Techniques for optical and electrical data sensing in plasma display/Memory panels

The plasma display panel accepts digital information directly from a computer, and both stores and displays this information on a rectangular array of bistable gas-discharge cells that are separated by thin dielectric sheets from the exciting electrodes. In most applications of plasma display panels, the basic detection scheme is the visual observation of the optical output of the elements. In more complex display terminal and memory applications, however, it is desired that detection of the state of optical output of the elements also be accomplished electronically and at high speeds, and that this information be restored to an appropriate digital format. This paper describes methods of electronically extracting information from a plasma display panel by using both optical and discharge-current detection systems.