US3631530A - Compact display panel - Google Patents

Compact display panel Download PDF

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Publication number
US3631530A
US3631530A US881023A US3631530DA US3631530A US 3631530 A US3631530 A US 3631530A US 881023 A US881023 A US 881023A US 3631530D A US3631530D A US 3631530DA US 3631530 A US3631530 A US 3631530A
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United States
Prior art keywords
electrodes
display
electrode
cell
cells
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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
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US881023A
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English (en)
Inventor
James A Ogle
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Unisys Corp
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Burroughs Corp
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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)
Assigned to UNISYS CORPORATION reassignment UNISYS CORPORATION MERGER (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: BURROUGHS CORPORATION
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    • 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
    • H01J17/492—Display panels, e.g. with crossed electrodes, e.g. making use of direct current with crossed electrodes
    • H01J17/494—Display panels, e.g. with crossed electrodes, e.g. making use of direct current with crossed electrodes using sequential transfer of the discharges, e.g. of the self-scan type

Definitions

  • a display panel includes a first plate having slots for receiving anode electrodes and a surface for supporting cathode electrodes for operation with said anode electrodes.
  • a cover plate covers the electrode assembly, with gas-filled spaces being provided, above each cathode, in which cathode glow can be generated facing a viewer.
  • the anode electrodes are hidden from view and do not obstruct the cathode glow.
  • the slots can also be used to provide communication of excited particles between adjacent anodes to facilitate the firing of adjacent cells.
  • Various types of display panels comprising a plurality of gas-filled cells which can be turned on selectively to display a message are known in the art.
  • a display panel has been devised which has two layers of cells, a first layer being used as a scanning or addressing layer for sequentially addressing the cells, and a second layer in which information is inserted to be displayed, and perhaps stored, as the first layer is scanned.
  • These multilayer devices have been constructed of at least four layers of glass or other insulating material with electrodes suitably positioned between them, at least two of the layers containing a matrix of closely spaced apertures which serve as gas cells. Although these devices have been built and operated successfully, there is a need to provide economies by eliminating component parts, such as one or both of the apertured glass plates. The present invention provides such economies and achieves the effect of four layers or plates with but two plates.
  • a display panel embodying the invention includes an arrangement of plates and cathode glow electrodes and anode electrodes such that cathode surfaces are available to glow and face the viewer with no obstruction to viewing therebetween.
  • the panel also includes favorably disposed drift spaces for excited particles to flow from scanning cells to display cells in one mode of operation.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display panel embodying the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the lines 2-2 in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the lines 3-3 in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the lines 4-4 in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the lines 5-5 in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 6 is perspective view of a portion of the bottom surface of our cover plate of the panel of FIG. 1 and portions of associated electrodes, the view illustrating one form of a portion of the panel;
  • FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 6 showing a modification of a portion of the panel
  • FIG. 8 is a sectional, elevational view of a portion of a panel showing another modification of a portion of the panel of FIG.
  • FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of a panel showing another modification of the invention.
  • FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of a panel showing another modification
  • FIG. 11 is a sectional, elevational view of a panel showing another modification of the invention.
