US1560103A - Electric discharge tube - Google Patents

Electric discharge tube Download PDF

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Publication number
US1560103A
US1560103A US446973A US44697321A US1560103A US 1560103 A US1560103 A US 1560103A US 446973 A US446973 A US 446973A US 44697321 A US44697321 A US 44697321A US 1560103 A US1560103 A US 1560103A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
cathode
letters
illuminated
anode
light
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US446973A
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English (en)
Inventor
Schmierer Michel
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Individual
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Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority to DE1919345859D priority Critical patent/DE345859C/de
Priority to FR526383A priority patent/FR526383A/fr
Priority to GB30148/20A priority patent/GB153004A/en
Priority to CH93428D priority patent/CH93428A/de
Priority to NL17206A priority patent/NL11711C/xx
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US446973A priority patent/US1560103A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US1560103A publication Critical patent/US1560103A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J17/00—Gas-filled discharge tubes with solid cathode
    • H01J17/38—Cold-cathode tubes
    • H01J17/48—Cold-cathode tubes with more than one cathode or anode, e.g. sequence-discharge tube, counting tube, dekatron
    • H01J17/49—Display panels, e.g. with crossed electrodes, e.g. making use of direct current
    • H01J17/491—Display panels, e.g. with crossed electrodes, e.g. making use of direct current with electrodes arranged side by side and substantially in the same plane, e.g. for displaying alphanumeric characters

