Owens-illinois, Inc.

Owen-illinois, Inc.

Bernard W Byrum, Jr

Roger E Ernsthausen

Michael E Fein

Donald K Wedding, Sr

A gas discharge display/memory device is shown wherein the discharge is selectively and advantageously controlled, particularly for increased light output and panel brightness. The device comprises an ionizable gaseous medium in a thin gas chamber between a pair of opposed dielectric charge storage member, each member backed by an array of electrodes with each array oriented relative to the other so as to form a multiplicity of gas discharge cells. Both opposing storage surfaces of each cell are coated with a first layer of low electron yield material and a second layer of high electron yield material--in the geometric form of dots, lines, strips, etc.--the second layer being appropriately positioned such that it is surrounded by the first layer of low electron yield material and such that two opposing surfaces of high electron yield material at or near a discharge cell site cause the cell discharge to occur at the pair of opposing surfaces of high electron yield material. The relative position of the high electron yield material surfaces can be utilized to maximize the visible light output from the panel. The Townsend's (gamma) second coefficient of the high electron yield material is at least 1.5 times the Townsend's second coefficient of the low electron yield material.

Selective control of discharge position in gas discharge display/memory

There is disclosed a gas discharge device containing at least two electrodes, at least one of the electrodes being insulated from the gas by a dielectric member. There is particularly disclosed a multiple gaseous discharge display/memory panel having an electrical memory and capable of producing a visual display, the panel being characterized by an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric material charge storage members, each of which is respectively backed by an array of electrodes, the electrodes behind each dielectric material member being oriented with respect to the electrodes behind the opposing dielectric material member so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge units. At least one dielectric insulating member contains a predetermined beneficial amount of a source of at least one element selected from P, As, Sb, or Bi. The selected element or elements may be utilized in any suitable form, such as a compound, mineral, and/or elemental. Likewise, it may be incorporated into the dielectric by any suitable means, including being applied as a layer within the dielectric or on the surface thereof.

Gas discharge device

There is disclosed a gas discharge device containing at least two electrodes, at least one of the electrodes being insulated from the gas by a dielectric member. There is particularly disclosed a multiple gaseous discharge display/memory panel having an electrical memory and capable of producing a visual display, the panel being characterized by an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric material charge storage members, each of which is respectively backed by an array of electrodes, the electrodes behind each dielectric material member being oriented with respect to the electrodes behind the opposing dielectric material member so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge units. At least one dielectric insulating member contains a predetermined beneficial amount of a source of at least one transition element selected from V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Tc, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Pd, and Pt. The selected element or elements may be utilized in any suitable form, such as a compound, mineral, and/or elements. Likewise, such may be incorporated into the dielectric by any suitable means, including being applied as a layer within the dielectric or on the surface thereof.

Gas discharge display device

There is disclosed a gas discharge device containing at least two electrodes, at least one of the electrodes being insulated from the gas by a dielectric member. There is particularly disclosed a multiple gaseous discharge display/memory panel having an electrical memory and capable of producing a visual display, the panel being characterized by an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric material charge storage members, each of which is respectively backed by an array of electrodes, the electrodes behind each dielectric material member being oriented with respect to the electrodes behind the opposing dielectric material member so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge units. At least one dielectric insulating member contains a predetermined beneficial amount of a source of at least one element selected from Se, Te, or Po. The selected element or elements may be utilized in any suitable form, such as a compound, mineral, and/or elemental. Likewise, it may be incorporated into the dielectric by any suitable means, including being applied as a layer within the dielectric or on the surface thereof.

Article comprising dielectric body

There is disclosed a gas discharge device containing at least two electrodes, at least one of the electrodes being insulated from the gas by a dielectric member. There is particularly disclosed a multiple gaseous discharge display/memory panel having an electrical memory and capable of producing a visual display, the panel being characterized by an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric material charge storage members, each of which is respectively backed by an array of electrodes, the electrodes behind each dielectric material member being oriented with respect to the electrodes behind the opposing dielectric material member so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge units. At least one dielectric insulating member contains a predetermined beneficial amount of a source of at least one nonconductive, insulating inorganic nickel compound, said compound containing no oxygen atoms directly bonded to a nickel atom. The nickel compound may be incorporated into or on the dielectric by any suitable means, including being applied as a layer within the dielectric or on the surface thereof.

Gaseous display device

A gas discharge device containing at least two electrodes is shown, at least one thereof being insulated from the gas by at least one dielectric member containing a predetermined beneficial amount of a source of at least one Lanthanide Series rare earth such as La or Ce. In one embodiment a multiple gaseous discharge display/memory panel has an electrical memory, the panel including an ionizable gaseous medium in a chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric charge storage members, each of which is backed by an array of electrodes oriented with respect to the electrodes behind the opposing member to define a plurality of discrete discharge volumes constituting a discharge unit.

Gas discharge display device containing source of lanthanum series

A gas discharge device containing at least two electrodes is shown, at least one of the electrodes being insulated from the gas by at least one dielectric insulating member containing a predetermined beneficial amount of an oxide of at least one lanthanide series rare earth metal or at least one actinide series rare earth metal. In one embodiment, a multiple gaseous discharge display/memory panel having an electrical memory and capable of producing a visual display is used, the panel having an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber, formed by a pair of opposed dielectric material charge storage members, each of which is respectively backed by an array of electrodes, the electrodes behind each dielectric member being oriented with respect to the electrodes behind the opposing member so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge volumes constituting a discharge unit. Each opposing dielectric surface is coated with a metal oxide of the lanthanide rare earth series or the actinide rare earth series.

