US3579019A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light cell matrix structure
Assignee: Bunker Ramo Corp
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Filing: 1969-04-01
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Granted: 1971-05-18
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Expires: 1989-04-01
Abstract
Abstract A light cell structure for supporting and conducting energizing signals to a rectangular matrix of ionizable gas-filled light cells. The structure is constructed and arranged so as to permit the emitted light from an energized cell to be directly viewed without first passing through an electrode. Each light cell is typically of the general shape of a rectangular parallelopiped. One pair of opposed surfaces of each parallelopiped light cell serve as energizing surfaces, and one of the remaining surfaces is a light transmitting surface which serves as a viewing surface. The light cells are supported and selectively energized by a row-column arrangement of conductive members to which the light cells are affixed by their energizing surfaces. The row conductive members are typically conductive strips, while the column conductive members are typically conductive strips having uniformly spaced upstanding tabs provided along the length thereof. Each light cell has one of its energizing surfaces affixed to a respective row strip at a respective one of a plurality of uniformly spaced positions along the length of the row, and the other of its energizing surfaces affixed to a respective one of the upstanding tabs of a respective column strip. Provision is also made for enhancing light emitted from the viewing surface of each parallelopiped light cell by using the remaining surface thereof as a second light transmitting surface whose emitted light passes through a respective appropriately located aperture provided in the column strip to reflective means which reflects light emitted from this second light transmitting surface back up through the light cell and out the viewing surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Alfred D Scarbrough
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 19:35
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J17/00; H01J17/38; H01J17/48; H01J17/49
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A light cell energizing and supporting structure comprising: a two-coordinate matrix arrangement of a plurality of energizable light cells, each light cell comprising an enclosure containing electrically energizable light producing means within the enclosure, each enclosure including at least one light transmitting surface and a pair of energizing surfaces different from said light transmitting surface, a first pluralIty of conductive members arranged corresponding to one of the coordinates of the two-coordinate light cell arrangement and electrically coupled to one of the energizing surfaces of respective light cells in conformance with the coordinate arrangement thereof, and a second plurality of conductive members arranged corresponding to the other coordinate of the two-coordinate arrangement and electrically coupled to the other of the energizing surfaces of respective light cells in conformance with the coordinate relationship thereof, said conductive members being electrically coupled to their respective energizing surfaces so that any selected one of said light cells may be energized by application of electrical signals to the conductive members whose coordinates correspond to the coordinate location of the selected light cell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
A light cell energizing and supporting structure comprising: a two-coordinate matrix arrangement of a plurality of energizable light cells, each light cell comprising an enclosure containing electrically energizable light producing means within the enclosure, each enclosure including at least one light transmitting surface and a pair of energizing surfaces different from said light transmitting surface, a first pluralIty of conductive members arranged corresponding to one of the coordinates of the two-coordinate light cell arrangement and electrically coupled to one of the energizing surfaces of respective light cells in conformance with the coordinate arrangement thereof, and a second plurality of conductive members arranged corresponding to the other coordinate of the two-coordinate arrangement and electrically coupled to the other of the energizing surfaces of respective light cells in conformance with the coordinate relationship thereof, said conductive members being electrically coupled to their respective energizing surfaces so that any selected one of said light cells may be energized by application of electrical signals to the conductive members whose coordinates correspond to the coordinate location of the selected light cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said conductive members and said light cells and the electrical coupling therebetween are constructed and arranged so that there is no interference with light emitted from the light transmitting surfaces of said light cells.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein the enclosure of each of said light cells includes a second light transmitting surface, and wherein said structure includes means for reflecting light emitted from each second light transmitting surface back through the cell and out of the first light transmitting surface thereof so as to enhance the light emitted from each cell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein the energizing surfaces are directly affixed to respective ones of said conductive members so that said conductive members serve to provide support for said light cells as well as being electrically coupled to the energizing surfaces thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
81 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first plurality of conductive members comprises a first plurality of spaced elongated conductors each having the energizing surfaces of respective light cells affixed along the length thereof, and wherein said second plurality of conductive members comprises a second plurality of spaced elongated conductors each having upstanding conductive tabs depending therefrom and spaced along the length thereof and to which tabs the other of the energizing surfaces of respective light cells are affixed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention in accordance with claim 5, wherein said two-coordinate arrangement is a rectangular coordinate system, and wherein said conductors and said light cells are constructed and arranged so that there is no interference with light emitted from the light transmitting surfaces of said light cells.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention in accordance with claim 5, wherein each light cell enclosure is in the shape of a parallelopiped, a first pair of opposed surfaces thereof serving as said energizing surfaces and one of the remaining surfaces thereof serving as said light transmitting surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
