US3731132A - Gas discharge tube having a number of juxtaposed matrix groups for displaying characters - Google Patents

Gas discharge tube having a number of juxtaposed matrix groups for displaying characters Download PDF

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Publication number
US3731132A
US3731132A US00186913A US3731132DA US3731132A US 3731132 A US3731132 A US 3731132A US 00186913 A US00186913 A US 00186913A US 3731132D A US3731132D A US 3731132DA US 3731132 A US3731132 A US 3731132A
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United States
Prior art keywords
cathodes
strips
gas discharge
discharge tube
anodes
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00186913A
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English (en)
Inventor
A Hendriks
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US Philips Corp
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US Philips Corp
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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
    • H01J17/491—Display panels, e.g. with crossed electrodes, e.g. making use of direct current with electrodes arranged side by side and substantially in the same plane, e.g. for displaying alphanumeric characters

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A multiple matrix tube in which the planes of Oct. 6, 1971 [211 Appl. No.: 186,913
  • cathodes and anodes extend at right angles to the wide surfaces of the connection strips connected to said electrodes, said strips being placed against each other with the interposition of insulating strips.
  • the invention relates to a gas discharge tube having a number of juxtaposed matrix groups for displaying characters, in particular digits, which tube comprises a number of cold cathodes which are divided into juxtaposed matrix groups, each group having an associated anode, the corresponding cathodes of all the groups being connected to a continuous connection strip or forming part of it, said continuous connection strips being stacked one on the other with the interposition of insulating material.
  • a gas discharge tube for displaying a number of juxtaposed characters which tube comprises a number of cold cathodes which are divided into juxtaposed matrix groups each having an associated anode, the corresponding cathodes of all the groups being connected to a connection strip or forming part of it, said connection strips being stacked one on the other with the interposition of insulating material, the cathodes of all the matrix groups being present in a flat plane and all the anodes being present in a second plane which is parallel to the plane of the cathodes, if, according to the invention, the wide surface of eachof the continuous strips encloses an angle of substantially 90 with the electrode planes.
  • the anodes were provided with separate contact pins or they were connected to contact pins sealed in the ends of the tube with comparatively long conductors in the form of a wire.
  • the construction of the known tubes became complicated and hence expensive.
  • each anode is connected to a separate continuous strip and all the anode strips are placed against each other with the interposition of an insulating material.
  • the wide surface of the continuous strips extends preferably at right angles to the electrode planes.
  • the thickness and the number of insulating layers and strips placed against each other now no longer any influence on the location of the plane in which the electrodes connected to the strips are located, so that substantially all the cathodes can be located in one plane without it being necessary for them to be bent locally.
  • the strips which serve as current supply conductors for the anodes can also be laid simply against each other with the interposition of insulating strips without influencing the dimensions of the envelope of the tube.
  • FIG..1 is a perspective view of a matrix tube according to the invention
  • FIG. 2 shows the construction of the cathode system
  • F IG. 3 shows the construction of the anode system
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective side elevation from the left and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view through the tube.
  • Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 denotes the envelope of a matrix gas discharge tube in which in this case, for example, nine juxtaposed characters, for example a number, can be displayed. In FIG. 1 the number 713458.026 is displayed.
  • the envelope 1 is closed at either end by means of caps 2 and 3 in which contact pins 4 are sealed.
  • the pins in the cap 2 serve, for example, for the strips with anodes, those in the cap 3 for the cathodes and screenings.
  • Each matrix group consists,
  • anode for example, of an anode and eight cathodes. Seven cathodes of a group serve to display digits, one cathode serves as a decimal point.
  • the cathode system of the tube shown in FIG. 1 is constructed from the components as they are shown in FIG. 2.
  • the continuous metal connection strips 6 of the cathode strips enclose an angle of substantially 90 with the cathodes 7, 8 and 9 connected thereto.
  • the strips 6 are clamped between insulating strips 5 against the sides of a U-shaped metal plate 10.
  • Screens 11 are arranged between the matrix groups.
  • the upper side of the U-shaped plate is closed by a mica plate 12.
  • the cathodes 7 and 8 of the upper -and lower side of the matrix can project directly into thespace of the U- shaped strip '10 from their connection strips 6 and are visible through the apertures of the insulating plate12.
  • the cathode 9 placed centrally over the matrix group extends over the plate 12 on the upperside and is bent at right angles and bent locally over the thickness of the plate 12 as a result of which the operative part 9 lies in the same plane as the cathodes 7 and 8.
  • the non-operative parts of the cathodes 9 are covered by the insulating plate 13.
  • the whole system is surrounded by the assembly of the metal components denoted by 15 which are arranged in the housing 16.
  • the housing 16 is welded with the side walls to the lugs 14 of the U- shaped plate 10 as a result of which the stacked continuous strips 6 and the insulating strips 5 are closed between the upper sides of the lugs 14, the side walls of bent laterally through 90 and then bent back through 180 so that the anodes l7 become located substantially flat on the strip 20.
  • the stack of the continuous strips 18 and the insulating strips 19 is arranged in the available space in the bottom of the tube. This is possible since the wide surface of each strip 18 extends at right angles to the plane of the anodes 17.
  • FIG. 4 is an elevation of the electrode system on the side where the cathode strips are conducted to the contact pins 4.
  • the strips 18 and 19 of the anode system terminate against a mica centering member 21.
  • An upright surface 16A of the housing 16 engages the mica member 21 and is connected thereto by bent lugs 22.
  • the U-shaped plate is connected to the mica member 21 by means oflugs 23.
  • FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the tube from which it may be seen that the housing 16 on the other side of the system where the anodes are conducted to the contact pins is connected with the upright part 16B to a mica centering member 24.
  • This centering member 24 comprises an aperture through which the strips 18, 19 extend The angular strips 25 (see also FIG. 3), the wall of the housing 16 and the lugs 14 are connected together by spot-welding.
  • connection strips extend at right angles to the electrode planes
  • a multiple matrix tube which is easy to assemble is obtained in which the occupation of the cross-section of the tube is as favorable as possible.
  • the matrix group may also consist, for example, of 10 or more cathodes, as is known per se.
  • a larger number of electrodes involves substantially no greater difficulties as regards the location thereof in one plane, since the thickness of the stack of strips in principle has no influence on the plane of the electrodes connected thereto.
  • a gaseous discharge display tube comprising an elongated sealed envelope containing an ionizable gas, at least a portion of said envelope being transparent, a plurality of cathodes divided into juxtaposed matrix groups, an anode associated with each of said groups of cathodes, a plurality of continuous connection strips each connected to corresponding cathodes of all of said groups, said connection strips being arranged in a stack, strips of insulating material separating adjacent connection strips in said stack, all of said cathodes being in one plane, all of said anodes being in a second plane extending parallel to the plane of the cathodes, the wide surfaces of the connection strips forming an angle of substantially with the planes of the anodes and cathodes.
  • each anode is connected to a separate continuous strip and all said strips are placed against each other with the interposition of an insulating material.
  • each anode forms one assembly with the associated continuous strip and, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the strip, is first bent laterally through 90 in one direction and then through in the opposite direction.
  • connection strips of the cathodes are connected to contact members at one end of the envelope, the connection strips of the anodes being connected to contact members at the other end of the envelope.

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  • Gas-Filled Discharge Tubes (AREA)
US00186913A 1970-10-17 1971-10-06 Gas discharge tube having a number of juxtaposed matrix groups for displaying characters Expired - Lifetime US3731132A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL7015261A NL7015261A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-10-17 1970-10-17

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3731132A true US3731132A (en) 1973-05-01

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ID=19811321

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00186913A Expired - Lifetime US3731132A (en) 1970-10-17 1971-10-06 Gas discharge tube having a number of juxtaposed matrix groups for displaying characters

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3731132A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (1) CA952965A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2149368A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2111426A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1306770A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL7015261A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3041491A (en) * 1959-05-25 1962-06-26 Ibm Display device
US3582979A (en) * 1969-07-07 1971-06-01 Burroughs Corp Gaseous discharge display device with interconnecting structure for the electrodes
US3588571A (en) * 1967-07-07 1971-06-28 Sony Corp Gaseous glow indicator tube formed on a substrate with a plurality of insulating layers
US3641383A (en) * 1968-09-25 1972-02-08 Matsushita Electronics Corp Glow discharge tube for code display

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3041491A (en) * 1959-05-25 1962-06-26 Ibm Display device
US3588571A (en) * 1967-07-07 1971-06-28 Sony Corp Gaseous glow indicator tube formed on a substrate with a plurality of insulating layers
US3641383A (en) * 1968-09-25 1972-02-08 Matsushita Electronics Corp Glow discharge tube for code display
US3582979A (en) * 1969-07-07 1971-06-01 Burroughs Corp Gaseous discharge display device with interconnecting structure for the electrodes

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1306770A (en) 1973-02-14
NL7015261A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-04-19
DE2149368A1 (de) 1972-04-27
FR2111426A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-06-02
CA952965A (en) 1974-08-13

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