Abstract: A system for addressing and controlling a gaseous discharge display or memory device is adapted for intercommunication between a processor or controller and a gaseous discharge display device. Signals of write amplitude are selectively applied to ionize individual cells or a plurality of cells in the form of character slices or lines to form the elements of a display. To facilitate communication between low level control logic signals and high level write and sustain signals, one of the axes or sets of conductors is maintained at ground potential, while signals of full write or sustain amplitude are applied to the orthogonal conductors. Writing is generally accomplished by adding a write pulse to the trailing edge of the selected conductor.

Abstract: To compensate for the relatively wide variation in the electrical operating parameters of a gaseous discharge device resulting from varied physical characteristics, the amplitude of the signal used to sustain a discharge is determined, generated and controlled as a function of the physical characteristics of the panel. In operation, a plurality of sample cells are used for control purposes, and the sustain signal applied to the sample cells is incremented from zero during each sustain cycle until the sample cells are discharged, to determine the minimum sustain signal V.sub.S min. required to sustain the discharge. An offset circuit is used to increase the sustain signal by a predetermined amount above the V.sub.S min. level for panel operation, and a voltage regulator is connected in a closed loop arrangement with the sustain generator to automatically adjust the sustain signal to compensate for variation in the physical parameters of the device due to aging.