Definitions

  • This invention relates to luminous electric discharge lamps for the production of illuminated signs, letters, designs, etc.
  • Luminous electric discharge lamps for the production of illuminated letters in which the cathode consists of a letter-shaped sheet the back of which is coated with insulating lacquer or the like, have been previously used.
  • the negative luminous discharge spreads out in all directions from the edges of the letters and only gradually decreases in brightness, the letters do not have shara outlines.
  • Thin illuminated lines cannot e produced with luminous discharge lamps of this kind, as the smallest representable Width corresponds to the double thickness'of .the negative luminous layer. Accordingly, the practical usefulness of discharge lamps of this typeis limited to relatively large and simple letters. 7
  • the object of the present invention is,
  • the invention lies in the discovery that if one of the enclosed electrode elements (for direct current, the cathode) is partially coated on its face with an insulating lacquer, the surface which is not so coated becomes illuminated, while the coated surface remains inactive, and that the outlines of the luminous emanations are sharply defined by the boundaries of the uncoated surface.
  • the electrode utilized for displayed purposes is generally the cathode, as the best results are obtained from the cathode emanations.
  • both electrodes necessarily function, alternately, as both cathode and anode.
  • the electrode bearing the characters to be displayed will be referred to hereinafter as the cathode irrespective of Whether the lamp is operated on direct or alternating current.
  • the cathode is usually in the form of a plate having an extended surface in which the letters or characters to be displayed may be formed in different ways as will be explained.
  • One of the preferred methods of forming the letters is to drill or punch a series of apertures in the cathode plate corresponding in arrangement to the desired letters.
  • the exposed area of the cathode; which it is not desired to have illuminated is covered with a coating of insulating lac uer or a stencil screen of insulating materia leaving an uncoat'ed metallic area or areas corresponding with the letter' or letters to be displayed.
  • the apertures through the cathode are disposed within the limits of the uncoated areas.
  • the anode may be in the form of a wire or red extending parallel to the cathode and dis sed near one ed e thereof and being suita ly spaced there om.
  • the invention is also well ada ted to flashing or so-called moving signs.
  • a plurality of cathodes or anodes may be provided-each being connected throu be separate conductor to a suitable flashin switch.
  • a stencil-like-screen can be arranged at such a short distance from the front of the cathode that at the covered places no passage of current and consequently no luminous discharge can take place owing to the Well-known rectifying action.
  • This screen may consist of conducting material provided it is insulated from the cathode. The screen may, in fact,
  • the lines of current then enamante from the front side of the anode, that is the side away from the cathode, bend around at a short distance from the face of the anode a'nd'making their way through the letter or sign-shaped opening of the anode, finally strike against the surface of the cathode at right angles.
  • the light effect is in this case not materially different, as the anode light is very weak and differs in color from the negative luminous discharge. If the direction of the current is changed, the light effect is dependent on the width of the openings. If.these are very narrow, no luminous discharge can appear inslde them on account of the rectifying action, while the whole front of the screen, which is now conpear thicker, namely by the amount of 'With' a slit-shaped opening,
  • the line width is greater, the negative dischar is also formed inside the o ening and t ese appear to be more bright? surfaceof the screen because the illuminated signs, as observed from the front applate thickness of the screen.
  • the line w dth of the opening is less than'the total width of the negative luminous layer but not, however, so small that the valve or recs tifymg action can occur, the lines of current hardly intersect, and the light efiect at the places in question is particularly powerful. for example, the line of a letter, a particularly brilliantly illuminated line appears in the middle or,
  • the width of slit must be so great that the valve action cannot take place, otherwise when the current is flowing in the one direction the openings would be illuminated and the front surface of the screen would remain dark; and in the other direction of flow the reverse would occur, so that the total effect would be that the signs to be represented would almost disappear.
  • a Width of slit greater than the double thickness of the negative luminous layer produces a less effective light. The light effect then really consists in that the edges of the sign appear to be more brightly illuminated than the .background and the sign itself.
  • the manufacture of the stencil screen with the opening presents no difficulties as long as thesigns to be represented possess no closed lines, as, for example, the letter 0 in roman type. If letters with closed lines have to be represented, the difliculty can be met as in stencils for marking purposes by providing connecting bars which make the connection between the enclosed parts of the screen with the surrounding parts or of the signs may be composed of apertures arranged close together. In this latter case a particularly bright light efiect is produced, the lines of the sign appearing to be composed of illuminated points.
  • script as, for example,
  • Fig. 1 shows a luminous discharge lamp designed to display the word Franklin, the letters of which are formed by suitably oriented apertures and outlinedby acoating of lacquer on the cathode plate;
  • Fig. 2 illustrates a luminous discharge lamp designed to display the word Reklame, the several letters of which are formed by cutting slots of suitable width through the cathode plate.
  • the cathode plate is coated with an insulating lacquer; the coating extending to with in a narrow margin of the edges of the slots which form the letters;
  • Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view illustrating the structure and particularly the electrode elements of the lamp shown in Figs. 1 and 2;
  • Fig. 4 shows a glow lamp designed to display the word Neon and illustrates a further alternative method of inscribing the letters of the word to be displayed on the surface of the cathode plate;
  • Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional View through the middle portion of the lamp shown in Fig. 4;
  • Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross section of light which arises from the negative through a "luminous discharge lamp illustrating an alternative method ofconstrue-- tion;
  • Fig. 7 is an elevational view partly in cross section illustrating a luminous dis- Qharge lamp adapted for use as a flasher, or, n otier words, for moving sign purposes.
  • .a is. one of the electrode elements which will be referred to as the anode although it does not .necessarily function as the anode on all occasions.
  • I) is the second electrode element which will be referred to herein as the cathode, which, like the anode, does not inall instances function in the capacity indicated by the terminology employed. Inasmuch as better results are obtained, however, especially on direct current operation with the electrode a functioning as anode and the electrode Z) functioning as cathode, the terminology employed is thought to be consistent.
  • the cathode 2) shown in Fig. 1 is a metallic plate and the letters of the word Franklin displayed thereon are formed, as shown, by drilling or punching suitably oriented apertures through the plate.
  • the exposed surface of the cathode is coated with a suitable insulating lacquer as indicated by the black area,
  • the white area surrounding the apertures is the uncoated metallic surface of the cathode.
  • Fig. 2 the formation of the letters Reklame is effected by continuous slots instead of by a plurality of apertures as in Fig. 1.
  • the lacquer coating in Fig. 2 ex-' tends over the entire exposed surface of the cathode with the exception of the narrow margins extending from the edges of the slots forming the letters of the word.
  • the rear surface of the anode a is also preferably coated with insulating lacquer, as indicated in Fig. 3.
  • the thickness of the lacquer both on the back of the anode and the front of the cathode, as shown in Fig. 3, is greatly exaggerated for the purpose of illustration. hen a source of current of suitable voltage is applied across the external electrodes.
  • the diameter of the holes is relatively small, their centers are particularly brightly illuminated owing to the intersection of the lines of cur rent.
  • Wit-h alternating current supply the two lighting effects supplement one another and the total effect is that of illuminated letters in the middle of which there. appears es ⁇ ')ecia-lly bright points.
  • the anode In the luminous discharge lamp shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the anode It consists of a wire or rod which extends parallel to and along the one edge of the cathode b-being suitably spaced therefrom.
  • the cathode b is not drilled or slotted as in Figs. 1, 2 and 3; but is coated with insulating lacquer over its entire surface with the exception of the areas representing the letters of the word Neon.
  • a stencil-like plate e which may be made of conductive or nonconductive material, is arranged at so slight a space from the front of the cathode plate a that it is impossible for any glow light to originate in the intermediate space but only in the perforations or holes of the plate 6.
  • c is a plate of conductive or non-conductive material which in consequence of the slight stance, of the wire as represented in cross section.
  • FIG. 7 there are shown three anode elements a ag, each of which is separately connected to an external contact member through conductors f and a.
  • the lamp of Fig. 7 may be utilized effectively, for flashing or movingsigns in conjunction with a suitable switching mechanism whereby the individual anode elements may be brought into operation alternately.
  • An electric discharge ,tube for the vproduction of illuminated signs, designs and the like comprisin an anode, a cathode cooperating therewith having extended front and back surfaces, said front surface being provided with means for outlinin a sign or design and adapted to prevent t e emanation of a negative luminous discharge from said surface other than that in the form of the said sign or design.
  • An electric discharge tube for the production of illuminated si ns, designs and the like comprising an ano' c, a cathode having extended front and back surfaces, said front surface being provided with a layer of lacquer outlining the sign or design and adapted to prevent the emanation of a negative luminous discharge from said front surface other than that outlined by the said sign or design.
  • An electric discharge tube for the production of illuminated signs, designs and the like comprising an anode, a cathode having extended front and back surfaces, said front surface being provided with a layer of material in the form of a stencil like screen and adapted to prevent the emanation of a negative luminous discharge from saidv front surface other than that outlined by the stencil screen.

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  • Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
US446973A 1919-10-26 1921-02-21 Electric discharge tube Expired - Lifetime US1560103A (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE1919345859D DE345859C (de) 1919-10-26 1919-10-26 Glimmlichtroehre zur Erzeugung leuchtender Zeichen, Zeichnungen o. dgl., insbesondere fuer Reklame
FR526383A FR526383A (fr) 1919-10-26 1920-10-22 Tube lumineux pour la formation de signes ou dessins lumineux
GB30148/20A GB153004A (en) 1919-10-26 1920-10-25 Improvements in luminous electric discharge tubes for the production of illuminated signs and the like
CH93428D CH93428A (de) 1919-10-26 1920-11-23 Glimmlichtröhre zur Erzeugung von leuchtenden Zeichen, Zeichnungen oder dergleichen.
NL17206A NL11711C (fr) 1919-10-26 1920-11-25
US446973A US1560103A (en) 1919-10-26 1921-02-21 Electric discharge tube

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE345859T 1919-10-26
US446973A US1560103A (en) 1919-10-26 1921-02-21 Electric discharge tube

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US1560103A true US1560103A (en) 1925-11-03

Family

ID=25827953

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US446973A Expired - Lifetime US1560103A (en) 1919-10-26 1921-02-21 Electric discharge tube

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US1560103A (fr)
CH (1) CH93428A (fr)
DE (1) DE345859C (fr)
FR (1) FR526383A (fr)
GB (1) GB153004A (fr)
NL (1) NL11711C (fr)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2721808A (en) * 1951-11-14 1955-10-25 Gen Electric Electroluminescent cell
US2891185A (en) * 1957-12-31 1959-06-16 Burroughs Corp Indicator tube
US2990061A (en) * 1960-05-20 1961-06-27 Burroughs Corp Indicator tube
US3248589A (en) * 1962-12-21 1966-04-26 Csf Multi-cathode display tube
US3675066A (en) * 1970-09-04 1972-07-04 Sperry Rand Corp Planar raised cathode alpha-numeric gas discharge indicator
US3703657A (en) * 1971-02-11 1972-11-21 Burroughs Corp Variable pattern gaseous display panel having segmented cathode electrodes
US3806752A (en) * 1968-07-05 1974-04-23 Sperry Rand Corp Planar raised cathode alpha-numeric gas discharge indicator
US3914643A (en) * 1972-12-18 1975-10-21 Burroughs Corp Multi-segment display panel with anode groups
US4033287A (en) * 1976-01-22 1977-07-05 Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated Radial flow reactor including glow discharge limiting shield
USRE30244E (en) * 1976-01-22 1980-04-01 Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated Radial flow reactor including glow discharge limitting shield
USD942534S1 (en) * 2019-10-19 2022-02-01 Mahdi Al-Husseini Calculator with electronic tube display and keypad

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE841993C (de) * 1949-12-11 1952-06-23 Loewe Opta Ag Leuchtroehre, insbesondere fuer Reklamezwecke
DE824595C (de) * 1950-05-07 1951-12-13 Hubert Wittek Leuchtroehren-Reklame-Leingeraete
NL113382C (fr) * 1959-01-06

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2721808A (en) * 1951-11-14 1955-10-25 Gen Electric Electroluminescent cell
US2891185A (en) * 1957-12-31 1959-06-16 Burroughs Corp Indicator tube
US2990061A (en) * 1960-05-20 1961-06-27 Burroughs Corp Indicator tube
US3248589A (en) * 1962-12-21 1966-04-26 Csf Multi-cathode display tube
US3806752A (en) * 1968-07-05 1974-04-23 Sperry Rand Corp Planar raised cathode alpha-numeric gas discharge indicator
US3675066A (en) * 1970-09-04 1972-07-04 Sperry Rand Corp Planar raised cathode alpha-numeric gas discharge indicator
US3703657A (en) * 1971-02-11 1972-11-21 Burroughs Corp Variable pattern gaseous display panel having segmented cathode electrodes
US3914643A (en) * 1972-12-18 1975-10-21 Burroughs Corp Multi-segment display panel with anode groups
US4033287A (en) * 1976-01-22 1977-07-05 Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated Radial flow reactor including glow discharge limiting shield
USRE30244E (en) * 1976-01-22 1980-04-01 Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated Radial flow reactor including glow discharge limitting shield
USD942534S1 (en) * 2019-10-19 2022-02-01 Mahdi Al-Husseini Calculator with electronic tube display and keypad

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR526383A (fr) 1921-10-07
NL11711C (fr) 1924-11-15
GB153004A (en) 1921-11-17
DE345859C (de) 1922-03-03
CH93428A (de) 1922-03-16

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