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
 

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