GRUNDIG SUPER COLOR 6632 IT CHASSIS 29301-374.21(03) INTERNAL VIEW.

EHT + Tripler
Siemens TVK 86-5 K9-g
Note: On Line EHT transformer there is a Safety Valve of 50ma.
Focus voltage manual regulator with variable resistor.

The GRUNDIG CHASSIS 29301-374 is a fully modular chassis used in GRUNDIG portable sets (Heavy anyway)


- Right side Line deflection output + EHT + Line supply transductor regulation.


- Left side Frame deflection output oscillator, Syncronization, Luminance Amplifier, Color difference amplifier, Luminace + Chrominance Signal processing, Sound amplifier, VIF Video IF.

View of Horizontal Thyristor deflection section including
Combined Commutating Coil - Transductor , Line + Eht transformer switching capacitor, various coils and bobbin.
Heatsink for Thyristors (Trace - return - regulation) Hinlauf - Ruecklauf - Regel Thyristor
( return/Ruecklauf thyristor RCA 17053 or BST CC 0146 R)
(Trace/Hinlauf thyristor RCA 17052 or BST CC 0143 H 21)
(Regulation thyristor / Regel Thyristor RCA 17127

HOW THYRISTOR LINE DEFLECTION OUTPUT SCAN STAGES WORK:

INTRODUCTION:

The massive demand for colour television receivers in Europe/Germany in the 70's  brought about an influx of sets from the continent. Many of these use the thin -neck (29mm) type of 110° shadowmask tube and the Philips 20AX CRT Tube, plus the already Delta Gun CRT . 

Scanning of these tubes is accomplished by means of a toroidally wound deflection yoke (conventional 90° and thick -neck 110° tubes operate with saddle -wound deflection coils). The inductance of a toroidal yoke is very much less than that of a saddle -wound yoke, thus higher scan currents are required. The deflection current necessary for the line scan is about 12A peak -to -peak. This could be provided by a transistor line output stage but a current step-up transformer, which is bulky and both difficult and costly to manufacture, would be required. 

An entirely different approach, pioneered by RCA in America and developed by them and by ITT (SEL) in Germany, is the thyristor line output stage. In this system the scanning current is provided via two thyristors and two switching diodes which due to their characteristics can supply the deflection yoke without a step-up transformer (a small transformer is still required to obtain the input voltage pulse for the e.h.t. tripler). The purpose of this article is to explain the basic operation of such circuits. The thyristor line output circuit offers high reliability since all switching occurs at zero current level. C.R.T. flashovers, which can produce high current surges (up to 60A), have no detrimental effects on the switching diodes or thyristors since the forward voltage drop across these devices is small and the duration of the current pulses short. If a surge limiting resistor is pro- vided in the tube's final anode circuit the peak voltages produced by flashovers seldom exceed the normal repetitive circuit voltages by more than 50-100V. This is well within the device ratings.

 

Brief Basics: LINE Scan output stages operate on the same basic principle whether the active device used is a valve, transistor or thyristor. As a starting point, let's remind ourselves of this principle, which was first developed by Blumlein in 1932. The idea in its simplest form is shown in Fig. 1. The scan coils, together with a parallel tuning capacitor, are connected in series with a switch across the h.t. supply. When the switch is closed - (a) - current flows through the coils, building up linearly as required to deflect the beam from the centre to the right-hand side of the screen. At this point the switch is opened. The coils and the capacitor then form a resonant circuit. The magnetic fields generated around the coils during the preceeding forward scan as current flowed through them when the switch was closed now collapse, charging the capacitor - (b). As a result of the resonant action the capacitor next discharges, driving current through the coils in the opposite direction - (c). Once more magnetic fields are generated around the coils. This resonant action lasts for one half -cycle of oscillation, during which the beam is rapidly deflected from the right- hand side to the centre and then to the left-hand side of the screen. The flyback is thus complete. If the switch is now closed again further oscillation is prevented and, as the magnetic fields around the coils collapse, a decaying current flows through them in the direction shown at (d). This decaying current flow deflects the beam from the left-hand side of the screen back towards the centre: the period during which this occurs is often referred to as the energy recovery part of the scanning cycle. When the current has decayed to zero we are back at the situation shown at (a): the current through the coils reverses, driving the beam to the right-hand side of the screen. This is a very efficient System, since most of the energy drawn from the supply is subsequently returned to it. There is negligible resistance in the circuit, so there is very little power loss.

 Basic Transistor Circuit:

 In Blumlein's day valves had to be used to perform the switching action. Two were required since a valve is a unidirectional device, and as we have seen current must flow through the switch in both directions. Nowadays we generally use a transistor to perform the switching action, arranging the circuit along the lines shown in Fig. 2. The line output transformer T is used as a load for the transistor and as a simple means of generating the e.h.t. and other supplies required by the receiver. The scan -correction capacitor Cs also serves as a d.c. block. Capacitor Ct tunes the coils during the flyback when the transistor is cut off. During the forward scan Cs first charges, then discharges, via the scan coils, thus providing deflection from the left- hand side to the right-hand side of the screen. One advantage of a transistor is that it can conduct in either direction. Thus unless we are operating the stage from an 1.t. line of around 11V - as in the case of many small -screen portables - we don't need a second switching device. With a supply of 11-12V a shunt efficiency diode - connected in parallel with the transistor, cathode to collector and anode to emitter, is required because the linearity is otherwise unacceptable. Another advantage of a transistor compared to a valve is that it is a much more efficient switch. When a transistor is saturated both its junctions are forward biased and its collector voltage is then at little more than chassis potential. The anode voltage of a saturated pentode however is measured in tens of volts, and this means that there is considerable wasteful dissipation. Thyristor Switch If what we need is an efficient switch, why not use a thyristor??? 

Thyristors are even more efficient switches than transistors. They are more rugged, can pass heavy currents, and are insensitive to the voltage overloads that can kill off transistors. In addition, in the sort of circuit we are about to look at the power supply requirements can be simplified (a line output transistor must be operated in conjunction with a stabilised power supply: this is not necessary in the thyristor circuit since regulation can be built in). In the nature of things however there must be disadvantages as well - and there are! First, a thyristor will not act as a bidirectional switch. 

There is no great problem here however: all we need do is to shunt it with a parallel efficiency diode. More awkward is the fact that once a  thyristor has been triggered on at its gate it cannot be switched off again by any further action taken in its gate circuit. In fact it's this problem of operating the thyristor switch that is responsible for the complexity of thyristor line output circuits. 

A thyristor can be switched off only by reducing the current through it below the "hold on" value, either by momentarily removing the voltage across the device or by passing an opposing current through it in the opposite direction - this latter technique is used in practical thyristor line output circuits. Once the reverse current through the thyristor is about equal to the forward current flowing through it the net current falls below the "hold on" value and the thyristor switches off.

 Basic Thyristor Circuit:

 There is more than one way of arranging a thyristor line output stage. Only one basic circuit has been used so far however, though as you'd expect there are differences in detail in the circuits used by different setmakers. The basic circuit was first devised and put into production by RCA in the USA in the late 1960s. It was subsequently popularised in Europe by ITT, and many continental setmakers have used it, mainly in colour receiver chassis fitted with 110° delta gun c.r.t.s. They include Finlux, Grundig, Saba, Siemens and ASA. Korting use it in their 55636 chassis which is fitted with a 90° PIL tube, while Grundig continue to use it in their latest sets which use the Mullard/Philips 20AX tube. 

Amongst Japanese setmakers, Sharp use it in their Model C1831H which is fitted with a Toshiba RIS tube. 

Reduced to its barest essentials, the circuit takes the form shown in Fig. 3. To start with this looks strange indeed! The right-hand side however is simply the equivalent of the scanning section of the transistor circuit shown in Fig. 2, with TH2 and D2 replacing the transistor as the bidirectional switch.  

The tuning capacitor however is returned to chassis via the left-hand side of the circuit - in consequence there is no d.c. path between the right-hand and left-hand sides of the circuit. L1 provides a load. The efficiency diode D2 conducts during the first part of the forward scan, after which TH2 is switched on to drive the beam towards the right-hand side of the screen. The purpose of the left-hand side of the circuit, the bidirectional switch TH1/D1 and L2, together with the tuning capacitor Ct, is to switch TH2 off and to provide the flyback action.

 The output from the line oscillator consists  of a brief pulse to initiate the flyback. It occurs just before the flyback time (roughly 3µS before) and is applied to the gate of TH1, switching it on. When this happens L2 is connected to chassis and current flows into it, discharging Ct (previously charged from the h.t. line). L2 is called the commutating coil, and forms a resonant circuit with Ct. Thus when TH1 is switched on a sudden pulse builds up and this is used to switch off TH2. In addition to tuning L2, Ct tunes the scan coils to provide the usual flyback action. 

Roughly speaking therefore D2 and TH2 conduct alternately during the forward scan and are cut off during the flyback, while TH1 is triggered on just before the flyback, TH1 and D I subsequently conducting alternately during the flyback and then cutting off when the efficiency diode takes over. 

 Thyristor Line Scan Practical Circuit:

 A more practical arrangement is shown in Fig. 4. A secondary winding L3 is added to Ll to provide the trigger pulse for TH2: L4, C4 and R I provide the pulse shaping required. The tuning capacitor Ct is rearranged as a T network: this is done to reduce the voltage across the individual capacitors and enable smaller values to be used, all in the interests of economy. And finally a transformer is coupled to the circuit by C5 to make use of the flyback pulse for e.h.t. generation and to provide other supplies. In many recent chassis THUD 1 and TH2/D2 are encapsu- lated together, in pairs. In practical circuits L1 and L2 generally consist of a single transformer - often a transductor is used, for convenience rather than for the transductor characteristics. This makes practical circuits look at first glance rather different to the basic form shown in Figs. 3 and 4. A further winding is often added to the transformer to provide a supply for other parts of the receiver, making the circuit look even more confusing. In addition e.h.t. regulation, pincushion distortion correction and beam limiting circuitry is required, and protection circuits may be incorporated.

 

Scanning Sequence:  It's time to look at the basic scanning sequence in more detail, basing the description on Figs. 3 and 4. We'll start at the beginning of the flyback. TH2 and D2 have just been switched off - we'll come to how this is done later - while  TH1 which was triggered on by a pulse from the line oscillator is still conducting. Energy is stored in the scan coils in the form of magnetic fields. As these collapse, a decaying current flows via the coils, Cs, Ct, L2 and TH 1. When this current falls to zero the charge on Ct will have reversed and TH 1 will switch off. This completes the first half of the flyback. The left-hand plate of Ct is charged negatively, while its right-hand plate carries a positive charge. D1 is now biased on and Ct discharges back into the scan coils to give the second half of the flyback. Current is flowing via D1, L2, Ct, Cs and the scan coils. At the end of this period the circuit energy will have been transferred once again to the scan coils - in the form of magnetic fields. One complete half cycle of oscillation will have occurred, returning the beam to the left-hand side of the screen. With Ct discharged, D 1 switches off. The oscillation tries to continue in the negative direction, but we then get the normal efficiency diode action, i.e. D2 conducts shorting out the tuned circuit. As the fields around the coils collapse a linearly decaying current flows via the coils, Cs and D2. This gives us the first part of the forward scan. Towards the centre of the screen TH2 is switched on by the pulse obtained from L3 and the current in the scan coils reverses to complete the scan.  

 Switching the Scan Thyristor Off:  The tricky part is when it comes to switching TH2 off. As we have seen, TH1 is triggered on about 3fitS before the end of the forward scan. Prior to this Ct will have been charged to the h.t. potential via L 1 and L2. When TH1 conducts, current flows via TH1, L2, Ct and TH2 (which is on remember). Because of the tuned circuit formed by L2 and Ct, the current builds up rapidly in the form of a pulse - the commutating pulse shown in Fig. 5. When this current, which flows through TH2 in the opposite direction to the scan current, exceeds the scan current TH2 switches off. Once TH2 cuts off D2 is able to conduct - it is no longer reverse biased - which it does for a short period to provide an earth return path for the remaining duration of the commutating pulse and also to enable the scan to be completed (Cs discharging via the scan coils). When the reverse, commutating current falls below the scan current D2 switches off and we then get the flyback action as the magnetic fields around the coils collapse.

 Power Transferring ; during the forward scan Ct is charged via L1 and L2, its right-hand plate being held at little above

 through the conduction of D2 and then TH2. During the flyback, when TH1 and D1 conduct alternately, connecting the junction L1, L2 to chassis, Ct supplies energy to the scan part of the circuit. The Practical Circuit so much then for the basic circuit and its action. Turning now to a practical circuit, Fig. 6 shows the thyristor line output stage used in the Grundig SuperColor  Models 5011 and 6011. Ty511/Di511 form the flyback switch, T1 is the input/commutating transformer, C516/7/8 comprise the tuning capacitance, Di518 is the efficiency diode and Ty518 the forward scan thyristor. The scan -correction capacitor Cs is C537. As can be seen, the line output transformer circuit is quite conventional. The main complication arises because of the need to provide width/e.h.t. stabilisation. In a valve line output stage it is a simple matter to achieve stabilisation by using a v.d.r. in a feedback circuit to alter the bias on the output pentode. We can't do this with a transistor line output stage, so we have to operate this in conjunction with a stabilised supply. There is a subtle but quite simple method of applying stabilisation to a thyristor line output stage however. As we have seen, the energy supplied to the output side of the circuit is provided by the tuning capacitors when they discharge during the flyback period. During the forward scan they charge via the input coil - or transformer as it is in practice. Now if we shunt the transformer's input winding with a transductor we can control the inductance in series with the tuning capacitors and in consequence the charging time of the capacitors and hence the power supplied to the output side of the circuit.

 

EHT/Width Stabilisation:

 The stabilising transductor in Fig. 6 is Td 1, whose load windings are connected in series with R504/Di504 across the input winding of T1. The transductor's control winding is driven by transistor Tr506, which senses the h.t. voltage (via R506) and the amplitude of the signal at tag d on the line output transformer. R508 in the transistor's base circuit enables the e.h.t. to be set to the correct voltage (25kV). 

 

Other Circuit Details: A fourth winding on Ti feeds the 1.t. rectifier and stabiliser which provide the supply for the low -power circuits in the receiver. The trigger pulse winding also feeds a stabilised 1.t. supply circuit (21V). 

EW pincushion distortion correction is applied by connecting the load windings of a second transductor (Td2) across a section of the line output transformer's primary winding. By feeding a field frequency waveform to the control winding on this transductor the line scanning is modulated at field frequency. There is a simple but effective safety circuit in this Grundig line output stage. If the voltage at tag c on the line output transformer rises above 68V zener diode Di514 conducts, triggering thyristor Ty511 into conduction with the result that the cut-out operates. C517 is returned to chassis via a damped coil (L517) so that the voltage transient when the efficiency diode cuts off is attenuated. Likewise L512/C512/R512 are added to suppress the voltage transient when the flyback thyristor Ty511 cuts off. The balancing coil L516 is included to remove unwanted voltage spikes produced by the thyristors. 

 

At the end........This Grundig circuit is representative of the way in which thyristor line output circuits are used in practice. There are differences in detail in the thyristor line output stages found in other setmakers' chassis, but the basic arrangement will be found to be substantially 

 

Servicing / Throubleshooting / Repairing Thyristor Line Scan Timebases Crt Deflections circuits:

LARGELY due to advances in colour c.r.t. scan coil design, the thyristor line output stage has become obsolete laready in the 1981's.

 It  was a very good system to use where the line scan coils require large peak currents with only a moderate flyback voltage - an intrinsic characteristic of toroidally wound deflection coils.

it was originally devised by RCA. Many sets fitted with 110°, narrow -neck delta -gun tubes used a thyristor line output stage - for example those in the Grundig and Saba ranges and the Finlux Peacock , Indesit, Siemens, Salora, Metz, Nordmende, Blaupunkt, ITT, Seleco, REX, Mivar, Emerson, Brionvega, Loewe, Galaxi, Stern, Zanussi, Wega, Philco. The circuit continued to find favour in earlier chassis designed for use with in -line gun tubes, examples being found in the Grundig and Korting ranges - also,  Indesit, Siemens, Salora, Metz, Nordmende, Blaupunkt, ITT, Seleco, REX, Mivar, Emerson, Brionvega, Loewe, Galaxi, Stern, Zanussi, Wega, Philco the Rediffusion Mk. III chassis. Deflection currents of up to 13A peak -to -peak are commonly encountered with 110° tubes, with a flyback voltage of only some 600V peak  to peak. The total energy requirement is of the order of 6mJ, which is 50 per cent higher than modern 110° tubes of the 30AX and S4 variety with their saddle -wound line scan coils.   The only problem with this type of circuit is the large amount of energy that shuttles back and forth at line frequency. This places a heavy stress on certain components. Circuit losses produce quite high temperatures, which are concentrated at certain points, in particular the commutating combi coil. This leads to deterioration of the soldered joints around the coil, a common cause of failure. This can have a cumulative effect, a high resistance joint increasing the local heating until the joint becomes well and truly dry -a classic symptom with some Grundig / Emerson sets. The wound components themselves can be a source of trouble, due to losses - particularly the combi coil and the regulating transductor. Later chassis are less prone to this sort of thing, partly because of the use of later generation, higher efficiency yokes but mainly due to more generous and better design of the wound components. The ideal dielectric for use in the tuning capacitors is polypropylene (either metalised or film). It's a truly won- derful dielectric - very stable, with very small losses, and capable of operation at high frequencies and elevated temperatures. It's also nowadays reasonably inexpensive. Unfortunately many earlier chassis of this type used polyester capacitors, and it's no surprise that they were inclined to give up. When replacing the tuning capacitors in a thyristor line output stage it's essential to use polypropylene types -a good range of axial components with values ranging from 0.001µF to 047µF is available from RS Components, enabling even non-standard values to be made up from an appropriate combination. Using polypropylene capacitors in place of polyester ones will not only ensure capacitor reliability but will also lower the stress on other components by reducing the circuit losses (and hence power consumption).

