US3765011A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flat panel image display
Assignee: Zenith Electronics LLC
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Filing: 1971-06-10
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Granted: 1973-10-09
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Expires: 1991-06-10
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of display elements such as light generators or modulators are distributed over an image-display panel in horizontal rows and vertical columns. Each element is capable of displaying light in proportion to its level of energization. One side of each of the elements is returned to a conductive coating or the like that serves as a plane of reference potential. A like plurality of capacitors are individually associated with the respective display elements. Each of those capacitors has one terminal coupled to the other side of its corresponding display element. A plurality of breakdown-type switches are individually associated with the respective display elements and each switch has one terminal coupled to a point between the associated capacitor and the display element. In response to columnselection signals, the columns of switches and capacitors are selectively addressed to store respective instantaneous levels of the video signals. At the same time, the rows of display elements and switches are selectively addressed in a manner that first permits such storage and then effects delivery of the stored energy to the display elements.
Inventors
- 👤 S Sawyer
- 👤 A Sobel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:08
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/34; G09G3/36; G09G3/3611; G09G3/367; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/136; G02F1/1362; G02F1/136277; H; H04; H04N; H04N3/00; H04N3/10; H04N3/14; G09G2300/00; G09G2300/08; G09G2300/088; G09G2300/0895; G09G2310/00; G09G2310/02; G09G2310/0264; G09G2310/0275; G09G3/22; G09G3/30; G09G3/3648; G09G3/3662
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
An image-display panel comprising: a plurality of image-display elements distributed in a matrix of rows and columns, each of said elements displaying light in proportion to its level of energization; means for returning all of said display elements to a plane of reference potential; means for supplying a video signal and row- and column selection signals, including row and column conductors; a plurality of capacitive energy-accumulation elements, each serially coupled to its corresponding image-display element; a plurality of breakdown-type switches each serially coupled between its corresponding column conductor and the junction between said corresponding capacitive energy-accumulation element and image-display element; conditioning means responsive to said column-selection signals and said video signals for selectively addressing the columns of said accumulation elements and switches to store in said accumulation elements respective instantaneous levels of said video signal; and actuating means responsive to said row-selection signals for selectively addressing the rows of said accumulation elements and switches so that the instantaneous levels of the video signal for each column are stored in elements of a selected row and no other, said actuating means also subsequently coupling one terminal of said capacitive accumulation elements to the plane of reference potential for causing said accumulation elements to discharge through said image-display elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
An image-display panel comprising: a plurality of image-display elements distributed in a matrix of rows and columns, each of said elements displaying light in proportion to its level of energization; means for returning all of said display elements to a plane of reference potential; means for supplying a video signal and row- and column selection signals, including row and column conductors; a plurality of capacitive energy-accumulation elements, each serially coupled to its corresponding image-display element; a plurality of breakdown-type switches each serially coupled between its corresponding column conductor and the junction between said corresponding capacitive energy-accumulation element and image-display element; conditioning means responsive to said column-selection signals and said video signals for selectively addressing the columns of said accumulation elements and switches to store in said accumulation elements respective instantaneous levels of said video signal; and actuating means responsive to said row-selection signals for selectively addressing the rows of said accumulation elements and switches so that the instantaneous levels of the video signal for each column are stored in elements of a selected row and no other, said actuating means also subsequently coupling one terminal of said capacitive accumulation elements to the plane of reference potential for causing said accumulation elements to discharge through said image-display elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A display panel as defined in claim 1, in which said actuating means drives a selected row in one polarity while said conditioning means drives a selected column in the opposite polarity to fire the switch at the intersection of the selected row and column.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A display panel as defined in claim 1, in which the accumulation elements in a selected row are addressed sequentially with said video signal and said actuating means effects delivery of said storage simultaneously to all the display elements in that row.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A display panel as defined in claim 1, in which said display elements each exhibit capacitance the value of which is substantially less than that of the respectively associated accumulation element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
An image-display panel as defined in claim 1, in which said accumulation elements are charged in response to conduction of said switches and, in response to the completion of such charging, said actuation means returns the corresponding ones of said switches to said plane of reference potential.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A display panel as defined in claim 1, which further includes means for discharging said accumulation elements and said display elements prior to delivery of said storage to said display elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A display panel as defined in claim 1, in which said conditioning means addresses said columns with switch-firing pulses supplemented with control pulses of an amplitude proportional to the instantaneous level of said video signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A display panel as defined in claim 7, in which said actuating means addresses said rows with pulses that complement said firing pulses to permit discharge of said control pulses through said display elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A display panel as defined in claim 1, in which a second breakdown-type switch is serially coupled between said capacitive accumulation element and said corresponding row conductor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
A display panel as defined in claim 1, in which said conditioning means addresses said columns with control pulses that exhibit a characteristic proportional to the instantaneous amplitude of said video signal, and in which said actuating means and said conditioning means, upon completion of said storage, respectively address said rows and columns with sustaiN pulses which are in phase but of unequal amplitude, the difference in said amplitude being sufficient to cause controlled conduction of said breakdown-type switches.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A display panel as defined in claim 10, in which said actuating means returns said rows to said plane of reference potential upon completion of a predetermined cycle of said alternating pulses.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
A display panel as defined in claim 1, in which a second breakdown-type switch is included in series with each accumulation element between the corresponding row and display element, and said actuating means applies an alternating potential between said rows and between said plane of reference potential subsequent to delivery of said storage to said display elements.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-08 | 1977-04-09 | 1977-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-08 | 1981-04-09 | 1981-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-08 | 1985-04-09 | 1985-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |