US3784864A - Cold cathode discharge display apparatus manifesting memory action - Google Patents

Cold cathode discharge display apparatus manifesting memory action Download PDF

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Publication number
US3784864A
US3784864A US00293574A US3784864DA US3784864A US 3784864 A US3784864 A US 3784864A US 00293574 A US00293574 A US 00293574A US 3784864D A US3784864D A US 3784864DA US 3784864 A US3784864 A US 3784864A
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United States
Prior art keywords
electrodes
starting
anode
display units
cathode
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00293574A
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English (en)
Inventor
T Ogasawara
S Watanabe
R Sasaki
A Watanabe
H Sogabe
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Oki Electric Industry Co Ltd
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Oki 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
    • 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

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT In a cold cathode display apparatus of the class comprising a plurality of opposed electrodes and a transparent envelope containing the electrodes and filled with a luminous inert gas, there are provided a plurality of display units in the envelope.
  • Each display unit comprises a plurality of first electrodes, a plurality of second electrodes, insulator spacer means disposed between the first and second electrodes, the spacer means being provided with'a plurality of perforations which define independent discharge cells between the first and second electrodes, a plurality of starting anode electrodes respectively contained in the discharge cells, a plurality of starting cathode electrodes respectively contained in the discharge cells, a plurality of resistors respectively connected to the second electrodes and a plurality of erasing electrodes disposed near the first electrodes.
  • the plurality of display units are arranged in the direction of lines, the erasing electrodes of respective display units are arranged in the direction of lines, and the first electrodes and the starting anode electrodes of respective display units are arranged in the direction of columns.
  • the starting cathode electrodes and the second electrodes of respective display units are arranged in the direction of both lines and columns.
  • I apparatus sold under the trade marks Elfin and Planitron 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 spacingtherebetween, are disposed side by side in the same envelope.
  • Such display apparatus is used to display patternsof 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.
  • the plasma luminescence requires a high voltage high frequency AC source operatingat a voltage of 200 V and at a frequency of 200 KHz. Moreover in such display apparatus it is impossible to erase a desired memory.
  • an object of this invention is to provide an improved cold cathode discharge display apparatus of compact construction and capable of manifesting memory function without providing an independent external memory device.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide an improved cold cathode discharge, display apparatus capable of erasing and rewriting a pattern at any desired position.
  • a cold cathode discharge display apparatus of the class comprising a plurality of opposed electrodes and an envelope containing said electrodes and filled with a Iuminous inert gas, at least a portion of the envelope being transparent, characterized in that there are provided a plurality of display units in the envelope, that each of the display units comprises a plurality of first electrodes, a plurality of second electrodes, insulative spacer means disposed between the first and second electrodes, the spacer means being provided with a plurality of perforations which define independent discharge cells between the first and second electrodes, a plurality of starting anode electrodes respectively contained in the discharge cells, a plurality of starting cathode electrodes respectively contained in the discharge cells, a plurality of resistors connected to the second electrodes, and a plurality of erasing electrodes disposed near the first-electrodes, that the plurality of display units are arranged in the direction of lines, that the erasing electrodes of respective display units are
  • FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of the various component elements of a cold cathode discharge display apparatus constructed according to the teaching of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the starting cathode substrate utilized in the display apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 shows an enlarged sectional view of the cathode substrate employed in the display apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and
  • FIG. 4 shows an equivalent circuit of the cold cathode discharge display apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
  • a cold cathode discharge display apparatus 1 shown therein comprises upper and lower substrates 2 and 3 made of transparent material such as glass and forming a portion of the envelope which is formed in a manner to be described later. Between the upper and lower substrates are disposed a plurality of parallel erasing anodes 4a through 4d, one for each line, a plurality of parallel anode electrodes 50 through 5d, one for each column, a plurality of parallel starting anodes 6a through 6d, also one for each column, a starting cathode plate 7, and a cathode substrate 8.
  • Insulator spacers 9 through 12 are interposed respectively between erasing anodes and anode electrodes, between anode electrodes and starting anodes, between the starting anode and the starting cathode plate and between the starting cathode plate and the cathode substrate.
  • Each of the electrodes and. spacers interposed between the upper and lower transparent substrates 2 and 3 are provided with a plurality of groups of perforations 13 which are arranged in aligned matrixes.
  • the inner walls of the perforations of the starting cathode plate 7 are provided with through hole platings, each acting as a starting cathode electrode 14. Alternate starting cathode electrodes 14 on each line are connected to terminals 15 on the opposite ends of the plate 7, as shown in FIG. 2.
  • the cathode substrate 8 comprises a sheet of insulator provided with a plurality of groups of perforations 13 which are arranged in matrixes and solid state resistors 16 formed by compressing a powder of glass or ceramic are contained in respective perforations 13.
  • the upper surfaces of the resistors l6 confronting the anode electrodes 5a through 5d are coated with electrodes 17 which are formed by plating nickel, for example, whereas the lower surfaces of the resistors 16 are electrically connected to a thin conductive sheet 18 having substantially the same coefficient of thermal expansion as the lower substrate 3 made of glass or ceramic, the thin sheet 18 serving as a common lead wire for the resistors 16.
