JPH0311499B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a dot display fluorescent display tube capable of displaying scrolling and graphical displays in addition to character display, and a method for driving the same.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, there is a dot character type fluorescent display tube as a dot display fluorescent display tube. As shown in FIG.
A plurality of character display elements 13 ₁ arranged in a matrix of 5 x 7 dots with 7 elements lined up (in the axial direction)
~13 ₅ and each character display element 13 ₁ ~1
_{3 5} , and a filament cathode (not _shown ), which are arranged in correspondence with each other. 12 are commonly connected to each character display element.

In order to display characters in such a dot character type fluorescent display tube, a pulse voltage is applied as a display signal to each fluorescent anode 12 of the character display element ₁₃₁ to be displayed, and the pulse voltage is applied in synchronization with the display signal. A pulse voltage is also applied to the grid to be displayed as a grid signal. As a result, each phosphor anode 12 of the character display element 13 ₁ emits light while each pulse voltage is applied. Subsequently, at the next time, a pulse voltage is applied to each phosphor anode 12 of the adjacent character display element 13 ₂ to be displayed, and when a pulse voltage is applied to the adjacent grid in synchronization with this, the character display Each phosphor anode 12 of element ₁₃₂ provides a luminescent display. Thereafter, by sequentially repeating this operation and driving in time division, characters such as A, B, C, . . . can be displayed on each of the character display elements 13 ₁ to 13 ₅ as shown in FIG. 4.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in the above-mentioned dot character type fluorescent display tube, each character display element 13 ₁ to 1
3 _{and 5} have a pattern structure in which they are arranged discontinuously with predetermined gaps between them, so if you try to scroll the display, it will not be possible to scroll the display smoothly because of the gaps between the characters. Also, graphics cannot be displayed. As a result, there were limits to the types of display.

Therefore, fluorescent display tubes with a full dot display are also well known. This type of fluorescent display tube consists of a dot matrix display section by arranging a plurality of dot-shaped phosphor anodes at equal pitches in the vertical and horizontal directions, and phosphors arranged in the horizontal direction of this display section. The anodes are common and continuous in each row, and the grids are arranged facing each other in columns corresponding to the phosphor anodes arranged in the vertical direction, so that each phosphor anode and the grid are perpendicular to each other. The intersection points are selectively displayed by emitting light.

Fluorescent display tubes with a full dot display configured in this way are capable of displaying characters such as numbers, symbols, and alphanumeric characters, as well as various displays such as scroll displays and graphic displays, but because the number of grids increases, , the duty factor becomes smaller and a higher voltage must be applied to obtain the required brightness. For example, if we consider a fluorescent display tube with a 119 x 7 dot matrix, a simple matrix system with one grid per row of phosphor anodes would produce 119 x 7 dots.
The problem was that the duty factor was 1/119 or less, and that a high voltage had to be applied to obtain the necessary brightness.

In order to solve these problems, for example,
Dot matrix type fluorescent display tubes described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 57-157292 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 57-157292 have been proposed by the same applicant, but neither of them was fully satisfactory.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and eliminates the drawbacks of the dot killer type described above, and makes it possible to display not only characters but also scrolling and graphics without reducing the size of the duty factor. The present invention also provides a dot display fluorescent display tube and a method for driving the same.

[Means for solving problems]

The dot display fluorescent display tube according to the present invention has a plurality of character display elements in which dot-shaped fluorescent anodes are arranged in a matrix, and one of the character display elements is arranged between each character display element.
Intermediate display elements each consisting of dot-shaped phosphor anodes corresponding to the rows are arranged to form a continuous dot display section, and approximately half pitch of each of the character display elements and the intermediate display elements is controlled respectively. A grid group consisting of grids corresponding to the number of the character display elements disposed opposite to them, and a filament cathode disposed above the grid group are provided, and a phosphor anode corresponding to each of the character display elements is provided. At the same time, every other corresponding phosphor anode of each intermediate display element is connected in common.

Further, the method for driving a dot display fluorescent display tube according to the present invention includes applying a display signal to the phosphor anode of each character display element to be displayed in the dot display fluorescent tube, and applying a display signal corresponding to the display signal at the same time. The timing of applying a grid signal to one grid to display the phosphor anode of the character display element, and the phosphor to be displayed on the intermediate display element corresponding between the one grid and one grid adjacent to the one grid. Applying a display signal to the phosphor anode and applying a grid symbol to the adjacent grids on both sides at the same time to display the phosphor anode of the intermediate display element is alternately applied to all grids. The drive is sequentially repeated and time-divisionally driven.

[Effect]

In the present invention, the dot display section has a continuous pattern structure with a plurality of dot character display elements and intermediate display elements, so by selecting and combining these character display elements and intermediate display elements, normal character display and scroll display,
Graphical display can be performed.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway plan view showing the pattern structure of a dot display fluorescent display tube according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which dot-shaped phosphor anodes are arranged in a matrix of 119×7 dots. show. Also, the second
This figure is a schematic diagram of the dot display fluorescent display tube of FIG. 1. The dot display fluorescent display tube of this example is:
Dot-shaped phosphor anodes 12 are arranged in a matrix of 5×7 dots, and character display elements 13 ₁ to 13 ₂₀ each consisting of 35 phosphor anodes 12 are arranged laterally on the anode substrate 11. The point that the fluorescent anodes 12 corresponding to these character display elements 13 ₁ to 13 ₂₀ are commonly connected to each other is the same as the above-mentioned fourth point.
Although it is similar to the one shown in the figure, an intermediate display element consisting of seven dot-shaped phosphor anodes 12 corresponding to one row of character display elements is provided in the gap between each character display element _{13 1} to 13 ₂₀ . 14 ₁ to 14 ₁₉ are arranged at equal pitches to form a continuous pattern structure, and every other corresponding phosphor anode 12 of each intermediate display element 14 ₁ to 14 ₁₉ is commonly connected. Then, each character display element 1
3 ₁ to 13 ₂₀ and intermediate display elements 14 ₁ to 14 ₁₉ , respectively, a grid group 15 consisting of grids 15 ₁ to 15 ₂₀ in a mesh state corresponding to the number of character display elements. A filament cathode 16 for electron emission is disposed facing each other with a predetermined interval, and above the grid group 15 is a filament cathode 16 for electron emission.
is arranged.

In addition, in FIG. 1, each character display element 13 ₁ to 13 ₂₀ and intermediate display elements 14 ₁ to 14 ₁₉
The phosphor anodes 12 are numbered 1 to 35, 1a to 7a, and 1b to 7b for ease of explanation.
Those with the same number are commonly connected. An example is shown in FIG. Figure 2 is 119 x 7 of Figure 1.
This diagram shows the connection relationship of a portion of the phosphor anode 12 corresponding to the first row of the pattern configuration arranged in a matrix of dots, and P ₁ to _{P 5} are the connection relationships of the respective character display elements 13 ₁ to _{13 20} . Anode terminal to which fluorescent anodes 12 of the 1st to 5th rows are connected in common, P ₁ a
and P ₁ b are two anode terminals of groups a and b to which every other corresponding phosphor anode 12 of each of the intermediate display elements 14 ₁ to 14 ₁₉ is commonly connected.

Next, the operation of the dot display fluorescent display tube having the above structure will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3a to 3i. Here, FIG. 3 shows a timing chart of the signals applied to each phosphor anode and the grid, and FIG. 3A to _FIG. Pulse voltage G ₁ ~G ₅ as a grid signal applied to ~15 ₅ ,
The figure f shows the pulse voltage G ₂₀ applied to the 20th grid 15 ₂₀ , and the figure g shows the pulse voltage A ₁ as a display signal applied to each phosphor anode 12 of the character display elements 13 ₁ to 13 ₂₀ . ~A ₃₅ , h in the same figure shows pulse voltages A _1b to A 7b as display signals applied to each phosphor anode 12 of group b among the intermediate display elements 14 ₁ to 14 ₁₉ , and i in the same figure shows the voltages in group a of the intermediate display elements 14 1 to _{14 19} . The pulse voltages A _1a to _{A 7a} applied to each of the phosphor anodes 12 are shown. Also, t _p is the pulse width of the pulse voltage,
t _BL indicates the blanking time of the pulse voltage, and T indicates one cycle.

Therefore, when displaying characters, the grid G ₁ corresponding to each character display element 13 ₁ to 13 ₂₀ is
Each of the phosphor anodes 1 of character display elements 13 1 to 13 20 is selected by sequentially applying a pulse voltage to G ₂₀ and displays characters such as numbers and symbols in synchronization with the selected character display elements 13 ₁ to 13 ₂₀
By applying pulse voltages in combination with the above and driving in a time-division manner, characters can be displayed in the same way as the conventional dot character type device described above.

In addition, when performing a scroll display or a graphic display, first, at time _t1 , the pulse voltage shown in FIG. 3a and f is applied to grids ₁₅₁ and ₁₅₂₀ .
G ₁ and G ₂₀ are applied, and the intermediate display element 14 of group b
Pulse voltages A _1b to _{A 7b} shown in FIG. 3h are applied to each of the phosphor anodes 12 ₁ to 14 ₁₉ . At this time, since only a portion of the voltage of the grid ₁₅₂₀ is involved in the intermediate display element ₁₄₁₉ , the electrons from the filament cathode 16 do not sufficiently reach the phosphor anodes 12 and do not cause them to emit light.

Next _, at time _t2 , _{the pulse} voltage _G1 shown in FIG.
Pulse voltages A ₁ to _{A 35} shown in FIG. 3g are applied to. Then, while each pulse voltage is being applied, electrons from the filament cathode 16 are accelerated and controlled by the grid _G1 , and enter each phosphor anode 12 on which the scroll or figure is to be displayed, causing the phosphor to emit light. The body anode 12 emits light. Subsequently, at time _t3 , grids 15 ₁ and 15 ₂
The pulse voltages G ₁ and G ₂ shown in FIG. 3 a and b are applied to the intermediate display elements 14 ₁ to 1 of group a.
When the pulse voltages A _1a to _{A 7a} shown in _FIG .
The electrons are accelerated and controlled by the adjacent grids 15 ₁ and 15 ₂ on both sides and collected on each phosphor anode 12 of the intermediate display element 14 ₁ .
2 displays the light emission. Subsequently, at the next time _t4 , the pulse voltage _G2 shown in FIG. _3B is applied to the grid 152, and the character display elements ₁₃₁ to ₁₃₂₀
A pulsed voltage as shown in FIG. 3g is applied to each phosphor anode 12 on which another scroll or figure is to be displayed.
When A ₁ to _{A 35} are applied, these phosphor anodes 12 emit light. In this way, by repeating the same operation for all grids after time _t5 and driving them in a time-division manner, character display element 1
An arbitrary scroll display or graphic display can be performed by combining the phosphor anodes 12 of intermediate display elements 14 ₁ to 14 ₁₉ with phosphor anodes ₁₂ of intermediate display elements 14 1 to 14 ₁₉ .

Therefore, in the method for driving a dot display fluorescent display tube according to the present invention, the grids 15 ₁ to 15
If the number of ₂₀ is N, the duty factor is 1/N+(N-1)=1/2N-1...(1), and in the embodiment shown in _FIG .
When the number of 15 to ₂₀ is N=20, the duty factor can be driven at 1/39, which allows low-voltage dynamic driving to obtain the necessary brightness.

In addition, in the above, the character display element is 5×7.
Although the case where the dots are arranged in a matrix has been described, it is possible to make many changes such as arranging them in m rows and n columns, or providing an arbitrary number of grids corresponding to character display elements. Of course.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, a plurality of character display elements each having dot-shaped fluorescent anodes arranged in a matrix are arranged, and one of the character display elements is arranged between each character display element. By arranging intermediate display elements consisting of dot-shaped phosphor anodes corresponding to rows to form a continuous dot display section, various types of displays such as character display, scroll display, and graphic display can be performed. Can be done. Further, according to the present invention,
A pulse voltage is applied to one grid corresponding to each character display element to drive that character display element, and a pulse voltage is simultaneously applied to two adjacent grids to drive the grid in the middle of the gap between the grids. By driving the display elements,
Since the duty factor can be driven without having to be made small, the required brightness can be obtained with low voltage.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway plan view showing the pattern structure of a dot display fluorescent display tube according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the fluorescent display tube shown in Figure 1;
This figure is a timing chart for driving the fluorescent display tube of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a conventional dot character type fluorescent display tube. 11... Anode substrate, 12... Fluorescent anode, 13
₁ to 13 ₂₀ ...Character display element, 14 ₁ to 14
₁₉ ... intermediate display element, 15 ... grid group, 15
₁ to 15 ₂₀ ...grid, 16...filament cathode.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A plurality of character display elements each having dot-shaped fluorescent anodes arranged in a matrix are arranged on an anode substrate, and a plurality of character display elements are arranged between each character display element. Intermediate display elements each consisting of a dot-shaped phosphor anode corresponding to one row are arranged to form a continuous dot display section, and approximately half pitch of each character display element and intermediate display element is controlled respectively. a phosphor anode corresponding to each of the character display elements; A dot display fluorescent display tube, characterized in that the dot display elements are commonly connected, and the corresponding phosphor anodes of the intermediate display elements are commonly connected every other. 2. A plurality of character display elements constituted by dot-shaped fluorescent anodes arranged in a matrix are arranged on the anode substrate, and a space corresponding to one row of the character display elements is arranged between each character display element. Intermediate display elements each comprising a dot-shaped phosphor anode are arranged to form a continuous dot display section, and are arranged opposite to each of the character display elements and the intermediate display elements in order to control approximately half a pitch of each of the intermediate display elements. a grid group consisting of grids corresponding to the number of the character display elements, and a filament cathode disposed above the grid group, the corresponding phosphor anodes of each of the character display elements are connected in common, and , in a method of driving a dot display fluorescent display tube in which every other corresponding phosphor anode of each of the intermediate display elements is connected in common, a display is displayed on the phosphor anode of each character display element to be displayed; the timing of applying a signal and simultaneously applying a grid signal to one grid corresponding thereto to display the phosphor anode of the character display element; and the one grid and one grid adjacent to the grid; A display signal is applied to the phosphor anode to be displayed of the corresponding intermediate display element in between, and at the same time, a grid signal is applied to the grids on both adjacent sides of the phosphor of the intermediate display element. 1. A method for driving a dot fluorescent display tube, characterized in that the display timing of the anode is alternately repeated for all grids in a time-division manner.