Abstract: A transparent colored conductive film is provided which can serve as both a color filter and a transparent electrode. Further, there are provided a composition for a transparent colored conductive film, comprising a metallic compound convertible to an oxide upon heating, a black or color inorganic pigment, and a liquid medium, a method for forming a transparent colored conductive film using the composition, and a display device having the transparent colored conductive film.

Abstract: A plasma display includes a front panel having a glass body secured to a surface of a substrate. The glass body has a plurality of channels in the exposed surface thereof with upstanding ribs being between the channels. Conductive first electrodes are on the body with each electrode extending along the bottom of a separate channel. The first electrodes are preferably embedded in the glass body. A transparent front panel is over the back panel and is seated on and secured to the glass body. A plurality of spaced, parallel second electrodes extend between the front panel and the back panel substantially orthogonally to the first electrodes. Phosphors which emit different colors are coated on the channels and the channels are filled with a plasma gas.The back panel is formed of at least one and preferably a plurality of layers of a green tape of glass particles in a binder. The layers are stacked one on top of each other and the channels are formed in the surface of one of the layers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a plasma addressed display device which can adaptively control a voltage to be applied to each discharge channel, thereby suppressing an excess applied voltage. The plasma addressed display device includes a flat panel as a display. The flat panel has a laminated structure consisting of a plasma cell having a plurality of rows of discharge channels and a display cell having a plurality of columns of signal electrodes. A drive circuit sequentially supplies an applied voltage to a cathode in each discharge channel to generate a plasma discharge, thereby performing line-sequential scanning. A signal circuit supplies an image signal to each signal electrode in synchronism with the line-sequential scanning. A constant-current circuit operates so that a constant discharge current flows after the generation of the plasma discharge in each discharge channel. A detecting circuit samples a discharge voltage during flowing of the constant discharge current in each discharge channel.

Abstract: An AC plasma display panel includes first and second plates, a discharge space, a plurality of pairs of scan electrodes and common electrodes, and a plurality of data electrodes. The first and second plates are arranged opposite to each other through a predetermined gap, at least one of which is transparent. The discharge space is partitioned into a plurality of pixels. The pairs of scan electrodes and common electrodes are formed on the inner surface of the first plate in the row direction to allow emission sustaining surface discharge therebetween. The pixels are arranged at the intersections of the scan and common electrodes and the data electrodes. In this arrangement, the following relation is established0.80.ltoreq.h/d.ltoreq.1.25where d is the surface discharge gap between the scan and common electrodes, and h is the opposing discharge gap between the scan and common electrodes and the data electrodes.

Abstract: The first object of the present invention is to provide a PDP with improved panel brightness which is achieved by improving the efficiency in conversion from discharge energy to visible rays. The second object of the present invention is to provide a PDP with improved panel life which is achieved by improving the protecting layer protecting the dielectrics glass layer. To achieve the first object, the present invention sets the amount of xenon in the discharge gas to the range of 10% by volume to less than 100% by volume, and sets the charging pressure for the discharge gas to the range of 500 to 760Torr which is higher than conventional charging pressures. With such construction, the panel brightness increases. Also, to achieve the second object, the present invention has, on the surface of the dielectrics glass layer, a protecting layer consisting of an alkaline earth oxide with (100)-face or (110)-face orientation.

Abstract: A plasma display includes a front panel having a glass body secured to a surface of a substrate. The glass body has a plurality of channels in the exposed surface thereof with upstanding ribs being between the channels. Conductive first electrodes are on the body with each electrode extending along the bottom of a separate channel. The first electrodes are preferably embedded in the glass body. A transparent front panel is over the back panel and is seated on and secured to the glass body. A plurality of spaced, parallel second electrodes extend between the front panel and the back panel substantially orthogonally to the first electrodes. Phosphors which emit different colors are coated on the channels and the channels are filled with a plasma gas. The back panel is formed of at least one and preferably a plurality of layers of a green tape of glass particles in a binder. The layers are stacked one on top of each other and the channels are formed in the surface of one of the layers.

