Abstract: By applying a tension to the conductor to be cut off, and locally heating the intended cutting position to provide a temperature difference of 20.degree. to 300.degree. from other parts, the cutting position is lowered in tensile force as compared with other parts, and by applying a tension, the concentrated stress is added, and a large distortion is generated to cut off, so that the cutting position may be stabilized.

Abstract: Upon applying a discharge voltage between opposed electrodes of a plasma display panel, all electrodes other than a selected electrode are clamped at a fixed potential. To that end, a toggled voltage is supplied from a toggled voltage source and applied via a first switching circuit, to one ends of a plurality of second switching circuits in common. The other ends of the second switching circuits are respectively connected to panel electrodes and to one end of third switching circuits. The other ends of the third switching circuits are respectively held at a fixed potential. The second and third switching circuits may be driven synchronously in such manner that when one is ON, the other is OFF and vice versa when a toggled voltage is not brought to a panel electrode, that panel electrode is clamped at a fixed potential. Such a first switching circuit and a group of second switching circuits are combined into one set.

Abstract: A plasma display panel comprising a plurality of electrodes between a pair of dielectric plates that form gas discharge cells is provided with an additional electrode on one of the dielectric plates to form additional gas discharge cells of an effective discharge area larger than the discharge areas of the cells for use in exhibiting a desired display. The effective discharge area may be enlarged either by the use of a wide additional electrode or by application to the additional electrode of a high-frequency voltage whose peak-to-peak value is higher than that of the high-frequency voltages supplied selectively across the display exhibiting cells.

Abstract: A circuit for driving one electrode group of a gas discharge display panel includes a plurality of PNP transistors and NPN transistors. The emitter electrodes of the PNP transistors are connected to a positive voltage source and the emitter electrodes of the NPN transistors are connected to ground. Diode means are connected between the collector electrodes of the PNP transistors and those of the NPN transistors across matrix points formed at the intersections of a first plurality of conductors connected respectively to the collector electrodes of the PNP transistors and a second plurality of conductors connected respectively to the collector electrodes of the NPN transistors. The individual electrodes of the one electrode group of the gas discharge tube are connected to the diode means and grounded through capacitors, which may be included in the gas discharge display panel.

Abstract: A gas discharge display panel having row and column electrodes for displaying a plurality of patterns arranged in rows and columns comprises a pair of dielectric plates on which the row and column electrodes are respectively formed. The column electrodes are divided into groups assigned to the patterns in the respective columns. Terminal areas connected to the column electrodes of every other groups are disposed along different edge portions of the plate disposed parallel to the rows, whereby the terminal areas are spaced wider than the electrodes.