Abstract: A gas discharge display/memory device in which the driving circuitry is coupled to the panel electrodes through a plurality of gas discharge cells. Along one edge of each of the panel electrode arrays, there are formed a plurality of gas discharge shift cells each defined by a pair of crosspoints, one crosspoint formed by one of a plurality of shift electrodes and a common electrode means and the other crosspoint formed by the common electrode means and one of the panel electrodes. The shift electrodes associated with each electrode array are connected to individual shift voltage generators which generate phased shift voltages to shift a discharge along the common electrode. The discharge associated with each electrode array can be transferred to a selected panel electrode by applying a transfer pulse voltage to the electrodes forming the second crosspoint such that a discharge is initiated in the panel cell defined by the crosspoint of the selected panel electrodes.

Abstract: A gas discharge device having at least one dielectric charge storage member the gaseous medium contacting surface of which consists of a low operating voltage material. The material is used in an amount sufficient to increase the operating life span of the device and/or stabilize the operating voltages of the device. An interface and addressing means is connected to a pair of opposed electrode arrays to energize a plurality of discharge cells, each cell including proximate electrode portions of at least one electrode in each opposed array, said dielectric charge storage member insulating at least one of said proximate electrode portions from said gas. A cell and associated circuitry present a capacitive impedance to a voltage pulse applied by the interface and addressing means to the electrode portions to generate a relatively slow rise time leading edge on said voltage pulse for improved addressing of said cell.

Abstract: A gas discharge device having at least one dielectric charge storage member the gaseous medium contacting surface of which consists of a low operating voltage material. The material is used in an amount sufficient to increase the operating life span of the device and/or stabilize the operating voltages of the device. An interface and addressing means is connected to a pair of opposed electrode arrays to energize a plurality of discharge cells, each cell including proximate electrode portions of at least one electrode in each opposed array, said dielectric charge storage member insulating at least one of said proximate electrode portions from said gas. A write voltage pulse having a relatively fast rise time is superimposed on a sloped pedestal to generate a relatively slow rise time portion of said voltage pulse for improved addressing of a cell.

Abstract: In accordance with this invention, a chemically convertible polymeric coating composition is applied to the surface of a glass substrate and subsequently converted to a crosslinked coating by the application of UV light or another form of energy. The polymeric coating composition contains at least two basic components:(1) a rubbery thermoplastic organic polymer; and(2) an organic photosensitizer.

Abstract: There are disclosed novel photodegradable polymeric or plastic compositions comprising at least one organic polymer or copolymer and at least two different aromatic carbonyl photosensitizers.

Abstract: An interface circuit and method for multiple discharge gaseous display and/or memory panels utilizing the slope characteristics of individual discharge units in a multiple discharge panel to control the status of individual units without effecting the status of other individual discharge units. A low level voltage signal from an addressing logic system is translated into a high voltage unidirectional pulse which is added to a periodic alternating voltage at selected times to modify the slope of discharge potential of a charge storage discharge unit to control on and off states of selected discharge units.

Abstract: There is disclosed a multiple gaseous discharge display/memory panel having an electrical memory and capable of producing a visual display, the panel being characterized by an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric material charge storage members which are respectively backed by an array of conductor (electrode) members, the conductor array behind each dielectric material member being appropriately oriented with respect to the conductor array behind the opposing dielectric material member so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge volumes constituting a discharge unit, the gas surface of at least one dielectric material member containing at least one inorganic lead compound.

Abstract: There is disclosed a gas discharge device containing electrode arrays, an ionizable gaseous medium, and a phosphor excited at least in part by radiation from the gas discharge of the device, the life of the phosphor being increased by the application of a phosphor overcoat which is at least partially transmissive to excitation radiation from the gas discharge. The phosphor overcoat is typically selected from alkali and alkaline earth fluorides. In one embodiment, the gaseous medium comprises at least one rare gas selected from neon or argon and at least one other rare gas selected from argon, xenon, krypton. The gas discharge device is preferably of the display/memory type wherein electrical charges are stored on opposing dielectric surfaces, the phosphor and phosphor overcoat being positioned on the dielectric surfaces near the gas discharge.

Abstract: There is disclosed a novel packaging means for a display panel. More especially, there is disclosed a clamping or holding frame for protecting the outer edges and corners of a display panel.

Abstract: There is disclosed a multiple gaseous discharge display/memory panel having an electrical memory and capable of producing a visual display, the panel being characterized by an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric material charge storage members which are respectively backed by an array of conductor (electrode) members, the conductor array behind each dielectric material member being appropriately oriented with respect to the conductor array behind the opposing dielectric material member so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge volumes constituting a discharge unit, the gas surface of at least one dielectric material member containing at least one inorganic lead compound.

Abstract: There is disclosed a novel degradable plastic composition, said composition being degradable in the absence of electromagnetic radiation and consisting essentially of an organic polymer having dispersed therein at least one transition-metal derivative of at least one highly unsaturated organic acid, such as a tallate, linoleate, linolenate, etc. of one or more transition metals, particularly a transition metal such as cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, and nickel.

Abstract: Methods of making complex glass panel structures having precision dimensions. Glass tubes, rods, plates or other large glass structures are redrawn individually or in groups to filamentary or capillary size tube or gas continuums which are assembled as a monolayer to form a gas discharge panel, for example. Complex glass structures having precision uniform cross-sectional dimensions are constructed. Various novel glass structures and/or conductor configurations and methods of assembling are disclosed.

Abstract: A printing paste vehicle for use in dispensing solids on a substrate comprises at least one polar oxygenated solvent, a binding agent and an organic thixotrope in specified proportions. A solids dispensing paste composition comprises the vehicle, a glass binder and gold in specified proportions. A portion of the paste is deposited in the bottom of a cavity of a microelectronic package, and gradually heated to a temperature sufficient to allow the paste to flow and the gold and glass binder to settle to the bottom of the cavity. The vehicle is volatilized, and the component is subsequently fired to bond the gold to the bottom of the cavity.

Abstract: There is disclosed a gas discharge device containing at least two electrodes, at least one of the electrodes being insulated from the gas by a dielectric member. There is particularly disclosed a multiple gaseous discharge display/memory panel having an electrical memory and capable of producing a visual display, the panel being characterized by an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric material charge storage members, each of which is respectively backed by an array of electrodes, the electrodes behind each dielectric material member being oriented with respect to the electrodes behind the opposing dielectric material member so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge volumes constituting a discharge unit.At least one dielectric insulating member contains a predetermined beneficial amount of a source of at least one member selected from boron, gallium, indium or thallium.

Abstract: Multiple pass method of applying printing paste upon a substrate wherein the method includes the application upon a substrate of a printing paste composition containing an inorganic particulate material, a pyrolyzable organic binder and a solvent system for the organic binder which comprises a low boiling temperature solvent and a high boiling temperature solvent. The method includes the steps of applying a first layer of the printing paste composition and the thermal removal of substantially all of the low boiling temperature solvent, but not the high boiling temperature solvent or binder, prior to superimposing the next pass or layer of printing paste having the same characteristics as the first layer thereover. Following the application of the desired number of layers and removal of low boiling temperature solvent in this manner, the high boiling temperature solvent and the binder are thermally removed and the inorganic particulate material is fused to the substrate.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of permanently attaching metallic spacers in gaseous discharge display panels by ultrasonically bonding said spacers between the glass substrates thereof to thin film metal tabs located between the electrodes. Such a method prevents any subsequent movement of the spacers after attachment and makes the spacers substantially invisible to the naked eye. The article so bonded is also an integral part of this invention.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for preparing chemically modified styrene polymers and copolymers which comprises treating a polystyrene or a styrene copolymer with an acyl halide in the presence of a Lewis acid so as to introduce ketone groups into the treated polymer or copolymer in an amount sufficient to promote environmental photodegradation of the treated polymer or copolymer. The resulting modified polymers may be used as degradable packaging materials, or as additives to promote the environmental degradation of polystyrene and related materials.

Abstract: There is disclosed a passive mirror alignment system to permit alignment of the output coupler of a gas laser device relative to the flat mirror so as to produce the necessary optical resonator without the need to evacuate, backfill with gas, and maintain a plasma within the device.

Abstract: There is disclosed the in situ synthesizing of a polymeric material on a substrate by applying to the substrate a solid pyrolyzable binder which contains at least one member capable of polymerizing at or above the pyrolysis temperature of the binder and then applying heat so as to pyrolyze the binder and synthesize the polymer such that the pyrolyzed binder is not a part of the in situ synthesized polymeric material.

Abstract: There is disclosed a gaseous laser, whose cathode is a conductive coating upon the walls of a cathode volume, the geometric design of the cathode, cathode volume, and cathode-connecting volume being such as to impede sputtering of the cathode.