  • FIG. 12 is a plan view of a portion of the panel of FIG. 11;'
  • FIG. 13 is a plan view of a panel showing a modification of a portion of the invention.
  • FIG. 14 is a sectional elevational view of another modification of the invention.
  • FIG. 15 is a sectional elevational view of a modification of a portion of the invention.
  • FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another modification of a portion of the invention.
  • FIG. 17 is a sectional view, along the lines l717, in FIG. 16;
  • FIG. 18 is a sectional view, along the lines l818, in FIG. 16.
  • the display panel shown in the drawings and described below includes relatively few display cells; however, it is to be understood that the panel may be made in almost any size and with almost any number of display cells.
  • Display panel 10 embodying the invention includes a lower plate 20 of glass, ceramic, or the like, and preferably opaque to prevent light crosstalk, having a top surface 30 and a bottom surface 40.
  • Plate 20 is provided with a plurality of first parallel slots 50 which alternate with second parallel slots 56, the slots being shown as having a rectangular cross section, but they may have any suitable cross section, and they may or may not be identical in shape and size.
  • the slots 50 and 56 extend a suitable distance from the top surface 30 toward the bottom surface 40 of plate 20.
  • slots 50 are defined as display slots
  • slots 56 are defined as counting slots.
  • Electrodes 60 and 66 may be separate wires, flat strips, or the like, which are set into their slots, or they may be films or coatings plated or evaporated into their slots.
  • the electrodes 60 and 66 if they are separate wires or strips, may also be secured in place by means of a cement such as a glass frit or the like (not shown) placed at the ends of the electrodes and their slots or at any suitable location. The electrodes may also be held in place by the seal between the various parts of the panel (to be described).
  • a plurality of electrodes 70 operable as cathode electrodes and preferably in the form of flat strips having top surfaces 71 and bottom surfaces 72, are disposed on the top surface 30 of plate 20 and oriented, preferably, at a angle to the parallel anode electrodes 60 and 66.
  • Each cathode electrode 70 crosses each of the anode electrodes, and each such crossing defines a gas cell, with the cells associated with the display anodes being display cells 74, and those associated with the counting or scanning anodes being counting or scanning cells 76.
  • Cells 76 are also known as priming cells since, in one mode of operation, they provide excited particles which prime and facilitate the firing of display cells 74.
  • the panel 10 is completed by a cover or viewing plate 80, which has a top surface 90 and a bottom surface 100, (FIGS. 1 and 2) which is sealed gastight to the bottom plate 20 by means of a suitable cement such as a glass frit or the like 102 secured to the edges of the top and bottom plates.
  • a cover or viewing plate 80 which has a top surface 90 and a bottom surface 100, (FIGS. 1 and 2) which is sealed gastight to the bottom plate 20 by means of a suitable cement such as a glass frit or the like 102 secured to the edges of the top and bottom plates.
  • the top plate 80 and/or the associated electrodes 70 are constructed so that gas-filled viewing spaces or viewing cells 110 are provided above selected portions of the top surfaces 71 of each of the cathode electrodes 70.
  • These spaces may be provided by means of parallel slots or depressions 112 which are formed in the bottom surface of the top plate and extend along the length thereof transverse to the cathodes 70 (FIGS. 1 to 6).
  • the desired arrangement may also be provided by fusing strips of glass frit or the like 114 to the bottom surface of the top plate so that the depressions 112 are provided between them, as shown in FIG. 7.
  • the cover plate 80 rests on the cathodes 70, spaces 120 are provided between the bottom surface of cover plate 80 and the top surface of baseplate 20.
  • all of these striplike portions of the bottom surface 100 are blackened to render them opaque.
  • the glass frit strips 114 are made with a black glass frit which can be purchased commercially.
  • the black areas in the other FIGS. can be made of a thin film of a black glass frit or with any suitable inorganic substance which will not interfere with the operation of the panel and its gas.
  • the spaces or display cells can also be provided by properly shaping the cathode strips 70. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, if the cathodes have raised areas 116 spaced apart along their lengths, this has the effect of providing spaces 1 10 between the bottom surface of the top plate 80 and the portions 117 of the cathodes between the elevations 1 16.
  • the spaces 110 which extend along the entire length of the panel, are provided for, and aligned with, each display anode 60, with the black areas of surface 106 being provided for, and aligned with, each scanning anode 66.
  • the spaces or display cells 110 are of such width that each overlays its associated display slot 50 with which it is aligned and extends into the space between adjacent slots 56.
  • the display spaces 1 10 may extend up to the slots 56 on either side of a display slot 50.
  • the panel includes a suitable ionizable gas or mixture of gases selected from the group consisting of argon, neon, xenon, krypton, etc., and a small quantity of mercury is usually added to the gas to minimize cathode sputtering.
  • the gas is introduced by means of a tubulation (not shown) secured to one of the plates or 80, or it is introduced in any other suitable manner.
  • each crossing of a cathode 70 and a counting node 66 defines a counting cell 76, so that each cathode forms a column of counting cells.
  • each cathode and a display anode defines a column of display cells 74.
  • each column of cells includes display cells 74 and counting cells 76 aligned in common columns with display cells and counting cells alternating with each other in a common column.
  • Panel 10 may be operated in difierent ways, some of which will be described in different degrees of detail.
  • the first cathode 70A associated with the first column of cells, at the left end of panel 10, is connected to ground or other generally negative potential, and all of the counting anodes 66 are connected to a source of positive potential such that a firing potential appears across each counting cell 76 formed by these anodes and the first cathode 70A.
  • the first column of counting or scanning cells 76 now fires and glows; however, this glow is not visible through the black areas of surface 100 of cover plate 80 which cover these cells. With cells 76 ON, excited particles generated thereby, particularly metastable atoms, flow out of slots 56 through the spaces between adjacent cathodes 70 into the adjacent display slots 50 and into the spaces or display cells 110 above the cathodes 70.
  • the counting cells 76 in the first column are turned on, signal information, in the form of a positive voltage, is applied to one or more of the display anodes 60, then the display cells 74 in the first column, which include these energized anodes, fire and glow. This firing operation is facilitated by the priming action of the excited particles present in these cells. The glow thus generated in the cells 74 starts below the cathodes 70 and spreads to the top surface of the cathodes 70 in the spaces or display cells 110 and is visible to a viewer.
  • signals representing information to be displayed are applied to the anodes 60 of the display cells 74 which have been turned on, the current flow therethrough can be modulated to provide a corresponding level of intensity of glow in the cells 74.
  • This modulation can be achieved by modulation of the current amplitude or by modulation of the pulse width of the applied information signal.
  • each cathode strip 70 is provided with slots 140 along its length, each of which extends across a display slot 50 and across the adjacent solid portion of plate 20 to overlay a portion of the adjacent counting slot 56.
  • Such slots 140 facilitate communication between the counting cells 76 and the adjacent display ls 74 by providing a more direct path for the flow of excited articles from an ON counting cell to a display cell to be turned on.
  • the slots may be extended to the ends of the cathodes, as illustrated briefly in FIG. 10, so that each cathode is actually now made up of two narrower cathode strips 70.
  • the necessary communication paths comparable to slots 140 are provided as narrow elongated depressions 180 formed in the bottom surface of each cathode and extending between counting slots 56 and display slots 50, as desired. Communication might also be provided by means of slots out into the top surface of plate 20, with or without cathode depressions 160.
  • the cathode slots 140 might extend between a counting slot 56 and both adjacent display slots 50 so that one counting slot could operate with two adjacent display slots.
  • the display panel described herein may also be modified to utilize every slot and every cathode portion associated with it as a display cell.
  • a panel shown in FIG. 14 includes bottom plate 20 with identical slots in which anode wires 220 are seated.
  • the bottom plate thus may be identical in construction to the same plate shown in FIG. 1.
  • the cathode electrodes 70 are provided as above; however, the top plate is modified to provide display spaces 110 extending along and overlying each slot.
  • cathode glow will originate at the bottom surface of the energized cathode and will spread to the space 110 above the associated cathode portion 117.
  • the display cells 110 are extended so that they are close to, or even slightly overlap, the counting slots 56. With this arrangement, the flow path for excited particles, from a counting cell to a display slot 50 and display cell 110, is shortened.
  • the top surface of bottom plate 20 is provided with slots 212 (one shown) which lie under the cathode strips 70 and are concealed thereby.
  • the cathode strips are provided with small apertures 214 (one shown) disposed along their lengths and positioned between a lower counting slot 56 and a lower display slot 54) but beneath an upper display cell 110.
  • the aper' tures 214 are small enough so that glow from a counting cell in plate 20 cannot enter a display cell 110, but they are large enough so that excited particles in the glow can prime a display cell and prepare it for firing when firing potentials are applied.
  • a display panel including a gas-filled envelope comprising a first insulating baseplate and a transparent cover plate,
  • said first plate having a top surface and a bottom surface and having a plurality of pmallel slots extending from said top surface downwardly toward said bottom surface, first electrodes in one group of said slots and second electrodes in another group of said slots with first and second electrodes alternating with each other in alternate slots,
  • said first electrodes being designated counting electrodes and said second electrodes being designated display electrodes, and
  • each third electrode crossing a portion of each first and second electrode, each crossing of a third electrode and a first electrode defining a counting cell, and each crossing of a third electrode and a second electrode defining a display cell,
  • said cover plate being spaced from each portion of each third electrode which is associated with a display cell to provide a display space in which gas glow can be viewed through said cover plate,
  • each counting cell there being a particle flow space extending from each counting cell to an adjacent display cell and to said display space associated therewith.
  • a display panel including a gas-filled envelope consisting of a first insulating baseplate and a second insulating cover viewing plate,
  • each cathode being in operative relation with at least two of said cells and with the anode electrodes therein, each such cathode including a slot providing gas communication between said two cells.
  • a display panel including a gas-filled envelope comprising a first insulating baseplate and an insulating top cover viewing plate,
  • said first base plate having a top surface and a bottom surface with said top viewing plate sealed thereto in gastight engagement, said top plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a plurality of parallel slots in said first plate, first electrodes seated in said slots remote from said top surface of said first plate, I
  • each second electrode seated on said top surface of said first plate and oriented parallel to each other but at an angle to said first electrodes whereby each second electrode crosses each of said first electrodes and each crossing forms a gas-filled cell including a portion of a first electrode and a portion of a second electrode as the electrodes for the cell,
  • top plate being spaced from other portions of said second electrodes whereby a gas-filled display space is provided between said other portions of said second electrodes and said cover plate, there being a gas communication path extending from each said first electrode through its said slot and between adjacent second electrodes into an adjacent slot and into the said gas-filled space above the portion of said second electrode associated with said adjacent slot.
  • particle flow space extending from each counting cell to an adjacent display cell and to said display space associated therewith.
  • said third electrode includes slots which extend from a counting cell to an adjacent display cell.
  • each third electrode comprises two narrow spaced-apart electrode portions.
  • each third electrode has bottom surface provided with depressions providing communication paths between adjacent first and second slots.

Landscapes

  • Gas-Filled Discharge Tubes (AREA)
  • Inks, Pencil-Leads, Or Crayons (AREA)
  • Transforming Electric Information Into Light Information (AREA)
  • Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)
US881023A 1969-12-01 1969-12-01 Compact display panel Expired - Lifetime US3631530A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US88102369A 1969-12-01 1969-12-01

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US3631530A true US3631530A (en) 1971-12-28

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US881023A Expired - Lifetime US3631530A (en) 1969-12-01 1969-12-01 Compact display panel

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US (1) US3631530A (xx)
JP (1) JPS4917060B1 (xx)
BE (1) BE759690A (xx)
CA (1) CA927899A (xx)
CH (1) CH520995A (xx)
DE (1) DE2055825A1 (xx)
FR (1) FR2066732A5 (xx)
GB (1) GB1336727A (xx)
NL (1) NL7017279A (xx)
NO (1) NO130918C (xx)
SE (1) SE365324B (xx)

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3775764A (en) * 1972-10-02 1973-11-27 Ncr Multi-line plasma shift register display
US3860846A (en) * 1972-09-27 1975-01-14 Control Data Corp Planar plasma discharge display panel
US3886395A (en) * 1973-07-27 1975-05-27 Hitachi Ltd Flat, gaseous discharge, phosphor display panel with offset subsidiary electrodes
US3952221A (en) * 1973-07-28 1976-04-20 Nippon Hoso Kyokai Gaseous discharge display panel including an apertured, electrically insulating, display sheet with electrodes
US3970886A (en) * 1971-11-24 1976-07-20 Owens-Illinois, Inc. Multiple gas discharge device having improved photon conditioning
US4289364A (en) * 1979-10-22 1981-09-15 Control Data Corporation Plasma display panel flexible circuit connection
US4326148A (en) * 1978-07-14 1982-04-20 Matsushita Electronics Corporation Gas discharge display device
EP0083257A2 (en) * 1981-12-30 1983-07-06 BURROUGHS CORPORATION (a Michigan corporation) Display panel
WO1983002361A1 (en) * 1981-12-30 1983-07-07 Burroughs Corp Display panel and keep-alive arrangement therefor
WO1983002360A1 (en) * 1981-12-30 1983-07-07 Burroughs Corp Double-sided gas display panel
WO1983003161A1 (en) * 1982-03-08 1983-09-15 Burroughs Corp Buttable display panels
EP0124830A2 (en) * 1983-05-02 1984-11-14 BURROUGHS CORPORATION (a Delaware corporation) Self-scan gas discharge display panel

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5550551A (en) * 1978-10-03 1980-04-12 Ibm Gas discharge display unit

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2925530A (en) * 1956-11-28 1960-02-16 Digital Tech Inc Luminous display device

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2925530A (en) * 1956-11-28 1960-02-16 Digital Tech Inc Luminous display device

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3970886A (en) * 1971-11-24 1976-07-20 Owens-Illinois, Inc. Multiple gas discharge device having improved photon conditioning
US3860846A (en) * 1972-09-27 1975-01-14 Control Data Corp Planar plasma discharge display panel
US3775764A (en) * 1972-10-02 1973-11-27 Ncr Multi-line plasma shift register display
US3886395A (en) * 1973-07-27 1975-05-27 Hitachi Ltd Flat, gaseous discharge, phosphor display panel with offset subsidiary electrodes
US3952221A (en) * 1973-07-28 1976-04-20 Nippon Hoso Kyokai Gaseous discharge display panel including an apertured, electrically insulating, display sheet with electrodes
US4326148A (en) * 1978-07-14 1982-04-20 Matsushita Electronics Corporation Gas discharge display device
US4289364A (en) * 1979-10-22 1981-09-15 Control Data Corporation Plasma display panel flexible circuit connection
WO1983002361A1 (en) * 1981-12-30 1983-07-07 Burroughs Corp Display panel and keep-alive arrangement therefor
EP0083257A2 (en) * 1981-12-30 1983-07-06 BURROUGHS CORPORATION (a Michigan corporation) Display panel
WO1983002359A1 (en) * 1981-12-30 1983-07-07 Burroughs Corp Gas display panel with scan and display anodes in base plate
WO1983002360A1 (en) * 1981-12-30 1983-07-07 Burroughs Corp Double-sided gas display panel
EP0083257A3 (en) * 1981-12-30 1984-04-25 Burroughs Corporation Display panel
WO1983003161A1 (en) * 1982-03-08 1983-09-15 Burroughs Corp Buttable display panels
US4471263A (en) * 1982-03-08 1984-09-11 Burroughs Corporation Buttable display panels
EP0124830A2 (en) * 1983-05-02 1984-11-14 BURROUGHS CORPORATION (a Delaware corporation) Self-scan gas discharge display panel
US4510417A (en) * 1983-05-02 1985-04-09 Burroughs Corporation Self-scan gas discharge display panel
EP0124830A3 (en) * 1983-05-02 1985-11-13 Burroughs Corporation (A Michigan Corporation) Self-scan gas discharge display panel

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2066732A5 (xx) 1971-08-06
NL7017279A (xx) 1971-06-03
CH520995A (de) 1972-03-31
BE759690A (fr) 1971-05-17
NO130918C (xx) 1975-03-05
CA927899A (en) 1973-06-05
JPS4917060B1 (xx) 1974-04-26
NO130918B (xx) 1974-11-25
GB1336727A (en) 1973-11-07
DE2055825A1 (de) 1971-06-09
SE365324B (xx) 1974-03-18

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

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Effective date: 19880509