Method of memory-driving a dc gaseous discharge panel and circuitry

Abstract

A method of memory-driving a DC gaseous discharge panel and circuitry therefor are disclosed. To generate a write discharge on a desired display cell, while a scan pulse Pscn having a pulse width of .tau.scn is applied to a cathode associated with the cell, a display anode is held in its high level or ON level. To prevent the write discharge from being formed, while the scan pulse Pscn is applied to the cathode, a non-write pulse Pnw having a pulse width of .tau.nw is applied to the display anode. The pulse width .tau.nw is selected such that the duration of the pulse Pnw (.tau.scn-.tau.nw) is shorter than the statistic time lag of the start of a discharge at which a discharge cell generating a write discharge first appears. For a sustain discharge following the write discharge, sustain pulses Psus are applied to the cathode after the scan pulse Pscn for a predetermined period of time such that they do not coincide with the non-write pulses as to the timing. As a result, stable discharge and therefore high quality display is insured even when the scanning period must be reduced in order to, e.g., enlarge a screen.