US3887767A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of and system for light pen read-out multicelled gaseous discharge display/memory device
Assignee: OI Glass Inc
•
Filing: 1973-10-01
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Granted: 1975-06-03
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Expires: 1993-10-01
Abstract
Abstract Identification of coordinates of a selected area of a multicelled gaseous discharge display/memory device is accomplished by positioning a radiant energy detector having a restricted field on the selected area and then selectively and temporarily altering the discharge state of the cells in the device. When the radiant energy emitted incidental to the change of discharge state of a cell is sensed by the light detector, its response actuates identifying means for the cell then subject to the control of the discharge state altering means. ''''Interrogation voltage'''' signals of levels distinct from the normal sustainer voltage levels are applied during periods of interruption of the sustainer voltage to cause changes of discharge state in cells between an ''''off state'''' and an ''''interrogation state.'''' This causes changes in cell wall voltage between an ''''off state'''' level and an ''''interrogation state'''' level, and causes an emission of radiant energy without altering the wall voltage of ''''on state'''' cells to a degree preventing their retention of the ''''on state'''' when the sustainer voltage is reapplied. A ''''turn on interrogation'''' voltage is applied in a line-by-line sequence which causes cells of the line being scanned which were in the ''''on state'''' of discharge to remain in the ''''on state'''' at or near their normal wall voltage levels while those which were in the ''''off state'''' are transferred to an ''''on interrogation state'''' exhibiting a wall voltage level above the normal level for display/memory ''''on state'''' cells. A ''''turn off interrogation'''' voltage is applied in cell-by-cell sequence along an axis transverse of that to which the ''''turn on interrogation'''' voltage is applied. Its level discharges cells having an ''''interrogation'''' wall voltage to an ''''off state'''' wall voltage while cells having an ''''on state'''' wall voltage retain that wall voltage. The detector can be enabled selectively during a selected portion of the scanning transfer of cell states. When a transfer of a cell from an ''''off state'''' to an ''''on interrogation state'''' is detected, the line of the cell is identified. The detection of the ''''turn off interrogation'''' discharge identifies the cell position along the previously identified line. Coordinates of cells in the ''''on state'''' of discharge can be identified by inverting the device cell discharge states to place them to the ''''off state'''' and employing the above interrogation sequence.
Inventors
- 👤 John W V Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 15:41
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/038; G06F3/0386
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
248 words
The method of ascertaining the location of one or more selected cells in a multicelled gas discharge display/memory device, each said cells comprising an electrode in a first array common to a plurality of cells, an electrode in a second array spaced from the electrode of the first array, a volume of ionizable gas in the vicinity of the electrodes of the first and second arrays, and at least one dielectric layer separating one of the electrodes from the gas volume, the cells having the characteristics that individual cells are sustained in their ''''on state'''' or ''''off state'''' of discharge when subjected to a sustainer voltage between respective electrodes of the first and second array which is periodically alternating between sustainer voltage magnitudes on opposite sides of a neutral voltage including: positioning a pickup for discharge radiation in registry with the selected cells; interrupting the application of the sustainer voltage alternations between the electrodes of the first and second array; transferring in succession each of a plurality of cells in an ''''off state'''' of discharge between an ''''off state'''' of discharge and an ''''on interrogation state'''' of discharge to cause said cells to issue discharge radiation at unique moments during the interruption of the sustainer alterations; sensing the discharge radiation of the selected cell by said pickup means when that cell is transferred between the ''''off state'''' and an ''''on interrogation state;'''' and correlating the sensing of the discharge with the transfer of the selected cells discharge state.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
248 words
The method of ascertaining the location of one or more selected cells in a multicelled gas discharge display/memory device, each said cells comprising an electrode in a first array common to a plurality of cells, an electrode in a second array spaced from the electrode of the first array, a volume of ionizable gas in the vicinity of the electrodes of the first and second arrays, and at least one dielectric layer separating one of the electrodes from the gas volume, the cells having the characteristics that individual cells are sustained in their ''''on state'''' or ''''off state'''' of discharge when subjected to a sustainer voltage between respective electrodes of the first and second array which is periodically alternating between sustainer voltage magnitudes on opposite sides of a neutral voltage including: positioning a pickup for discharge radiation in registry with the selected cells; interrupting the application of the sustainer voltage alternations between the electrodes of the first and second array; transferring in succession each of a plurality of cells in an ''''off state'''' of discharge between an ''''off state'''' of discharge and an ''''on interrogation state'''' of discharge to cause said cells to issue discharge radiation at unique moments during the interruption of the sustainer alterations; sensing the discharge radiation of the selected cell by said pickup means when that cell is transferred between the ''''off state'''' and an ''''on interrogation state;'''' and correlating the sensing of the discharge with the transfer of the selected cells discharge state.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
