US3681754A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Self luminous shift register information display
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-07-28
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Granted: 1972-08-01
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Expires: 1989-07-28
Abstract
Abstract A gas discharge device comprising an array of cold cathode glow discharge cells in cooperative relation and adapted to show luminosity of selectable cells in a programmable pattern of light bits. It is a self luminous information display and a shift register with visible store. Prior art devices are glow discharge arrays having discrete element or x-y address mechanisms, glow discharge counting tubes which move a single glowing bit one step for each input pulse and shift registers which accept a sequence of data bits and by serial or parallel entry means store that sequence for subsequent retrieval, or, continuously move the data through with subsequent delayed output. The prime element of invention is the combination of shifting means with a glow discharge matrix display. Shifting means employing one or more stepping cathodes with bidirectional stepping capability; shifting means employing one stepping cathode with preferential glow stepping cathodes and a magnetic propulsion shifting means can be adapted individually or in combination using common conductor means to accomplish the aim of the invention. Glow elements can be ignited and read out at any and all elements but preferentially at one or more peripheral cells of the array. Light address of the array is claimed.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas L Baasch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:36
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J17/00; H01J17/38; H01J17/48; H01J17/49; H01J17/492; H01J17/494; G; G11; G11C; G11C19/00; G11C19/20; G11C19/205
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A self-luminous information display and visible store shift register, the combination of: a multiplicity of electrodes and an ionizable gas contained in an enclosure, said electrodes being in pairs comprised of anode and working cathode in cooperative relationship and arranged in an array, and having current limiting means in each of said working cathode leads; said electrode pairs having glow sustaining means and glow extinction means and said ionizable gas being readily ionized by ignition means between more than one of said electrode pairs simultaneously and thereby exhibiting more than one localized glow discharge throughout the array; at least one conductor adaptable as an electrode in said envelope adjacent to at least one of said electrode pairs and adapted to promote cooperation between influenced adjacent electrode pairs so as to transfer said glow discharges from pair to adjacent pair in response to electrical stepping means impressed upon said conductor(s).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A self-luminous information display and visible store shift register, the combination of: a multiplicity of electrodes and an ionizable gas contained in an enclosure, said electrodes being in pairs comprised of anode and working cathode in cooperative relationship and arranged in an array, and having current limiting means in each of said working cathode leads; said electrode pairs having glow sustaining means and glow extinction means and said ionizable gas being readily ionized by ignition means between more than one of said electrode pairs simultaneously and thereby exhibiting more than one localized glow discharge throughout the array; at least one conductor adaptable as an electrode in said envelope adjacent to at least one of said electrode pairs and adapted to promote cooperation between influenced adjacent electrode pairs so as to transfer said glow discharges from pair to adjacent pair in response to electrical stepping means impressed upon said conductor(s).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the conductor(s) between adjacent electrode pairs are stepping electrodes having individual terminals, each of said terminals being excited with one different phase of a polyphase stepping potential, where the number of phases is equal to the number of conductors used between said electrode pairs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the number of conductors between adjacent electrode pairs is limited to one stepping electrode and the working cathode of each electrode pair is a preferential glow transfer cathode, said stepping electrodes having means for receiving single phase sTepping potential applied thereto and means for applying a complement of said stepping potential to said preferential glow transfer working cathodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said conductors adjacent to each electrode pair is limited to two effective conductors, one of said effective conductors being disposed on each side of a line of electrode pairs for each stepping direction, and having terminal means by which current pulses may be applied to said conductors to step by magnetohydrodynamic propulsion the glow discharge of each cell when glowing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
104 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the said conductors adjacent to each electrode pair is limited to two, one of said conductors on each side of a line of electrode pairs for each stepping direction, said conductors being used alternately as conductor and as electrode such that: when the glow is being stepped in any direction the conductors encountered along said direction, with suitable stepping potential applied, are used as voltage stepping electrodes, and the conductors parallel to that direction, with suitable stepping current pulses applied, are used as current stepping electrodes and to impart preferential glow transfer characteristics to the working cathodes involved.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
111 words
The combination of: a multiplicity of electrodes and an ionizable gas contained in an enclosure, said electrodes being in pairs comprised of anode and working-cathode in cooperative relationship having individual current limiting means and arranged in an array, said electrode pairs having glow sustaining means and glow extinction means, said ionizable gas being readily ionized by ignition means between more than one of said electrode pairs simultaneously and thereby exhibiting more than one localized glow discharge; in combination with electrical means to promote cooperation between adjacent electrode pairs of said array so as to transfer said glow discharges from cell to cell in an ordered manner in at least one direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
111 words
The combination of: a multiplicity of electrodes and an ionizable gas contained in an enclosure, said electrodes being in pairs comprised of anode and working-cathode in cooperative relationship having individual current limiting means and arranged in an array, said electrode pairs having glow sustaining means and glow extinction means, said ionizable gas being readily ionized by ignition means between more than one of said electrode pairs simultaneously and thereby exhibiting more than one localized glow discharge; in combination with electrical means to promote cooperation between adjacent electrode pairs of said array so as to transfer said glow discharges from cell to cell in an ordered manner in at least one direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
