Method and apparatus for initiating gas discharge displays

摘要

A method and apparatus are provided for initializing ionization of a gas discharge display. The gas discharge display includes a keep-alive area electronically coupled to circuitry including one or more light emitting diode (LED). The keep-alive chamber is also optically coupled to the LED. The circuitry measures current through the keep-alive area and the method includes the step of activating the LED in response to the current through the keep-alive area falling below a predetermined threshold current.