248 words
The method of ascertaining the location of one or more selected cells in a multicelled gas discharge display/memory device, each said cells comprising an electrode in a first array common to a plurality of cells, an electrode in a second array spaced from the electrode of the first array, a volume of ionizable gas in the vicinity of the electrodes of the first and second arrays, and at least one dielectric layer separating one of the electrodes from the gas volume, the cells having the characteristics that individual cells are sustained in their ''''on state'''' or ''''off state'''' of discharge when subjected to a sustainer voltage between respective electrodes of the first and second array which is periodically alternating between sustainer voltage magnitudes on opposite sides of a neutral voltage including: positioning a pickup for discharge radiation in registry with the selected cells; interrupting the application of the sustainer voltage alternations between the electrodes of the first and second array; transferring in succession each of a plurality of cells in an ''''off state'''' of discharge between an ''''off state'''' of discharge and an ''''on interrogation state'''' of discharge to cause said cells to issue discharge radiation at unique moments during the interruption of the sustainer alterations; sensing the discharge radiation of the selected cell by said pickup means when that cell is transferred between the ''''off state'''' and an ''''on interrogation state;'''' and correlating the sensing of the discharge with the transfer of the selected cells discharge state.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
248 words
The method of ascertaining the location of one or more selected cells in a multicelled gas discharge display/memory device, each said cells comprising an electrode in a first array common to a plurality of cells, an electrode in a second array spaced from the electrode of the first array, a volume of ionizable gas in the vicinity of the electrodes of the first and second arrays, and at least one dielectric layer separating one of the electrodes from the gas volume, the cells having the characteristics that individual cells are sustained in their ''''on state'''' or ''''off state'''' of discharge when subjected to a sustainer voltage between respective electrodes of the first and second array which is periodically alternating between sustainer voltage magnitudes on opposite sides of a neutral voltage including: positioning a pickup for discharge radiation in registry with the selected cells; interrupting the application of the sustainer voltage alternations between the electrodes of the first and second array; transferring in succession each of a plurality of cells in an ''''off state'''' of discharge between an ''''off state'''' of discharge and an ''''on interrogation state'''' of discharge to cause said cells to issue discharge radiation at unique moments during the interruption of the sustainer alterations; sensing the discharge radiation of the selected cell by said pickup means when that cell is transferred between the ''''off state'''' and an ''''on interrogation state;'''' and correlating the sensing of the discharge with the transfer of the selected cells discharge state.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
176 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of transferring each cell includes applying a turn on interrogation voltage to one electrode of the cell of a polarity relative to the neutral voltage corresponding to the polarity relative to the neutral voltage of the last applied sustainer voltage and of a magnitude sufficient to ignite an on interrogation state discharge in a cell in an off state of discharge, said magnitude being insufficient to ignite a discharge in a cell which is in an on state of discharge; and applying a turn off interrogation voltage to a cell electrode of the array opposite that of the one electrode, subsequent to application of a turn on interrogatiOn voltage to that cell, the voltage being of a polarity relative to the neutral voltage which is opposite the turn on interrogation voltage and of a magnitude sufficient to discharge a cell in an on interrogation state of discharge to an off state of discharge and insufficient to ignite a discharge in cells in an on state of discharge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 1 including the step of reapplying the sustainer voltage alternations between the electrodes of the first and second array subsequent to the correlation of the sensed discharge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
117 words
The method according to claim 1 including the steps of sensing that the selected cell is in the on state of discharge; inverting the discharge state of the plurality of cells when the selected cell is in the on state; transferring the discharge state of each cell between an off state and an on interrogation state of discharge while the plurality of cells are inverted; sensing the discharge radiation f the selected cell when that cell is transferred between the off state and an on interrogation state while the plurality of cells are inverted and correlating the sensing of the discharge with the transfer of the selected cell discharge state while the plurality of cells are inverted.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein the steps of sensing and correlating the discharge are practiced with respect to the discharge resulting from application of a turn on interrogation voltage to the selected cell.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein the steps of sensing and correlating the discharge are practiced with respect to the discharge resulting from application of a turn off interrogation voltage to the selected cell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein the turn on interrogation signal is applied to an electrode in the first array which is common to a plurality of cells whereby cells of said common plurality which are in the off state of discharge are simultaneously transferred to an on interrogation state of discharge.