Gas discharge display panel with lanthanide or actinide family oxide

There is disclosed a gas discharge device containing at least two electrodes, at least one of the electrodes being insulated from the gas by a dielectric member. There is particularly disclosed a multiple gaseous discharge display memory panel having an electrical memory and capable of producing a visual display, the panel being characterized by an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric material charge storage members, each of which is respectively backed by an array of electrodes, the electrodes behind each dielectric material member being oriented with respect to the electrodes behind the opposing dielectric material member so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge volumes constituting a discharge unit. At least one dielectric insulating member contains a predetermined beneficial amount of a source of at least one member selected from boron, gallium, indium or thallium. The selected member or members may be utilized in any suitable form, such as a compound, mineral, and/or element. Likewise, the selected member may be incorporated into the dielectric by any suitable means, including being applied as a layer within the dielectric or on the surface thereof.

Gas discharge dielectric containing a source of boron, gallium, indium,

There is disclosed a gaseous discharge display device having a plurality of gaseous discharge sites and at least one active, working dielectric surface exposed to the gas discharge at each discharge site. The active gas contacting dielectric surface is coated with a protective film in an amount sufficient to prevent the formation of undesirable contaminants on the active dielectric surface, particularly during the manufacture of the device. After the complete assembly and gas filling of the device, the protective film is removed from the vicinity of each gas discharge site by the application of a gas discharge voltage at the site sufficient to sputter the protective film away from the discharge site without sputtering the active dielectric surface.

Method of making gas discharge display device with protective dielectric

There is disclosed a gas discharge device containing at least two electrodes, at least one of the electrodes being insulated from the gas by a dielectric member. There is particularly disclosed a multiple gaseous discharge display/memory panel having an electrical memory and capable of producing a visual display, the panel being characterized by an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric material charge storage members, each of which is respectively backed by an array of electrodes, the electrodes behind each dielectric material member being oriented with respect to the electrodes behind the opposing dielectric material member so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge units. At least one dielectric insulating member contains a predetermined beneficial amount of a source of at least one element selected from copper, silver, cadmium, mercury, and zinc. The selected element or elements may be utilized in any suitable form, such as a compound, mineral, and/or elemental. Likewise, such may be incorporated into the dielectric by any suitable means, including being applied as a layer within the dielectric or on the surface thereof.

Insulating dielectric for gas discharge device

Gas discharge display device with protected dielectric

There is disclosed a gas discharge device containing at least two electrodes, at least one of the electrodes being insulated from the gas by a dielectric member. There is particularly disclosed a multiple gaseous discharge display/memory panel having an electrical memory and capable of producing a visual display, the panel being characterized by an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric material charge storage members, each of which is respectively backed by an array of electrodes, the electrodes behind each dielectric material member being oriented with respect to the electrodes behind the opposing dielectric material member so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge volumes constituting a discharge unit. At least one dielectric insulating member contains a predetermined beneficial amount of a source of at least one member selected from boron, gallium, indium or thallium. The selected member or members may be utilized in any suitable form, such as a compound, mineral, and/or element. Likewise, the selected member may be incorporated into the dielectric by any suitable means, including being applied as a layer within the dielectric or on the surface thereof.

There is disclosed a gas discharge device containing at least two electrodes, at least one of the electrodes being insulated from the gas by a dielectric member. There is particularly disclosed a multiple gaseous discharge display/memory panel having an electrical memory and capable of producing a visual display, the panel being characterized by an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric material charge storage members, each of which is respectively backed by an array of electrodes, the electrodes behind each dielectric material member being oriented with respect to the electrodes behind the opposing dielectric material member so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge units. At least one dielectric insulating member contains a predetermined beneficial amount of a source of at least one transition element selected from V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Tc, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Pd, and Pt. The selected element or elements may be utilized in any suitable form, such as a compound, mineral, and/or elemental. Likewise, such may be incorporated into the dielectric by any suitable means, including being applied as a layer within the dielectric or on the surface thereof.

Gas discharge device including transition metal element on internal

There is disclosed a gas discharge device containing at least two electrodes, at least one of the electrodes being insulated from the gas by a dielectric member. There is particularly disclosed a multiple gaseous discharge display/memory panel having an electrical memory and capable of producing a visual display, the panel being characterized by an ionizable gaseous medium in a gas chamber formed by a pair of opposed dielectric material charge storage members, each of which is respectively backed by an array of electrodes, the electrodes behind each dielectric material member being oriented with respect to the electrodes behind the opposing dielectric material member so as to define a plurality of discrete discharge units. At least one dielectric insulating member contains a predetermined beneficial amount of a source of at least one element selected from Ge or Sn. The selected element or elements may be utilized in any suitable form, such as a compound, mineral, and/or elemental. Likewise, it may be incorporated into the dielectric by any suitable means, including being applied as a layer within the dielectric or on the surface thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Toledo, OH, United States of America

Bernard W Byrum, Jr