| 摘要 |
<p>An improved cathode assembly for a gas discharge display panel is disclosed providing a first series of cathode elements in a first direction and a second series of cathode elements in a second direction. A separate "keep-alive" element and "initiate signal" element are also provided. The keep-alive element maintains a localized source of ionized gas at all times. Upon activation of the initiate signal element, the ionized gas moves from the keep-alive element to the initiate signal element. The first direction elements are then sequentially activated to cause the ionized gas to pass from the initiate signal element sequentially to each of the first direction elements until the selected first direction element has been reached. The second direction elements are then sequentially activated to cause the ionized gas to pass from the selected first direction cathode element to the second direction cathode elements in sequence until the selected second direction element has been reached. As employed in a multi-layer display, when the ionized gas has reached the selected first-second coordinate on the cathode assembly, normal addressing of the anode and/or cathode elements within the gas discharge display panel can be initiated to cause the desired panel illumination to take place. An insulated spacer defining channels is used in the cathode assembly to guide the gas discharge along the desired path, being so shaped as to prevent the ionized gas from moving out of the selected first direction coordinate along the second direction cathode element.</p> |
