Method for driving a gas discharge display panel

Abstract

A method of driving a gas discharge display panel having first and second arrays of parallel conductors disposed in spaced relationship on opposite sides of a gas filled panel and oriented at transverse angles to each other, the electrodes of each array being insulated from direct contact with the gas by a corresponding layer of dielectric material. Coordinate intersections of the electrodes of the two arrays define corresponding individual discharge sites. A write signal is applied to the electrodes of the first array, in line sequential manner, to fire all of the cells associated with each electrode; thereafter, an erase pulse is applied to that same electrode, which has the capability of erasing all of the cells; for those cells selected to be illuminated, erase signal cancelling pulses are applied selectively to the corresponding electrodes of the second array, of reduced amplitude relative to the erase signal but sufficient to inhibit the erase function and thus prevent termination of the discharge in the selected cells. In a rectangular such display panel in which the first array has far fewer electrodes than the second array, the use of cancelling signals of relatively low level voltages permits fabrication of a drive circuit using less expensive elements, such as transistors, having low breakdown voltages, contributing to a significant reduction in cost of the drive circuits for the panel.