Abstract: An addressing structure (10, 10') using an ionizable gaseous medium has plural nonintersecting channels (20, 20') extending in a first direction and filled with an ionizable gaseous medium. Each channel contains a reference electrode (30, 30') and a row electrode (62, 62'). An amplifier (100) provides a kicker pulse to one or both of the first and second electrodes in a channel at a time coincident with the application of a second electrical signal to the second electrode. The kicker pulse and the second electrical signal cooperate to promote ionization of the gaseous medium within a predetermined discharge initiation delay time tolerance. The ionization captures across a liquid crystal material (44) data signals placed on column electrodes (18); the data signals place display elements (16) associated with the electro-optic material in predetermined data storage or display element states.

Abstract: A liquid crystal cell (60) for an optical display system has a first transparent electrode structure (62) including plural separate display electrodes (72A-72E) spaced apart from and generally parallel to a second electrode structure (64) including a common electrode (106) opposing the display electrodes across a thin layer (76) of liquid crystal material captured between the two electrode structures. Each display electrode has left (92A-92E) and right (94A-94E) ends having respective electrical contact areas (96A-96E, 98A-98E). The left and right ends of each display electrode are electrically driven with a drive signal (V.sub.DRIVE (A-E)). The common electrode has top (116) and bottom (118) ends located adjacent respective top (108) and bottom (110) side margins of the second electrode structure and having top center (120) and bottom center (122) locations with respective top and bottom electrical contact areas (124, 126).

Abstract: An optical module for an optically based measurement system, such as an electro-optic system (10) for measuring electrical characteristics of a device under test (14), has a probe arm (26), a layer of electro-optic material (27), and a first optical system for delivering a measurement beam (44) to the layer and for producing therefrom an information-carrying beam having optical characteristics indicative of the electric characteristics. The first optical system includes a first lens (128), and (optional) polarization bias adjustment (130), a dichroic beamsplitter (112), and a second lens (114). The module also has a second optical system for delivering an observation beam (66) through the layer and onto a portion (68) of the device and for forming from rays (69) stemming from the observation beam a light pattern (70) indicative of the portion. The information-carrying beam is analyzed in a polarization analysis module into component beams (136, 138) in respective linearly independent polarization states.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing cross-talk across the width of a pixel, cross-talk along the length of a channel, flicker, and/or image sticking in a display system by providing (a) an electrical circuit (resistor 102, switch 108) for bringing a reference electrode (30') and a row electrode (62') in a channel (20') to the same potential before the gaseous medium in the channel loses an ability to redistribute charge and (b) an electrical circuit (driver 104 and/or driver 26) operable to bring or to clamp one or both of those electrodes to a predetermined electrical potential. Corresponding methods are also provided.