Matrix-addressed gas-discharge display device for multi-colored data

Abstract

A gas-discharge display device for multi-colored data display in three basic colors, comprising a gas-filled, gas-tight enclosure, a board-like matrix control structure, dividing the enclosure into two chambers, which is in the form of an insulating plate having a plurality of apertures therethrough, arranged in an array of coordinate lines corresponding in number to a desired number of image points. A plasma electrode is disposed in one chamber and a luminescent screen electrode disposed in the other chamber. The control structure includes a plurality of anode conductors disposed on the side of said plate facing said plasma electrode, and a plurality of control conductors disposed on the side of said plate facing said luminescent screen electrode, with each of the conductors extending around the edges of the associated apertures. The plasma electrode is so disposed that, upon application of appropriate potentials, a gas discharge can burn in the discharge chamber, while the luminescent screen electrode is disposed sufficiently close to the adjacent conductors on the matrix member that even a few kV applied to such screen electrode cannot trigger any undesired gas discharge. The anode conductors each contain a corresponding line of apertures with each three successive apertures being allotted to the three basic colors, and each third aperture being allotted to the same basic color. Each control conductor interconnects each successive aperture along the line in which such conductor extends, and each of the latter may include apertures allotted to two of the three basic colors.