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein the turn off interrogation signal is applied to an electrode in the second array.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 8 wherein the turn off interrogation signal is applied at a unique moment for each cell in the common plurality of cells.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 1 including the step of generating clocking signals to enable said correlating and to actuate said transfer in overlapping timed relation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of correlating includes sensing the coincidence of the discharge of a cell with the transfer of the cell between the off state and an on interrogation state.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
349 words
The method of ascertaining the location of a selected cell in a multicelled gas discharge display/memory device, said cell comprising an electrode in a first array common to a plurality of cells, an electrode in a second array spaced from the electrode of the first array, a volume of ionizable gas in the vicinity of the electrodes of the first and second arrays, and at least one dielectric layer separating one of the electrodes from the gas, the cells having the characteristics that individual cells are sustained in their on state or off state of discharge when subject to a sustainer voltage between respective electrodes of the first and second arrays which is periodically alternated between sustainer voltage magnitude on opposite sides of a neutral voltage including: interrupting the application of the sustainer voltage across the respective electrodes for an interrogation interval; applying to the electrode of said first array a first interrogating voltage of a polarity relative to the neutral voltage corresponding to the polarity relative to the neutral voltage of the last applied sustainer voltage and of a magnitude sufficient to ignite an interrogation state discharge in cells common to the electrode which are in an off state of discharge, said magnitude being insufficient to ignite a discharge in cells common to the electrode Which are in an on state of discharge; positioning in registry with the selected cell a radiant energy pickup having a restricted area field of response; sequentially applying to a plurality of electrodes of said second array a second interrogating voltage of a polarity relative to the neutral voltage which is opposite the first interrogating voltage and of a magnitude sufficient to discharge cell in an interrogation state of discharge to an off state of discharge and insufficient to ignite a discharge in cells in an ''''on state'''' of discharge; sensing the emission of radiant energy by a discharge in response to an interrogating voltage of a cell in registry with the field of the pickup; and correlating the sensing of a discharge of a cell with the application of an interrogating voltage.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
349 words
The method of ascertaining the location of a selected cell in a multicelled gas discharge display/memory device, said cell comprising an electrode in a first array common to a plurality of cells, an electrode in a second array spaced from the electrode of the first array, a volume of ionizable gas in the vicinity of the electrodes of the first and second arrays, and at least one dielectric layer separating one of the electrodes from the gas, the cells having the characteristics that individual cells are sustained in their on state or off state of discharge when subject to a sustainer voltage between respective electrodes of the first and second arrays which is periodically alternated between sustainer voltage magnitude on opposite sides of a neutral voltage including: interrupting the application of the sustainer voltage across the respective electrodes for an interrogation interval; applying to the electrode of said first array a first interrogating voltage of a polarity relative to the neutral voltage corresponding to the polarity relative to the neutral voltage of the last applied sustainer voltage and of a magnitude sufficient to ignite an interrogation state discharge in cells common to the electrode which are in an off state of discharge, said magnitude being insufficient to ignite a discharge in cells common to the electrode Which are in an on state of discharge; positioning in registry with the selected cell a radiant energy pickup having a restricted area field of response; sequentially applying to a plurality of electrodes of said second array a second interrogating voltage of a polarity relative to the neutral voltage which is opposite the first interrogating voltage and of a magnitude sufficient to discharge cell in an interrogation state of discharge to an off state of discharge and insufficient to ignite a discharge in cells in an ''''on state'''' of discharge; sensing the emission of radiant energy by a discharge in response to an interrogating voltage of a cell in registry with the field of the pickup; and correlating the sensing of a discharge of a cell with the application of an interrogating voltage.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 12 wherein said step of correlating includes identifying the electrode of the second array to which the second interrogating voltage is applied in coincidence with the sensing of a discharge by the pickup.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
367 words
The method of ascertaining the location of a selected cell in a multicelled gas discharge display/memory device, said cell comprising an electrode in a first array common to a plurality of cells an electrode in a second array spaced from the first array and common to a plurality of cells, a volume of ionizable gas between the electrodes of the first and second arrays, and at least one dielectric layer separating one of the electrodes from the gas, the cells having the characteristic that individual cells are sustained in their state of discharge when subject to a sustainer voltage between respective electrodes of the first and second array which is periodically alternated between sustainer voltage magnitudes on opposite sides of a neutral voltage including: interrupting the application of the sustainer voltage across the respective electrodes of a plurality of cells having a common electrode for an interrogation interval; sequentially applying in a predetermined order to electrodes of one array a first interrogating voltage of a polarity relative to the neutral voltage corresponding to the polarity relative to the neutral voltage of the last applied sustainer voltage and a magnitude sufficient to ignite an interrogation state discharge in the cells common to an electrode which are in an off state of discharge, said magnitude being sufficient to ignite a discharge in cells common to an electrode which are in an on state of discharge; sequentially applying in a predetermined order to electrodes of the other array a second interrogating voltage of a polarity relative to the neutral voltage which is opposite the first interrogating voltage and of a magnitude sufficient to discharge cells in an interrogation state of discharge to an off state of discharge and insufficient to ignite a discharge in cells in an on state of discharge; positioning in registry with the selected cell a radiant energy pickup responsive to radiant energy emitted by cells as they discharge and having a restricted area field of response; sensing the emission of radiant energy by a discharge in response to an interrogating voltage of a cell in registry with the field of the pickup; and correlating the sensing of a discharge with the application of an interrogating voltage.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
367 words
The method of ascertaining the location of a selected cell in a multicelled gas discharge display/memory device, said cell comprising an electrode in a first array common to a plurality of cells an electrode in a second array spaced from the first array and common to a plurality of cells, a volume of ionizable gas between the electrodes of the first and second arrays, and at least one dielectric layer separating one of the electrodes from the gas, the cells having the characteristic that individual cells are sustained in their state of discharge when subject to a sustainer voltage between respective electrodes of the first and second array which is periodically alternated between sustainer voltage magnitudes on opposite sides of a neutral voltage including: interrupting the application of the sustainer voltage across the respective electrodes of a plurality of cells having a common electrode for an interrogation interval; sequentially applying in a predetermined order to electrodes of one array a first interrogating voltage of a polarity relative to the neutral voltage corresponding to the polarity relative to the neutral voltage of the last applied sustainer voltage and a magnitude sufficient to ignite an interrogation state discharge in the cells common to an electrode which are in an off state of discharge, said magnitude being sufficient to ignite a discharge in cells common to an electrode which are in an on state of discharge; sequentially applying in a predetermined order to electrodes of the other array a second interrogating voltage of a polarity relative to the neutral voltage which is opposite the first interrogating voltage and of a magnitude sufficient to discharge cells in an interrogation state of discharge to an off state of discharge and insufficient to ignite a discharge in cells in an on state of discharge; positioning in registry with the selected cell a radiant energy pickup responsive to radiant energy emitted by cells as they discharge and having a restricted area field of response; sensing the emission of radiant energy by a discharge in response to an interrogating voltage of a cell in registry with the field of the pickup; and correlating the sensing of a discharge with the application of an interrogating voltage.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 14 wherein said step of correlating includes sensing the coincidence of the discharge of a cell with the application of the interrogating voltage.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method according to claim 14 including the steps of terminating the sequential application of the first interrogating voltage in response to the sensing of a discharge; and instituting the sequential application of the second interrogating voltage in response to the sensing of a discharge caused by the first interrogating voltage.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 16 including the step of terminating the sequential application of the second interrogating voltage in response to the sensing of a discharge caused by the Second interrogating voltage.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 14 including the step of applying the sustainer voltage across the respective electrodes to terminate the interruption in response to the correlation of the discharge with application of an interrogating voltage.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 14 wherein the sensing of emission is for the first and second interrogating voltages; and the correlating of sensed discharge is with the application of the first and second interrogating voltages.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 14 including the step of producing clocking signals to enable the sensing and to actuate the interrogating signal application in overlapping timed relation.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
155 words
