NC State University
Department of Computer Science Colloqua 1999-2000
Date: Thursday, February 24, 2000
Time: 3:30 PM (refreshments), 4:00 PM (talk)
Place: Withers 402A, NCSU Historical Campus (click for
courtesy parking request)
Speaker: Donald
L. Bitzer, Distinguished University Research Professor, Computer Science,
NCSU
The Magic of the Flat AC Plasma Display Panel
Abstract: The A.C. (alternating current) plasma display panel, invented
in 1964, was the first flat panel suitable for use as a graphic display.
In addition to being thin and flat, the plasma panel is bright with high
contrast, transparent, has inherent memory, and is digitally addressable.
When data storage was expensive, the inherent memory of the panel was an
important factor in providing a low cost graphic display while its flat,
transparent characteristic allowed projected images to be superimposed
with the computer graphics. New developments in the plasma panel include
gray-scale and color. The plasma panel meets the display needs in applications
where display quality reliability and space are important, such as submarines,
tanks, and airplanes. It is one of the most suitable choices for
high definition television. A description of how the panel works
and a discussion of its development will be given. A 42 inch, 24-bit
color plasma panel will be demonstrated.
Short Bio: Dr.
Bitzer received his PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University
of Illinois in 1960. His research contributions include the use of
coherent radar for creating large synthetic arrays, the detection of small
signals generated in plasmas, new methods for forward error correction
in high speed networks, and the design and development of large-scale computer-based
education systems. Dr. Bitzer holds numerous patents including the
one on the plasma display panel. He is a member of the National
Academy of Engineering, a fellow of the AAAS, IEEE, and the Association
for Development of Computer-based Instructional Systems.
Host: Franc Brglez,
Computer Science, NCSU
Colloquia
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