DE2362821A1 - GAS DISCHARGE INDICATOR - Google Patents

Description

THE NATIONAL CASH REGISTER COMPANY Dayton »Ohio (V.St.A.)

Patent application

Our reference number: 1478 / Germany

Gas discharge indicator

The invention relates to a gas discharge display device, in particular one for the optional display of an image from a plurality of fixed images.

In known gas discharge display devices of this type are the various fixed images in. housed separate display areas of a display panel. This has the disadvantage that the images to be displayed can only be made small and indistinct are difficult to understand, especially when viewed from a distance.

The object is to be achieved by the invention in a gas discharge display device of the aforementioned type a clearer one, also of larger ones To achieve distances from a readable image without the gas discharge display device being made inappropriately large needs to become.

This object is achieved according to the invention found that gas chambers and electrical conductors were part of them Excitation are arranged so that the combination certain, fixed images, for example information, formed by the electrical excitation of the individual gas chambers relevant conductor can optionally be made to glow. .

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The gas discharge display device is a special development for the optional display of an image from a plurality of fixed images according to the invention by two walls with electrode means, at least one wall of which is transparent, and the electrode means contain a plurality of parallel column conductors, and by electrical arranged between the two walls Isolation means having a plurality of image patterns corresponding to the plurality of solid images, which are formed by chambers containing ionizable gas are formed, the chambers of each image pattern in a plurality of Columns are arranged, which are connected to the column conductors of the respective image patterns are aligned, and the chamber columns of the various image patterns are intertwined (i.e. each column may contain chambers of multiple image patterns), and wherein the configuration of the one electrode means is such that by appropriately energizing both electrode means, a selected image pattern of chambers ionized and thereby the image in question is made visible.

There are three different embodiments of a gas discharge display device according to the invention shown as examples in the drawing and are described below with reference to these. Show it

Figure 1 is a perspective front view of a gas discharge display device according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view along the Level 2-2 of Figure 1

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of Explanation of the function of the shown in FIG Contraption,

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FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration to explain the operation of a further embodiment a gas discharge display device according to the invention, and

. FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration to explain the operation of yet another embodiment a gas discharge display device according to the invention.

The gas discharge display device 10 shown in FIG. 1 in a schematic perspective view according to the invention includes a back wall in the form of a substrate 12, a front wall in the form of a substrate and electrode means disposed therebetween and one with Voided plate. The back substrate 12 consists of insulating material, such as glass, on which the first electrode means are located. These first Electrode means contain a plurality of spaced apart parallel to each other, for example rod-like Row electrodes 16 and 18, which are made of a suitable, electrically conductive material, such as silver, exist.

The front substrate 14 consists of a transparent insulation material, for example glass. Electrode means are located on this front substrate 14, the a plurality of spaced parallel to each other, for example rod-like thin Have column electrodes 20 and 22 made of suitable electrically conductive, transparent material,

December 10, 1973

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236282T

for example from tin oxide. To isolate the electrodes 2Q, 22 of an ionizable one filling the cavities mentioned Gas is aaf the electrodes of the front substrate 14 one Layer 23 of transparent glass (Figure 2) applied.

Said voided plate is in the form of a glass layer 24 which is located between the front and rear substrates 12 and 18, as shown in FIG. This glass layer 24 preferably contains black dye, so that the glass has a black color has _o The outer dimensions of the glass Pushes 24 corresponding to the front substrate 14 is smaller than the rear substrate 12. These differences in dimensions makes it therefore so that the various electrodes 16, 18, 20 and 22 extend beyond the boundaries of layer 24 to allow these electrodes to be better connected to terminals, as will be described later.

According to FIG. 2, the glass layer 24 contains the aforementioned plurality of cavities or chambers 26. These Chambers 26 are arranged in intermingled image patterns corresponding to the fixed images to be displayed in such a way that that each chamber is at a point of intersection between a horizontally arranged electrode (such as 16, 18) and a vertically arranged electrode (such as 20, 22). The chambers 26 can be known per se Techniques are made, for example by photo-chemical processing, and typically have depth of about 0.18 mm. Their cross-sectional shapes are essentially identical and can be any Have a shape, for example be circular or rectangular.

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The gas discharge display device 10, which can also be referred to as a plasma display device, is shown in FIG Figure 2 shown in their assembled state. The side provided with the column electrodes 20, 22 of the front Substrate 14 is adjacent to and aligned with chambers 26 so that each chamber is at an intersection point lies. The device 10 is in a manner known per se by attaching glass steps 28 around the edges sealed around and heat treated in an oven to melt the glass frit. After sealing the device 10 is made using one with chambers 26 in Connecting nozzle 30 is drawn off the air and the chambers are then filled with an ionizable gas filled. After this filling, the nozzle 30 locked. Usually the touch areas small surface irregularities between the glass layers 23 and 24, through which connecting channels result, over which the ruling in the chambers can be seen Can compensate for pressure. If the pressure does not stabilize, not shown, usual Pressure compensation grooves are provided, which connect the chambers 26 to one another and thereby the in stabilize the prevailing gas pressure.

The procedure for assigning the chambers to the individual graphs or fixed to be displayed Images and the method of connecting the electrodes, means of the display device 10 such that a selection the images to be displayed is on hand the schematic representation in Figure 3 is easy to understand. This figure shows only the electrode means and the connection means used to select those shown

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serve fixed images. Each of the chambers (such as 26 in Figure 2) needed to display a particular solid image is at a crossover point (such as 30 in Figure 3) between a horizontally disposed electrode, such as 16, and a vertically disposed electrode, such as Wenn For example, four fixed images are to be displayed and each image is to extend essentially over the entire display area of the display device, then the chambers assigned to the first image can for example be at the intersection points (such as 30), which are labeled "1" in FIG . In the same way, the chambers assigned to the second, third and fourth image can lie at the intersection points labeled “2”, “3” and “4”. For example, the particular first image to be displayed may be produced by using a layer of photoresist which is aligned with the layer of glass 24 in which the chambers must be formed prior to assembly of the display device. All of the cavities or chambers (such as 26) required to display the image can be produced by known photochemical processing operations on the layer 24, and each required chamber can be located at one of the intersection points marked "1" (such as 30 in FIG. 3) . The image produced in this way is composed of individual points. If a certain design or pattern of the first image produced does not require a cavity or chamber ^{at a crossing point marked with * 1 M, then this is the case}

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of course, no chamber is formed either. This same one Technique is then also used to produce the second, third and fourth images for the one shown in FIG Display device used. In another embodiment, for example, a capital letter "E" may be displayed by creating cavities or chambers at the intersection points marked "2" in the right half of FIG are formed. The left side of Figure 3 does not contain any specific image to be displayed. It only shows the locations of the various intersection points that form the chamber areas reserved for the first, second, third and fourth images to be displayed by the device assigned.

The connection means for selecting the relevant to be displayed are shown in FIG. These connection means include first, second, third and fourth Connections. The first terminal 1 is connected to all alternatives of the vertically aligned electrodes 20 and the remaining vertically aligned electrodes 22 are .Connected to the second connection 2. The third port A is with every second one of the horizontally aligned Electrodes 16 are connected and the remaining horizontally aligned electrodes are connected to the fourth terminal B. tied together.

It is only possible to select one of the four fixed images with the connection terminal means in FIG required, one of the connections assigned to the vertically aligned electrodes (such as 1 or 2) and select one of the connections associated with the horizontally aligned electrodes (such as A or B) and

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to apply a voltage to these selected connections. The following table shows which fixed image is displayed in each case when a voltage is applied to certain selected terminals of the display device 10.

Voltage on the Connections 1 Displayed image A. and 2 1 A. and 1 2 B. and 2 3 B. and 4th

If, for example, connections A and 1 (FIG. 3) are energized for the purpose of displaying the first image, then all chambers located at the intersection points "1" are energized and the gas therein is visibly glowing. Of course, the type of the first image to be displayed depends on the pattern given by the chambers ₉ which correspond to the "1"
designated intersection points. This particular arrangement shown in FIG. 3 makes it possible to have images in the usual sense or images containing information in one of the plurality of "points" dependent
Number to represent. Each image can be based on the
entire display area of the display device 10
and, as already mentioned, from word-like messages, punctiform works of art, drawings,
Curves and the like exist. Since every solid
Image can extend over the entire device, each image is much larger than is the case with gas discharge display devices, in which

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for example, if four fixed images can be displayed, each image will only be a quarter of the total viewing area occupies.

The display device according to the invention shown schematically in FIG. 3 is so wired that four images can be displayed, but the wiring can also be done without difficulty be designed so that a different number of fixed images can be displayed. For example, can the horizontally arranged electrodes 16 and 18 can be replaced by a common electrode, which is located extends over the entire back of the display device 10 according to the invention, and vertically aligned electrodes 20 and 22 can remain wired as they did for the first and second Connections are. All the chambers assigned to the first image are then positioned vertically Electrodes 20 aligned and all of the chambers associated with the second image are on the vertical ones Electrodes 22 aligned. For example, one is then used to display the first fixed image such a two-image display to energize the common electrode and the first terminal "1".

If more than four fixed images are to be displayed, the wiring can be as in Figure 5 have shown embodiment. This figure is similar to Figure 3 and shows chamber locations the crossing points between the vertically running electrodes and the horizontally running electrodes

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Electrodes. These chamber locations are numbered 1 through 9 in FIG. 5 and are arranged in a repeating pattern similar to that shown in FIG. 3, except that the repeating pattern in FIG repeating pattern in Figure 3 is built on a multiple of two. As a result, up to nine fixed images can be displayed with the display device 10 according to the invention when using the wiring of FIG. 5, while up to four fixed images can be displayed with the display device 10 when the wiring pattern shown in FIG. 3 is used.

In FIG. 5, which is similar to the upper left part of FIG. 3, only a part of the wiring pattern is shown, but the whole of it can be shown Wiring pattern for the whole display device be derived. The vertically arranged electrodes 32, 34 and 36 are connected to terminals "1", "2" and "3" tied together. Every third electrode (seen from left to right in Figure 5) is with one of the terminals tied together; for example, the two electrodes labeled 36 are connected to terminal "3". The horizontally arranged electrodes 38, 40 and 42 are each connected to one of the terminals A, B and C. tied together. Every third electrode, viewed from top to bottom in Figure 5, is more similar Way connected to one of the connectors. For example, the electrodes 38 are each connected to the terminal A. All of the chambers that are required to generate the first image of the display device 10 are located here are to the by the horizontal and vertical

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Electrodes formed crossing points, which are labeled "1". They are in a similar way Formation of the ninth image, for example, at the intersection points labeled "9". For example To display the ninth image, the terminals labeled "3" and C must be energized and to display the sixth image, the terminals labeled "3" and B must be energized.

The further embodiment of a gas discharge display device shown in FIG according to the invention is similar to the embodiments shown in FIG. 3, but in FIG the chambers are not punctiform, but rather in the form of larger cavities, each of which has the Have the form of a complete character to be produced. For example, the chamber shown in FIG such a shape as to form the letter "A" which is located at the crossing point of the vertical electrode and the. horizontal electrode 16 is located. These electrodes correspond to those shown in FIG Electrodes, however, they are made wider so that they cover the entire character to be displayed. the Wiring and excitation are carried out in exactly the same way in the embodiment shown in FIG In the manner described with reference to FIG. It should also be noted that the assignment of the 'Chamber locations or chamber areas in FIG is the same as the locations or areas 1, 2, 3 and of FIG.

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The following table shows »which are representative Fixed images are displayed when selected connections of the display device 10, the connections of which are shown in FIG voltage is applied.

Voltage at the connections Displayed image

A and 1 ACCOUNT NUMBER

A and 2 FEE 2

B and 1 JOURNAL LOW

B and 2 CLASS

The operating voltages, gas mixtures and gas pressures of the gas discharge display device according to the invention can have values known per se. For example, in the illustrated embodiments of the invention, the ionizable gas present in chambers 26 can be a mixture of 99.7% neon. 0.2 % nitrogen and 0.1 % argon and these chambers can have a gas pressure of approximately 100 torr. The excitation voltage used to energize each terminal can be approximately 240 volts AC, in the form of pulses approximately two to six microseconds in length and spaced approximately 50 microseconds apart.

^{10 12 1973} 409826/0824

Claims (1)

Patent claims: (I / gas discharge display device, characterized in that gas chambers and electrical conductors are arranged for their excitation in such a way that the combination of individual gas chambers forms certain, fixed images, for example information, which are optionally made to light up by electrical excitation of the respective conductors can. 2. Gas discharge display device for the optional display of an image from a plurality of fixed images according to claim 1, characterized by two walls (12, 14) with electrode means (16, 18 and 20, 22), of which at least one wall is transparent and the electrode means contain a multiplicity of parallel column conductors (20 _s 22), and by electrical insulation means (24) arranged between the two walls (12, 14) with a multiplicity of image patterns corresponding to the multiplicity of the solid images, the chambers containing ionisable gas ( 26) are formed, wherein the chambers (26) of each image pattern are arranged in a plurality of columns which are aligned with the column conductors (20, 22) of the respective image pattern, and the chamber columns of the various image patterns are interwoven (ie each column can chambers a plurality of image patterns included), and wherein the configuration of the one electrode means _s is such that by appropriate energizing Both electrode means ionized a selected image pattern of chambers and thereby the image in question is made visible. 3. gas discharge display device according to claim 2, characterized in that said one electrode means are in the form of a continuous electrode arranged to cooperate with all of said column electrodes. 409826/0824 December 10, 1973 4. · Gas discharge display device according to claim 2, characterized in that said first electrode means in the form of _s are a multiplicity of row conductors (16, 18) have chambers (26) arranged each image pattern in the form of a plurality of columns with the relevant column conductors of the respective image pattern are aligned so that the lines of the various image patterns given by the chambers are mixed with one another, and that the respectively selected row conductors (16 or 18) can be excited during operation in such a way that the image pattern is visible that corresponds to the chambers ( 26), which are located at the crossing points of the selected row and column conductors. 5. Gas discharge display device according to claim 4, characterized in that alternately following electrodes of the column electrodes 2u first (20) and second (22) groups of column electrodes are connected to one another and that alternately following electrodes of the row electrodes to the first (16) and second (18 ) Groups of row electrodes are connected to one another, and that in operation a selected one of the guest and second groups of the column electrodes and a selected one of the first and second groups of the row electrodes are excited at the same time. 6. Gas discharge display device according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that said electrical insulation means (24) are formed from opaque glass. December 10, 1973 409826/0824 7. Gas discharge display device according to one of the Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that said chambers (26) have a uniform width. 8. Gas discharge display device according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that each of the said gas chambers (44) has the shape of a character to be displayed (Figure 4). December 10, 1973 409826/0824 ι «* · ♦ Blank page