124 words
The invention in accordance with claim 5, wherein the enclosure of each of said light cells includes a second light transmitting surface, wherein each of said plurality of second conductors has spaced apertures therein located along the length thereof so as to alternate with said tabs, said apertures and the second light transmitting surfaces being located so that each second light transmitting surface of a light cell has an aperture adjacent thereto, and wherein said structure includes reflecting means for intercepting light passing through said apertures and for reflecting light emitted from each second light transmitting surface of a light cell back through the cell and out of the first light transmitting surface thereof so as to enhance the light emitted from each cell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention in accordance with claim 8, wherein said second light transmitting surface is different from said energizing surfaces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
115 words
A light cell structure comprising: a plurality of energizable light celLs in a predetermined arrangement, each light cell comprising an enclosure containing electrically energizable light producing means within the enclosure, each enclosure having first and second light transmitting surfaces, first means for supporting said cells in said predetermined arrangement and for applying energizing signals thereto in a manner so as to permit energization of selected ones thereof, and second means cooperating with said first means for reflecting light emitted from one of the light transmitting surfaces of an energized cell back through the cell and out of the other light transmitting surface of the cell so as to enhance the light emitted from each cell.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
115 words
A light cell structure comprising: a plurality of energizable light celLs in a predetermined arrangement, each light cell comprising an enclosure containing electrically energizable light producing means within the enclosure, each enclosure having first and second light transmitting surfaces, first means for supporting said cells in said predetermined arrangement and for applying energizing signals thereto in a manner so as to permit energization of selected ones thereof, and second means cooperating with said first means for reflecting light emitted from one of the light transmitting surfaces of an energized cell back through the cell and out of the other light transmitting surface of the cell so as to enhance the light emitted from each cell.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention in accordance with claim 10, wherein each light cell enclosure also includes a pair of energizing surfaces different from said light transmitting surfaces, and wherein said first means is mechanically and electrically coupled to said energizing surfaces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
190 words
A light cell structure comprising: a row-column arrangement of a plurality of individually energizable light cells, each light cell comprising an enclosure having a parallelopiped shape and containing electrically energizable light producing means, one pair of opposed surfaces of the enclosure being adapted to serve as energizing surfaces and one of the remaining surfaces thereof being adapted to serve as a light transmitting surface, a first plurality of spaced, elongated and parallel conductive members arranged in rows, each conductive member of said first plurality having a corresponding row of spaced light cells affixed along the length thereof by attachment to one of the energization surfaces thereof in a manner so as to provide electrical and mechanical coupling therebetween, and a second plurality of spaced, elongated and parallel conductive members arranged in columns and electrically insulated from said first plurality of conductive members, each conductive member of said second plurality having upstanding conductive tabs spaced along the length thereof to which a corresponding column of light cells are affixed by attachment to the other of the energization surfaces thereof in a manner so as to provide electrical and mechanical coupling therebetween.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
190 words
A light cell structure comprising: a row-column arrangement of a plurality of individually energizable light cells, each light cell comprising an enclosure having a parallelopiped shape and containing electrically energizable light producing means, one pair of opposed surfaces of the enclosure being adapted to serve as energizing surfaces and one of the remaining surfaces thereof being adapted to serve as a light transmitting surface, a first plurality of spaced, elongated and parallel conductive members arranged in rows, each conductive member of said first plurality having a corresponding row of spaced light cells affixed along the length thereof by attachment to one of the energization surfaces thereof in a manner so as to provide electrical and mechanical coupling therebetween, and a second plurality of spaced, elongated and parallel conductive members arranged in columns and electrically insulated from said first plurality of conductive members, each conductive member of said second plurality having upstanding conductive tabs spaced along the length thereof to which a corresponding column of light cells are affixed by attachment to the other of the energization surfaces thereof in a manner so as to provide electrical and mechanical coupling therebetween.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
90 words
The invention in accordance with claim 12, wherein the other of the remaining surfaces of each light cell serves as a second light transmitting surface, wherein each of said second plurality of conductive members has spaced apertures therein located along the length thereof with the second light transmitting surface of each cell adjacent a respective aperture, and wherein said structure includes reflecting means for reflecting light emitted from each second light transmitting surface of a light cell back through the cell and out of the first-mentioned light transmitting surface thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-17 | 1974-11-16 | 1975-05-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-17 | 1978-11-16 | 1979-05-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-17 | 1982-11-16 | 1983-05-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |