Multicolor gaseous discharge display device

• US 3,916,393 A
• Filed: 02/27/1974
• Issued: 10/28/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frank M. Lay, Tony N. Criscimagna
• Original Assignee: Frank M. Lay, Tony N. Criscimagna
• Inventors: Lay, Frank M., Criscimagna, Tony N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fears, Terrell W.
• Application Number:
  US05/446,549
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 340/173PL,324M 313/218
• US Class Current: 313/518
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 11/00 Gas-filled discharge tubes with alternating current induction of the discharge, e.g. alternating current plasma display panels [AC-PDP] circuits or methods for driving PDPs G09G3/28; Gas-filled discharge tubes without any main electrode inside the vessel; Gas-filled discharge tubes with at least one main electrode outside the vessel

Abstract

An improved gaseous discharge display device is disclosed for providing a multicolor capability with nominal modification of existing gaseous display technology. A dielectric glass over the conductor array on the viewing side of the device is doped with discrete transition elements arranged in a predetermined configuration, such elements being adapted to generate a specific color dot when the associated site is energized by appropriate selection signals. The panel is fabricated essentially as a conventional gaseous discharge panel, and requires no substantial modification of existing addressing and control circuitry.

Claims

1. 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 ionization of said gas by application of control signals applied to selected sites thereof produces a localized color display through said associated transition elements.

2. A display device of the type claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of discrete transition elements are arranged in a uniform configuration over the display portion of said display device.

3. A display device of the type claimed in claim 2 wherein said ionizable gas has panchromatic light emission characteristics.

4. A device of the type claimed in claim 3 wherein said gas having panchromatic light emission characteristics is Xenon.

5. A device of the character claimed in claim 1 wherein the conductors in said array positioned adjacent said viewing side of said device have multiple drive lines to increase the light intensity.

6. A device of the character claimed in claim 4 wherein said discrete transition elements are in elements 21-30 of the periodic table.

7. A device of the character claimed in claim 6 wherein said elements are copper, cobalt and copper with a small percentage of tin.

8. A device of the character claimed in claim 6 wherein said copper, cobalt and copper tin transition elements produce displays of aqua green, blue and red respectively.