The combinations of claim 6 wherein said electrical means comprises at least two conductors outside said enclosure running parallel to at least one line of electrode pairs and having one conductor on either side of said electrode pairs and terminal means on said conductors adapted to receive glow transfer current pulses, for the purpose of propelling said internal glow discharges from terminal pair to successive terminal pair in response to said current pulses.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
A shift register having electrical input and electrical output means and optional visual means, comprising at least one row of bistable glow discharge cells all of said row(s) enclosed in one envelope containing an ionizable gas, first electrode means for entering a binary sequence into at least one of the said rows and second electrode means for moving out of each row, a binary sequence respectively stored in each row.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
A shift register having electrical input and electrical output means and optional visual means, comprising at least one row of bistable glow discharge cells all of said row(s) enclosed in one envelope containing an ionizable gas, first electrode means for entering a binary sequence into at least one of the said rows and second electrode means for moving out of each row, a binary sequence respectively stored in each row.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
The shift register of claim 8 wherein said means for entering a sequence into a row is sequential and other sequences into other rows is also sequential bit by bit in synchronism with a means for stepping the condition of the first cell of the number of rows used to the second succeeding cell and through said row cells until all cells have been selectively set in accordance with the respective sequence.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The shift register of claim 8 wherein means for moving out a sequence is sequential bit by bit in synchronism with a resumption of the row sequential stepping means until all cells of a row have been emptied of the sequence previously stored.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
The shift register of claim 8 wherein said means for entering a sequence into a row is in parallel and other words into other rows is by advancing said first written word in parallel, sequentially row by row along the columns by a stepping means which operates in synchronism with the said parallel writing means until all sequences have been entered.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The shift register of claim 8 wherein means for moving out a sequence is in parallel in synchronism with the resumption of tHe said stepping means for parallel transfer of sequences along the columns.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The shift register of claim 8 wherein binary sequences are entered sequentially and taken out of the register in parallel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The shift register of claim 8 wherein binary sequences are entered in parallel and taken out of the register serially.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said working cathodes have photoemissive properties and said ignition means is through illumination of at least one cell using a laser beam.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination of claim 6 wherein said working cathodes have photoemissive properties and said ignition means is through illumination of at least one cell using a laser beam.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
144 words
A gaseous discharge device comprising: a gas filled envelope, said gas filled envelope containing a multiplicity of cooperating electrodes having individual current limiting means to form a multiplicity of gas discharge cells, in combination with: means for the dc excitation of, more than one of said gas discharge cells and controlling said gas discharge cells into one of two states, that of non-conduction and that of conduction giving rise to a visible glow, means for promoting cooperative relationship between adjacent cells so that the glow at one cell can be transferred to any adjacent cell and such that no glow existing at a particular cell will result in no glow in said adjacent cell to which transfer action occurs, such means being adaptable to transfer an ordered pattern of glow bits in an ordered manner across the cell configuration in at least one direction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
144 words
A gaseous discharge device comprising: a gas filled envelope, said gas filled envelope containing a multiplicity of cooperating electrodes having individual current limiting means to form a multiplicity of gas discharge cells, in combination with: means for the dc excitation of, more than one of said gas discharge cells and controlling said gas discharge cells into one of two states, that of non-conduction and that of conduction giving rise to a visible glow, means for promoting cooperative relationship between adjacent cells so that the glow at one cell can be transferred to any adjacent cell and such that no glow existing at a particular cell will result in no glow in said adjacent cell to which transfer action occurs, such means being adaptable to transfer an ordered pattern of glow bits in an ordered manner across the cell configuration in at least one direction.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
138 words
In a visible store stepping register comprising: at least one row of bistable glow discharge cells having individual current limiting means, means for stepping the one or zero condition of the glow discharge of any cell to another adjacent cell in response to an electrical stepping signal, means for entering a quantity into the first cell of the series by selectively controlling the cell to a one or zero condition as required by said entry, means for stepping at one speed the one or zero condition of said first cell to the next cell and through the row until all cells have been selectively set in accordance with a sequence of values equal to the number of cells in the row, means for stepping the entered ones or zeros out of said row, at another speed of stepping.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
138 words
In a visible store stepping register comprising: at least one row of bistable glow discharge cells having individual current limiting means, means for stepping the one or zero condition of the glow discharge of any cell to another adjacent cell in response to an electrical stepping signal, means for entering a quantity into the first cell of the series by selectively controlling the cell to a one or zero condition as required by said entry, means for stepping at one speed the one or zero condition of said first cell to the next cell and through the row until all cells have been selectively set in accordance with a sequence of values equal to the number of cells in the row, means for stepping the entered ones or zeros out of said row, at another speed of stepping.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
The visible store stepping register of claim 18 whereby said output stepping means and said input stepping means are synchronous and means is provided for recirculation of the sequence of values continuously so as to form a recirculating stepping register.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The visible store stepping register of claim 18 whereby said output stepping means and said input stepping means are synchronous and said register constitutes a delay line register.
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) | 1975-08-01 | 1976-01-31 | 1976-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-01 | 1980-01-31 | 1980-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-01 | 1984-01-31 | 1984-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |