US3480820A - Indicator tube having auxiliary electrodes for maintaining cathode glow - Google Patents

Indicator tube having auxiliary electrodes for maintaining cathode glow Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3480820A
US3480820A US668740A US3480820DA US3480820A US 3480820 A US3480820 A US 3480820A US 668740 A US668740 A US 668740A US 3480820D A US3480820D A US 3480820DA US 3480820 A US3480820 A US 3480820A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
cathode
tube
anode
disk
glow
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US668740A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Richard B Fehnel
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Unisys Corp
Original Assignee
Burroughs Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Burroughs Corp filed Critical Burroughs Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3480820A publication Critical patent/US3480820A/en
Assigned to BURROUGHS CORPORATION reassignment BURROUGHS CORPORATION MERGER (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). DELAWARE EFFECTIVE MAY 30, 1982. Assignors: BURROUGHS CORPORATION A CORP OF MI (MERGED INTO), BURROUGHS DELAWARE INCORPORATED A DE CORP. (CHANGED TO)
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J17/00—Gas-filled discharge tubes with solid cathode
    • H01J17/38—Cold-cathode tubes
    • H01J17/48—Cold-cathode tubes with more than one cathode or anode, e.g. sequence-discharge tube, counting tube, dekatron
    • H01J17/49—Display panels, e.g. with crossed electrodes, e.g. making use of direct current
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J2893/00—Discharge tubes and lamps
    • H01J2893/0069—Tubes for displaying characters