       Numerous circuit designs for completely transistorized television receivers either have been incorporated in commercially available receivers or have been described in detail in various technical publications. One of the most troublesome areas in such transistor receivers, from the point of View of reliability and economy, lies in the horizontal deflection circuits.

       As an attempt to avoid the voltage and current limitations of transistor deflection circuits, a number of circuits have been proposed utilizing the silicon controlled rectifier (SCR), a semiconductor device capable of handling substantially higher currents and voltages than transistors.

       The circuit utilizes two bi-directionally conductive switching means which serve respectively as trace and commutating switches. Particularly, each of the switching means comprises the parallel combination of a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) and a diode. The commutating switch is triggered on shortly before the desired beginning of retrace and, in conjunction with a resonant commutating circuit having an inductor and two capacitors, serves to turn off the trace switch to initiate retrace. The commutating circuit is also arranged to turn oft the commutating SCR before the end of retrace.  

Circuit Operation:

The basic thyristor line output stage arrangement used in all these chassis is shown in Fig. 1 - it was originally devised by RCA. The part to the right of the tuning capacitance acts in exactly the same manner as a transis- tor line output stage, with the scan thyristor Th2 replacing the transistor. The thyristor is switched on about half way through the forward scan, the efficiency diode D2 provid- ing the initial part of the line scan (left-hand side of the screen). The scan coils and line output transformer (used to generate the e.h.t. plus various other supply lines and pulse waveforms as required) are a.c. coupled, via the scan -correction capacitor C5 and C6 respectively. The problem with a thyristor is that it can be turned on at its gate but not off. To switch a thyristor off, the current flowing through it must be reduced below a value known as the hold -on current. This is the main function of the components on the left-hand side - the line generator, the flyback thyristor with its parallel diode and the commutat- ing coil. During the forward scan, the tuning capacitors are charged from the h.t. line via the input and commutat- ing coils. The line generator produces a pulse to trigger the flyback thyristor Th1- this occurs just before the actual flyback. When Thl1 switches on, the junction of the  input coil and the commutating coil is momentarily con- nected to chassis. The tuning capacitance and the com- mutating coil then resonate, producing a pulse which draws current via the scan thyristor. Since this current flow is in the opposite direction to the scan current flow, the two cancel and the current flowing via the scan thyris- tor falls below the hold -on current. Th2 is thus switched off, and the scan coils resonate with the tuning capaci- tance to provide the flyback action. So much for the basic action. A secondary winding coupled to the input coil produces a pulse to switch the scan thyristor on, in conjunction with the shaping/delay network Ll, C4, R1. The tuning capacitors are usually arranged in the T formation shown to reduce the values required and the voltages developed across them. In practical circuits the input and commutating coils are usually combined in a single unit which for obvious reasons is generally known as the combi coil. The main point not so far mentioned is stabilisation. There are two approaches to this. In earlier circuits a transductor was included in parallel with the input coil to vary the impe- dance in series with the tuning capacitance. This was driven by a transistor which was in turn controlled by feedback from the line output transformer. A more efficient technique is used in later circuits, with a current dumping thyristor in series with the input coil. Practical Circuit As a typical example of the earlier type of circuit, Fig. 2 shows the thyristor line output stage used in the Grundig 5010/5011/6010/6011 series. Td1 is the regulating transductor which is driven by Tr506. Ty511 is the flyback thyristor (commutating thyristor might be a better name), Ty518 the scan thyristor, Di518 the efficiency diode and C516/7/8 the tuning capacitance. The scan coils are cou- pled via C537, while C532 provides coupling between the primary winding of the line output transformer and chas- sis. A transductor (Td2) is used for EW raster correction. The combi coil also feeds 1.t. rectifiers from its secondary windings. 

Component Problems: The only problem with this type of circuit is the large amount of energy that shuttles back and forth at line frequency. This places a heavy stress on certain components. Circuit losses produce quite high temperatures, which are concentrated at certain points, in particular the combi coil. This leads to deterioration of the soldered joints around the coil, a common cause of failure. This can have a cumulative effect, a high -resistance joint increasing the local heating until the joint becomes well and truly dry -a classic symptom with some Grundig sets. The wound components themselves can be a source of trouble, due to losses - particularly the combi coil and the regulating transductor. Later chassis are less prone to this sort of thing, partly because of the use of later generation, higher efficiency yokes but mainly due to more generous and better design of the wound components. The ideal dielectric for use in the tuning capacitors is polypropylene (either metalised or film). It's a truly won- derful dielectric - very stable, with very small losses, and capable of operation at high frequencies and elevated temperatures. It's also nowadays reasonably inexpensive. Unfortunately many earlier chassis of this type used polyester capacitors, and it's no surprise that they were inclined to give up. When replacing the tuning capacitors in a thyristor line output stage it's essential to use poly- propylene types -a good range of axial components with values ranging from 0.001µF to 047µF is available from RS Components, enabling even non-standard values to be made up from an appropriate combination. Using polypropylene capacitors in place of polyester ones will not only ensure capacitor reliability but will also lower the stress on other components by reducing the circuit losses (and hence power consumption). The thyristors are also liable to fail, as are their parallel diodes. Earlier devices were less reliable than their successors. Since all thyristor line output stages operate in the same way and under similar conditions, the use of later types of thyristors and diodes in earlier circuits is a matter of mechanical rather than electrical con- siderations. One important point should be noted: the scan thyristor is a faster device and often has a higher voltage rating than the flyback thyristor. The simplest course is to keep in stock some of the later scan thyristors that incorporate an efficiency diode - suitable types are the RCA S3900SF and the Telefunken TD3-800H. The Telefunken device is in a TO66 package (and can be obtained quite cheaply) while the RCA type is in a TO220 package. Either type can be used in the scan or flyback positions and can also be used as a replacement for the regulating thyristor used in later designs instead of a transductor. Whenever replacing a thyristor in the line output stage it's good practice to replace the parallel diode at the same time. Using one of the above recom- mended devices will do this automatically, since the thyristor and its parallel diode share the same encapsulation - always remember to remove the old diode when this is a separate device however, as some can exhibit high -voltage leakage/breakdown which is not evident from a quite check with the Avo. Apart from the wound components (including the line output transformer), the thyristors and their parallel diodes and the tuning capacitors several other com- ponents are prone to failure. These include the tripler, scan/flyback rectifier diodes used to provide various supply lines, surge limiting resistors, the scan coil coup- ling/scan correction capacitor (replace with a metalised polypropylene type) and regulator components such as the thyristor in later types and the transductor driver transistor in earlier circuits. 

