DE2253969A1 - METHOD OF CONTROLLING A GAS DISCHARGE DISPLAY PANEL AND DISPLAY SYSTEM FOR CARRYING OUT THE PROCEDURE - Google Patents

Description

Method for controlling a gas discharge display panel and display system for carrying out the method.

The invention "relates to a method for controlling a Gas discharge display panel that simplifies the control circuits through the use of special Enables control signals; The invention also relates to display systems in which such a method is indicated, is turned.

Gas discharge display boards, also called plasma display boards, are used for the visual display of information, such as letters, numbers, symbols, schemes, curves, diagrams, etc., i.e. used from two-dimensional images, obtained by combinations of zones or "points" of an area controlled by suitable controls be made to light up; they are used, for example, in the exit and entry terminals of data processing systems, used in remote information display systems, high speed printers, etc.

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Such display panels contain, in a manner now well known, a large number of gas-filled ones Cells that form the display points and are arranged in crossed rows and columns, these cells being selectively excitable in such a way that they emit a light when a gas discharge occurs in them takes place.

This is done in certain embodiments a die is present through which holes are drilled in a crossed grid of rows and columns arranged and filled with a suitable gas, and this die is made between two thin disks an electrically insulating material inserted, at least one of these panes being translucent, so that the observation of the gas cells is possible. The two disks have nets on their outer surfaces of conductive electrodes, which do not interfere with the observation of the cells and which are located in the axes of the Cross cells. With these electrodes it is possible to apply an electric field to each cell, which the 'Ionization of the gas causes a small point of light at the corresponding point on the display board generated. Other embodiments to which the invention is equally applicable will appear later briefly described.

Such display panels have several advantages. Their luminance is very high. Addressing can be based on can be done in a relatively simple manner using conventional digital methods. The main advantage of these display boards, however, perhaps consists in the fact that the various cells have their own memory effect that enables them to be a registered

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To store information for a certain period of time, whereby this time can be extended as long as desired in a very simple manner that so-called on the electrodes Maintenance signals are applied for as long as how the information should be stored.

Quite general and independent of the implementation The technology used on a gas discharge display panel causes the application of an appropriate control signal a cell ionizes the gas in the cell via the two associated electrodes. Appear in the gas electrical charges that settle on the walls of the cell and thus between these walls generate a so-called "storage voltage" that can be "stored" for a relatively long time.

A cell that has such a storage voltage is the active cell called in the following description? their state is called state 1. This state 1 is stable; once he is trained he stays exist in the absence of any control signal for relatively long times, especially from the technical Depending on the design of the scoreboard.

In contrast, a cell that has no electrical charges on its walls and consequently the storage voltage becomes Hull has, called inactive cell; their state is called state 0. This state is of course stable.

In order for a cell to be made visible, it must be made active on the one hand, i.e. from state 0 to state 1 must be brought, and it must on the other hand in the cell

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Gas discharges are maintained; the last point is fulfilled with the help of the maintenance signals.

To delete a cell, it must be brought from state 1 to state 0.

An important problem with gas discharge display panels is their control. They are already different Solutions have been suggested. These consist in a very general way, to each cell that is controlled, i.e. from the State O is to be brought into state 1 (write) or from state 1 to state 0 (delete), to apply a specific write-in control signal or erase control signal, or more precisely one from one electric field yielding such a signal. The solutions known so far differ from one another mainly by the nature of these control signals and in particular by their amplitude, their shape and their periodicity. In in all cases there are difficult problems applying these signals to the display board because either the Signals must have very large amplitudes and therefore special require expensive application circuits, which is all the more annoying, the greater the number of points on the display board is, or knows, the fault tolerances for these signals are very tight, or because of the excitation circuits are particularly complicated.

The aim of the invention is to provide a method for controlling such display panels in which control signals special shapes are applied, which are applied in a novel way to the different cells of the display board, whereby effective control is possible without

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correspondingly complicated and expensive control circuits are required are, at the same time greater scatter both with regard to the properties of the display panel itself as well as with regard to the properties of the associated circuits are permissible.

The subject of the invention is a method for controlling a display panel with cells which are filled with a gas, that with one by creating one. Control signal to the Cells generated ionization can get into luminescence, in which the control signal is assigned between two of each cell Electrodes is applied, the components of a crossed grid of row electrodes and column electrodes form, the cells being designed so that they contain the information causing their ionization in Form of electrical charges that can store between generate a storage voltage on their walls, whereby Such cells are called active cells, as opposed to inactive cells that do not carry electrical charges have their walls, characterized in that for writing, i.e. for activating certain predetermined Cells of the display panel a control signal is applied, which consists of a first partial signal (activation signal), which is applied indiscriminately to all cells of the display panel with an amplitude such that all cells are then active, and from a second partial signal (selection signal) which is on the one hand a write-in signal that is on the predetermined cells are applied so as to be kept in their active cell state (state 1), and which, on the other hand, is a neutralization signal that is sent to the remaining cells that do not belong to the predetermined cells are applied in such a way that they are in the inactive state (State 0), i.e., in their initial state return the 3ie before applying the activation signal had,

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A similar procedure is also used for deletion. This is according to an advantageous development of the invention is achieved in that in order to carry out an erasure, i.e. by certain predetermined to bring erasing cells from state 1 to state 0, the control signal contains the activation signal, which in turn is applied indiscriminately to all cells, and the dialing signal, which in this case on the one hand is an erase signal applied to the cells to be erased so as to render them inactive (state 0), and on the other hand the neutralization signal that is applied to the remaining cells not to be erased in such a way that they are made inactive (state 0), and on the other hand the neutralization signal is, which is applied to the remaining cells of the display panel which are not to be deleted in such a way that they return to their initial state, i.e. to the State that they had before the activation signal was applied.

Such a control signal, which consists of two partial signals, namely an activation signal that is always the same, which is always applied to all cells, and from a dialing signal that Neutralization signal, delete signal) and different with regard to its application or addressing can be obtained in various ways.

The invention is described by way of example with reference to the drawing. Show in it:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view

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a gas discharge display panel,

Pig. 2 diagrams to explain the general mode of operation of gas discharge display cells,

Pig. 3, 4, 5 diagrams of the course of the control signals in the method according to the invention,

Pig. 6 shows a diagram in which the various control signals of the method according to the invention are summarized are,

Pig. 7 shows an overview diagram of an exemplary embodiment a display system in which the method according to the invention is applied,

Pig. 8 diagrams to explain a variant of the formation of the control signals in the inventive Procedure,

'Pig. 9 shows the overview diagram of an embodiment of a display system which is operated with control signals of the in Pig. kind shown works, '

Pig. 10 diagrams to explain a second variant the formation of the control signals in the method according to the invention,

Pig. 11 shows the overview diagram of a display system that is associated with Control signals of the in Pig. 10 works.

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1 shows schematically in an exploded view the essential components of a conventional one Display panel with gas discharge display cells.

A matrix 1 made of insulating material is provided in a ^: crossed, in the present case rectangular grid with cylindrical holes 2, which go through from one side to the other and are arranged in rows L ₁ , Lo and in columns C-, Cp ..., the number of these holes is generally very large, for example several thousand. The die 1 is clamped between two insulating and transparent panes 3 and 4, which for example consist of thin glass and ensure the sealing of the display panel by means of a tight seal running around the circumference. The disks have on the outer surface grids of transparent conductive electrodes that cross along the axes of the holes 2, the electrodes EL ₁ , EL ₂ ... of the disk 4 parallel to the lines L ₁ , Lp ... and the electrodes EC ₁ , ECp ... of pane 3 run parallel to columns C ₁ , Cp ...,

The whole die 1 is filled with a gas such as neon, argon etc., or with a mixture of such gases, preferably a so-called "Penning" mixture filled.

A more advanced technology allows the formation of scoreboards in various shapes, through which you Appearance is changed while the principle of their mode of action remains.

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For example, the whole arrangement can be between two Glass plates are inserted, which ensure their mechanical strength.

The conductive electrodes can be placed directly on the inner surfaces these glass plates can be formed by applied metallizations. The insulating disks 3 ″ nid 4 can replaced by dielectric coatings covering the electrodes.

The die 1 can be omitted; the gas discharge cells are then not physically formed, but the Discharge is only limited by the distribution of the electric field. '

With the help of the crossed electrode grids ELj ..., EC ^ ·. · it is possible to apply electrical fields to the display cells by means of excitation circuits not shown here, which cause the ionization of the gas and thus the luminescence of the corresponding cells, which then became "active".

Such gas discharge cells have a storage effect, -Zur Memory is intended to show its mode of action and in particular this memory effect below using the curves of Fig. 2 will be briefly explained. Fig.2 shows the curves of Voltage V as a function of time t.

The curve 21 shows a sinusoidal voltage; when this tension is applied to two electrodes that cross each other in the axis of a cell, it generates when there is no reaction of the Cell is present, a likewise sinusoidal electric field. If the field created in this way

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at time t>. reaches a sufficient value that corresponds to an ignition voltage V_, the gas becomes this

el

The cell ionizes and the resulting electrical charges charge under the influence of the applied field the dielectric walls that close the cells.

These surface charges generate a storage voltage in the cell which counteracts the external voltage 21.This safe voltage in turn generates an electric field that has the opposite direction to the applied field and grows very quickly until the difference between the two fields corresponds to _{the extinguishing voltage V 0 of the gas} .

The curve 22 of FIG. 2 shows the changes in the storage voltage V of the cell as a function of the changes in the applied voltage. In fact, however, the voltage -V, which is symmetrical with respect to the storage voltage V _{m, is} shown, so that the part contained between the two curves 21 and 22 (ie the vertically hatched area 25) represents the resulting real field at any point in time.

At time t ₂ , at which the resulting field _{corresponds to the erasing voltage V 0} (arrow 23), the cell thus goes out and it maintains the storage _{voltage V m} that it reached at time t ₂ ; it is then an active cell that is in a state called State 1.

In the following half-cycle of the sinusoidal voltage 21, the storage voltage V is added to the applied voltage, and the ionization takes place at the time t- , at which the value of the external voltage 21 is lower than the ignition voltage V _a , but indicated by the arrow 24 The resulting field shown corresponds to this ignition voltage V _&. The cell

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then remains ignited until the point in time t ^, in which the resulting field represented by the arrow 26 again corresponds to _{the extinction voltage V 0.} This process is repeated any number of times.

The following should also be noted: Since the charges that accumulate on the walls grow with the time derivative of the applied voltage 21, a symmetry of the surface charges appears very quickly after a few half waves. The storage voltage V _m changes its direction with every half-wave, but quickly assumes a constant amplitude IL.

It should also be noted that an active cell which is in state 1 is only ignited for very short time intervals (t ^ to t ₂ , t ·, to t ^...) Periodically repeat voltage 21 twice per period.

