one input terminal,...
, 26nL receives "1" at both input terminals and sequentially and selectively outputs "1", and the subsequent grid switch 28
1L..., 28nL are sequentially and selectively turned on, so until this time the first blocking voltage -E
The tenth blocking release voltage EgL is sequentially and alternatively supplied to the control electrode G of each display body 3 maintained at the voltage K through the grid signal lines 101, . . . , 10n.

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. Pairs of segment gate groups 25aH and 25aL, 25bH and 25bL,...
..., 25gH and 25gL are supplied in parallel to each other input terminal, giving an opportunity to output "1" to the gate group.

Then, at this time, among the segment gate groups 25aH, . receives "1" at both input terminals and outputs "1", causing the corresponding segment switch 27H to turn "on", so the second blocking voltage -E'k has been maintained until this time. A second light emitting voltage EaH is supplied to the anode in the segment of each display body 30 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 outputs "1" as the red control signal 31 to the OR gate 23.
4b to the grid gate groups 261H, 262H, .
. . , 26 nH are provided to each one input terminal. Furthermore,
"1" as the red control signal 31 is also supplied to one input terminal of each of the segment gate groups 25aL, . . . , 25gL.

On the other hand, when the similar segment decoder 22 is operated, the segment switch group 27L corresponding to the segment to be emitted is turned on, and the second blocking release voltage EaL is supplied to the segment to be emitted. .

Also, the same grid decoder 2 as described above is performed during this time.
1, when the grid switch group 281H,
..., 28nH are sequentially and selectively turned on, and the control electrode G of each display body 30 is supplied with the first light emission voltage Eg.
H is supplied.

Furthermore, when both electrodes A and G are made to emit green and red mixed gold color simultaneously, the color decoder 23 sends "1" as the mixed color control signal 32 to the grid gate groups 261H and 262H via the OR gate 24b. , . . . , 26 nH are supplied to each one input terminal.

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

In this case, segment switch group 27aH
,..., among the 27gH, those corresponding to the segments to be emitted are turned on, and the second light emitting voltage EaH is supplied to the anodes of the segments to be emitted, while the grid Switch group 281H,...
..., 28nH are sequentially and alternatively turned on,
The control electrode G of each display body 3 is supplied with a first light emission voltage EgH.

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 EaH, EgH, first and second blocking voltages -E
As for k and -E'K, separate optimal values are often selected.

In addition, in the above-mentioned example, phosphors with different light emission characteristics are coated on both electrodes, so in this case,
As shown in FIG. 7, the electrode with a lower emission voltage, that is, the anode that emits green light, is wider than the electrode that has a higher emission voltage, that is, the control electrode G that emits red light. Wa>Wg). By doing this, the influence of the electric field from the anode A to which a blocking voltage is applied is increased on the control electrode G to which a high emission voltage is applied,
The shielding effect can be enhanced.

Further, in the embodiment described above, 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 in a comb-shaped manner on the same plane. The electrodes are arranged alternately as fragments that intersect with each other in a shape, and phosphor layers that emit light in different colors upon being bombarded with electrons from the cathode are deposited on each of the electrodes. As a result, the control electrode can also have a light emitting function, and since the anode and the control electrode can each emit light in different colors, the multicolor light emitting display has the excellent effect of making it possible to transmit multiple information. .

In addition, by having a configuration that includes a display scanning means, a light emission command signal means, and 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 word Bungyo can be varied by color-coding. It becomes possible to use them properly.

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 drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the whole, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of main parts, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of connections, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of main parts, FIG. 6 is a time chart of display scanning signals and light emission command signals, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of main parts 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...One light layer on control electrode A, 11...Display body scanning means, 12.
... Light emission command signal means, 13... Color signal processing means, 15... Display body selection signal, 17... Light emission command signal, EgH... First light emission voltage, EaH... Second light emission. Voltage, EgL...first blocking release voltage, -E'K...second blocking release voltage, -EK...first blocking voltage, -E'K...second blocking voltage. Patent applicant Futaba Electronics Co., Ltd. Agent Engineer Patent attorney Kozo Ozaki

Claims (1)

[Claims] A display body consisting of a plurality of segments, each segment disposed on the same plane of a substrate, an anode commonly connected within each segment, and an insulating space separated from the anode. and control electrodes arranged alternately and commonly connected within the display body, and an anode phosphor layer that emits light upon receiving electrons from the cathode is deposited on the surface of the anode facing the cathode. ,
A fluorescent display, wherein a control electrode phosphor layer that receives electrons from the cathode and emits light in a different color from the anode phosphor layer is deposited on the surface of the control electrode facing the cathode. a first blocking voltage (-
display body scanning means for sequentially supplying a display body selection signal instead of the first blocking voltage to the control electrode of each display body held at the control electrode of each display body held in the display body; A second blocking voltage (-E
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 among the segments held in the display body; As selection signals, a first emission voltage (EgH) that enables the control electrode phosphor layer to emit light, and a first element release voltage (EgL) that releases the light emitting element relative to the anode phosphor layer by the control electrode. and a second light emission voltage (EaH) that enables the anode phosphor layer to emit light, and a second light emission voltage (EaH) that releases the control electrode phosphor layer from being blocked by the anode from emitting light as the light emission command signal. A fluorescent display tube device characterized in that the color components to which blocking release voltages (EaL) are selectively assigned also constitute signal processing means.