Basic Fault Conditions: At one time every engineer must have scratched his head and cursed the new-fangled idea of the thyristor line output stage. That they are awkward to service is a fallacy however. The usual symptom of a fault in the line output stage is the cutout tripping. All chassis that use a thyristor line timebase incorporate a trip of some sort. The type varies from chassis to chassis. Early Grundig sets have a mechanical cutout; the Saba H chassis uses a thyristor and solenoid to open the mains on/off switch; a common arrangement consists of a thyristor in series with the h.t, line and a control transistor which shorts the thyristor's gate and cathode in the event of excessive current demand (this gives audible tripping at about 2Hz). Some sets incorporate both excess current and over -voltage trips, but most have just the former. 

There are two basic fault conditions: when the excess current trip is activated and the set goes dead, or no e.h.t. with the trip not activated. The first condition is usually due to a line timebase fault, the most common being a short-circuit flyback thyristor or its parallel diode. A straightforward resistance check will sort this out. If this is not the case, short-circuit the scan thyristor by soldering a wire link between its anode and cathode. This will prevent any drive to the scan coils and the line output transformer. If the tripping stops, the fault could be due to the tripler, the line output transformer, a rectifier diode fed from a winding on the latter or a short in a circuit supplied by a scan rectifier diode. If the trip continues to operate and the flyback thyristor/diode is not the culprit, the most likely causes are incorrect drive to this thyristor - if possible check with a scope against the waveform given in the manual - or a rectifier diode fed from the combi coil. As an example of the latter, Fig. 3 shows the arrangement used in the Finlux Peacock: the electronic trip will operate if either D503 or D504 goes short-circuit, a fairly common fault on these sets. The diodes can also go open-circuit/high resistance to give the no sound with field collapse symp- tom, but that's another story ( referring to the diodes as D603/4 ). When the set is dead, h.t. is present and the trip is not activated, suspect the following: the scan thyristor, the efficiency diode, the line output transformer, the scan - correction capacitor, or lack of drive to the scan thyristor. Dry -joints can be the cause of any of these basic fault conditions, depending on the actual circuit and where the dry -joint has occurred. 

Other Symptoms: Hairline cracks in the ferrite core of a wound com- ponent can give rise to strange symptoms since this upsets the delicate balance of the tuning arrangements. There will usually be excessive current which will probably cause the trip to operate. Alternatively the fault may be incorrect line frequency which cannot be set by the line hold control. This fault can also give rise to excessive e.h.t., which can in turn produce a chain reaction of des- truction, e.g. the tripler is a common victim as are the two line output stage thyristors. Excessive e.h.t. leading to instant destruction of these components may also be due to open -circuit line scan coils or the connections to them. A quick resistance check done on the board itself will eliminate both the coils and the leads/connectors. Excessive e.h.t. with foldover in the centre of the screen and cooking in the tube's first anode supply net- work occurs in the Grundig 5010 series when L515 in the scan thyristor's trigger circuit (see Fig. 2) goes short- circuit. The reason for this situation is that the thyristor is triggered on early. Another common fault in these sets is failure of Di504/R504 - failure of one seems to affect the other, so both should be replaced. The usual symptom is fuzzy verticals and a sawtooth effect on diagonals. The trip may operate, possibly after period of operation. These components set up the transductor's operating bias. Linearity problems are usually caused by the regulator circuit, which can also be responsible for line "hunting". In the event of lack of width in the earlier type of circuit, check for dry -joints in the regulator circuit and suspect the control transistor. Foldover on the left-hand side of the screen can be caused by an open -circuit flyback diode. Foldover at the centre of the screen with greatly reduced width is the symptom when the efficiency diode goes open -circuit - the trip may or may not operate. Unusual interference patterns on the screen, best viewed with the contrast control turned to minimum and the brightness control advanced until a distinctly visible but not over bright white raster is obtained, can be due to the tripler if there's curved patterning on the extreme left- hand side of the screen, the regulator clamp diode (Di505 in Fig. 2) if there's curved interference just to the left of centre, or the flyback thyristor drive circuit if there's a single vertical line of patterning about four fifths of the way to the right of the screen.

The aim of this article has been to provide a general guide to servicing rather than to list faults common to particular models. Much useful information on individual 
chassis with thyristor line output stages has appeared in previous issues of  Obsolete Technology Tellye !- refer to the following as required: Search with the tag Thyristors at the bottom of the post to select all posts with this argument on various fabricants.