Abstract: A flat-panel display comprising a hermetically sealed gas filled enclosure. The enclosure includes a top glass substrate having a plurality of electrodes and a thin dielectric film covering the electrodes and a bottom glass substrate spaced from the top glass substrate. The bottom glass substrate includes a plurality of alternating barrier ribs and micro-grooves. An electrode is deposited over each micro-groove and a phosphor is deposited over a portion of each electrode coating.

Abstract: A plasma display panel comprising mutually opposing substrates and barrier ribs formed between adjacent pixels of a display between the substrates, wherein the barrier ribs are made of a fired product of a glass ceramic composition consisting essentially of a glass powder of P.sub.2 O.sub.5 type glass and a low expansion ceramic powder.

Abstract: A gas discharge tube includes a first spacer, a second spacer, an anode support member, and an anode. The first spacer is arranged to contact the rear surface of the focusing electrode support member and the front surface of the anode, and the second spacer is arranged to contact the front surface of the anode support member and the rear surface of the anode. This arrangement clamps the anode between the first and second spacers to hold the anode securely between the rear surface of the focusing support member and the front surface of the anode support member, keeping the distance between the focusing electrode and the anode constant. This structure improves the service life and the operational stability of the gas discharge tube during continuous light emission over an extended period of time.

Abstract: A gas discharge tube includes an envelope for sealing a gas, lead pins and a light-emitting assembly. The light-emitting assembly includes: a focusing electrode support member of a conductive material; a hot cathode for emitting thermoelectrons; an anode for receiving thermoelectrons; a focusing electrode for converging paths of thermoelectrons; a spacer of an insulator being arranged between the focusing electrode support member and the anode; and an anode support member of an insulator for pushing the anode onto the focusing electrode support member through the spacer. A gas discharge tube having a long service life and capable of improving the operational stability during long-time continuous light emission can be provided.

Abstract: A fluorescent display device capable of realizing mounting of a semiconductor element on a substrate while ensuring an increase in moisture resistance, a decrease in contact resistance at connection between the semiconductor element and a wiring conductor and increased reliability. A semiconductor element is mounted on an extension of a substrate and received in a mounting chamber formed by cooperation of a sealing material, a face plate and the substrate. The semiconductor element is downwardly pressed against the substrate by the face plate, resulting in the semiconductor element being electrically connected to a wiring conductor. The sealing material is made of an inorganic material such as indium-tin alloy or the like which has an operating temperature lower than a sealing medium.

Abstract: A thyratron has an auxiliary "keep-alive" electrode in the form of a surface element with at least one aperture therein. In a preferred embodiment, the auxiliary electrode is disposed adjacent the upper end of a heat shield surrounding the cathode of the thyratron and is preferably coplanar with the upper end of the heat shield. A baffle can also be provided between the auxiliary electrode and the cathode to enhance control of the thyratron's switching action.

Abstract: An energy conversion device includes a discharge tube which is operated in a pulsed abnormal glow discharge regime in a double ported circuit. A direct current source connected to an input port provides electrical energy to initiate emission pulses, and a current sink in the form of an electrical energy storage or utilization device connected to the output port captures at least a substantial proportion of energy released by collapse of the emission pulses.

Abstract: A discharge relay electrode is located between terminal electrodes of a gap-type surge absorber. In a microgap embodiment of the invention, a conducting film on a surface of an insulating tube is split by two circumferential gaps spaced apart longitudinally. The discharge relay electrode is positioned between the two gaps. In a gap type surge absorber, the discharge relay electrode is positioned within the insulating tube midway between the end electrodes, substantially filling the cross section of the tube, and dividing the interior of the tube into a plurality of chambers. For both types of surge absorbers, the discharge relay electrode is effective to relay discharge between the terminal electrodes.

Abstract: A direct current power transducer for driving alternating current devices utilizes a discharge tube connected across a current source, the construction of the tube and characteristics of the source being such as to maintain endogenous pulsed abnormal gas discharge within the tube. The tube is capacitatively coupled to an external load including an alternating current device, typically an electric motor. Electric motors of the asynchronous induction or synchronous types are particularly suitable, but other alternating current devices may be used. By adjustments to the current source, the capacitance in parallel with the discharge tube, and connections to auxiliary electrodes, the pulse repetition frequency of the discharge may be adjusted, thus allowing variable speed control of types of alternating current motor not normally amenable to such control.

Abstract: A surge absorber has an insulating body having a flat surface on which a pair of electrically conductive thin-film terminal electrodes and, therebetween, one or more electrically conductive thin-film discharge electrodes of a predetermined shape or shapes are formed. Micro discharging gaps are present between each of the terminal electrodes and any of the discharging electrodes adjacent thereto and between any of the discharging electrodes adjacent to each other. The discharging electrodes are typically arranged in a row and column pattern. A thermostatic fuse may be provided on the opposite side of the insulating body from the side of the flat surface on which the terminal and discharge electrodes are present. The substantial part of the surge absorber is hermetically sealed in an enclosure. The enclosure is filled with a gas such as an inert gas.

Abstract: A large area multi-channel flat fluorescent lamp with improved efficiency consists of two groups of closed hollow electrodes which are printed on the inner surfaces of the opposing ends of two flat glass substrates. The substrates are sealed together and have wave-guiding spacers which protect the lamp from implosion and also maintain a fixed spacing between the two substrates. A dielectric reflective layer is coated on the inner side of one of the substrates with an over-coat of phosphor, and the inner opposing surface of the other substrate is coated with only the phosphor. The space between the substrates is first evacuated and then filled with an inert gas and mercury vapor. The multi-channel closed hollow electrode structure with wave-guiding spacers, in combination with a reflective dielectric layer produces greater brightness with better brightness uniformity over a large area. In addition, the large area multi-channel flat fluorescent lamp maintains high efficiency and has a long life.

Abstract: A gas tube protector includes a new coating for the electrodes. The coating, which eliminates the need for conditioning the electrodes prior to using or testing the protector, includes barium titanate and titanium.

Abstract: An AC operated glow lamp having a cathode electrode and a pair of anode electrodes driven from a capacitively ballasted autotransformer that provides phase inversion so as to enable a full wave rectification of the discharge current thus operating in a DC regime from an AC line. The double anode lamp and ballast circuitry provides for rapid lamp starting as well as continuous cathode heating during lamp operation.

Abstract: A direct current plasma display device (PDP) includes two plates and a plurality of parallel anodes and parallel cathodes arranged on an inner surface of two plates, respectively. Grooves of a predetermined depth are provided on the rear plate and metallic cathodes are formed on the bottom surfaces of the grooves. This cathode structure results in a PDP having a low discharge maintaining voltage and a high cathode current density.

Abstract: An image input device including a rare gas cold cathode discharge tube is provided to read an irradiated picture image using a photoelectric transducer element. The rare gas cold cathode tube includes a linear tube including a main electrode, an auxiliary electrode and a conductive member connected to the auxiliary electrode for preventing deflections of a positive column formed along the auxiliary electrode. The tube is successively powered on and off. Three of such tubes of different colors may be provided and the irradiated picture image may be read by a storage type photoelectric transducer element.

Abstract: A plasma display device comprises two plates defining a gas filled space therebetween, striped anodes and cathodes, wherein the cathodes are composed of a first cathode element and a second cathode element, and a sealing layer. The second cathode is formed on said first cathode element. The sealing layer is formed between the cathodes to prevent the first element from being exposed to the gas filled space. The device forms a high-quality picture by minimizing the difference in luminance between pixels.

Abstract: A gaseous-discharge lamp has a valve defining an interior of the lamp in which an inert gas, such as xenon, is confined. A cup-shaped reflector is disposed in the interior of the lamp, whose inner surface cross-section is preferably a hyperbola or an ellipse so that a collimated light spot is projected outwardly of the lamp or a focused light beam is available. The reflector has a larger-diameter opening facing a light projection window formed on one face of the valve and a bottom portion formed with a hole. An anode and a cathode are disposed in confrontation with each other in a space surrounded by the reflector. A trigger probe electrode intervenes between the anode and the cathode. A sparker electrode is disposed outside of the reflector and in the vicinity of the hole formed in the bottom portion thereof. By the provision of the reflector in the interior of the lamp, light of high radiation intensity is produced from the lamp without increasing the size of the lamp.

Abstract: A plasma display device is provided with one substrate having a plurality of electrode drawing-out portions extending up to a side end thereof for applying an AC voltage to X side electrodes each independently, a second substrate having a plurality of electrode terminal portions formed independently on its electrode-disposed surface, the plural electrode terminal portions being electrically connected respectively to the plural electrode drawing-out portions by a connector portion. The connection of each of the X and Y electrodes with an external power source can thus be made on only the Y side electrode-disposed surface of the second substrate. Besides, the shape of the substrates is simplified.

Abstract: A surface discharge-type plasma display panel having a glass plate including an X-electrode base that is positioned on the glass plate, a plurality of X-electrodes that are inserted vertically into the glass plate, and Y-electrodes that are each arranged around the corresponding X-electrodes in the shape of a "C" or an "O". This structure reduces the possibility of a dielectric breakdown.

Abstract: A color discharge display panel is disclosed in which cathodes and anodes are arranged on the upper face of a rear plate, stripe shaped insulating layers forming a matrix form together with the anodes are disposed at the bottoms of the cathodes, and separating ribs and barriers having a lower height are respectively disposed at the opposite edges of the insulation layers. Due to the barriers disposed between the cathodes and anodes, the discharge channels are formed in a round-about form, and consequently, the length of the discharge channel per volume of the discharge space is maximized, with the result that the thickness of the panel becomes thinner compared with that of the conventional panes, and that the realization of a high luminance picture is made possible due to the high discharge efficiency.

Abstract: An arc discharge lamp which can be operated in any orientation without significant variation in performance includes an even number of electrodes at least equal to four, a discharge vessel including a spherical central portion and electrode mounting portions. The electrodes are mounted in the electrode mounting portions and have a substantially uniform three-dimensional distribution with respect to the central portion. The discharge lamp can be used in a lamp assembly including a switch apparatus for coupling electrical energy to a pair of the electrodes that is closest to a horizontal plane. An automatic switch apparatus includes orientation-sensitive switches, one having the same direction as each of the electrodes. The switches are interconnected such that electrical energy is coupled to a pair of electrodes in response to the orientation of the switch apparatus relative to a gravity field. The switch apparatus can be mounted in the base or within the lamp envelope of the lamp assembly.

Abstract: The invention pertains to an alternating type of plasma panel. Each pixel is defined by three parallel and coplanar electrodes and by an electrode which is perpendicular to the other three electrodes and is separated from the other three electrodes by at least one dielectric layer. Two of the three parallel electrodes are connected to circuits giving the refresh signals to each pixel during operation. The electrode perpendicular to the other three and that electrode, of the other three parallel electrodes, which is not connected to a refresh circuit, are connected to circuits that give addressing signals to each pixel during operation. The electrodes that are connected to the refresh circuits constitute two arrays of electrodes connected to two refresh circuits.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming an electron beam sheet includes a cathode member having a slot in a front surface thereof, a grid electrode and the anode of a thyratron. When it is desired to trigger the thyratron into conduction, a suitably large potential difference is applied between the cathode member and the grid, resulting in an electron beam sheet being produced extensive of a slot formed in the front surface of the cathode member. This produces ionisation and a main discharge current is established between the main anode and cathode of the thyratron.

Abstract: A light source having a single glass bulb housing and a multiple of three electrically interconnected fluorescent tubes. The tubes are located outside of the focal point of a smooth curved mirror. The phases of the fluorescent bulbs are electrically overlapped so as to substantially eliminate flickering of the light and to maximize the light intensity.This is a file wrapper continuation of application Ser. No. 166,783, filed Mar. 2, 1988; which is a file wrapper continuation of application Ser. No. 859,614, filed on May 5, 1986, both now abandoned.

Abstract: A lamp system which erases selected portions of an electrically charged photoconductive member. The lamp has a transparent housing defining a chamber filled with a gaseous medium. A charge is induced across a selected region of the gaseous medium. This causes the gaseous medium to ionize in the selected region so as to emit light rays thereat. The light rays illuminate the electrically charged photoconductive member in the selected region to discharge the charge thereat.