Definitions

  • U.S. Cl. 313-1095 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure is of an indicator tube having a plurality of glow cathodes in a gas-filled envelope and including an auxiliary electrode arrangement for facilitating ionization of the gas and producing cathode glow.
  • Indicator gas tubes including a plurality of glow cathode electrodes of the type known as Nixie tubes have been made and sold for a considerable length of time by Burroughs Corporation.
  • a suitable potential between a glow cathode and another electrode, known as an anode causes a sheath of gas around the selected cathode to ionize and glow, and the cathode itself appears to glow.
  • a finite time is required after the selected potentials are applied before the gas ionizes and the cathode glows.
  • the ionization time is increased, and, for some applications, this increased ionization time is undesirable.
  • a multiple cathode gas indicator tube is provided with an auxiliary electrode arrangement which, in eifect, serves to provide a source of electrons and reduce cathode ionization time.
  • the arrangement comprises essentially an auxiliary anode and cathode which are arranged to glow constantly and thus maintain a portion of the gas content of the tube ionized.
  • FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the front of an indicator tube embodying the invention
  • FIG. 2 is an isometric view from the rear of the tube of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the tube of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 5 is a plan view of some of the features of the tube of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cathode electrode and a mounting arrangement therefor.
  • a side-view indicator tube 10 is shown.
  • the cathodes are viewed through the side Wall of the tube envelope.
  • the universality of the principles of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art.
  • the indicator tube 10 embodying the invention includes an envelope 20 which contains a gas suitable for supporting cathode glow, such as argon, neon, or the like. If desired, other substances such as mercury may be added in small quantities to the gas con tent of the envelope.
  • a gas suitable for supporting cathode glow such as argon, neon, or the like.
  • other substances such as mercury may be added in small quantities to the gas con tent of the envelope.
  • the envelope 20 is generally vertically elongated and its side wall 22 comprises a viewing window.
  • the envelope 3,480,820 Patented Nov. 25, 1969 includes a base or stem 24 through which a plurality of metal pins 28 extend and to which the cathode electrodes 30 are connected so that operating potentials can be applied to them.
  • the tube envelope includes the usual tubulation 32 which may be provided in the dome of the envelope, as shown, or it may be in the stem 24. Pins 28 extend to about the same height within the envelope; however, several other pins, for example, pins 34, 35, 37 and 38, are somewhat longer and carry glass sleeves 39 on which a mica support disk 44 is supported.
  • Pins 34, 35, and 36 are positioned at the rear of the stem, and pins 37 and 38 are positioned at the front of the stem.
  • the various tube pins may be arrayed in the stern in any suitable manner consistent with their function, and other pins may also be used to support mica disk 44.
  • Pins 34 and 35 also extend through suitable apertures in the mica plate 44 and extend above the mica plate a convenient distance.
  • the plate 44 also includes either an elongated central slot 48 or a plurality of holes to permit cathode leads 49 to run from the cathodes 30 to the tube pins 28. The spacing of mica plate 44 above pins 28 facilitates the dress of the cathode leads beneath the mica plate.
  • the electrode assembly in tube 10 includes an anode structure 50 which comprises a solid rear plate 52 and a front mesh screen 54 which faces the viewing window 22 of the tube.
  • the anode back plate and front screen have side panels which meet to form a continuous generally hollow tubular anode chamber in which the cathode electrodes 30 are positioned.
  • the anode plate and screen are seated on the bottom mica plate, and are secured to it and to an upper mica plate 56 by the usual tabs 58. Bottom tabs are not shown.
  • the rear anode plate 52 is also welded to pin 34 for rigidity and to provide means for connecting anode potential thereto.
  • the glass sleeve 45 on this anode pin 34 shields the pin from the adjacent. cathode pins 28.
  • a pair of cathode support posts including an upper support post 60 and a lower support post 64 are secured between the front screen 54 and rear anode plate 52.
  • the posts 60 and 64 are either made of an insulating material such as a ceramic, or they are made of metal and are coated with glass or carry a glass sleeve to provide the required insulation for the cathode electrodes 30 which are supported thereon.
  • the support posts may be secured to the anode screen and plate by welding or by means of eyelets 68 crimped to the ends of the posts extending through apertures in the plate and screen.
  • the electrode assembly also includes a plurality of cathode electrodes 30 which are in the form of characters, usually numerals. To simplify the drawing, cathode electrodes are not shown in each figure, and only one cathode is shown FIGS. 2 and 6. However, usually ten cathode numerals 0 to 9 are provided.
  • the cathode electrodes are of metal such as stainless steel, nickel, molybdenum, or the like, and they are provided with apertured mounting tabs at opposite ends.
  • the tabs may be generally U-shaped or annular (FIG. 6), and they serve to support the cathodes on support posts 60 and 64.
  • the cathodes are insulated from each other by means of insulating washers 84 which are threaded on the support posts between the cathodes.
  • auxiliary electrodes which may be duplicate cathode numerals, may be mounted at different locations along the stack of cathode electrodes :for operation as anodes.
  • Each cathode is provided with a cathode lead 49 for making electrical connection to one of the tube pins 28.
  • This lead may be an integral extension from the lower mounting tab 80 of each cathode as shown in FIG. 6, or it may be a separate lead having its own apertured tab (like cathode tab 80), by means of which it is threaded on the lower support post and positioned between each cathode and an insulating spacer 84. This arrangement is not shown in the drawings.
  • the cathode leads 49 are usually welded to pins 28.
  • the tube includes an assembly for facilitating ionization of the gas and cathode glow.
  • This assembly is positioned behind the rear anode plate 52 and is built on tube pins 35 and 36. Since, in this arrangement, tube pin 35 is to carry anode potential in operation, it is provided with a glass sleeve 100 which is of sufiicient length to rise above the upper end of pin 35. Glass sleeve 45 for supporting mica disk 44 surrounds glass sleeve 100.
  • a relatively strong, rigid, insulated lead wire 104 is welded to pin 35 and extends out of the glass sleeve 100, and its free end carries a metal disk 108 welded thereto. The wire 104 is bent so that disk 108 is positioned above pin 35 at a convenient height above mica disk 44.
  • the disk 108 thus comprises an auxiliary anode, and an auxiliary cathode is provided for operation with it which comprises a metal disk 112.
  • the cathode disk 112 is seated on a ceramic washer 116 Which is seated on the mica disk 44.
  • a connecting conductive lead 118 extends from cathode disk 112 through Washer 116 and a suitable aperture 117 in the mica disk to a connection to pin 36.
  • pin 36 may be of sufiicient height for disk 112 to be welded directly to it.
  • the seating of disk 112 directly on ceramic washer 116 and the covering of aperture 117 by disk 112 prevent the spread of sputtered cathode material from disk 112 down to pin 36.
  • Cathode disk 112 and anode disk 108 prefererably face each other at the same height and positioned close together.
  • the tube 10 includes in its atmosphere a small quantity of mercury vapor which serves to minimize cathode sputtering during tube operation.
  • the mercury may be provided in any suitable fashion. For example, it may be introduced directly with the tube gas or gases, or it may be released, by heating, from a capsule 130 suitably mounted in the envelope.
  • the usual anode-tocathode potential difference of say, 170 volts is applied between them.
  • This potential causes current to flow between the anode and cathode disks and the gas surrounding the cathode disk is ionized and is caused to glow.
  • the auxiliary anode 108 and cathode 112 are positioned behind the solid rear anode plate 52 and they are small in area, they are shielded from view and their glow is not visible in normal use of the tube.
  • a cathode glow indicator tube including an envelope filled with an ionizable gas capable of sustaining cathode glow and having a stem,
  • said envelope having a viewing window
  • a generally tubular anode electrode enclosing at least a portion of said stack of cathode electrodes and including a solid plate portion which is positioned behind said stack of cathode electrodes remote from said viewing window,
  • an auxiliary small anode electrode and an auxiliary small cathode electrode positioned remote from said viewing window hidden by said anode and adapted to be energized at all times to provide a source of electrons for said cathode electrodes
  • said mica disk being seated on glass sleeves which are mounted on a plurality of said tube pins for support,
  • one of said tube pins extending through said mica disk behind said solid anode plate and making electrical contact with said solid anode plate
  • auxiliary cathode electrode being mounted adjacent to said auxiliary anode electrode and supported on said mica disk
  • auxiliary anode and cathode electrodes comprising small-area metal disks positioned close together and facing each other.

Landscapes

  • Discharge Lamp (AREA)
  • Gas-Filled Discharge Tubes (AREA)
  • Vessels And Coating Films For Discharge Lamps (AREA)
US668740A 1967-09-08 1967-09-08 Indicator tube having auxiliary electrodes for maintaining cathode glow Expired - Lifetime US3480820A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US66874067A 1967-09-08 1967-09-08

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3480820A true US3480820A (en) 1969-11-25

Family

ID=24683532

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US668740A Expired - Lifetime US3480820A (en) 1967-09-08 1967-09-08 Indicator tube having auxiliary electrodes for maintaining cathode glow

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3480820A (fr)
DE (1) DE6750465U (fr)
FR (1) FR1579808A (fr)
GB (1) GB1225057A (fr)
NL (1) NL6812669A (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3657600A (en) * 1970-05-18 1972-04-18 United Aircraft Corp Auxiliary ionization of dc electric discharge electrode boundary sheaths
US3858073A (en) * 1971-10-06 1974-12-31 Hitachi Ltd Plane multi-digit type electric discharge display devices

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1955391A (en) * 1931-01-27 1934-04-17 Telefunken Gmbh Electrode construction for glow discharge tubes
US2756366A (en) * 1954-04-01 1956-07-24 Nat Union Electric Corp Luminous discharge tube and system
US2917651A (en) * 1956-07-28 1959-12-15 Philips Corp Glow-indicator tube
US2996635A (en) * 1958-12-11 1961-08-15 Int Standard Electric Corp Cold cathode character display tubes
US3005922A (en) * 1959-11-13 1961-10-24 Nat Union Electric Corp Luminous discharge indicia tube
US3242370A (en) * 1962-10-03 1966-03-22 Friden Inc Cathode glow indicator tube
US3242378A (en) * 1961-06-26 1966-03-22 Int Standard Electric Corp Discharge indicator tube
US3262010A (en) * 1960-08-31 1966-07-19 Hughes Aircraft Co Electrical display apparatus incorpolrating electroluminescent and gas discharge devices
US3358176A (en) * 1965-07-19 1967-12-12 Burroughs Corp Multiple cathode indicator tube having no obstruction in the form of support disks

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1955391A (en) * 1931-01-27 1934-04-17 Telefunken Gmbh Electrode construction for glow discharge tubes
US2756366A (en) * 1954-04-01 1956-07-24 Nat Union Electric Corp Luminous discharge tube and system
US2917651A (en) * 1956-07-28 1959-12-15 Philips Corp Glow-indicator tube
US2996635A (en) * 1958-12-11 1961-08-15 Int Standard Electric Corp Cold cathode character display tubes
US3005922A (en) * 1959-11-13 1961-10-24 Nat Union Electric Corp Luminous discharge indicia tube
US3262010A (en) * 1960-08-31 1966-07-19 Hughes Aircraft Co Electrical display apparatus incorpolrating electroluminescent and gas discharge devices
US3242378A (en) * 1961-06-26 1966-03-22 Int Standard Electric Corp Discharge indicator tube
US3242370A (en) * 1962-10-03 1966-03-22 Friden Inc Cathode glow indicator tube
US3358176A (en) * 1965-07-19 1967-12-12 Burroughs Corp Multiple cathode indicator tube having no obstruction in the form of support disks

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3657600A (en) * 1970-05-18 1972-04-18 United Aircraft Corp Auxiliary ionization of dc electric discharge electrode boundary sheaths
US3858073A (en) * 1971-10-06 1974-12-31 Hitachi Ltd Plane multi-digit type electric discharge display devices

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1225057A (en) 1971-03-17
DE6750465U (de) 1969-01-09
FR1579808A (fr) 1969-08-29
NL6812669A (fr) 1969-03-11

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4341980A (en) Flat display device
USRE27273E (en) Electro-optical indicator devices with multiple anodes for each cell
US3662214A (en) Gas discharge display apparatus utilizing hollow cathode light sources
US3201634A (en) Electron tube for indicating symbols, letters, numerals, and the like
US2991387A (en) Indicator tube
GB838078A (en) Thermometer type voltage indicator tube
GB871195A (en) Improvements in or relating to electrostatic printing tubes
US3886389A (en) Display panel
US2295569A (en) Gaseous electron discharge device
GB1226993A (fr)
US3358176A (en) Multiple cathode indicator tube having no obstruction in the form of support disks
US2398772A (en) Electron tube
US3480820A (en) Indicator tube having auxiliary electrodes for maintaining cathode glow
US4045703A (en) Flat envelope type fluorescent character indicating tube with getter shield plate
US3302052A (en) Cathode bar structure for glow discharge devices
US2878407A (en) Ion control means
US3619694A (en) Character-indicating electron tube with fluorescent display structure
US3849694A (en) Multiple position display panel having spurious glow suppressor
US3509402A (en) Digit readout device
US2990061A (en) Indicator tube
US3675066A (en) Planar raised cathode alpha-numeric gas discharge indicator
US3781587A (en) Gas discharge display apparatus
US3849693A (en) Multiple position display panel having segmented electrodes
US3244923A (en) Character representing glow discharge tube and system for selective excitation of the character representing electrodes thereof
US2770751A (en) Construction of gas-filled tubes, particularly shielding

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: BURROUGHS CORPORATION

Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNORS:BURROUGHS CORPORATION A CORP OF MI (MERGED INTO);BURROUGHS DELAWARE INCORPORATEDA DE CORP. (CHANGED TO);REEL/FRAME:004312/0324

Effective date: 19840530