US3775633A - Cold cathode discharge apparatus with memory functions - Google Patents

Cold cathode discharge apparatus with memory functions Download PDF

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Publication number
US3775633A
US3775633A US00293573A US3775633DA US3775633A US 3775633 A US3775633 A US 3775633A US 00293573 A US00293573 A US 00293573A US 3775633D A US3775633D A US 3775633DA US 3775633 A US3775633 A US 3775633A
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United States
Prior art keywords
electrodes
starting
electrode
cathode
anode
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00293573A
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English (en)
Inventor
R Sasaki
A Watanabe
T Ogasawara
S Watanabe
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.)
Oki Electric Industry Co Ltd
Okaya Electric Industry Co Ltd
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Oki Electric Industry Co Ltd
Okaya Electric Industry Co Ltd
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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
    • 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

Definitions

  • a cold cathode ray discharge apparatus of the class comprising a first electrode acting as an anode, a plurality of second electrodes acting as cathodes, and an envelope containing the first and second electrodes and filled with a luminous inert gas, at least a portion of the envelope being transparent, there are provided insulator spacer means disposed between the first and second electrodes, the spacer means being provided with a plurality of perforations which form discrete discharge cells, a plurality of starting cathode electrodes disposed between the first and second electrodes, a plurality of starting anode electrodes disposed between the first electrode and the starting cathode electrodes and a plurality of resistors respectively connected to the second electrodes.
  • Each ones of the second electrodes, the starting cathode electrodes, the starting anode electrodes cooperate with the first electrode and the spacer means to constitute a display unit. Responsive to a pattern signal an electric discharge is established between the starting anode and the starting cathode and then the discharge is transferred to between the first and second electrode thereby the display apparatus manifests a memory function.
  • the conventional cold cathode discharge display ap-' paratus comprises a pair of electrodes contained in an envelope filled with a luminous inert gas such as neon or argon gas and an information signal is applied across the electrodes to display a desired pattern.
  • a luminous inert gas such as neon or argon gas
  • a plurality of display units each consisting of a plurality of segment electrodes and a counter electrode disposed to oppose the segment electrodes with a predetermined spacing therebetween, are disposed side by side in the same envelope.
  • Such a display device is used to display patterns of a plurality of digits by selectively operating the display units on the time division basis at such a high speed that does not cause flickering.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide an improved cold cathode discharge memory apparatus of compact construction and capable manifesting a-memory function.
  • Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved cold cathode discharge display apparatus capable of manifesting a memory function and including a plurality of display units thus continuously displaying patterns of multiple digits.
  • a cold cathode discharge display apparatus of the class comprising a first electrode, a pluraltiy of second electrodes confronting the first electrode, and an envelope containing the first and second electrodes and filledwith a luminous inert gas, at least a portion of the envelope being transparent, characterized in that there are provided insulator spacer means disposed between the first and second electrodes, the spacer means being provided with a plurality of perforations which form discrete discharge cells, a plurality of starting cathode electrodes disposed between the first and second electrodes, a plurality of starting anode electrodes disposed between the first electrode and the starting cathode electrodes, and a plurality of resistors respectively connected to the second electrodes; and that each ones of the second electrodes, the starting anode electrodes and starting cathode electrodes cooperate with the first electrode and the spacer means to constitute a display unit.
  • FIG. 1 is an explodedperspective view of various component elements of one example of a cold cathode discharge display apparatus embodying the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the starting electrodes shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 shows a section, in an enlarged scale, of a portion of the cathode electrode employed in the display apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of an assembly of various component elements shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 5 shows an equivalent circuit of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.
  • a preferred embodiment of the cold cathode discharge display apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises an upper substrate 2 and a lower substrate 3 which are made of sheets of transparent material such as glass and form a portion of the envelope as will be described later.
  • anode electrodes 5a and 5d are disposed between the upper and lower substrates 2' and'3, each formed with a plurality of perforations 4 arranged'in a matrix and forming a portion of a display unit, a plurality of starting anode electrodes 6a through 6d having substantially the same construction as the anode electrodes, a starting cathode substrate 7 formed with a plurality of perforations 12 that aligne with the perforations 4 of the anode electrodes 5a through 511' and a cathode substrate 8 provided with similar perforations.
  • Second and third spacers 9, l0 and 11 each provided with a plurality of perforations which are arranged in a matrix and are aligned with those of the anode and cathode electrodes are interposed respectively between anode electrodes 5a through 5d and starting anodes 6a through 6d, between starting anodes 6a through 6d and starting cathode substrate 7, and between the starting cathode substrate 7 and'the cathode substrate 8.
  • the perforations of the starting cathode substrate 7 are lined with through hole platings 12 which are used as the starting cathode electrodes.
  • Corresponding starting cathode electrodes of respective display units including groups of perforations are connected to terminals 13, as shown in FIG. 2, which are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the'opposite ends of the substrate 7 as by printing.
  • the cathode substrate 8 comprises a sheet of insulator provided with a plurality of perforations, and solid state resistors 14' formed by compressing a powder of glass or ceramic are disposed in the perforations through the substrate 8, these perforations being also arranged in a matrix.
  • cathode electrodes 15' which are formed by plating nickel films, for example.
  • the opposite surfaces of the resistors 14 are electrically connected to a thin sheet 16 having substantially the same coefficient of thermal expansion as the lower substrate 3 of glass or ceramic, the thin sheet 16 acting as a common lead wire for respective resistors 14.
  • FIG. 5 shows an equivalent circuit of this display apparatus.
  • a matrix driving member 20 is provided and the output thereof is applied to the terminals 13a through l3n of the starting cathode electrodes through protective resistors 21a through 2111 of high resistance values.
  • the cold cathode discharge display apparatus comprises four display units 22a to 22d. The spacings between anode electrodes 5a through 5d, cathode electrode 15, starting anode electrodes 6a through 6d and starting cathode electrodes 12 are selected to satisfy the following conditions. A.
  • the breakdown or discharge initiating voltage between anode electrodes 5a through 50 and the cathode electrode 15 is higher than the breakdown voltage between the starting anodes 6a through 6d and the voltage for sustaining the discharge between a starting anode electrode and a starting cathode electrode is lower than the voltage impressed upon these electrode.
  • B. The breakdown voltage between a starting anode and a starting cathode is higher than the discharge sustaining voltage between these electrodes.
  • Typical values of these voltages are as follows: Breakdown voltage between an anode electrode and a cathode electode 200V,
  • the cathode electrodes 15 of the display apparatus are connected to a common source of 5OV respectively through resistors 14.
  • a pulse signal of-HSOV is applied upon starting anode 6a of a display unit to be operated, the first display unit 22a for example.
  • an input signal is applied to the matrix driving unit 20.
  • the matrix driving unit selects one of the terminals 130 through 13m of the starting cathode electrodes corresponding to the pattern information contained in the input signal for supplying a negative pulse signal to a selected terminal, 130 for example.
  • the potential difference between the starting anode 6a and the starting cathode 12 of the first display unit 22a is increased to 200V which is higher than the predetermined breakdown voltage (180V) between these electrodes thus initiating a discharge therebetween.
  • the input signal disappears after a definite time but since the potential difference between anode electrode 5a and cathode electrode 15 equals V which is higher than the discharge sustaining voltage (l3OV) between the anode and cathode electrode, the discharge will be sustained between anode electode 5a and cathode electrode 15 of the first display unit 220 irrespective of the input signal impressed upon the starting electrode 6a and starting cathode 15 thereby manifesting memory function.
  • V discharge sustaining voltage
  • the pulse signal of 200V is impressed across the starting anode 6b of the second display unit 22b and a starting electrode 12 selected in accordance with a desired pattern to be displayed. Then a discharge will be resulted between the starting anode 6b and the starting cathode of the second display unit 2217. Under these condition, when a voltage of 150V is impressed between anode electrode 5b and cathode electrode 15 of the second display unit 22b a discharge is established between these electrodes which is sustained irrespective of the condition of the input signal.
  • the input signal is applied also to the starting cathode of the first display unit 22a but no discharge will be created between the starting anode 6a and the starting cathode 15 of the first display unit 220 because no pulse signal is applied across the starting anode 6a of the first display unit 22a.
  • the pulse signal supplied to a starting cathode electrode 12 functions as a pattern selection signal
  • the signal applied to a starting anode electrode functions as a pattern display position designating signal
  • the voltage impressed upon anode electrodes 5a through 5d acts as a memory signalv
  • the starting cathodes are formed by printing, it should be understood that these electrodes may be formed by other processes, for example multi-layer printing.
  • this invention provides a novel cold cathode discharge display apparatus having by itself a memory function so that it is not necessary to provide a external memory device thus greatly simplifying the construction and greatly reducing the cost of manufacturing.
  • the novel display apparatus is constructed to have a plurality of display units it is possible to display patterns of multiple digits without driving the display apparatus on the time division basis by providing a complicated driving circuit as has been the practice in the prior art cold cathode discharge display apparatus.
  • a cold cathode discharge display apparatus comprising a first electrode, a plurality of second electrodes spaced from said first electrode, insulative spacer means disposed between said first and second electrodes, said spacer means being provided with a plurality of perforations which form discrete discharge cells, a plurality of starting cathode electrodes disposed between said first electrode and said second electrodes, a plurality of staring anode electrodes disposed between said first electrode and said starting cathode electrodes, a plurality of resistors respectively connected to said second electrodes, each ones of said second electrodes, said starting cathode electrodes and said starting anode electrodes cooperating with said first electrode and said spacer means to constitute a display unit, and an envelope containing all of said component elements and filled with a luminous inert gas, at least a portion of said envelope being transparent.
  • said spacer means comprises a plurality of perforated insulator sheets which are respectively interposed between said first electrode and said starting cathode electrode, between said starting cathode electrode and said starting anode electrodes, and between said starting anode electrodes and said second electrodes, and wherein the perforations of said plurality of insulator sheets are in alignment with those of said starting cathode electrode, said starting anode electrodes and said second electrodes.
  • said second electrodes comprises an insulator sheet provided with a plurality of perforations which are grouped into a plurality of matrixes. a plurality of resistors contained in respective perforations, and thin metal layers respectively applied on one ends of said resistors.
  • said starting cathode electrodes comprise an insulator sheet provided with a plurality of perforations which are grouped into a plurality of matrixes, and a plurality of metal films applied on the inner walls of said perforations.
  • said first electrode comprises a plurality of rectangular anode electrodes, said starting anode electrodes have a configuration identical to that of said anode electrodes, and each anode electrode and each starting anode electrode are provided with aligned perforations which are arranged in matrixes.
  • the display apparatus including means for applying an information signal of a pattern to be displayed on said starting cathode electrodes, means for applying a predetermined potential upon said first electrode and means for applying a potential higher than said pre-determined potential on said starting cathode electrodes.

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  • Gas-Filled Discharge Tubes (AREA)
  • Transforming Electric Information Into Light Information (AREA)
  • Control Of Indicators Other Than Cathode Ray Tubes (AREA)
US00293573A 1971-09-30 1972-09-29 Cold cathode discharge apparatus with memory functions Expired - Lifetime US3775633A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP46076701A JPS5242027B2 (en:Method) 1971-09-30 1971-09-30

Publications (1)

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US3775633A true US3775633A (en) 1973-11-27

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US00293573A Expired - Lifetime US3775633A (en) 1971-09-30 1972-09-29 Cold cathode discharge apparatus with memory functions

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US (1) US3775633A (en:Method)
JP (1) JPS5242027B2 (en:Method)
FR (1) FR2154766B1 (en:Method)
GB (1) GB1366966A (en:Method)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5977939A (en) * 1994-04-28 1999-11-02 Youare Electronics Co. Gas flat display tube

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6061884U (ja) * 1983-10-05 1985-04-30 パイオニア株式会社 色ノイズ低減回路

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3626245A (en) * 1970-04-08 1971-12-07 Burroughs Corp Display panel having a plurality of display registers

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3626245A (en) * 1970-04-08 1971-12-07 Burroughs Corp Display panel having a plurality of display registers

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5977939A (en) * 1994-04-28 1999-11-02 Youare Electronics Co. Gas flat display tube

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2248179A1 (de) 1973-04-05
DE2248179B2 (de) 1977-06-23
JPS5242027B2 (en:Method) 1977-10-21
GB1366966A (en) 1974-09-18
JPS4843265A (en:Method) 1973-06-22
FR2154766A1 (en:Method) 1973-05-11
FR2154766B1 (en:Method) 1976-08-13

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