Indicator glow tube

Claim 2

An indicator glow tube device responsive to first and second signals for displaying a symbol, said device comprising: a. dielectric body means formed with a cutout in the profile of said symbol; b. cover plate means, at least one of which is translucent, sealed hermetically to said body means forming a wall of said cutout; c. a gaseous discharge medium contained within said Cutout; d. first and second electrode means coated on said body within said cutout, said first electrode defining anode means and said second electrode means defining cathode means; e. first electrical means including first terminal means conductively connected to said first electrode means and affixed to an exterior face of said indicator glow tube for receiving said first signal; f. second electrical means including second terminal means conductively connected to said second electrode means and affixed to an exterior face of said indicator glow tube for receiving said second signal; g. said first signal energizing said first electrode means and said second signal energizing said second electrode means, whereby said symbol is presented by said indicator glow tube.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein said electrical means includes also first switch means serially connected between said first terminal means and said first electrode means and second switch means serially connected between said second terminal means and said second electrode means, whereby said first and second switch means specify said signals applied to said first and second electrode means, respectively.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1 wherein said cutout is open to the forward and rearward faces of said body means, said plate means forming a forward and rearward wall of said cutout, said forward wall being translucent.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1 wherein said cutout is open only to a forward face of said body means and said plate means forming a forward wall of said cutout is translucent.

Claim 6

An indicator glow tube device responsive to first and second signals for displaying a plurality of selected symbols, said device comprising: a. dielectric body means formed with at least two cutouts in the profile of a symbol; b. cover plate means, at least one of which is translucent, sealed hermetically to said body means forming a wall of said cutouts; c. channel means including first port means connected to each of said cutouts, all cutouts communicating with each other through said first port means; d. a gaseous discharge medium contained within each of said cutouts; e. first and second electrode means coated on said body within each of said cutouts, said first electrode means defining anode means and said second electrode means defining cathode means; f. first electrical means including first terminal means conductively connected to each of said first electrode means and affixed to an exterior face of said indicator glow tube for receiving said first signal; g. second electrical means including a plurality of second terminal means, each of said second terminal means conductively connected to each of said second electrode means, respectively, and affixed to an exterior face of said indicator glow tube for receiving said second signal; h. said signal energizing said first electrode means and said second signal energizing selected second electrode means, whereby said selected symbol is presented by said indicator glow tube.

Claim 7

An indicator glow tube device responsive to first and second signals for displaying a plurality of selected symbols, said device comprising: a. dielectric body means formed with at least two cutouts in the profile of a symbol; b. cover plate means, at least one of which is translucent, sealed hermetically to said body means forming a wall of said cutouts; c. channel means including first port means connected to each of said cutouts, all cutouts communicating with each other through said first port means; d. a gaseous discharge medium contained within each of said cutouts; e. first and second electrode means coated on said body within each of said cutouts, said first electrode means defining anode means and said second electrode means defining cathode means; f. first electrical means including first terminal means conductively connected to each of said first electrode means and affixed to an exterior face of said indicator glow tube for receiving said first signal; g. second electrical means including a plurality of second terminal means, each of said second terminal means conductively connected to each of said second electrode means, respectively, and affixed to an exterior face of said indicator glow tube for receiving said second signal; h. said signal energizing said first electrode means and said second signal energizing selected second electrode means, whereby said selected symbol is presented by said indicator glow tube.

Claim 8

The device of claim 5 wherein said channel means includes also second port means which are connected to said cutouts and are accessible at a face of said indicator glow tube, said cutouts charged with said gaseous discharge medium via said second port means.

Claim 9

The device of claim 5 wherein: a. said first electrical means includes also first switch means serially connected between said first terminal means and said first electrode means; and b. said second electrical means includes also a plurality of second switch means, each of said second switch means serially connected between each of said second terminal means and each of said second electrode means, respectively, whereby said first and second switch means specify said signals applied to said first and second electrode means, respectively.

Claim 10

The device of claim 5 wherein each of said cutouts are open to the forward and rearward faces of said body means and said pLate means form a forward and rearward wall of said cutouts, said forward wall being translucent.

Claim 11

The device of claim 5 wherein each of said cutouts are open only to the forward face of said body means and said plate means forming a forward wall of said cutouts is translucent.

