Abstract: A method for making a flat-panel gas discharge display is disclosed. The display is formed on a single substrate by providing a first set of conductors on the substrate, providing a second set of conductors on a supporting roll, orienting the second set of conductors at an angle relative to the first set, and affixing the second set of conductors to the substrate.

Abstract: A flat-panel gas discharge display operable with either alternating or direct current is free of implosive forces because it operates at least at substantially atmospheric pressure. The display comprises a first set of conductors disposed on a transparent substrate and a second set crossing over the first set at a distance therefrom. An array of crosspoints is formed at each location where a conductor of the second set crosses over a conductor of the first set. A gas is contained in the space between the first and second sets of conductors at each crosspoint. The gas will undergo light emissive discharge when a voltage greater than or equal to the Paschen minimum firing voltage is applied at a crosspoint. Air may be used as the operative gas. The display is formed on a single substrate, and may be stacked with additional displays in lieu of one or more capping layers. At least one of the sets of conductors may be provided with an aperture at each of the crosspoints to facilitate viewing the discharge.

Abstract: A flat-panel gas discharge display operable with either alternating or direct current is free of implosive forces because it operates at least at substantially atmospheric pressure. The display comprises a first set of conductors disposed on a transparent substrate and a second set crossing over the first set at a distance therefrom. An array of crosspoints is formed at each location where a conductor of the second set crosses over a conductor of the first set. A gas is contained in the space between the first and second sets of conductors at each crosspoint. The gas will undergo light emissive discharge when a voltage greater than or equal to the Paschen minimum firing voltage is applied at a crosspoint. Air may be used as the operative gas. The display is formed on a single substrate, and may be stacked with additional displays in lieu of one or more capping layers. At least one of the sets of conductors may be provided with an aperture at each of the crosspoints to facilitate viewing the discharge.

Abstract: A flat-panel gas discharge display operable with either alternating or direct current is free of implosive forces because it operates at least at substantially atmospheric pressure. The display comprises a first set of conductors disposed on a transparent substrate and a second set crossing over the first set at a distance therefrom. An array of crosspoints is formed at each location where a conductor of the second set crosses over a conductor of the first set. A gas is contained in the space between the first and second sets of conductors at each crosspoint. The gas will undergo light emissive discharge when a voltage greater than or equal to the Paschen minimum firing voltage is applied at a crosspoint. Air may be used as the operative gas. The display is formed on a single substrate, and may be stacked with additional displays in lieu of one or more capping layers. At least one of the sets of conductors may be provided with an aperture at each of the crosspoints to facilitate viewing the discharge.

Abstract: A flat-panel gas discharge display operable with either alternating or direct current is free of implosive forces because it operates at substantially atmospheric pressure. The display comprises a first set of conductors disposed on a transparant substrate and a second set of conductors crossing over the first set at a distance therefrom. An array of crosspoints is formed at each location where a conductor of the second set crosses over a conductor of the first set. A gas is contained in the space between the sets of conductors at each crosspoint. The gas will undergo light emissive discharge when a Paschen minimum firing voltage is applied to the pair of crossed conductors crossing at that crosspoint. Air may be used as the operative gas. The display may be formed on a single side of the substrate. At least one of the sets of conductors may be provided with an aperture at each of the crosspoints to facilitate viewing the discharge. A system incorporating the flat-panel display is described.

Abstract: An array of magnetically-actuatable electrical switches is controlledly operated in response to changes in position of a movable member controlling the magnetic field reaching the switching elements. The movable member may for example comprise a panel, supporting permanent magnets which are moved into switch-closing or switch-opening positions by motion of the panel, or a movable magnetic shielding arrangement used in conjunction with fixed permanent magnets so that the position of the magnetic shield determines whether the switches are open or closed. The preferred arrangement is such that the motion of the movable switch-controlling member can be accomplished mechanically by a manually-operable actuator or electrically by an electrically-controlled solenoid arrangement, at the option of the operator.

Abstract: A first set of conductors (e.g. 25 of them) leading for example to a communications modem, is connected by way of a corresponding set of normally-closed switches to corresponding conductors of a second set, leading for example to local equipment such as a computer. At least one of the above sets of conductors is also connected to connector means into which a multi-wire (e.g. 24 wire) patching cable may be plugged. The plugging-in of the patching cable automatically opens the normally-closed switches to isolate the first and second sets of conductors from each other, as is usually desired for patching purposes. Preferably the switches are magnetically-operable reed switches, switched between their open and closed states by magnet means controlled by the plugging-in of the patching cable.