The method of ascertaining the location of a gaseous discharge display/memory cell in a matrix of such cells each comprising proximate portions of electrodes in each of two electrode arrays, an ionizable gas volume in the vicinity of the proximate electrode portions, and a dielectric layer separating at least one electrode portion from the gas volume including the steps of: applying a sustaining voltage waveform across the two electrode arrays; interrupting the application of the sustaining voltage; sequentially creating radiant energy emitting discharges in selected cells in the off state of discharge during the interruption of the sustaining voltage while maintaining the on state of discharge of cells in the on state at the time of interruption of the sustaining voltage; detecting radiant energy emitted over a restricted area of the matrix during the creation of off state cell discharges; and correlating the detection of radiant energy with the creation of off state cell discharges.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
155 words
The method of ascertaining the location of a gaseous discharge display/memory cell in a matrix of such cells each comprising proximate portions of electrodes in each of two electrode arrays, an ionizable gas volume in the vicinity of the proximate electrode portions, and a dielectric layer separating at least one electrode portion from the gas volume including the steps of: applying a sustaining voltage waveform across the two electrode arrays; interrupting the application of the sustaining voltage; sequentially creating radiant energy emitting discharges in selected cells in the off state of discharge during the interruption of the sustaining voltage while maintaining the on state of discharge of cells in the on state at the time of interruption of the sustaining voltage; detecting radiant energy emitted over a restricted area of the matrix during the creation of off state cell discharges; and correlating the detection of radiant energy with the creation of off state cell discharges.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
111 words
The method according to claim 21 wherein the emitting discharges produce an interrogation cell wall voltage exceeding the wall voltage of cells in the on state at the time of interruption of the sustaining voltage in transferring a cell from the off state of discharge; and including the step of applying an interrogating voltage to the cell having the interrogation cell wall voltage, said interrogation signal having a magnitude and polarity to discharge a cell having an interrogation cell wall voltage to a wall voltage of a cell in the off state of discharge and being insufficient to discharge a cell having the wall voltage of cells in the on state.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method according to claim 21 wherein the cell whose location is to be ascertained is in the on state of discharge comprising the step of inverting the state of discharge of the cells in the matrix preceding the steps of interrupting the sustaining voltage, creating discharges, detecting emitted energy and correlating the detection with cell location for the created discharge.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
186 words
The method according to claim 21 wherein the matrix of cells extend in rows along two axes transverse to each other with each row of a plurality of cells along one axis including portions of a common electrode in the first array extending along the axis and each row of a plurality of cells along the other axis including portions of a common electrode in the second array extending along the other axis and wherein the step of sequentially creating discharges is practiced a row at a time by applying to a common electrode of the row in the first array an interrogation signal transferring off state cells from an off state of discharge; and including the steps of sequentially applying second interrogation signals to electrodes of the second array of a level to return to the off state of discharge those cells of the row in the first array which were transferred from an off state by the first interrogating signal; and detecting a second burst of radiant energy emitted over the restricted area of the matrix during the return cells of the off state.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
357 words
A system for identifying the location of a discharge cell in a gaseous discharge display/memory device having a matrix of discrete discharge cells selectively transferable between an on state of discharge characteriZed by a wall charge and by an on state wall voltage and an off state of discharge characterized by an off state wall voltage; means for applying a periodic pulsating sustainer voltage across a plurality of said cells to cause periodic discharges in cells which are in an on state of discharge without causing discharges in cells which are in an off state of discharge; means for interrupting the application of said periodic pulsating sustainer voltage to a plurality of cells with any cell in the on state of discharge retaining the on state wall voltage; means for selectively applying turn on interrogation voltage signals to cells of said cell matrix of a magnitude and polarity which imposes a voltage across cells in an off state of discharge sufficient to institute an interrogation discharge in said cells to cause the emission of radiant energy from said cells, and to develop an interrogation wall voltage on said cells exceeding the wall voltage of on state cells, said turn on interrogation voltage differing from the wall voltage of on state cells by an amount sufficient to institute a discharge in said on state cells; means for selectively applying turn off interrogation signals to cells of said cell matrix of a magnitude and polarity which impose a voltage across cells having an interrogation wall voltage sufficient to discharge said cells to an off state wall voltage to cause the emission of radiant energy from said cells and of a magnitude of impose a voltage insufficient to discharge said cells having an on state wall voltage; a radiant energy pickup element having a limited area field of response which is selectively positionable in registry with portions of said matrix of cells; a radiant energy detector in communication with said pickup element and adapted to produce a signal in response to detected radiant energy from cell discharges; and means to correlate the detector signal with the selectively applied interrogation signals.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