  • Various electrodes and spacers described above are superposed one upon the other between the upper and lower transparent substrates 2 and 3 to form a lamination and the periphery of the lamination is sealed hermetically with frit glass or the like to form an envelope.
  • a luminous inert gas such as argon gas or neon gas thereby completing a cold cathode discharge display apparatus with four lines and four columns.
  • erasing anodes 4a 4d, anode electrodes 5a 5d and starting anode electrodes 6a 6d are provided with terminals 19a l9d, 20a 20d and 21a 21d, respectively, extending through the side walls of the enveloped formed as above described.
  • FIG. 4 shows an equivalent circuit for four columns and two lines of the cold cathode discharge display apparatus described hereinabove.
  • the component elements corresponding to those shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.
  • driving members 22a and 22b for starting cathodes protective resistors 230 through 23n and 24n through 24n for limiting the current flowing through the starting cathodes, input terminals 25a and 25b for driving members 22a and 2212, respectively.
  • the first and second lines are designated by H, and H and the first to fourth columns by V, through V., respectively.
  • the relative spacings between anode electrodes 5a 5d, starting anode electrodes 6a 6d, starting cathode electrode 14 and cathode electrode 17 are selected to satisfy the following conditions:
  • the breakdown or discharge initiating voltage between the anode and cathode electrode is higher than the breakdown voltage between the starting anode and the starting cathode and the breakdown voltage between the anode and the cathode electrode when a discharge is being maintained between the starting anode and the starting cathode is lower than the voltage impressed across the anode and cathode electrodes.
  • the discharge sustaining voltage between the starting anode and the starting cathode electrode is higher than the discharge sustaining voltage between the anode and cathode electrodes.
  • the voltage relations between the erasing anode and the cathode electrode are made to be substantially the same as those between the anode and cathode electrodes.
  • a voltage lower than the breakdown voltage 200 V is impressed across anode electrodes 5a 5 a and cathode electrode 14. More particularly, a voltage of +100 V is impressed upon respective anode terminals a 20d whereas a voltage of S0 V is impressed upon the cathode electrode.
  • the driving member 22a Upon application of an input signal upon input terminal a, the driving member 22a operates to select an appropriate ones of the starting cathode electrodes 14a through 14a corresponding to the pattern information contained in the input signal whereby a pulse signal of -50 V is applied to the selected starting cathode electrode through corresponding one of resistors 230 through 23n. Concurrently therewith, a pulse signal of+l 50 V is impressed upon the terminal 21a of the starting anode to increase the potential difference between the starting anode and the starting cathode to 200 V which is higher than the breakdown voltage (l V) between these electrodes.
  • an electric discharge is established between a selected starting cathode, for example, l4a, positioned at the cross-point between the first line H, and the first column V, and starting anode 6a.
  • a selected starting cathode for example, l4a
  • the voltage drop between these electrodes decreases to a value lower than the voltage V which has already been applied across corresponding anode electrode 5a and cathode electrode 17a so that the discharge will be automatically transferred to between these anode and cathode electrodes from between starting anode 6a and starting cathode 14a.
  • a voltage equal to the-voltage that has been applied to the selected one of the anodes 5a through 5d is impressed upon erasing anode 19b other than the erasing anode 19a which corresponds to the first line on which the error has occurred. Then, the voltage is removed from the anode terminal 20b corresponding to the second column on which the error has occurred.
  • the erasing anodes are disposed to the outisde of the anode electrodes, the exact position of the erasing anodes are immaterial provided that they are located close to the anodes. Further, although a positive potential was applied to a plurality of electrodes which are arranged in a matrix to cause them to operate as cathode electrodes and a positive potential was applied to the electrodes in re spective display units to cause them to operate as anode electrodes, it should beunderstood that the polarities of these potentials may be reversed.
  • the invention provides a new and improved cold cathode discharge display apparatus of compact construction capable of manifesting memory action, that is a display apparatus capably of continuously displaying a pattern without using an expensive external memory device. Moreover, in the novel display apparatus it is possible to readily erase any desired or erroneous pattern and rewrite it.
  • a cold cathode discharge display apparatus manifesting memory action comprising a plurality of display units, each including a plurality of first anode electrodes, a plurality of second cathode electrodes, insulative spacer means disposed between said first and second electrodes, said spacer means being provided with a plurality of perforations which define independent discharge cells between said first and second elec' trodes, a plurality of starting anode electrodes respectively contained in said discharge cells, a plurality of starting cathode electrodes respectively contained in said discharge cells, a plurality of resistors respectively connected to said second electrodes, a plurality of erasing electrodes disposed near said first electrodes, and an envelope containing said plurality of display units, at least a portion of said envelope being transparent, said plurality of display units being arranged in the direction of lines, said erasing electrodes of respective display units being arranged in the direction of lines, said first electrodes and said starting electrodes of respective display units being arranged in the direction of columns, and said
  • said spacer means comprises a plurality of perforated insulator sheets which are respectively interposed between said erasing anode electrodes and said first electrodes, between said first electrodes and said starting anode electrodes, between said starting anode electrodes and said starting cathodes electrodes, and between said starting cathode electrodes and said second electrodes and wherein the perforations of said plurality of insulator sheets are in alignment with those of said erasing anode electrodes, first electrodes, starting anode electrodes, starting cathode 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 applied on one ends of said resistors.

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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)
US00293574A 1971-09-30 1972-09-29 Cold cathode discharge display apparatus manifesting memory action Expired - Lifetime US3784864A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP46076702A JPS5242028B2 (fr) 1971-09-30 1971-09-30

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US3784864A true US3784864A (en) 1974-01-08

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US00293574A Expired - Lifetime US3784864A (en) 1971-09-30 1972-09-29 Cold cathode discharge display apparatus manifesting memory action

Country Status (5)

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US (1) US3784864A (fr)
JP (1) JPS5242028B2 (fr)
DE (1) DE2248147C3 (fr)
FR (1) FR2154767B1 (fr)
GB (1) GB1374639A (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3949261A (en) * 1975-02-24 1976-04-06 Burroughs Corporation Display panel

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS60248224A (ja) * 1984-05-25 1985-12-07 Mitsui Eng & Shipbuild Co Ltd 粉体の湿式造粒装置

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3509408A (en) * 1967-12-13 1970-04-28 Burroughs Corp Display panel with separate signal and sustainer electrodes

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3509408A (en) * 1967-12-13 1970-04-28 Burroughs Corp Display panel with separate signal and sustainer electrodes

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3949261A (en) * 1975-02-24 1976-04-06 Burroughs Corporation Display panel

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1374639A (en) 1974-11-20
FR2154767B1 (fr) 1976-08-13
DE2248147B2 (de) 1977-07-28
JPS4843266A (fr) 1973-06-22
FR2154767A1 (fr) 1973-05-11
DE2248147A1 (de) 1973-04-05
DE2248147C3 (de) 1978-03-16
JPS5242028B2 (fr) 1977-10-21

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