The plasma display panel: a digitally addressable display with inherent memory

Despite a growing interest in graphic communication in computer systems and a rapidly developing computer technology, the cathode ray tube remains the most useful of available display devices. Its limitations, however, are serious, particularly in systems with many display terminals. Other than phosphorescence it has no memory. Its images, therefore, must be regenerated continually, and to avoid flicker they must be transmitted at video bandwidths. Furthermore, as an analog device in a digital environment the cathode ray tube requires signal conversion circuits that are both complex and expensive. Other limitations such as high voltage and space requirements are less serious but are still significant.