GRUNDIG SUPER COLOR 6632 IT CHASSIS 29301-374.21(03)LINE DEFLECTION WITH THYRISTOR SWITCH TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW.
INTEGRAL THYRISTOR-RECTIFIER DEVICEA semiconductor switching device comprising a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) and a diode rectifier integrally connected in parallel with the SCR in a single semiconductor body. The device is of the NPNP or PNPN type, having gate, cathode, and anode electrodes. A portion of each intermediate N and P region makes ohmic contact to the respective anode or cathode electrode of the SCR. In addition, each intermediate region includes a highly conductive edge portion. These portions are spaced from the adjacent external regions by relatively low conductive portions, and limit the conduction of the diode rectifier to the periphery of the device. A profile of gold recombination centers further electrically isolates the central SCR portion from the peripheral diode portion.
That class of thyristors known as controlled rectifiers are semiconductor switches having four semiconducting regions of alternate conductivity and which employ anode, cathode, and gate electrodes. These devices are usually fabricated from silicon. In its normal state, the silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) is non-conductive until an appropriate voltage or current pulse is applied to the gate electrode, at which point current flows from the anode to the cathode and delivers power to a load circuit. If the SCR is reverse biased, it is non-conductive, and cannot be turned on by a gating signal. Once conduction starts, the gate loses control and current flows from the anode to the cathode until it drops below a certain value (called the holding current), at which point the SCR turns off and the gate electrode regains control. The SCR is thus a solid state device capable of performing the circuit function of a thyratron tube in many electronic applications. In some of these applications, such as in automobile ignition systems and horizontal deflection circuits in television receivers, it is necessary to connect a separate rectifier diode in parallel with the SCR. See, for example, W. Dietz, U. S. Pat. Nos. 3,452,244 and 3,449,623. In these applications, the anode of the rectifier diode is connected to the cathode of the SCR, and the cathode of the rectifier is connected to the SCR anode. Thus, the rectifier diode will be forward biased and current will flow through it when the SCR is reverse biased; i.e., when the SCR cathode is positive with respect to its anode. For reasons of economy and ease of handling, it would be preferable if the GRUNDIG SUPER COLOR 6632 IT CHASSIS 29301-374.21(03) circuit function of the SCR and the associated diode rectifier could be combined in a single device, so that instead of requiring two devices and five electrical connections, one device and three electrical connections are all that would be necessary. In fact, because of the semiconductor profile employed, many SCR's of the shorted emitter variety inherently function as a diode rectifier when reverse biased. However, the diode rectifier function of such devices is not isolated from the controlled rectifier portion, thus preventing a rapid transition from one function to the other. Therefore, it would be desirable to physically and electrically isolate the diode rectifier portion from that portion of the device which functions as an SCR.

HGRUNDIG SUPER COLOR 6632 IT CHASSIS 29301-374.21(03) Horizontal deflection circuit

(Thyristor Horizontalsteuerung)

Description:



1. A horizontal deflection circuit for generating the deflection current in the deflection coil of a television picture tube wherein a first switch controls the horizontal sweep, and wherein a second switch in a so-called commutation circuit with a commutating inductor and a commutating capacitor opens the first switch and, in addition, controls the energy transfer from a dc voltage source to an input inductor, characterized in that the input inductor (Le) and the commutating inductor (Lk) are combined in a unit designed as a transformer (U) which is proportioned so that the open-circuit inductance of the transformer is essentially equal to the value of the input inductor (Le), while the short-circuit inductance of the transformer (U) is essentially equal to the value of the commutating inductor (Lk), and that the second switch (S2) is connected in series with the dc voltage source (UB) and a first winding (U1) of the transformer (U). 2. A horizontal deflection circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that the transformer (U) operates as an isolation transformer between the supply (UB) and the subcircuits connected to a second winding. 3. A horizontal deflection circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that the second switch (S2) is connected between ground and that terminal of the first winding (U1) of the transformer (U) not connected to the supply potential (+UB). 4. A horizontal deflection circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that a capacitor (CE) is connected across the series combination of the first winding (U1) of the transformer and the second switch (S2). 5. A horizontal deflection circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that the second winding (U2) of the transformer (U) is connected in series with a first switch (S1), the commutating capacitor (Ck), and a third, bipolar switch (S3) controllable as a function of the value of a controlled variable developed in the deflection circuit. 6. A horizontal deflection circuit according to claim 5, characterized in that the third switch (S3) is connected between ground and the second winding (U2) of the transformer. 7. A horizontal deflection circuit according to claim 2, characterized in that the isolation transformer carries a third winding via which power is supplied to the audio output stage of the television set. 8. A horizontal deflection circuit according to claims 2, characterized in that the voltage serving to control the first switch (S1) is derived from a third winding of the transformer.

Description:

The present invention relates to a horizontal deflection circuit for generating the deflection current in the deflection coil of a television picture tube wherein a first switch controls the horizontal sweep, and wherein a second switch in a so-called commutation circuit with a commutating inductor and a commutating capacitor opens the first switch and, in addition, controls the energy transfer from a dc voltage source to an input inductor.
German Auslegeschrift (DT-AS) No. 1,537,308 discloses a horizontal deflection circuit in which, for generating a periodic sawtooth current within the respective deflection coil of the picture tube, in a first branch circuit, the deflection coil is connected to a sufficiently large capacitor serving as a current source via a first controlled, bilaterally conductive switch which is formed by a controlled rectifier and a diode connected in inverse parallel. The control electrode of the rectifier is connected to a drive pulse source which renders the switch conductive during part of the sawtooth trace period. In that arrangement, the sawtooth retrace, i.e. the current reversal, also referred to as "commutation", is initiated by a second controlled switch.
The first controlled switch also forms part of a second branch circuit where it is connected in series with a second current source and a reactance capable of oscillating. When the first switch is closed, the reactance, consisting essentially of a coil and a capacitor, receives energy from the second current source during a fixed time interval. This energy which is taken from the second current source corresponds to the circuit losses caused during the previous deflection cycle.
As can be seen, such a circuit needs two different, separate inductive elements, it being known that inductive elements are expensive to manufacture and always have a certain volume determined by the electrical properties required.
The object of the invention is to reduce the amount of inductive elements required.
The invention is characterized in that the input inductor and the commutating inductor are combined in a unit designed as a transformer which is proportioned so that the open-circuit inductance of the transformer is essentially equal to the value of the input inductor, while the short-circuit inductance of the transformer is essentially equal to the value of the commutating inductor, and that the second switch is connected in series with the dc voltage source and a first winding of the transformer.
This solution has an added advantage in that, in mass production, both the open-circuit and the short-circuit inductance are reproducible with reliability.
According to another feature of the invention, the electrical isolation between the windings of the transformer is such that the transformer operates as an isolation transformer between the supply and the subcircuits connected to a second winding or to additional windings of the transformer. In this manner, the transformer additionally provides reliable mains isolation.
According to a further feature of the invention, the second switch is connected between ground and that terminal of the first winding of the transformer not connected to the supply potential. This simplifies the control of the switch.
According to a further feature of the invention, to regulate the energy supply, the second winding of the transformer is connected in series with the first switch, the commutating capacitor, and a third, bipolar switch controllable as a function of the value of a controlled variable developed in the deflection circuit.

