Abstract: The disclosure is of a system for operating a dot matrix display panel including elongated anodes and cathodes oriented transversely to each other to define columns of D.C. scanning cells. An array of quasi A.C. display cells is provided spaced from the D.C. scan cells by an apertured electrode plate. Operation of the D.C. scan cells to transfer glow from a scan cell to an associated display cell is achieved by momentarily turning off the scan cell by the application of a negative pulse to its anode. To prevent the coupling of this pulse to adjacent anodes and spurious operation of adjacent scan cells and display cells, a counter-balancing positive pulse is applied to all anodes and a counter-balancing negative pulse is applied to all "off" cathodes.

Abstract: A display panel comprising a matrix of D.C. scan cells arrayed in rows and columns and a matrix of A.C. display cells arrayed in rows and columns, each scan cell being in operative relation with at least one display cell. The panel also includes a sustainer electrode associated with the display cells and operated by means of specially shaped sustaining signals to select and turn on desired display cells as the columns of scan cells are energized in turn. Disclosed are various routines for oprating the sustainer electrode to achieve dimming in the panel and for maintaining proper display of a message in the panel.

Abstract: In a display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope containing at least two arrays of electrodes defining gas-filled cells, at least one array of electrodes is insulated from the gas and comprises A.C. electrodes. If the panel is turned off for any length of time with display information contained therein, the information can be re-displayed by applying special pulses during a re-ignition period and then applying normal sustaining pulses during the normal display period.

Abstract: A display panel comprising a matrix of D.C. scan cells arrayed in rows and columns and a matrix of display cells arrayed in rows and columns, each scan cell being in operative relation with more than one display cell. The panel also includes a plurality of sustainer electrodes associated with rows of display cells and properly operated in conjuction with the scan cells to select and turn on desired display cells, column-by-column.

Abstract: The disclosure is of a display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope having a first portion including an array of D.C. gas discharge cells, and a second portion including an array of quasi A.C. gas discharge cells, there being one A.C. cell for each D.C. cell. The A.C. cells are the display cells of the panel and include electrode means for sustaining glow therein, and the D.C. cells are operated in a scanning fashion to address selected A.C. cells in which glow is to be displayed, and they include electrode means for this purpose. The actual operation of addressing or selecting, and firing or turning off, the desired A.C. display cells is achieved by the controlled interaction of the D.C. and A.C. cells; and after the selected display cells have been fired and caused to exhibit visible glow, the glow is sustained, until being erased, by the electrodes associated with the A.C. cells.

Abstract: The disclosure is of a system for operating a dot matrix display panel including elongated anodes and cathodes oriented transversely to each other to define columns of D.C. scanning cells. An array of quasi A.C. display cells is provided spaced from the D.C. scan cells by an apertured electrode plate. Operation of the D.C. scan cells to transfer glow from a scan cell to an associated display cell is achieved by momentarily turning off the scan cell by the application of a negative pulse to its anode. To prevent the coupling of this pulse to adjacent anodes and spurious operation of adjacent scan cells and display cells, a counter-balancing positive pulse is applied to all anodes. The preferred coupling circuitry includes coupling capacitors which can pass both of these positive and negative pulses.

Abstract: The display panel comprises a gas-filled envelope, made up of a hermetically sealed base plate and face plate, which includes electrodes disposed to form a dot matrix array of cell regions. The array of cell regions includes D. C. cells in which the electrodes are in contact with the gas, and A. C. cells which are insulated from the gas. The electrodes are disposed both on the base plate of the panel and the face plate, and each cell region includes both a D. C. cell and an A. C. cell which cooperate to provide the desired operation.In operation of the panel, sustaining pulses are applied to the A. C. portion of a cell region, with the potential of the sustaining pulses being insufficient in amplitude to cause glow. The A. C. cells are caused to produce visible glow by first causing the D. C. cells associated therewith to glow, and then the glow of the A. C. cells is sustained by the sustaining pulses.

Abstract: The disclosure is of a display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope made up of a base plate and face plate and having anode and cathode electrodes supported on the base plate and forming an array of D. C. gas discharge cells. An apertured electrode arrangement is mounted between the base plate and face plate and defines, with an A. C. electrode on the face plate, an array of quasi A. C. gas discharge display cells, there being one A. C. cell for each D. C. cell. The A. C. electrode is a transparent conductive film which is coated with insulating material.The D. C. gas discharge cells are arrayed as a plurality of columns of scanning cells and, adjacent to the first column of these scanning cells, in a column of reset cells which are turned on before the first column of scanning cells are turned on in a scanning cycle.The panel also includes a keep-alive arrangement which comprises an electrode on the face plate of the envelope, the electrode being coated with a layer of insulating material, to form an A. C.

Abstract: The disclosure is of a cathode ray tube having a face plate for displaying information and carrying an electrode assembly which is curved to adhere smoothly to the face plate. The electrode assembly includes a shield against radio frequency interference and an insulating support sheet having an inner surface and an outer surface, on each of which an array of rows and columns of conductive areas is formed. On the inner surface, the rows of conductive areas are electrically connected together to output contact pads at a side edge of the sheet, and, on the outer surface, the columns of conductive areas are electrically connected together to output contact pads along the lower edge of the sheet. Each outer conductive area overlies and is capacitively coupled to an inner conductive area. A column conductor which extends from a contact pad at an edge of the outer surface of the sheet is capacitively coupled to each column of outer conductive areas.

Abstract: The disclosure is of a display device having a face plate for displaying information and carrying an electrode assembly which is coupled to the face plate of the display device. The electrode assembly includes an insulating support sheet having an inner surface and an outer surface, on each of which an array of rows and columns of conductive areas is formed. On the inner surface, the rows of conductive areas are electrically connected together to output contact pads at a side edge of the sheet, and, on the outer surface, the columns of conductive areas are electrically connected together to output contact pads along the lower edge of the sheet. Each outer conductive area overlies and is capacitively coupled to an inner conductive area. A column conductor which extends from a contact pad at an edge of the outer surface of the sheet is intimately capacitively coupled to each column of outer conductive areas.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a cup having a metal base and seated on an insulating support, beneath which is positioned an electrical coil, by means of which heating currents are induced in the metal base of the cup, and this heat is transferred to the fluid which is in the cup, in contact with the metal base. A control circuit is provided including means for generating the heating currents and for selecting the desired temperature. The circuit includes a thermal sensor in heat transfer relation with the cup and coupled to the circuit which controls the operation of the oscillator and the heating of the fluid in the cup to the desired temperature.

Abstract: A display device comprising a panel structure including a plurality of gas-filled cells and including, within the body of the panel, gas communication channels extending between selected cells to provide a selective flow of excited gaseous particles from certain cells to others to prime the receiving cells and thereby control the transfer of glow between the cells. The panel includes a series of parallel cathode strips and means for forming glow cells along each of the strips. A reset cell is provided at each end of each cathode strip, and means are provided for energizing each pair of reset cells, in turn, and, as each pair is energized, the cells along its cathode are energized selectively to provide a display of characters in the entire panel.

Abstract: A method and circuit for operating a gaseous discharge device which, in one form, comprises a plurality of discrete gas cells, each having its own cathode and anode electrodes arrayed in a matrix such that the cells can be activated and sustained in different groupings to represent different characters. The gas cells may be small-area light sources arrayed in rows and columns, with each row of cells having a common cathode electrode, and each column of cells having a common anode electrode. Each cell can be turned on, and caused to strike a glow discharge, by having the required firing potential applied between its anode and cathode electrodes. Cells which have been thus turned on can be kept on, so as to impart a storage or memory characteristic to the matrix, by means of sustaining pulses applied directly to their anodes and cathodes, with no intervening current-limiting impedances being required.

Abstract: The panel comprises a gas-filled envelope which contains a series of column cathode strips, which are oriented parallel to each other, and include a first cathode strip, a last cathode strip, and intermediate cathode strips. Means are provided which form, with the cathode strips, columns of priming cells and columns of display cells which, in panel operation, are scanned sequentially and repetitively to display characters. The columns of cells, thus, also include a first column, a last column, and intermediate columns. A two-part reset electrode arrangement is provided adjacent to the first cathode strip and the first column of cells to insure proper start of a scanning cycle. The reset arrangement comprises a column electrode, and a plurality of short horizontal electrode bars which extend between the column electrode and the first cathode strip. The reset electrodes provide excited particles which insure turn-on of the first column of priming cells at the beginning of a scanning cycle.

Abstract: A display device comrising a panel structure including a plurality of gas-filled cells and including, within the body of the panel, gas communication channels extending between selected cells to provide a selective flow of excited gaseous particles from certain cells to others to prime the receiving cells and thereby control the transfer of glow between the cells.

Abstract: A method and circuit for operating a gaseous discharge device which, in one form, comprises a plurality of discrete gas cells, each having its own cathode and anode electrodes arrayed in a matrix such that the cells can be activated and sustained in different groupings to represent different characters. The gas cells may be small-area light sources arrayed in rows and columns, with each row of cells having a common cathode electrode, and each column of cells having a common anode electrode. Each cell can be turned on, and caused to strike a glow discharge, by having the required firing potential applied between its anode and cathode electrodes. Cells which have been thus turned on can be kept on, so as to impart a storage or memory characteristic to the matrix, by means of sustaining pulses applied directly to their anodes and cathodes, with no intervening current-limiting impedances being required.

Abstract: The communication system, which is especially useful for pay TV, comprises a central station and a plurality of remote stations. The central station includes means for transmitting pay TV programs to the remote stations, and each remote station includes a circuit for transmitting information signals to the central station. Each of the remote stations is adapted to transmit its information signals randomly to the central station so that a relatively large number of remote stations can operate, without interference, with a single central station. In one arrangement, the central station directly reads the information in the received signals to determine the status of the remote station. In a second system, the central station receives randomly transmitted signals from each room, and it also receives signals from the program transmitter.

Abstract: A display panel includes an array of scanning or priming cells disposed in rows and columns and having electrodes for energizing each column of cells sequentially in a scanning cycle. An auxiliary column of reset cells is provided adjacent to the first column of scanning cells of the series to insure that all of the scanning cells in the column are energized at the beginning of a scanning cycle. In addition, a glass-coated wire electrode is provided adjacent to the column of reset cells, and it is energized in such a way as to insure that all of the reset cells are energized as required.

Abstract: A display device comprising a panel structure including a plurality of gas-filled cells and including, within the body of the panel, gas communication channels extending between selected cells to provide a selective flow of excited gaseous particles from certain cells to others to prime the receiving cells and thereby control the transfer of glow between the cells.

Abstract: A display device comprising a panel structure including a plurality of gas-filled cells and including, within the body of the panel, gas communication channels extending between selected cells to provide a selective flow of excited gaseous particles from certain cells to others to prime the receiving cells and thereby control the transfer of glow between the cells.