357 words
A system for identifying the location of a discharge cell in a gaseous discharge display/memory device having a matrix of discrete discharge cells selectively transferable between an on state of discharge characteriZed by a wall charge and by an on state wall voltage and an off state of discharge characterized by an off state wall voltage; means for applying a periodic pulsating sustainer voltage across a plurality of said cells to cause periodic discharges in cells which are in an on state of discharge without causing discharges in cells which are in an off state of discharge; means for interrupting the application of said periodic pulsating sustainer voltage to a plurality of cells with any cell in the on state of discharge retaining the on state wall voltage; means for selectively applying turn on interrogation voltage signals to cells of said cell matrix of a magnitude and polarity which imposes a voltage across cells in an off state of discharge sufficient to institute an interrogation discharge in said cells to cause the emission of radiant energy from said cells, and to develop an interrogation wall voltage on said cells exceeding the wall voltage of on state cells, said turn on interrogation voltage differing from the wall voltage of on state cells by an amount sufficient to institute a discharge in said on state cells; means for selectively applying turn off interrogation signals to cells of said cell matrix of a magnitude and polarity which impose a voltage across cells having an interrogation wall voltage sufficient to discharge said cells to an off state wall voltage to cause the emission of radiant energy from said cells and of a magnitude of impose a voltage insufficient to discharge said cells having an on state wall voltage; a radiant energy pickup element having a limited area field of response which is selectively positionable in registry with portions of said matrix of cells; a radiant energy detector in communication with said pickup element and adapted to produce a signal in response to detected radiant energy from cell discharges; and means to correlate the detector signal with the selectively applied interrogation signals.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 25 wherein said means for applying interrogation signals includes means for sequentially applying said signals to said cells.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
109 words
A system according to claim 25 wherein said cells comprise an electrode in a first array common to a plurality of cells, an electrode in a second array spaced from the electrode of the first array, a volume of ionizable gas in the vicinity of the electrodes of the first and second arrays, and at least one dielectric layer spacing one of the electrodes from the gas; and wherein said means for applying turn on interrogation voltage signals is coupled to said common electrode in said first array to institute simultaneously an interrogation discharge in any cells common to said electrode which were in the off state of discharge.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
222 words
A system according to claim 25 wherein said matrix comprises a first electrode array including a plurality of electrodes each of which has portions common to a plurality of cells spaced along its length, a second electrode array including a plurality of electrodes extending transverse of the electrodes of said first array and each of which has portions common to a plurality of cells spaced along its length and spaced from portions of the electrodes of the first array, a volume of ionizable gas in the vicinity of the portions of the electrodes of the first and second arrays forming each cell, and at least one dielectric layer spacing one of the electrodes from the gas; including means coupling said means for applying turn on interrogation voltage signals to electrodes of said first array; means sequentially applying said turn on interrogation voltage to individual electrodes of said first array to institute simultaneously an interrogation discharge in any cells common to said electrode which were in the off state of discharge; means coupling said means for applying turn off interrogating signals to electrodes of said second array; and means sequentially applying said turn of interrogation voltage to individual electrodes of said second array to transfer any ceLls common to said electrode which had an interrogation wall voltage to an off state wall voltage.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 28 wherein said means sequentially applying said turn off interrogation voltage is operated intermediately each application of a turn on interrogation voltage to an electrode of said first array.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system according to claim 28 including control means to institute the application of turn off interrogation voltage to said second array in response to the detection by said detector of radiant energy resulting from a turn on interrogation voltage.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system according to claim 28 wherein said means to correlate includes marking means responsive to a signal from said detector resulting from application of a turn on interrogation voltage signal to identify the electrode of the first array to which said turn on interrogation signal was applied.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system according to claim 31 wherein said means to correlate includes marking means responsive to a signal from said detector resulting from application of a turn off interrogation voltage signal to identify the electrode of the second array to which said turn off interrogation signal was applied.
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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) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-12-02 | 1979-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-02 | 1982-12-02 | 1983-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-02 | 1986-12-02 | 1987-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |