US3824580A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas panel matrix driver
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1972-10-10
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Granted: 1974-07-16
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Expires: 1992-10-10
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for driving a gas panel, which employs a resistor matrix, between the panel drivers and the panel. The resistor matrix is operated in approximately a half-select mode in a manner such that two horizontal control lines must be driven and two vertical drive lines must be driven to write a cell. The algebraic summation of the potential on the drive lines from the matrix causes selected cells to fire or emit light pulses, or in the event that they have already been fired, continue to fire. Through use of the matrix, the number of drivers required is greatly reduced in that no longer is there a requirement of one driver for each horizontal and vertical line, and thus the logic for selection of the drivers is greatly simplified. In addition, since the matrix is operated in a half-select mode, single horizontal and vertical drivers can be utilized to erase an entire character position without need, as is in the conventional case, of a cell-by-cell erasure under control of the logical character generator.
Inventors
- 👤 C Bringol
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:12
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/22; G09G3/28; G09G3/288; G09G3/296; G09G2310/00; G09G2310/02; G09G2310/0202; G09G2310/0218; G09G3/291
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of driving and controlling a gas panel which includes horizontal and vertical drive lines which are selectively connected to first and second horizontal and vertical drivers under the control of a logical character generator, said method comprising: a. electrically connecting a summing-resistor matrix drive between said drivers and said gas panel horizontal and vertical drive lines; b. applying a potential from both said first and second horizontal drivers to the horizontal drive line of a selected cell through said matrix while simultaneous applying a negative potential to all other horizontal drive lines, and; c. applying a potential from both said first and second vertical drivers to the vertical drive line of said selected cell through said matrix while simultaneous applying a negative potential to all other vertical drive lines.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of driving and controlling a gas panel which includes horizontal and vertical drive lines which are selectively connected to first and second horizontal and vertical drivers under the control of a logical character generator, said method comprising: a. electrically connecting a summing-resistor matrix drive between said drivers and said gas panel horizontal and vertical drive lines; b. applying a potential from both said first and second horizontal drivers to the horizontal drive line of a selected cell through said matrix while simultaneous applying a negative potential to all other horizontal drive lines, and; c. applying a potential from both said first and second vertical drivers to the vertical drive line of said selected cell through said matrix while simultaneous applying a negative potential to all other vertical drive lines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 1 further wherein said step of applying a potential includes applying a first potential from all of said vertical drivers to all of said vertical drive lines in said matrix and a second potential from all of said horizontal drivers to all of said horizontal drive lines with said first and second potentials not being of sufficient magnitude to cause said cells at said apparent intersections of said drive lines to be written but being sufficient to provide a sustaining potential to said gas panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 2 further wherein all of said cells located at the intersections of said drive lines are erased by applying a single erase pulse to a plurality of vertical and a plurality of horizontal drive lines simultaneously.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 3 further wherein there is applied an additional potential from said vertical drivers to the said vertical drive line of said selected cells through said matrix and an additional potential from said horizontal drivers to the said horizontal drive line of said selected cell through said matrix to produce an electrical potential sufficient to write said selected cell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4 further wherein a plurality of said first and second horizontal drivers are selected to simultaneously write a plurality of cells.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 5 further wherein a plurality of said first and second horizontal drivers are selected to simultaneously erase a plurality of cells.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
136 words
A gas panel drive system in which first and second horizontal and vertical drivers are, under control of character generating logic, selectively activated to supply potentials of sufficient magnitudes to write cells, sustain cells once written and erase cells which are located at the apparent intersection of the vertical and horizontal drive lines of said gas panel, said system comprising: a. a summing-resistor matrix drive connecting said first and second vertical drivers to said vertical drive lines of said gas panel and connecting said first and second horizontal drivers to said horizontal drive lines of said panel; b. said means for connecting including a matrix wired such that during generation of said write potential only the cell being written receives a potential and all other cells can be caused to receive a zero or negative potential.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
136 words
A gas panel drive system in which first and second horizontal and vertical drivers are, under control of character generating logic, selectively activated to supply potentials of sufficient magnitudes to write cells, sustain cells once written and erase cells which are located at the apparent intersection of the vertical and horizontal drive lines of said gas panel, said system comprising: a. a summing-resistor matrix drive connecting said first and second vertical drivers to said vertical drive lines of said gas panel and connecting said first and second horizontal drivers to said horizontal drive lines of said panel; b. said means for connecting including a matrix wired such that during generation of said write potential only the cell being written receives a potential and all other cells can be caused to receive a zero or negative potential.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
The gas panel drive system of claim 7 further wherein each of said first vertical drivers and each of said second vertical drivers are selectively resistively coupled to said vertical drive lines of said gas panel and each of said first and second horizontal drivers are selectively resistively coupled to said horizontal drive lines of said gas panel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The gas panel drive system of claim 8 further wherein said plurality of vertical drive lines connected to a single vertical driver is resistively coupled to a different one of said second vertical drivers and each of said horizontal drive lines are resistively coupled to one of said second horizontal drive lines.
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) | 1977-07-15 | 1978-01-14 | 1978-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-15 | 1982-01-14 | 1982-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-15 | 1986-01-14 | 1986-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |