US3789264A - Plasma shift register with overlapping glow - Google Patents

Plasma shift register with overlapping glow Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3789264A
US3789264A US00305371A US3789264DA US3789264A US 3789264 A US3789264 A US 3789264A US 00305371 A US00305371 A US 00305371A US 3789264D A US3789264D A US 3789264DA US 3789264 A US3789264 A US 3789264A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
electrodes
channel
discharge
plasma
pair
Prior art date
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
Application number
US00305371A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
J Janning
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.)
NCR Voyix Corp
Original Assignee
NCR Corp
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by NCR Corp filed Critical NCR Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3789264A publication Critical patent/US3789264A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11C—STATIC STORES
    • G11C19/00—Digital stores in which the information is moved stepwise, e.g. shift registers
    • G11C19/20—Digital stores in which the information is moved stepwise, e.g. shift registers using discharge tubes
    • G11C19/205—Digital stores in which the information is moved stepwise, e.g. shift registers using discharge tubes with gas-filled tubes
    • 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
    • H01J17/495—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 display panels using sequential transfer of the discharge along dielectric storage elements

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A plasma gas shift register is provided wherein pairs of electrodes overlapping in space are affixed to an insulating substrate and are overcoated with a dielectric layer. A plasma gas is sealed into contact with the dielectric layer. Clocked signals connected to the electrode pairs cause a shift of any discharge existing between one pair of electrodes to the next pair of electrodes overlapping the discharge pair.
  • Input electrode means for causing a discharge in response to one state of input signal and no discharge in response to another state of an input signal are placed opposite the first pair of overlapping in space electrodes.
  • Output electrode means are positioned opposite the last pair of overlapping in space electrodes to detect the presence or absence of a discharge between the last pair of overlapping electrodes.
  • This invention relates to a plasma device in which plasma discharges are moved along the device in shift register fashion.
  • the present invention does away with the dependence on wall charge and uses instead the phenomenon of metastable decay.
  • a variable in the potential level required to cause a plasma discharge is the ambient radiation to which the plasma medium is exposed. For example, a plasma discharge can be initiated in a cell at a lower voltage when exposed to light than when placed in darkness. Also, a radio-active source in close proximity can initiate a discharge at a lower voltage. When a cell has been fired and the voltage removed, it can be fired again at a lower voltage if attempted soon enough. Due to a phenomenon of metastable decay, the retiring voltage is a function of how long a time the cell has been off. If the retiring is attempted within a few microseconds, the retiring voltage may be approximately 85% of the initial value required.
  • a plasma gas cell which contains a plurality of pairs of electrodes that overlap in space.
  • Voltage means connected to said pairs of electrodes, provides a sequencing voltage to the electrodes for shifting discharges along the length of the device.
  • Input means are provided for initiating a discharge in proximity to the first pair of overlapping electrodes and output means are provided for detecting the presence or ab sence of a discharge at the last pair of overlapping electrodes.
  • the sequence voltage occurs at a repetition rate which is quick enough to take advantage of the metastable decay occurring after a preceding discharge.
  • a principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved plasma gas shift register.
  • FIG. I is an electrical schematic of the preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment
  • FIGS. 3a to 3e are wave forms useful in understanding the operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • FIG. 1 a pair of spaced apart input electrodes 10 and 11 are connected to a pulse voltage source 15 through a current limiting resistor 16.
  • the potential level V, and repetition rate of pulse source 15 are such that a plasma discharge will take place between electrodes 10 and 11 when the pulse source is connected to the electrodes through switch 17.
  • a plasma medium 22, such as a neon gas mixture of 95percent neon and Spercent nitrogen, is maintained in close proximity (or contact) to the electrodes.
  • the electrodes labeled A, B and C are paired with the corresponding electrodes A, B and C and are overlapped in space. Two sets of these overlapping paired electrodes are shown in FIG. 1 but any number can be used. For example with a four phase clock signal another set of electrodes could be inserted, one between the C and A electrodes and the other between the C' and .A electrodes.
  • the input electrodes 10 and 11 can be spaced apart further to cover the additional electrodes of a set. A higher potential level V, is then required for source 15 in order to achieve a discharge between the input electrodes. If the input electrodes are spaced closer together less potential is necessary to cause a discharge but also less metastables are available after the discharge for use by the paired electrodes.
  • a trade-off in design is generally made with the input electrodes overlapping at least the first three electrodes of a three pair as shown in FIG. 1.
  • a pair of output electrodes 18 and 19 are connected together by means of resistor 21 and a pulsed voltage source 20.
  • the potential level V, of voltage source 20 is lower than source 15 so that a dischargewill not take place between electrodes 18 and 19 unless a discharge existed previously between the last pairs of electrodes C and C.
  • the plasma charge shift register 40 is shown comprised of two end plates 37 and 30 sandwiching a center plate 31.
  • the input and output electrodes 10, 11 and 18, 19, respectively, are deposited on the inner surface of plate 37.
  • Plate 37 can be a glass or other suitable insulating material.
  • The-overlapping electrodes A, B, C, and A, B, C are formed on the inner surface of the plate 30.
  • lead conductors connect the respective electrodes to other conductors external to the device.
  • the thin dielectric coating can be deposited over the electrodes if desired. The coating will extend the life of the electrodes by insulating them from the plasma gas.
  • the center plate 31 has a large opening 32 defined therein. The opening is of a sufficient size to expose all of the electrodes to the space defined by the opening. A small channel 33 extends from the opening 32 to the hole 34.
  • Hole 34 aligns with hole 35 in plate 30 when the plates are sandwiched together.
  • a tube 38 connected to plate 30 and aligned with opening 35 is used to evacuate the space formed when the sandwich plates are sealed along their edges.
  • the plates may be sealed using a glass frit mixture coupled with sufficient heat to make the mixture cure.
  • a plasma gas mixture (neon mixture) can be inserted into the evacuated space and tube 38 sealed.
  • the signal clock A is applied across the electrodes labeled A and A by any well known source of clock pulses not shown for purposes of clarity.
  • the signal clock B is applied across the electrodes labeled B and B.
  • the signal clock C is applied across the electrodes labeled C and C. These clock signals are applied sequentially to the respective electrodes not simultaneously.
  • the input generator provides the input clock signal shown in FIG. 3d which has a potential level of V,.
  • the output generator provides the output clock signal shown in FIG. 3e which has a potential level of V,.
  • the clock signals provide a differential potential of V, across the electrode pairs.
  • Clocks A, B and C switch between potential levels V, and ground.
  • the signal clock B is maintained at zero potential and switched to the potential V only when it is desired to acheive a discharge between the B and B electrodes.
  • a new input can be fed into the device simultaneously with the application of the C clock pulses to the C and C electrodes. Shortly thereafter the output clock (FIG. 3e) is applied across electrodes 18 and 19. If a high enough metastable state exists in the overlapped electrodes between 18 and 19 a discharge will occur and the current caused by this discharge will flow through resistor 21 and be detected as an output voltage.
  • the electrode plates are silver deposited on a glass substrate.
  • the electrodes are approximately 0.020inches to 0.030inches in width and are spaced approximately 5 0.0l0inches apart on the glass substrate.
  • the voltage pulses applied to the electrodes are of an amplitude of approximately 250 volts and a width of approximately 2 microseconds occurring at a rate of approximately 30 K Hz.
  • the plasma gas is a mixture of 99.7percent Neon, 0.2percent Nitrogen and 0.lpercent Argon at a pressure of approximately 90 Torr.
  • a glass insulating material is positioned over the electrodes its thickness should be approximately 0.2 thousandths of an inch.
  • a plasma gas shift register comprising in combination:
  • means including at least one envelope defining an elongated channel containing a plasma gas
  • a plasma gas shift register comprising in combination:
  • output means positioned on the surface opposite said one surface of said channel for detecting the presence of a discharge between the last pair of nonadjacent electrodes in said channel and for providing an indication of said detection.
  • a plasma gas shift register comprising in combina- 7 tion:
  • means including at least one envelope defining an elongated channel containing a plasma gas
  • input electrode means positioned on one inner surface within said channel for causing a discharge at one end of said channel upon receipt of an input potential:
  • output electrode means positioned on one inner surface within said channel for detecting a discharge existing at the other end of said channel and for providing an output indicative of the detected discharge.
  • a plasma shift register comprising in combination:
  • means including at least one envelope defining an elongated channel containing plasma medium
  • a pair of input electrode means mounted on the surface opposite said one surface and positioned overlapping at least the first electrode at one end of said channel for causing a discharge in the plasma gas; means for applying a sequential stepping potential across said pairs of overlapping electrodes before the metastable decay of a discharge falls below the level which enables a discharge to take place between an adjacent pair of electrodes so as to effectively step a discharge through said channel;
  • a pair of output electrode means mounted on the surface opposite said one surface and positioned overlapping at least the last electrode at the other end of said channel for detecting a discharge in the proximity of the last pair of electrodes.

Landscapes

  • Shift Register Type Memory (AREA)
  • Gas-Filled Discharge Tubes (AREA)
  • Control Of Indicators Other Than Cathode Ray Tubes (AREA)
US00305371A 1972-11-10 1972-11-10 Plasma shift register with overlapping glow Expired - Lifetime US3789264A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US30537172A 1972-11-10 1972-11-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3789264A true US3789264A (en) 1974-01-29

Family

ID=23180516

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00305371A Expired - Lifetime US3789264A (en) 1972-11-10 1972-11-10 Plasma shift register with overlapping glow

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3789264A (enExample)
JP (1) JPS5740596B2 (enExample)
CA (1) CA980873A (enExample)
DE (1) DE2355998A1 (enExample)
FR (1) FR2206560B1 (enExample)
GB (1) GB1405710A (enExample)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS58140313A (ja) * 1982-02-15 1983-08-20 Shin Etsu Chem Co Ltd 粒状二酸化けい素の製造方法

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB748950A (en) * 1952-04-08 1956-05-16 Nat Res Dev Improvements in or relating to circuits using cold-cathode scaling tubes
US2949564A (en) * 1958-04-08 1960-08-16 Sylvania Electric Prod Drive circuit for counting tubes
US2984765A (en) * 1956-11-28 1961-05-16 Digital Tech Inc Electric controlled informationbearing device
US3500121A (en) * 1968-02-15 1970-03-10 Gen Time Corp Electronic counting or timekeeping system using glow discharge tube without permanent anode
US3544837A (en) * 1968-11-01 1970-12-01 Gen Time Corp Electronic counting or timekeeping system using glow discharge tube
US3675065A (en) * 1970-01-23 1972-07-04 Sperry Rand Corp Planar gas discharge indicator

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB748950A (en) * 1952-04-08 1956-05-16 Nat Res Dev Improvements in or relating to circuits using cold-cathode scaling tubes
US2984765A (en) * 1956-11-28 1961-05-16 Digital Tech Inc Electric controlled informationbearing device
US2949564A (en) * 1958-04-08 1960-08-16 Sylvania Electric Prod Drive circuit for counting tubes
US3500121A (en) * 1968-02-15 1970-03-10 Gen Time Corp Electronic counting or timekeeping system using glow discharge tube without permanent anode
US3544837A (en) * 1968-11-01 1970-12-01 Gen Time Corp Electronic counting or timekeeping system using glow discharge tube
US3675065A (en) * 1970-01-23 1972-07-04 Sperry Rand Corp Planar gas discharge indicator

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2206560A1 (enExample) 1974-06-07
DE2355998A1 (de) 1974-05-16
CA980873A (en) 1975-12-30
GB1405710A (en) 1975-09-10
FR2206560B1 (enExample) 1980-03-14
JPS5740596B2 (enExample) 1982-08-28
JPS50723A (enExample) 1975-01-07

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US2432608A (en) Multianode, gas-filled discharge device
US3781600A (en) Plasma charge transfer device
US3614509A (en) Large area plasma panel display device
US3551721A (en) Gas-filled display device having capacitive envelope
US3758819A (en) Flash discharge apparatus and method
US3789470A (en) Method of manufacture of display device utilizing gas discharge
US3789264A (en) Plasma shift register with overlapping glow
US2547008A (en) Electric pulse generator
US3842314A (en) Driving circuit for plasma display panel comprising means for placing pedestal on alternating firing pulses
US3629638A (en) Plasma display device with internal-external electrode structure
GB1263430A (en) Gas dischargeable display device
US3336499A (en) Display device with plasma discharge propagating delay line read-in
US3612937A (en) Low-pressure controlled discharge device with trigger electrode within hollow cathode
US3737707A (en) Indicator tube utilizing a barrier electrode around each of the indicator units to which one of two voltages may be applied
US4126808A (en) High voltage two stage triggered vacuum gap
US2923853A (en) Electric discharge device
US3781599A (en) Gas discharge display apparatus
US3967158A (en) Circuit for operating a bar graph display panel
US3614526A (en) Method and means for operating a plasma display panel
GB1163153A (en) Triggerable Vacuum Gap Devices.
US2767350A (en) Gaseous counting tube
US4010395A (en) Gas discharge display panel with cell-firing means having glow spreading electrode
US2645742A (en) Electric discharge device
US2675504A (en) Gaseous discharge register
GB1348204A (en) Liquid crystal display device including gas cells