Thus, in order for an active cell to be visible and to contribute appropriately to the display, after it has been made active by the application of a control signal whose amplitude is at least equal to the ignition voltage V _{a, it} must be subjected to a maintenance signal in the form of an alternating voltage, whose amplitude is sufficiently large to ignite the cell twice per period. Furthermore, the amplitude of this maintenance _{signal can be smaller than the ignition voltage V 0} , so that it can be applied to all cells of the display panel without thereby making the cells not participating in the display, ie the cells in state 0, active.

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Corresponds to each half cycle of the maintenance signal on the one hand, the regeneration of the storage voltage, the direction of which is alternately reversed, resulting in a deletion, i.e. a transition from state 1 to state 0 by the gradual disappearance of the on the surfaces of the active Waves accumulated charges are avoided, and on the other hand the emission of a light pulse, the duration of which is small compared to the period of the maintenance signal.

The method for controlling display panels of this type, which is the subject of the invention, will now be described with reference to hand of Figure 3 will be described; Changes to this procedure will be indicated below * Finally Described display systems in which these methods are applied, in particular with regard to the novel Parts of these display systems.

In diagrams (a) and (b) of Fig. 3, the in The curves drawn in full lines represent the signals between the electrodes crossing one another on the cells are applied, for example, in a manner known per se in half-voltages, i.e. that at each electrode half the voltage with respect to a common reference potential is applied; through a series of crosses The curves indicated represent the symmetrical formation of the storage voltage, which results from the lines which accumulate on the walls of the cells under the action of the signals applied to the cells.

In the example described here, the keep signal is S ™ a square wave signal; however, it could just as well have another shape, for example trapezoidal or sinusoidal. For the correct application of the tax procedure, this maintenance

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hold signal is continuously applied to the whole display panel, but it is omitted when a control signal S _{c is} applied.

It should be noted that in the diagrams of FIGS the polarities given for the various voltages are only to be regarded as examples; symmetrical training with regard to the zero line are equivalent to this.

Diagram (a) of FIG. 3 shows the method which is used to bring a cell from state 0 to state 1 _{with the aid of a control signal S c, ie to write information into this cell;} Diagram (b), on the other hand, shows the method that is used to keep a cell in the 0 state in spite of these special control signals.

Namely to a piece of information in a display panel with gas discharge cells to inscribe, certain predetermined cells must be made active (diagram a) and other cells can be left inactive (diagram b).

In order to achieve this result, are in the invention Method applied control signals, which consist of two partial signals.

A first partial signal S ₁ is applied to all cells of the display panel and has. an amplitude V ^ equal to or greater than the ignition voltage so that all cells of the display panel are made active; the walls of the cells then, as indicated by the cross curves in diagrams (a) and (b), are charged to a voltage V _n which is greater than V ^ in absolute value. This partial signal S ^ is subsequently

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Called activation signal.

The second partial signal S _{2 of} the control signal Sp, which is called the selection signal below, is different both in terms of its type and in terms of its application.

In the present case, the selection signal S ₂ contains a so-called write-in signal, which is selectively applied to the cells that are intended to contribute to the display and thus have to remain active (diagram (a) of FIG. 3), and a so-called neutralization signal that is sent to the others Cells is created so that they are made inactive again (diagram (b) of Figure 3).

The various functions (writing or neutralization) of the selection signal S ₂ v / ground are obtained by signals S ₂ with different amplitudes.

The amplitude of the write- _{in signal (V 2} in diagram (a) of FIG. 3) is dimensioned such that the difference | V _N -V ₂ J is smaller than the ignition voltage, so that the cell to be described gave it by the activation signal Sj Retains storage voltage V _n , this storage voltage then being made _{symmetrical to the axis V = O by means of the maintenance signal S x} in the manner explained above. (Since the curves are shown very schematically here, it is assumed that this symmetrization takes place immediately).

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In contrast, the amplitude of the neutralization signal (V- * in diagram (b) of FIG. 3) is "dimensioned so" that the difference JV _n -Vj is slightly larger: gp.s is the ignition voltage, so that the cell is ionized and none Charge remains on the walls, i.e. the cell becomes inactive again with a storage voltage of zero. ■

It can be clearly seen that the voltages V ₂ and V, can fluctuate within relatively wide limits and still retain their functions, which is an important advantage of this method and facilitates the formation of the control circuits for the display panel.

Furthermore, these voltages have Vp and V-? relatively small amplitudes, which also makes it possible to simplify the circuits for applying these voltages to the various electrodes of the display panel. Only the voltage V * has a large amplitude; However, since this voltage is applied in all cases to all cells and thus simultaneously to all electrodes, the more sophisticated circuits of greater quality required for this purpose are only necessary in very small numbers; for example, two of these circuits are sufficient, one for the row electrodes and one for the column electrodes. In contrast, a control circuit per electrode is often required for the voltages V _{2 and V- *.} Additional details about these circuits are given in the last part of the description.

The method described above enables a display board to be written with good quality and speed conditions.

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The deletion can of course be done in a conventional manner, for example by sending to all Row electrodes or column electrodes a control signal is applied that all cells in the State 0 brings. Such a control can be carried out easily, but inevitably results in a total deletion, which is not always wanted.

The deletion can be in a more advantageous manner, in particular with regard to a selective deletion, which only concerns certain cells, carried out with the method described above, if this is done in the manner shown in FIG is applied in the manner shown.