Abstract: A plasma generator for exciting electrons in the plasma to a uniform energy evel. In a perferred embodiment, two sets of mutually perpendicular electrodes surround a container of gas, with one set being driven through a ninety degree phase shifter to establish a circularly polarized field in the space within the container. Alternative means are disclosed for launching circularly polarized RF waves into the container of gas. A desired level of uniform electron energy is achieved by establishing the proper relationship between the frequency and magnitude of the applied circularly polarized field and the mean free path of the electrons in the plasma.

Abstract: A self starter neon lamp is provided and contains a screw-in base to fit conventional screw sockets, substitutes neon gas for mercury and argon gas and utilizes flat metal ring-shaped cathodes within. In a modification the lamp is in a U-shaped configuration and utilizes two sets of curved flat metal ring-shaped cathodes within to enhance arc discharge therethrough.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus usable for ionizing a gas comprising a cathode serving as a hot or cold cathode and to a process for using this apparatus. The apparatus includes a facing cathode and anode, the gas to be ionized successively traversing the cathode and the anode. The apparatus is characterized in that the cathode is formed by a first and second cylindrical half-electrode in face-to-face relation, the gas to be ionized passing between the half-electrode and a conductive filament connected by a first end to the first half-electrode and by a second end to the second half-electrode and located between the half-electrodes. The invention applied to all apparatuses used for ionizing a gas, such as electric arcs, unoplasmatrons and duoplasmatrons.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp has an envelope tube forming a gas-tight enclosure about a pair of externally-energizable filaments which generate a plasma discharge for conversion to visible light; a keep-alive electrode is located adjacent to at least one filament. A dimming control circuit individually externally energizes each keep-alive electrode to generate an auxiliary discharge, between that keep-alive electrode and the adjacent filament, at a magnitude sufficient to maintain the adjacent filament in the spot mode of operation even if the main plasma discharge current is varied over a range sufficient to change the visible light output of the lamp over at least a 10:1 range.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus for forming electron beams, which may be advantageously employed in many applications, for example in display devices or thyratrons. A cathode member has a hole in its front surface. All the surfaces of the cathode member, except for the wall and base of the holes, are covered in an electrically insulating material such as glass. The cathode member and an anode member are contained within an envelope which also contains a gas filling. On application of a suitably high voltage between the cathode and anode members an electron beam is formed extensive in a direction away from the hole. The anode member may be located behind the front surface of the cathode member, and an electron beam still forms in front of the front surface.

Abstract: A fluorescent light source and power supply adapted therefore in which a set of three D.C. mercury discharge paths are provided adjacent each other in a single tubular envelope. A cathode is provided at the base end of each path and a single anode at the other end. The three discharge paths are isolated longitudially extended semi-circular glass insulator partitions. The power supply provides D.C. voltage across the anode and cathodes and a switching circuit which transfers energy from a transformer during portions of the switching cycle to efficiently power the tube.

Abstract: A surge arrester, includes a gas-filled housing, copper electrodes disposed opposite each other in the housing, the electrodes each including a relatively thin-walled truncated conical part having a flange integral therewith and a solid cylindrical part, the cylindrical parts each having a respective end surface facing each other, the end surfaces being mutually spaced apart by a given distance and each having a trough-shaped axially-symmetrical depression formed therein, a highly active electrode activating compound filling each of the depressions, a tubular ceramic insulator at least partly surrounding the electrodes defining respective annular gaps between the insulator and each of the cylindrical parts having widths being substantially between 0.2 mm and 0.

Abstract: The apparatus includes three electrodes housed in a single enclosure which is filled with a gas. A first one of the electrodes is connected to the junction of a load and a fuse. A second one of the electrodes is connected to an intermediate point of the load, which intermediate point separates the load into two normally equal impedance segments. A third one of the electrodes is connected to the other end of the load. When either of the impedances of the two segments of the load changes sufficiently to cause a breakdown voltage between either the first and second electrodes or between the second and third electrodes to be exceeded, current flows between the first and third electrode thereby short-circuiting the load and causing the fuse to break.