US3916393A - Multicolor gaseous discharge display device - Google Patents

Multicolor gaseous discharge display device Download PDF

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Publication number
US3916393A
US3916393A US446549A US44654974A US3916393A US 3916393 A US3916393 A US 3916393A US 446549 A US446549 A US 446549A US 44654974 A US44654974 A US 44654974A US 3916393 A US3916393 A US 3916393A
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United States
Prior art keywords
gas
display
transition elements
display device
elements
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Expired - Lifetime
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US446549A
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English (en)
Inventor
Tony N Criscimagna
Frank M Lay
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International Business Machines Corp
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International Business Machines Corp
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Priority to US446549A priority Critical patent/US3916393A/en
Priority to DE19742460319 priority patent/DE2460319A1/de
Priority to FR7501211A priority patent/FR2262400B1/fr
Priority to GB130375A priority patent/GB1447953A/en
Priority to JP50011489A priority patent/JPS58141B2/ja
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Publication of US3916393A publication Critical patent/US3916393A/en
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J11/00—Gas-filled discharge tubes with alternating current induction of the discharge, e.g. alternating current plasma display panels [AC-PDP]; Gas-filled discharge tubes without any main electrode inside the vessel; Gas-filled discharge tubes with at least one main electrode outside the vessel

Definitions

  • G11C 11/28 ration such elements being adapted to generate a spe-
  • Field of Search 340/173 PL, 324 M Cific color dot when the associated site is energized by 313/218 appropriate selection signals.
  • the panel is fabricated essentially as a conventional gaseous discharge panel, [56] References Cited and requires no substantial modification of existing UNITED STATES PATENTS addressing and control circuitry.
  • This invention relates to display devices and more particularly to an improved gaseous discharge display device for generating images in selected colors by the selective energization of individual display sites.
  • Gaseous discharge display and storage devices have been developed as possible replacement for cathode ray tubes since they afiord economy of manufacture, consume relatively low power and their flat panel configuration is more readily adaptable for packaging.
  • One example of such gaseous discharge display and storage panels is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,559,190 Gaseous Discharge and Memory Apparatus patented Jan. 26, 1971, by Donald L. Bitzer et al.
  • Such devices may comprise three layer glass cell construction including a center layer of physically isolated cells, or alternatively may comprise an open panel configuration of electrically isolated but not physically isolated cells or sites. Individual sites are selected by energizing associated pairs of orthogonal drive lines disposed on opposite sides of the panel to produce a breakdown potential of the gas resulting in light emitting plasma.
  • the resulting wall charge produced at potential permits the display to be maintained at a lower potential designated sustain. While the intensity of the display may be varied by variation of the amplitude, frequency or duration of the write signals, practical design considerations dictate uniformity of signals such that a single intensity level display is provided.
  • Alphanumeric display terminals particularly when associated with a processor, utilize different techniques for visual cueing or highlighting of certain aspects of the display.
  • visual cueing features include dual intensity, blinking, underscore and color.
  • a preferred highlighting technique is color which can draw the attention of the operator to areas of the display without undue visual fatique or strain.
  • a transition element is one of several groups of elements in the periodic table having an incomplete inner shell. Such elements, as more fully described hereinafter, are all metals and most possess color ions and have a tendency to form complexes. When formed over conductor arrays on a glass substrate and overcoated with a glass frit which is reflowed, the transition elements difiuse into the glass. When the area beneath the desired transition element is ionized by appropriate drive signals applied to the associated conductors, the.
  • the device can be fabricated by gaseous discharge panel technology such as described in the aforenoted copending application Ser. No. 405,205, and is driven by logic and drive circuitry such as shown in aforenoted copending application Ser. No. 372,3 84.
  • a primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved multicolor gaseous discharge display device.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved multicolor gaseous discharge display device comprising anjarray of discrete transition elements in a predetermined configuration, each of said elements being adapted when ionized to produce a color light output.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved multicolor gaseous discharge display device having an array of color dots on the display surface of said panel, said dots being composed of transition elements adapted to emit a specified color when the associated site is discharged by appropriate drive signals.
  • FIG. 1 is a front edge view of a multicolor gaseous discharge display assembly constructed in accordance with the teaching of the instant invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a top view of the display surface of one of the panel components shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the array of transition elements.
  • FIG. 1 there is illustrated a gaseous discharge display assembly comprising glass substrates l1 and 13, substrate 10 having a plurality of conductors formed thereon, with a layer of dielectric glass 17 formed over the conductor array.
  • the gas chamber 21 is filled in the preferred embodiment with xenon gas which is panchromatic in light emission.
  • the panel is sealed about its edges to form a gas containing envelope.
  • An additional layer of a refractory material 19 is disposed over the dielectric to protect the conductors against sputtering or ion bombardment during ionization of selected cells or sites.
  • Refractory materials having a high coefficient of secondary emission such as magnesium oxide, for example, are well known in the art and permit operation at lower signal levels.
  • the preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes a series of discrete transition elements 35, 39 in a predetermined array, the particular transition elements in the preferred embodiment being selected for a specific color definition.
  • transition elements include a series of group of elements comprising elements 21 through 30 (scandium zinc) in the periodic table as well as three other groups of elements, elements 39 through 48 (yttrieum cadmium), 56 through 80 (lanthanum mercury), and 80 through 103 (actinium lawrencium).
  • elements in group 1 are used.
  • Copper, cobalt and copper mixed with a small percentage of tin are the transition elements utilized to provide the three colors. Transition elements of copper provide an aqua-greenish color, transition elements of cobalt a blue color and transition elements of copper with a small percentage of tin provide a red color.
  • An altemative method of providing a three color display would be to utilize two transition elements for two of the colors, while the discharge of the gas without a transition element would produce a third color.
  • the transition elements may be applied in individual sites through conventional masking techniques, the method employed in the preferred embodiment, although photo etching techniques might also be utilized.
  • a tricolor display such as contemplated in the preferred embodiment of the instant invention utilizing three transition elements, three separate evaporations through different masks would be required, one for each of the transition element colors.
  • the size and shape of the pads of transition elements would vary as the function of the desired resolution and size of the panels, but the pads utilized in the preferred embodiment for a resolution of 50 lines per inch would be approximately 180 mils on each side.
  • a 50 line per inch resolution would provide a display resolution of 25 lines per inch, since two lines are required for selection of one of the three basic colors.
  • Each transition element is located at the intersection of an associated pair of orthogonal conductors.
  • the transition elements as more clearly shown in FIG. 2 are driven from one side by drive conductor 3llA-31N while they are driven from the opposite side by drive conductor 33A33N, the preferred embodiment of the instant invention utilizing a driving arrangement from both sides of the panel.
  • this driving arrangement is merely as a matter of design choice, and driving from either or both sets of conductors from either or both sides of the panel is contemplated within the present invention.
  • Gaseous discharge panels or plasma display panels operate under the wall charge theory wherein writing is accomplished by applying a discharge potential across the conductors associated with selected sites to generate a discharge, the resulting light output being then maintained or sustained by a lower level signal.
  • An alternating potential from associated pairs of conductors is capacitatively coupled to the gas through the dielectric material, producing an alternating voltage across the gas in the region or site defined by the conductor intersection. When this potential exceeds the breakdown voltage of the gas, the gas becomes conductive through the voltage induced production of electrons and gas ions, and selected gas cells or sites are said to have broken down.
  • the breakdown voltage of the gas is obtained at a lower value of external potential, a current discharge of opposite sense to the initial discharge is initiated and a wall charge of opposite polarity to the initial wall charge is established with sufficient magnitude to cause the discharge to be extinguished.
  • the wall charge condition is maintained in selected cells by application of a lower potential sustain signal which, combined with the wall charge, causes the selected cells to be reignited and extinguish continuosly at the frequency of the sustained signals to maintain a continuous display. Since the drive signals of a plasma display are in the kilocycle range, a flicker-free display is provided. The light upward for display purposes is produced during the passage of the discharge of current.
  • the conductors 31 and 33 are shown as comprising multiple conductors to increase the light output since the light might otherwise be obstructed by opaque conductors.
  • the vertical conductors since they are not on the viewing side of the invention, may be single opaque conductors, conductors of chrome-copper-chrome being utilized in the preferred embodiment of the instant invention.
  • the lower chrome layer provides adherence to glass while the upper chrome layer protects the copper conductors from chemical attack by the dielectric glass during reflow of the dielectric layer over the conductors.
  • transition elements 35 are copper mixed with a small percentage of tin to produce a reddish color
  • transition elements 37 are copper which produce an aqua greenish color
  • transistion elements 39 are cobalt which produce a blue color.
  • a gaseous display element is described in detail in the afore referenced copending Application Ser. No. 405,205 to I-Iaberland et al and one of the steps in the process is the spraying and reflow of glass frit over the conductor array to form the dielectric.
  • the transition elements are deposited through a mark on the glass frit after spraying, as shown in FIG. 1, but before reflow, and then reflowed in the conventional manner. However, during the reflow, the transition elements are diffused into the dielectric but extend only over the specific area afforded by the masking operation.
  • Conductors 31A-31N and 33A-33N extend through an entire line of transition elements and are then joined so that conductor 31A, for example, terminates at point 45 and conductor 33A terminates at point 47.
  • the resulting panchromatic light emission at the discharge site causes the doped dielectric to emit a display of discrete color, each of the discrete elements being sufliciently closely spaced that reasonable resolution for a particular color display is available.
  • the conductors 31 and 33 terminate in termination pads 43 and 41 respectively, conductors 31 being designed to select the red or aqua color embodied in alternate transition elements 35, 37, while conductors 33 will be used for selection of the blue transition elements 39 when selection is provided simultaneously by the associated vertical conductor.
  • the associated vertical conductor array is provided with single vertical conductors associated with each of the columns such that alternate rows and columns will emcompass identical transition elements.
  • the transition elements are spaced relative to each other so that they are in an abutting relationship to prevent the emission of light between elements.
  • the conductor and transition element array when connected in a panel arrangement, will be on the lower surface of the substrate but on the viewing surface of the display since the light will be shining through the transition elements.
  • a variety of colors to suit the particular application would be available.
  • the normal fabrication techniques utilized to fabricate a gas panel such as described in the aforenoted Haberland et a1 application, Ser. No. 405,205 with the minor modifications as described may be employed, while conventional addressing techniques such as those described in the aforenoted Criscimagna et al application, Ser. No. 372,384 may be utilized to drive the panel, eliminating the necessity of additional development.
  • the aging problems associated with phosphors are eliminated, and only 2 lines are utilized to select one of three colors.
  • a gaseous discharge display device adapted for multicolor display comprising in combination a pair of support plates sealed to form a chamber filled with an ionizable gas, said support plates having conductor arrays formed thereon, each of said conductor arrays comprising parallel conductors, said arrays being'substantially orthogonally related to define gas discharge sites at respective intersections thereof, a dielectric layer formed over each of said conductor arrays, said dielectric on the support plate comprising the viewing side of said display device having an associated plurality of discrete transition elements positioned over said gas discharge sites whereby ioniza-' tion of said gas by application of control signals applied to selected sites thereof produces a localized color display through said associated transition elements.
  • a display device of the type claimed in claim 2 wherein said ionizable gas has panchromatic light emission characteristics.
  • a device of the type claimed in claim 3 wherein said gas having panchromatic light emission characteristics is Xenon.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Gas-Filled Discharge Tubes (AREA)
  • Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)
  • Physical Vapour Deposition (AREA)
US446549A 1974-02-27 1974-02-27 Multicolor gaseous discharge display device Expired - Lifetime US3916393A (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US446549A US3916393A (en) 1974-02-27 1974-02-27 Multicolor gaseous discharge display device
DE19742460319 DE2460319A1 (de) 1974-02-27 1974-12-20 Vielfarben-gasentladungsbildschirmbauelement
FR7501211A FR2262400B1 (fr) 1974-02-27 1975-01-10
GB130375A GB1447953A (en) 1974-02-27 1975-01-13 Gas discharge multicolour display device
JP50011489A JPS58141B2 (ja) 1974-02-27 1975-01-29 カラ− ガスホウデンデイスプレイソウチ

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US446549A US3916393A (en) 1974-02-27 1974-02-27 Multicolor gaseous discharge display device

Publications (1)

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US3916393A true US3916393A (en) 1975-10-28

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US446549A Expired - Lifetime US3916393A (en) 1974-02-27 1974-02-27 Multicolor gaseous discharge display device

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US (1) US3916393A (fr)
JP (1) JPS58141B2 (fr)
DE (1) DE2460319A1 (fr)
FR (1) FR2262400B1 (fr)
GB (1) GB1447953A (fr)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2373149A1 (fr) * 1976-12-06 1978-06-30 Fujitsu Ltd Panneau a decharge gazeuse
US4513281A (en) * 1982-04-05 1985-04-23 At&T Bell Laboratories AC plasma panel shift with intensity control
US4540983A (en) * 1981-10-02 1985-09-10 Futaba Denshi Kogyo K.K. Fluorescent display device
US4566006A (en) * 1982-05-17 1986-01-21 Hitachi, Ltd. Gas discharge display apparatus
US4617563A (en) * 1982-12-28 1986-10-14 Seiko Epson Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid crystal display device
US4827186A (en) * 1987-03-19 1989-05-02 Magnavox Government And Industrial Electronics Company Alternating current plasma display panel
US4843281A (en) * 1986-10-17 1989-06-27 United Technologies Corporation Gas plasma panel
US4963114A (en) * 1987-11-25 1990-10-16 Bell Communications Research, Inc. Process for fabrication of high resolution flat panel plasma displays
US5086297A (en) * 1988-06-14 1992-02-04 Dai Nippon Insatsu Kabushiki Kaisha Plasma display panel and method of forming fluorescent screen thereof
US6738032B1 (en) * 1999-11-24 2004-05-18 Lg Electronics Inc. Plasma display panel having pads of different length

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3559190A (en) * 1966-01-18 1971-01-26 Univ Illinois Gaseous display and memory apparatus
US3771008A (en) * 1972-11-09 1973-11-06 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Gaseous discharge display device

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3559190A (en) * 1966-01-18 1971-01-26 Univ Illinois Gaseous display and memory apparatus
US3771008A (en) * 1972-11-09 1973-11-06 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Gaseous discharge display device

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2373149A1 (fr) * 1976-12-06 1978-06-30 Fujitsu Ltd Panneau a decharge gazeuse
US4540983A (en) * 1981-10-02 1985-09-10 Futaba Denshi Kogyo K.K. Fluorescent display device
US4513281A (en) * 1982-04-05 1985-04-23 At&T Bell Laboratories AC plasma panel shift with intensity control
US4566006A (en) * 1982-05-17 1986-01-21 Hitachi, Ltd. Gas discharge display apparatus
US4617563A (en) * 1982-12-28 1986-10-14 Seiko Epson Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid crystal display device
US4843281A (en) * 1986-10-17 1989-06-27 United Technologies Corporation Gas plasma panel
US4827186A (en) * 1987-03-19 1989-05-02 Magnavox Government And Industrial Electronics Company Alternating current plasma display panel
US4963114A (en) * 1987-11-25 1990-10-16 Bell Communications Research, Inc. Process for fabrication of high resolution flat panel plasma displays
US5086297A (en) * 1988-06-14 1992-02-04 Dai Nippon Insatsu Kabushiki Kaisha Plasma display panel and method of forming fluorescent screen thereof
US6738032B1 (en) * 1999-11-24 2004-05-18 Lg Electronics Inc. Plasma display panel having pads of different length

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1447953A (en) 1976-09-02
FR2262400A1 (fr) 1975-09-19
DE2460319A1 (de) 1975-08-28
JPS50116273A (fr) 1975-09-11
FR2262400B1 (fr) 1984-02-17
JPS58141B2 (ja) 1983-01-05

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