Claim 12

An indicator glow tube device responsive to first and second signals for displaying a plurality of selected symbols, said device comprising: a. dielectric body means formed with at least two cutouts in the profile of a symbol; b. cover plate means, at least one of which is translucent, sealed hermetically to said body means forming a wall of said cutouts; c. first port means for interconnecting each of said cutouts, all said cutouts communicating with each other; d. a gaseous discharge medium contained within each of said cutouts; e. second port means accessible at a face of said device, said cutouts charged with said gaseous discharge medium via said second port means; f. first and second electrode means coated on said body means within each of said cutouts, said first electrode means defining anode means and said second electrode means defining cathode means; g. first electrical means including first terminal means conductively connected to each of said first electrode means and affixed to an exterior face of said device for receiving said first signal; h. second electrical means including a plurality of second terminal means, each of said second terminal means conductively connected to each of said second electrode means, respectively, and affixed to an exterior face of said device for receiving said second signals; i. said first signal energizing said first electrode means, said second signal energizing selected second electrode means, whereby said selected symbol is presented by said indicator glow tube.

Claim 13

An indicator glow tube device responsive to first and second signals for displaying a plurality of selected symbols, said device comprising: a. dielectric body means formed with at least two cutouts in the profile of a symbol; b. cover plate means, at least one of which is translucent, sealed hermetically to said body means forming a wall of said cutouts; c. first port means for interconnecting each of said cutouts, all said cutouts communicating with each other; d. a gaseous discharge medium contained within each of said cutouts; e. second port means accessible at a face of said device, said cutouts charged with said gaseous discharge medium via said second port means; f. first and second electrode means coated on said body means within each of said cutouts, said first electrode means defining anode means and said second electrode means defining cathode means; g. first electrical means including first terminal means conductively connected to each of said first electrode means and affixed to an exterior face of said device for receiving said first signal; h. second electrical means including a plurality of second terminal means, each of said second terminal means conductively connected to each of said second electrode means, respectively, and affixed to an exterior face of said device for receiving said second signals; i. said first signal energizing said first electrode means, said second signal energizing selected second electrode means, whereby said selected symbol is presented by said indicator glow tube.

Claim 14

The device of claim 10 wherein: a. said first electrical means includes also first switch means serially connected between said first terminal means and said first electrode means, and b. said electrical means includes also a plurality of second switch means, each of said second switch means serially connected between each of said second electrode means, respectively, whereby said first and second switch means specify said signals applied to said first and second electrode means, respectively.

Claim 15

The device of claim 10 wherein said profile is a profile in the general form of a figure ''''8.''''

Claim 16

A display system for presenting intelligence symbols, said systems comprising: a. display means including at least two indicator glow tube means, each indicator glow tube means including: i. dielectric body means formed with a cutout in the profile of said symbol; ii. cover plate means, at least one of which is translucent, sealed hermetically to said body means forming a wall of said cutout; iii. a gaseous discharge medium contained within said cutout; iv. first and second electrode means coated on said body within said cutout, said first electrode means defining anode means and said second electrode means defining cathode means; v. first electrical means including first terminal means conductively connected to said first electrode means and affixed to an exterior face of said indicator glow tube; and vi. second electrical means including second terminal means conductively connected to said second electrode means and affixed to an exterior face of said indicator glow tube; b. control means conductively connected to said display means, selected signals form said control means applied to said display means energizing said indicator glow tubes means, whereby an intelligence symbol is presented by said display means.

Claim 17

A display system for presenting intelligence symbols, said systems comprising: a. display means including at least two indicator glow tube means, each indicator glow tube means including: i. dielectric body means formed with a cutout in the profile of said symbol; ii. cover plate means, at least one of which is translucent, sealed hermetically to said body means forming a wall of said cutout; iii. a gaseous discharge medium contained within said cutout; iv. first and second electrode means coated on said body within said cutout, said first electrode means defining anode means and said second electrode means defining cathode means; v. first electrical means including first terminal means conductively connected to said first electrode means and affixed to an exterior face of said indicator glow tube; and vi. second electrical means including second terminal means conductively connected to said second electrode means and affixed to an exterior face of said indicator glow tube; b. control means conductively connected to said display means, selected signals form said control means applied to said display means energizing said indicator glow tubes means, whereby an intelligence symbol is presented by said display means.

Claim 18

The system of claim 13 wherein each of said indicator glow tube means includes first interlocking means and second interlocking means for engagement and disengagement of adjacent ones of said indicator glow tube means, said indicator glow tube means being cOnnected when said first and second interlocking means are engaged and being disconnected when said first and second interlocking means are disengaged.