What is involved here is a cell from state 1, in which it has a storage voltage V _M that is alternately positive and negative in accordance with the timing of the maintenance signal, into state 0. For this purpose, a control signal, which consists of two partial signals Si and Sp, which are equivalent to the corresponding partial signals from FIG. 3, is applied during an interruption of the maintenance signal. The activation signal S ^ is the same as before, which simplifies the circuitry, and it is also reapplied to the entire display panel. It has no effect on the state of the cells to be erased, which when this signal is applied already have a storage voltage V ₀ and maintain it. The selection signal Sp here is a so-called erase signal, the amplitude VY of which is such that the cell is ionized. The role of this signal with the amplitude V ^ is equivalent to the role of the signal with the amplitude V- * in diagram (b) of Figure 3; their amplitudes are

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different, because the storage voltages V ™ in one Case and V ^ are different in the other case.

The application of such a signal S ₂ with the amplitude V ^ to the entire display panel causes an overall erasure.

In order to achieve selective deletion, you only need to the cells that are not to be deleted, a signal S ^ with the amplitude V * (diagram (b) of FIG. 3) to become, i.e. a neutralization signal. The cells which were in state 0 remain in this state as in the case of diagram (b) of FIG. the cells that are in the State 1 remain even more in this state, as shown in Fig. 5, since IV ™ I < IV- ^ j I.

With regard to that selective deletion, here is one Comment to be made: It can only be done if

ΐν ,, ΙΦΙΥ ^ Ι. For this reason, the polarity is preferred of the signal S ^ chosen so that they match the polarity coincides with the last half-wave of the maintenance signal, these polarities either being positive or both can be negative.

The method according to the invention thus enables it to be carried out as well]. the writing ^ and the erasure, both the total erasure and the selective erasure, with the help of control signals that contain an activation signal S ^ as the first partial signal, which is always the same and always applied to all cells, and the second Partial signal is a selection signal S ₂ , the amplitude of which is different depending on the operations to be performed, and which is selectively applied to the cells to be treated. Of course, various measures can be applied to such a selection signal S _P

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to obtain which is amplitude modulated in such a way that it has three different values V ₂ , V or V ^. These measures will be explained later "in the description of the display systems and their control circuits.

There is one more important point to note regarding the application of this tax method. It is namely known in the current application of certain gas discharge display panels, periodically (for example every millisecond) a so-called "conditioning signal" is sent to the entire display board during operation to put on. This signal has the task of keeping the cells in the 0 state in time to ionize so that a sufficient number of nucleus electrons is permanently present in the gas, the are necessary for the ionization of the Zellaa, which must be made active for an indication. In general namely, the write control signals have a short duration and they can only be effective when in the gas there are such nucleus electrons.

The following is clear: the conditioning signal must indeed ionize the cells in state 0 cause, but must neither the state of these cells nor the state of the cells in state 1 change. In order for these effects to be obtained, a conditioning signal generally includes a first Part, the amplitude of which is sufficient to ionize the cells in state 0 and its polarity with respect to the polarity of the last half-wave of the maintenance signal is chosen so that the cells in state 1 are not ionized, and a second part, the amplitude of which is such,

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that the storage voltage of the ionized by the first part Cells is brought back to the value 0, while the storage voltage of the cells in state 1 is not changed.

Such a signal is equivalent to certain control signals of the method described here. If you namely 3 (b) and 5 viewed, it can be seen that the control signal with the first amplitude V- »and then with of the second amplitude V, gives the same effects, as they have just been given for the conditioning signal.

Two variants of this control method are then possible.

In a first variant, the conditioning takes place independent of the actual control of the enrollment and Erasure, for example, on the entire display board by its own signal generator in the same way own times, which can be fully independent of the control signals. In the borderline case, the Conditioning on certain types of scoreboards even in ways other than the application of electrical ones Signals. This case applies in particular to the display boards, where the conditioning is direct is done by adding particles that are not electrically neutral, for example by the display panel contains a certain amount of radioactive material.

In a second variant of the method according to the invention, the conditioning signal is used as a control signal from same type as the write or erase control signals

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viewed. Like this, it contains an activation _{signal S 1} , which is followed by a selection signal S ₂ , the selection signal in this case always being a neutralization signal of amplitude V ^ which, like the activation signal S ^, is applied to all cells. In this variant, the conditioning signal does not need to be applied to the display panel when a write-in or erasure control signal is applied to it. This is because these control signals automatically result in conditioning when their activation signal is applied.

The various aspects of the control signals just described are briefly summarized in FIG. The activation signal S ^ is the same for every control to be carried out. The selection signal S ₂ results, depending on its amplitude in relation to the value V ^ of the activation signal S ^, a write in the amplitude range P ^, a conditioning or neutralization in the amplitude range P ₂ , a deletion in the amplitude range Ρ-, and again a write in the amplitude range P ^.

It can be clearly seen from this figure that the amplitudes of the control signals with respect to the partial signal S ₂ not only have a relatively small value, but can also change in relatively large ranges without the risk of incorrect control being caused. Only the erasure area is quite narrow.

The extent of these areas in relation to the zero axis can be different; namely, it is determined by the amplitude value V ^, which can be different. This can result in polarities for the various selection signals S ₀ that differ from the polarities shown here.

