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 glow discharge device gas mixture consisting essentially of about 20 to 35 percent atoms of argon and about 80 to 65 percent atoms of a xenon-based composition. The mixture is especially beneficial for use in a color phosphor, direct current (dc) gas discharge device because the mixture substantially lowers device operating currents while providing phosphor stimulation. The xenon-based composition consists essentially of about 95 to 100 percent atoms of xenon and about 5 to 0 percent atoms of another component, particularly one or more selected from neon, krypton, nitrogen, helium, and mercury.

Abstract: There is disclosed a multiple gaseous discharge device containing at least one insulated electrode, an ionizable gaseous medium, and a multiplicity of gas discharge cells, the gaseous medium having incorporated therein at least one selected gaseous component which emits high intensity ultraviolet radiation upon appropriate excitation such that the gaseous discharge device has improved photon conditioning. Preferably the gas additive is selected from mercury, xenon, and krypton.