The advantage gained by this measure lies in the fact that the control takes place on the side separated from the mains, so no separate isolation device is required for the gating of the third switch. Further details and advantages will be apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawings and from the claims. In the drawings,
FIG. 1 is a basic circuit diagram of the arrangement disclosed in German Auslegeschrift (DT-AS) No. 1,537,308;
FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the horizontal deflection circuit according to the invention, and
FIG. 3 shows a development of the horizontal deflection circuit according to the invention.
FIG. 1 shows the essential circuit elements of the horizontal deflection circuit known from the German Auslegeschrift (DT-AS) No. 1,537,308 referred to by way of introduction.
Connected in series with a dc voltage source UB is an input inductor Le and a bipolar, controlled switch S2. In the following, this switch will be referred to as the "second switch"; it is usually called the "commutating switch" to indicate its function.
In known circuits, the second switch S2 consists of a controlled rectifier and a diode connected in inverse parallel.
The second switch S2 also forms part of a second circuit which contains, in addition, a commutating inductor Lk, a commutating capacitor Ck, and a first switch S1. The first switch S1, controlling the horizontal sweep, is constructed in the same manner as the above-described second switch S2, consisting of a controlled rectifier and a diode in inverse parallel. Connected in parallel with this first switch is a deflection-coil arrangement AS with a capacitor CA as well as a high voltage generating arrangement (not shown). In FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, this arrangement is only indicated by an arrow and by the reference characters Hsp. The operation of this known horizontal deflection circuit need not be explained here in detail since it is described not only in the German Auslegeschrift referred to by way of introduction, but also in many other publications.
FIGS. 2 and 3 show the horizontal deflection circuit modified in accordance with the present invention. Like circuit elements are designated by the same reference characters as in FIG. 1.
FIG. 2 shows the basic principle of the invention. The two inductors Le and Lk of FIG. 1 have been replaced by a transformer U. To be able to serve as a substitute for the two inductors Le and Lk, the transformer must be proportioned in a special manner. Regardless of the turns ratio, the open-circuit inductance of the transformer is chosen to be essentially equal to the value of the input inductor Le, and the short-circuit inductance of the transformer is essentially equal to the value of the commutating inductor Lk.
To permit the second switch S2 to be utilized for the connection of the dc voltage source UB, it is included in the circuit of that winding U1 of the transformer connected to the dc voltage UB.
In principle, it is of no consequence for the operation of the switch S2 whether it is inserted on that side of the winding U1 connected to the positive operating potential +UB or on the side connected to ground. In practice, however, the solution shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be chosen since the gating of the controlled rectifier is less problematic in this case.
In compliance with pertinent safety regulations, the transformer U may be designed as an isolation transformer and can thus provide mains separation, which is necessary for various reasons. It is known from German Offenlegungschrift (DT-OS) No. 2,233,249 to provide dc isolation by designing the commutating inductor as a transformer, but this measure is not suited to attaining the object of the present invention.
If the energy to be taken from the dc voltage source is to be controlled as a function of the energy needed in the horizontal deflection circuit and in following subcircuits, the embodiment of the horizontal deflection circuit of FIG. 3 may be used.
The circuit including the winding U2 of the transformer U contains a third controlled switch S3, which, too, is inserted on the grounded side of the winding U2 for the reasons mentioned above. This third switch S3, just as the second switch S2, is operated at the frequency of a horizontal oscillator HO, but a control circuit RS whose input l is fed with a controlled variable is inserted between the oscillator and the switch S3. Depending on this controlled variable, the controlled rectifier of the third switch S3 can be caused to turn on earlier. A suitable controlled variable containing information on the energy consumption is, for example, the flyback pulse capable of being taken from the high voltage generating circuit (not shown). Details of the operation of this kind of energy control are described in applicant's German Offenlegungsschrift (DT-OS) No. b 2,253,386 and do not form part of the present invention.
With mains isolation, the additional, third switch S3 shown here has the advantage of being on the side isolated from the mains and eliminates the need for an isolation device in the control lead of the controlled rectifier.
As an isolation transformer, the transformer U may also carry additional windings U3 and U4 if power is to be supplied to the audio output stage, for example; in addition, the first switch S1 may be gated via such an additional winding.
The points marked at the windings U1 and U2 indicate the phase relationship between the respective voltages. Connected in parallel with the winding U1 and the second switch S2 is a capacitor CE which completes the circuit for the horizontal-frequency alternating current; this serves in particular to bypass the dc voltage source or the electrolytic capacitors contained therein.
If required, a well-known tuning coil may be inserted, e.g. in series with the second winding U2, without changing the basic operation of the horizontal deflection circuit according to the invention.

GRUNDIG SUPER COLOR 6632 IT CHASSIS 29301-374.21(03) Electron beam deflection circuit including thyristors Further Discussion and deepening of knowledge, Thyristor horizontal output circuits:

1. An electron beam deflection circuit for a cathode ray tube with electromagnetic deflection by means of a sawtooth current waveform having a trace portion and a retrace portion, said circuit comprising: a deflection winding; a first source of electrical energy formed by a first capacitor; first controllable switching means comprising a parallel combination of a first thyristor and a first diode connected together to conduct in opposite directions, for connecting said winding to said first source during said trace portion, while said first switching means is turned on; a second source of electrical energy including a first inductive energy storage means coupled to a voltage supply; reactive circuit means including a combination of inductive and capacitive reactances for storing the energy supplied by said second source; second controllable switching means, substantially similar to said first one, for completing a circuit including said reactive circuit means and said first switching means, when turned on before the end of said trace portion, so as to pass through said first switching means an oscillatory current in opposite direction to that which passes through said first thyristor from said first source and to turn said first thyristor off after these two currents cancel out, the oscillatory current flowing thereafter through said first diode for an interval termed the circuit turn-off time, which has to be greater than the turn-off time of said first thyristor; wherein the improvement comprises: means for drawing, during at least a part of said trace portion, a substantial amount of additional current through said first switching means, in the direction of conduction of said first diode, whereby to perceptibly shift the waveform of the current flowing through said first switching means towards the negative values by an amount equal to that of said substantial additional current and to lengthen, in proportion thereto, said circuit turn-off time, without altering the values of the reactances in the reactive circuit which intervene in the determination of both the circuit turn-off and retrace portion time intervals.