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It should be noted that all the diagrams show ideal square-wave voltages with infinitely steep edges. In the In practice, the situation is somewhat different, without of course worsening the described modes of action will. However, this can be used to facilitate the formation of the cancellation signals, since the result, i. the absence of charges on the walls of an erased cell depends not only on the amplitude of the signal S £, but also by its shape and especially by its steepness. The electric charge on the walls of one The cell depends on the steepness of the signal that is applied to the cell while it is ionizing will. The trade-off between the amplitude of a cancellation signal and its steepness to achieve the For best results, depends particularly on the type of scoreboard used.

In general, the various signals need not be square-wave signals; they can for example trapezoidal signals or even sinusoidal signals.

In Fig. 7, 9 and 11 are very schematically different Display systems with gas discharge panels P shown, the can be controlled according to the method according to the invention with the aid of control circuits shown in these figures are represented by an overview diagram anyway. The detailed execution these circuits presents no difficulty; their realization lies in the knowledge of the specialist who is skilled in the current art of controlling such display panels. Corresponding to each other Parts in these figures are each provided with the same reference numerals.

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These figures relate to display systems in which the display panels contain P n »m cells which are in η lines ¹ .

and m columns are arranged, where η = m = 5 is chosen here as an example; each cell is created by applying of corresponding voltages between the row electrode EL> | ... ELc and the column electrode EC-j ... ECc controlled the cross at this cell.

A code converter 71 receives at its input terminal 70 the general control information, such as the indication of the number, letter, symbol or curve that are to be made visible. The transcoder 71 provides several specific pieces of information at its various outputs: For example, at the output synchronization information necessary for correct operation of the overall circuits is necessary at the outputs 73 and / or 74 information that relates to the actual Control signals S-, and Sp refer, and at the outputs and 76 the addresses of the row and of the column whose intersection point defines the cell, which according to the invention Process can be controlled, i.e. written, deleted or neutralized. Soil. These addresses control the conventionally a row selector 77 and a column selector 78. These voters, on the other hand, receive in the embodiment of Fig. 7 at terminals 79 and 80, the control signals that are sent to the addressed line and column electrodes are to be applied, and they emit them at their corresponding output. All of these operations The addressing and distribution of the control signals take place in a completely in the field of digital technology usual way. It should also be noted that this

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Controllers can be done point by point, as is the case here This is the case, but they can be addressed with the usual parallel addressing in the register for the control of the Rows and the columns are applied, can also be done row by row or column by column.

The control signals output from the selectors 77 and 78 are applied to the row electrodes EL ·. .. · ELj- or applied to the column electrodes EC ^ ... ECc by decoupling circuits 81 to 90, for example diode circuits, which also make it possible to apply the high-voltage signals to these electrodes, the maintenance signal S _E on the one hand and the activation signal S ^ on the other form, as well as a number of other signals that depend on the variant in question.

In the three variants shown here, the synchronization output 72 of the code converter controls a clock generator 91, which generates periodic signals of the frequency H, which serves as a pilot frequency for all circuits, in all three cases this clock generator 9i controls the output of the maintenance signal So by a generator 92, for example a square wave generator. These signals have a relatively large amplitude, for example of about 100 or several hundred volts. They are connected to a row amplifier 94 and a column amplifier via a selector 93 with two inputs 96 and 97, and the output signals of these amplifiers are fed to the row electrodes and the column electrodes via the decoupling circuits 81 to 85 and the decoupling circuits 86 to 90, respectively . The maintenance _{signal S E} is applied to the row electrodes and the column electrodes in half-voltages according to a technique known per se.

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electrodes applied so that the row electrodes, for example axf, the potential + V _E / 2 and the column _{electrodes are brought to the potential -V E} / 2. The two outputs of the selector 93 symbolically represent the two voltages + V-β / 2 and -Vg / 2, which can be used at any desired point in the circuit and, for example, dur.ch. amplifiers 94 and 95 can themselves be grounded separately.

The second input 97 of the selector 93 receives one or the other of several signals, which will be explained later, as they depend on the respective variant, and which, like the maintenance signal _{S 33} , are applied simultaneously in symmetrical half-voltages through the amplifiers Sh and 95 all electrodes are applied. The selector 93 is designed so that when a signal appears at its input, the maintenance signal S- ™ no longer reaches the amplifiers 9h and 95.

The variant shown in Figure 7 should now be more complete to be discribed. This variant ends the method according to the invention in two special ways.

On the one hand, the conditioning signal C is generated by a generator 98 as a function of the write-in and erase control signals delivered. This generator 98 is frequency-controlled by the clock 91 via a frequency divider 99, which emits a signal at the frequency H / n, which is the conditioning frequency. The exit of the generator 98 is one with the first output 100 Selector 102 connected, the output of which is connected to the input 97 of the selector 93.

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On the other hand, the second partial signal S _{2 of} the control signals is obtained by simple modulation of a DC voltage value.

The first partial signal of the control signals, DJH _e the activation signal S ₁ is obtained from a generator 103 which outputs a high voltage signal of amplitude V ^, which is greater than the amplitude V · ™ of the maintaining signal, wherein the delivery of these signals by the output 74 of the transcoder 71 is controlled and controlled by the clock. The output of the generator 103 is connected to the second input 101 of the selector 102, which thus feeds either the conditioning signal C or the activation signal S ^ to the input 97, the conditioning signal C of course not being applied when the activation signal S ^ is applied is transmitted. A generator 104, which is controlled by the generator 103, for example, emits a DC voltage signal S ₂ at the end of the signal S ^, the amplitude of which is much smaller than that of the activation signal S ^, and which is fed to a modulator 105. This modulator receives a signal from the output 73 of the code converter 71 which identifies the amplitude value V ₂ »V ^ or VY which the signal it emits must have so that a selection signal is applied to the corresponding cell of the display board, which is either a write-in signal, is a cancellation signal or a neutralization signal. Here, too, the modulator 105 actually supplies two symmetrical half-voltages which are applied to the correct row and column electrodes via the selectors 77 and 78 and the decoupling circuits so that the cell is controlled, which is passed through the outputs 75 and 76 of the code converter 71 is addressed.

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Figures 9 and 11 show schematically the basic design of two other variants of the display system according to the invention.

Each of these two variants differs from the first variant (FIG. 7) in two different aspects. The first aspect concerns the conditioning signal; The second face-point relates to the way in which the selection signal S £ is formed and how it is applied to the electrodes of the display panel. It is. note that a conditioning signal of the type shown in FIG. 7 can also be used in the variants of FIGS. 9 and 11. Conversely, a conditioning signal which is formed in the manner shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, ie from the control signals S _n = S ₁ + S ₉ , can also be used in the circuit of FIG.

In the systems of Fig. 9 and 11, the selection signal S2 » that from write signals, erase signals and neutralization signals is composed, not obtained by modulating the amplitude of a DC voltage signal, but by the fact that in addition to a DC voltage 137 of relatively low to the electrodes Value, which is supplied by a generator 104, auxiliary signals are applied, de more constant by pulses and relatively small amplitudes are formed, their respective phases depending on the information of the code converter can be changed in such a way that the signals with that for writing, erasing or Neutralize required amplitude can be obtained. In Fig. 9 and 11 two examples are given,

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in which this type of generation of the dial signal is used. FIGS. 8 and 10 show diagrams of the auxiliary signals which are applied to the row electrodes and to the column electrodes, as well as the signals resulting therefrom for the cells and the results obtained in these cells as a function of the various relative delays of the row signals and column signals. In these two examples, the DC voltage value sT of the selection signal has been selected to be equal to the write-in voltage V ₂ . In this case, writing takes place when the resulting auxiliary signal S _{& has} the value 0, and erasing takes place when the resulting auxiliary signal has such an amplitude that the amplitude of the overall selection signal S ₂ = S ₂ + S _& the fourth V ^ has, so for

^{| S} a ^{l = IV} 4 -'V
and a neutralization takes place for

IS _a l = IV ₃ - V _£ l

In the first of these two variants, which is shown in Fig. 8 and, the auxiliary signals S applied to the row electrodes and the auxiliary signals S _{& c} applied to the column electrodes are each formed by a positive pulse of amplitude ν and duration T, which is shown in of the selection signal S ₂ allocated time T ₂ each can assume a plurality of bezeichnetei with φ = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 positions. It should be noted that the ratio of the duration T of a pulse to the time T _{2 can be} different from the value chosen here; on the other hand, this duration T must be equal to the elementary phase difference between the various possible positions of these pulses,

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so that these pulses do not overlap.

In the example shown in FIG. 8, conditioning or neutralization takes place in that an auxiliary signal S _{flL of} phase φ = 0 is applied to the relevant row electrode and an auxiliary signal Sp (the mirror image of which is shown here) of phase φ = is applied to the relevant column electrode as shown by the curves shown in section (1) of FIG. The resulting selection signal S ₂ contains two pulses which bring the DC voltage value to Vz, ie perform conditioning.

As shown in section (2), deletion takes place in that a line signal S _L of phase φ = 1 and a column _{signal S aC} of phase f = 1 are applied, so that the resulting signal S2 has the amplitude V ^. The portion (3) shows that a writing is effected in that the two row and Spaltenhilfssignalezu be 0, so that the height of the resulting signal S ₂ at the value V ₂ remains.

The curves in sections (4), (5) »(6) and (7) show that in a row or in a column in which at least one cell is inscribed or deletion is carried out that is not even affected by an enrollment or deletion of cells are subjected to a neutralization signal equivalent to a conditioning signal.

Fig. 9 shows an exemplary embodiment of a display system, that works in the manner previously described.

The activation signal S ^, which is supplied by the generator 103 which is also used here to form the conditioning

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signal is controlled at the frequency H / n by the frequency divider 99 and fed at 110 to one of the two inputs of a selector 111, the output 112 of which feeds the input 97 of the selector 93 already described in connection with FIG thus applied to the entire display board with the frequency H / n. The end of this signal S * controls on the one hand the generator 104 'which emits the direct voltage component S ^ "of the selection signal, which here has the value VV, and is fed to the second input of the selector 111, and on the other hand a pulse generator 113, whose output signals an arrangement 114 _{variable delay, which emits a pulse v} of amplitude ν and the amount of 0, +2 or +1 for the formation of the auxiliary signals at three outputs labeled O *. + 2 »+1.,

The outputs 0 and +2 of the arrangement 114, which auxiliary « provide signals that the formation of the neutralization signals are possible with the line amplifier 94 resp. connected to the column amplifier 95 to provide the conditioning signal is supplemented, which has been partially generated at the output 112 of the selector 111. The conditioning signal is formed on this catfish and with the frequency H / n applied to all lines of the scoreboard.

The actual control signals, ie _# the write-in signals and the erase signals, are formed and applied in the following manner.

The activation signal S, j and the DC component "J" of the selection signal S ^ are formed and applied as before.

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The application of the outputs O and +2 of the arrangement signals output to amplifiers 94 and 95 is below Control of the code converter 71 blocked, for example with the help of electronic! Gate circuits, for simplification are not shown in the drawing. Applying a neutralization signal to the whole scoreboard will thereby suppressed.

