A positive-column discharge memory panel without current-limiting resistors for color TV display

The first TV pictures have been achieved on a dc gas-discharge memory panel (green color, 50 × 50 cells, 1-mm pitch). A contrast ratio 90: 1 with continuous gray scale (128 levels) is reported. A time-averaged green area luminance of 360 fL at 0.74 lm/W and a power consumption of 0.53 W/cm²(15 µA/cell) are obtained. The discharge cell has a triode structure, in which a positive-resistance discharge containing a positive column is formed in the cathode-grid-anode space. This permits elimination of the current-limiting resistors. The UV radiation emitted by the Xe + He (47 percent) gas discharge is used to excite the phosphors.