US3585443A

US3585443A - Three-dimensional gas panel

Info

Publication number: US3585443A
Application number: US831979A
Authority: US
Inventors: George M Krembs
Original assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Current assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Priority date: 1969-06-10
Filing date: 1969-06-10
Publication date: 1971-06-15
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-15

Abstract

A three-dimensional gas display device wherein a plurality of gas discharge matrices are stacked forming a three-dimensional array. Each of the gas discharge matrices is formed by two planes of parallel glass enclosed wires, the glass enclosed wires of one plane running perpendicular to the other plane of glass enclosed wires. A gaseous element is placed between the parallel planes of glass wires. Means are provided for applying a potential difference between the two wires intersecting at any point in the three-dimensional array causing a continuous electric discharge at this point. By correctly selecting the intersecting points, a three-dimensional design can be displayed.

Description

United States Patent 1 3,585,443

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,749,480 6/1956 Ruderfer......................

[72] Inventor George M. Krernbs Hyde Park, N.Y.

315/169 3,499,167 3/1970 Baker et 315/169 Primary Examiner- Raymond F. Hossfeld Attorneys-Hanifln & J ancin and Maurice H. Klitzman v 3 9 w.o see-l m in ooJJhCA a de N mm n I 8 P i p mmfi AFPA .llll 253 2247 [.lll.

ABSTRACT: A three-dimensional gas display device wherein a plurality of gas discharge matrices are stacked forming a three-dimensional array. Each of the gas discharge matrices 18 formed by two planes of parallel glass enclosed wires, the glass enclosed wires of one plane running perpendicular to the other plane of glass enclosed wires. A gaseous element'is placed between the parallel planes of glass wires. Means are provided for applying a potential difference between the two wires intersecting at any point in the three-dimensional array causing a continuous electric discharge at this point. By correctly selecting the intersecting points, a three-dimensional design can be displayed.

DISPLAY CONTROL POWER SUPPLY PATENTEU JUN 1 519m FIG] DISPLAY CONTROL U DI DI U S R [L W 0 DI X-Y-Z DISPLAY CONTROL 8 POWER SUPPLY INVENTOR (if ORM M KREMHO THREE-DIMENSIONAL GAS PANEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field .of the Invention The invention relates to electric lamp and discharge devices in their systems and more particularly where such discharge device is a space discharge device.

2. Description of the Prior Art Spaced discharge devices comprising a matrix of spaced electrode pairs and having disposed between these pairs a gaseous element have been known for a number of years. Originally, the electrode pairs were in direct contact with the gaseous element. A voltage is maintained between the two electrodes, forming the electrodepair, sufficient to cause an pair discharge in the gaseous element between the two electrodes. One-half of the necessary firing potential is impressed on each electrode. After the initial discharge the voltage between the two pairs can be and is lowered without extinguishing the discharge. Thus, where another electrode impressed with one-half the firing potential intersects with an electrode impressed with one-half the sustaining potential, a discharge does not occur since the potential difference is not greater than the firing potential. By a further decrease in the voltage between electrode pair the discharge can be extinguished. Selectively applying the firing voltage (the voltage sufficient to initiate a discharge) to particular pairs of electrodes, designs and figures can be created in the matrix of electrode pairs. Inasmuch as the insulating members are transparent, these designs can be observed from outside the panel.

Since these prior art gas discharge matrices were essentially two-dimensional in character, i.e. all electrode pairs lay in a plane, the designs displayed were two-dimensional.

A further development was realized when the electrodes were removed from direct contact and insulated from a gaseous element. Of course in this embodiment it was necessary to utilize an alternating current so that the electron charge gradually created on the insulating member separating the electrode from the gaseous element do not neutralize the voltage between the electrode pairs.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a three-dimensional gas discharge array.

Further, it is an object of this invention to provide such an array which allows the free interchange of ionized gas between different electrodes in the same matrix and electrodes in dif ferent matrices.

Lastly, it is an object to provide such an array formed of glass coated wires.

l SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Unlike the prior art devices the invention can displayv designs in three dimensions. A plurality of two-dimensional gas discharge matrices are stacked in a third dimension. Each of the two-dimensional gas display matricesis formed by two parallel planes of glass enclosed wires, the wires in one plane running perpendicular to the wires in the other plane. I

By using matrices formed of glass enclosed wires, rather than matrices formed by wires printed onto-a solid insulating member and stacking these matrices, the invention allows a freer interchange of ionized gas between the stacked matrices. This provides a more uniform firing potential between different electrode pairs.

Brief Description OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of one two-dimensional matrix.

FIG. 3 is a side view of thethree-dimensional matrix of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. I there is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 2 a two-dimensional gas discharge matrix is formed by a first set of parallel glass enclosed wires 1 and a second set of parallel glass enclosed wires 3. Glass enclosed wires 1 run perpendicular to glass enclosed wires 3 while the plane of glass enclosed wires 1 is parallel to the plane of glass enclosed wires 3. Parallel glass enclosed wires 1 in combination with parallel glass enclosed wires 3 form a two-dimensional gas discharge matrix 5. In each two-dimensional gas discharge matrix 5 the intersection of each glass coated wire 1 with each glass enclosed wire 3 forms an electrode pair.

As shown in FIGS. I and 3 the three-dimensional gas discharge display array is formed by a plurality of parallel twodimensional gas discharge matrices 5. The entire three-dimensional gas discharge array is located in the hermetically sealed container 7. The front face 9 of hermetically sealed container 7 is transparent. Hermetically sealed box 7 is filled with an ionizable gaseous element in sufficient density to sustain electric discharges, the process which is well known in the art.

The glass enclosed wires 1 and 3 of each two-dimensional gas discharge matrix 5 are connected to X-Y-Z display control and power supply 11. X-Y- Z display control and power supply 11 can supply electrical energy to the intersecting electrode pairs in any well-known manner such as shown in U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 785,172, Display System, filed by James C. Greeson, Jr., et al., Dec. 19, 1968, assigned to the same assignee as the instant application. The wiring scheme shown in the figures is only illustrative of one possible scheme and it is in no way essential to the present invention.

Moreover, X-Y-Z display control 11 can be any suitable switching means, such as a manual bank of switches, a computer, etc.

OPERATION OF THE INVENTION I The electrode pairs formed by glass enclosed wires 1 and 3 are fired through the X-Y-Z display control and power supply 17 in the well-known manner. That is, either through computer control, manual operation, or some other well-known method (none of these are shown in the figure for purposes of clarity) slightly greater than one-half of the firing potential of different polarities is impressed on each of the two electrodes associated with a given intersecting point in the gas display array contained in box 7. At the point where these two electrodes intersect the applied voltages add such that the potential difference between the two electrodes is greater than the firing potential. This causes a discharge at this point. Only at this point will the potential difference between the two electrodes be great enough to initiate a discharge. That is, the other electrode pairs with which the glass enclosed wires have slightly greater than one-half of the firing potential intersect with other glass enclosed wires having no voltage impressed upon them or only the sustaining voltage. In either of these cases the addition of the firing potential and the other potential is not great enough to cause a discharge. Immediately after discharge occurs at the desired point in the three-dimensional gas display array, X-Y-Z display control 1! lowers the potential on these two glass enclosed wires forming the electrode pair to slightly greater then one half the sustaining potential.

By correctly programming X-Y-Z display control and power supply 11 a three-dimensional design can be formed in thethree-dimensional gas display array in box 7. This design can be viewed through the transparent walls, in the preferred embodiment side 9 of box 7.

Because of the open construction of the two-dimensional gas discharge matrices 5, the ionized gases are free to circulate throughout box 7. This allows a more uniform distribution of the ionized gas resulting in a more uniform firing potential for each of the electrode pairs and a more uniform firing potential.

Further, by the use of glass enclosed wires, the metallic element is out of contact with the gaseous element, thereby preventing deterioration of the wire itself. Since in the preferred embodiment the gas is separated from the wire by an insulating element, glass, the power supplied by X-Y-Z display control and power supply 11 must be alternating current.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit ofthe invention.

What I claim is:

l. A three-dimensional gas display device including:

a plurality of parallel gas discharge matrices, each matrix including:

a first set of parallel glass enclosed wires;

a second set of parallel glass enclosed wires perpendicular to said first set of wires, the plane of said second set substantially parallel to the plane of said first set of enclosed wires; and

an ionizable gas medium disposed between the planes of said sets of wires;

control means applying a potential difference sufficient to cause a discharge between two selectable intersecting wires in one of said plurality of matrices.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein all of said parallel gas discharge matrices are in a single box, transparent on at least one side.

3. A device as in claim 2 wherein said ionizable gas medium can freely flow between said parallel gas discharge matrices.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional gas display device including: a plurality of parallel gas discharge matrices, each matrix including: a first set of parallel glass enclosed wires; a second set of parallel glass enclosed wires perpendicular to said first set of wires, the plane of said second set substantially parallel to the plane of said first set of enclosed wires; and an ionizable gas medium disposed between the planes of said sets of wires; control means applying a potential difference sufficient to cause a discharge between two selectable intersecting wires in one of said plurality of matrices.