In the event of a delete command, the output 73 of the code converter 71 controls the output of an auxiliary signal by the Arrangement 114 at the output +1, which is connected to the inputs 115 and 116 of the row selector 77 and the column selector 78 is connected, so that a signal of the amplitude V ^ is applied to the cells to be deleted, as described in section (2) of Fig.8 is shown. The outputs O and +2 are in turn connected to inputs 117 and 118 of the two selectors 77 and 7f, so that the cells can be neutralized, which must not be deleted.

In the event of a write command, the output 73 of the code converter controls 71 the suppression of the generator 113 supplied pulses so that auxiliary signals of the value 0 can be obtained. Here, too, the cells that are not allowed to be written are replaced by the ones at the outputs and +2 of assembly 114 cast and voters and 78 applied signals neutralized.

The second variant of the generation of the selection signal S ₂ by adding row auxiliary signals and column auxiliary signals to a DC voltage component SX, which has the value V ₂ , for example, is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, which are derived from FIGS. 8 and 9, respectively.

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The main difference is that row auxiliary signals S _{& L} and column _{auxiliary signals S & c} are used which, as shown in FIG. 10, consist of two symmetrical pulses of equal amplitude which are phase-shifted from one another by a constant amount. Here, too, the distribution of the Y / Shl signal S ₂ allocated time T ₂ ⁱⁿ fourteen intervals Φ = 0,1, .. 14 is arbitrary again. The only important point is that the arrangement of the pulses of the auxiliary signals given in Fig. 10 is observed.

Section (1) of FIG. 10 shows the respective phases of the auxiliary signals S aL applied to the row _electrodes and of the auxiliary signals S _{& c} applied to the column electrodes, so that conditioning and pine neutralization are obtained. Sections (2) or (3) correspond to deletion or registration. Sections (4) to (7) correspond to sections (4) and (7) of FIG. They show that in all cases the scoreboard is properly controlled.

An important advantage of this variant over that of Figure 8 is that the auxiliary signals for the enrollment does not have to be made 0, which makes the controls more uniform.

Fig. 11 shows an embodiment of the display system, which works in the manner previously described with reference to FIG.

Since the constituent parts of this system are largely equivalent to those of Fig. 9, their description will be made not repeated here.

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2753969

The differences are mainly in the pulse generator 113, which enables the generation of the auxiliary signals, and in the multiple delay order 114.

The generator 113 supplies the elementary auxiliary signals with their two mutually symmetrical and in relation to one another impulses that are fixed to each other. It does not contain any control to suppress these pulses.

The multiple delay arrangement 114 supplies the row and column auxiliary signals at five outputs 0, + 8, +4, +6, +2, which are required for the formation of the selection signals S £ in sections (1), (2) and (3) of FIG.

The outputs 0 and +8, which are used for conditioning and neutralization, are like the outputs 0 and - + 2 8, on the one hand with the row and column amplifiers 94 and 95 and on the other hand with the selectors 77 and 78 connected.

The output +4, which enables the inscriptions to be carried out (section (3) of Fig. 10), is with the two Electors 77 and 78 connected.

The outputs +6 and +2, which enable the deletions to be carried out, are also with the selectors and 78, respectively, as shown in Fig.11.

It should be noted that in order to simplify the figures, the outputs of the arrangement 114 correspond to the polarities of the row and do not take column signals into account.

The three display systems described above naturally have the advantages already described in connection with

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- ■ 32 -

the control method according to the invention have been mentioned.

The last two display systems also have the advantage that the tolerances for the circuits: still be enlarged, since it is possible to select the partial signal the control signals are no longer formed by voltages of different amplitudes, which are in symmetrical Half-values are applied to the electrodes, but by signals of constant amplitude, which subject to variable delays. This results in a greater safety of the controls equal quality of the circuits. Such control also allows for greater variability in properties the display boards and associated circuitry.

Claims

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Claims (1)

2753969 Claims ./Method for controlling a display panel with cells which are filled with a gas which "can get into luminescence when an ionization is generated by applying a control signal to the cells," in which the control signal is applied between two electrodes assigned to each cell, which Form components of a crossed grid of row electrodes and column electrodes, the cells being designed so that they can store the information causing their ionization in the form of electrical charges that generate a storage voltage between their walls, such cells being called active cells, in contrast to inactive cells which have no electrical charges on their walls, characterized in that a control signal (S _c ) consisting of a first partial signal (activation signal) (Sj) is used for writing, ie for activating certain predetermined cells of the display panel , this indiscriminately to all cells of the display etafel is applied with such an amplitude that all cells are then active, and from a second partial signal (selection signal) (Sp) which is on the one hand a write-in signal that is applied to the predetermined cells in such a way that they are active cells in their state ( State 1), and which on the other hand is a neutralization signal that is applied to the other cells not belonging to the predetermined cells in such a way that they are brought into the inactive state (state O), that is, return to their initial state, the they had before the activation signal was applied. 3 Q 9 S 1 3 / O 8 7 8 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that for carrying out a deletion, that is to certain pre "specific to delete cells from state 1 to state O to bring the control signal (Sq) contains the activation signal (S]) , which in turn is applied indiscriminately to all cells, and the selection signal (Sp), which in this case is on the one hand an erase signal that is applied to the cells to be erased in such a way that they are made inactive (state O), and on the other hand the The neutralization signal is applied to the other cells of the display panel that are not to be erased in such a way that they return to their initial state, that is to say to the state they had before the activation signal (S ^) was applied. 5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a conditioning is carried out periodically in that an electrical signal is applied to all cells, which causes a brief ionization of these cells, but without their state 0 or 1 after the application of this electrical signal is different from the state existing before this signal was applied, characterized in that part of the control signals (Sq), namely the activation signal (S ₁ ) and the neutralization signal of the selection signal (Sp), is used as the conditioning signal. - "- 4. The method of claim 3, wherein a periodic maintenance signal to all cells with a Amplitude is applied, which is smaller than the amplitude, which the ionization of a located in the 0 state- 3098 19/0878 Lichen cell can cause, and at least equal to the amplitude which can cause the ionization of a cell that was previously ionized and has stored the state 1 caused by the previous ionization, characterized in that the maintenance signal (Sg) during the entire duration of the application a control signal (S _ß ) is interrupted, and that the activation signal (Sj) of this control signal has the same polarity as the last half-wave of the maintenance signal. 5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the frequency of the maintenance signal (S _E ) is a multiple of the frequency of the conditioning signal. 6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the write and neutralization signals of the selection signal (S ₂ ) to the cells to be written or to the cells not to be written after the activation signal (S-]) at least for part of the allocated to them Time (T ₂ ) are applied with amplitudes such that the cells to be written are confirmed in their state 1 by the write signal, while the remaining cells return to their initial state (state 0) under the effect of the neutralization signal. 7. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the cancellation and neutralization signals of the selection signal (Sp) to the cells to be deleted or to the cells not to be deleted after the activation signal (S ₁ ) at least for part of the time allotted to them ( T ₂ ) with such 3098 19/0878 Amplitude are applied so that the cells to be deleted return to the state O under the effect of the delete signal, while the other cells return to their initial state (state O "or 1) return. 8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the different amplitudes of the 'different signals of the selection signal (Sp) can be obtained by interposing between the row electrodes and the column electrodes of the display panel a DC voltage (13 "T) is applied, and at the same time auxiliary signals are applied to the row electrodes and to the column electrodes, each of these auxiliary signals for part of the allocated to the dialing signal (Sp) Time (Tp) contains pulses, and that the amplitude of the resulting signal (Sp) by adjusting the relative Phase shift between the row auxiliary signals and the column auxiliary signals is controlled. ). A display system with a gas discharge display panel which is controlled according to the method according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by a display panel (P) with cells which are controlled by electrodes arranged in a crossed grid of row electrodes (EL ₁ ...) and column electrodes (EC ₁ ...) are arranged, a code converter (71) which receives the information relating to the display and supplies the address control commands, a clock generator (91) which is synchronized by the code converter (71) and the entirety of the control switch lines of the display system synchronized, a row selector (77) and a column selector (78), which of 309819/087 8 the code converter (71) are controlled selectively to certain row electrodes or to certain column electrodes receive the selection signals to be applied and apply the selection signals to the specific electrodes, a DC voltage signal generator (103) which supplies the activation signal (S ^) which is in symmetrical Half values to the row electrodes via at least one row amplifier (94) and via at least one column amplifier (95) is applied to the column electrodes, the output of an activation signal (S ^) triggered by this generator (103) from the transcoder (71), and by a dial signal generator (104, 105; 104, 113, 114). the different applied to the row and column selectors (77, 78) Outputs dialing signals, the output of a dialing signal is controlled by this generator and the selection of this selection signal by the transcoder (71). 10. A display system according to claim 9 for performing the method according to claim 5, characterized in that a generator (92) controlled by the clock (91) is provided which generates a periodic signal at the frequency H which forms the maintenance signal (S _E ) that the output of the maintenance signal generator (92) is connected to one of the two inputs (96) of a selector (93), the other input (97) of which receives the activation signal (S ^) and the output of which receives the row and column amplifiers (94, 95) ) feeds, the application of an activation signal (S ₁ ) to the other input (97) through the delivery of the maintenance signal (Sg) 30981 9/0878 the selector (93) blocks that the activation signal (S-J) generating generator (103) with a Frequency H / n is controlled, which is an integer divisor of the frequency at which the maintenance signal generator (92) is controlled that the outputs of the neutralization signal supplying Dial signal generator with the division frequency H / n die . Feed row and column electrodes via the row and column amplifiers (94, 95) and that the input, apply the IT neutralization signal to all electrodes locked under control of the transcoder when another dial signal is sent to these electrodes must be created. 11. Display system according to claim 9 or 10 for carrying out the method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that that the dial signal generator has a DC voltage sgener at or (104), the output of which is connected to an amplitude modulator (105) which provides the various dial signals. 12. Display system according to claim 9 or 10 for performing the method according to claim 8, characterized in that the _{generator generating the selection signal (S 2} ) on the one hand contains a DC voltage generator (I04) which supplies the DC voltage (sT) to be applied to the electrodes be applied in symmetrical half-voltages to all row and column electrodes, that the output of the DC voltage generator (I04) is connected to an input of a selector (111) which sends the activation signal (Sj) to a second input. 30981 9/0878 7 2 5 3 969 receives and one or the other of these "two Transmits signals to the row and column amplifiers (94, 95), and that the dial signal generator on the other hand a pulse generator (113), the output of which with an arrangement (114) with variable delay is connected, which is controlled by the code converter (71) and which is used to form the selection signal (Sp) supplies mutually phase-shifted auxiliary signals. 3098 19/0878