2. A deflection circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said amount of additional current is greater than or equal to 5 per cent of the peak-to-peak value of the current flowing through the deflection winding.

3. A deflection circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for drawing a substantial amount of additional current through said first switching means comprises a resistor connected in parallel to said first capacitor.

4. A deflection circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for drawing an additional current is formed by connecting said first and second energy sources in series so that the current charging said reactive circuit means forms the said additional current.

5. A deflection circuit as claimed in claim 1, further including a series combination of an autotransformer winding and a second high-value capacitor, said combination being connected in parallel to said first switching means, wherein said autotransformer comprises an intermediate tap located between its terminals respectively connected to said first switching means and to said second capacitor, said tap delivering, during said trace portion, a suitable DC supply voltage lower than the voltage across said second capacitor; and wherein said means for drawing a substantial amount of additional current comprises a load to be fed by said supply voltage and having one terminal connected to ground; and further controllable switching means controlled to conduct during at least part of said trace portion and to remain cut off during said retrace portion, said further switching means being connected between said tap and the other terminal of said load.

Description:

The present invention relates to electron beam deflection circuits including thyristors, such as silicon controlled rectifiers and relates, in particular, to horizontal deflection circuits for television receivers.

The present invention constitutes an improvement in the circuit described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,449,623 filed on Sept. 6, 1966, this circuit being described in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings. A deflection circuit of this type comprises a first thyristor switch which allows the conenction of the horizontal deflection winding to a constant voltage source during the time interval used for the transmisstion of the picture signal and for applying this signal to the grid of the cathode ray tube (this interval will be termed the "trace portion" of the scan), and a second thyristor switch which provides the forced commutation of the first one by applying to it a reverse current of equal amplitude to that which passes through it from the said voltage source and thus to initiate the retrace during the horizontal blanking interval.

A undirectional reverse blocking triode type thyristor or silicon controlled rectifier (SCR), such as that used in the aformentioned circuit, requires a certain turn-off time between the instant at which the anode current ceases and the instant at which a positive bias may be applied to it without turning it on, due to the fact that there is still a high concentration of free carriers in the vicinity of the middle junction, this concentration being reduced by a process of recombination independently from the reverse polarity applied to the thyristor. This turn-off time of the thyristor is a function of a number of parameters such as the junction temperature, the DC current level, the decay time of the direct current, the peak level of the reverse current applied, the amplitude of the reverse anode to cathode voltage, the external impedance of the gate electrode, and so on, certain of these varying considerably from one thyristor to another.

In horizontal deflection circuits for television receivers, the flyback or retrace time is limited to approximately 20 percent of the horizontal scan period, the retrace time being in the case of the CCIR standard of 625 lines, approximately 12 microseconds and, in the case of the French standard of 819 lines, approximately 9 microseconds. During this relatively short interval, the thyristor has to be rendered non-conducting and the electron beam has to be returned to the origin of the scan. The first thyristor is blocked by means of a series resonant LC circuit which is subject to a certain number of restrictions (limitations as to the component values employed) due to the fact that, inter alia, it simultaneously determines the turn-off time of the circuit which blocks the thyristor and it forms part of the series resonant circuit which is to carry out the retrace. To obtain proper operation of the deflection circuit of the aforementioned Patent, especially when used for the French standard of 819 lines per image, the values of the components used have to subject to very close tolerances (approximately 2%), which results in high costs.

The improved deflection circuit, object of the present invention, allows the lengthening of the turn-off time of the circuit for turning the scan thyristor off, without altering the values of the LC circuit, which are determined by other criteria, and without impairing the operation of the circuit.

According to the invention, there is provided an electron beam deflection circuit for a cathode ray tube with electromagentic deflection by means of a sawtooth current waveform having a trace portion and a retrace portion, said circuit comprising: a deflection winding; a first source of electrical energy formed by a first capacitor; first controllable switching means comprising a parallel combination of a first thyristor and a first diode, connected together to conduct in opposite directions, for connecting said winding to said first source during said trace portion when said first switching means is turned on; a second source of electrical energy including a first inductive energy storage means coupled to a voltage supply; reactive circuit means including a combination of inductive and capacitive reactances for storing the energy supplied by the said second source; a second controllable switching means, substantially identical with the first one, for completing a circuit including said reactive circuit means and said first switching means, when turned on, so as to pass through said first thyristor an oscillatory current in the opposite direction to that which passes through it from said first source and to turn it off after these two currents cancel out, the oscillatory current then flowing through said first diode for an interval termed the circuit turn-off time which has to be greater than the turn-off time of said first thyristor; and means for drawing duing at least a part of said trace portion a substantial amount of additional current from said first switching means in the direction of conduction of said first diode, whereby said circuit turn-off time is lengthened in proportion to the amount of said additional current, without altering the values of the reactances in the reactive circuit by shifting the waveform of the current flowing through said first switching means towards the negative by an amount equal to that of said additional current.

A further object of the invention consists in using the supplementary current in the recovery diode of the first switching means to produce a DC voltage which may be used as a power supply for the vertical deflection circuit of the television receiver, for example.

The invention will be better understood and other features and advantages thereof will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, given by way of example, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram partially in bloc diagram form of a prior art deflection circuit according to the aforementioned Patent;

FIG. 2 shows waveforms of currents and voltages generated at various points in the circuit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a deflection circuit according to the invention which allows the principle of the improvement to be explained;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of the waveforms of the current through the first switching means 4, 5 of the circuit of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of another embodiment of the circuit according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of the preferred embodiment of the circuit according to the invention; and

FIG. 7 shows voltage waveforms at various points of the high voltage autotransformer 21 of FIG. 6.

In all these Figures the same reference numerals refer to the same components.

FIG. 1 shows the horizontal deflection circuit described and claimed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,449,623 mentioned above, which comprises a first source of electrical energy in the shape of a first capacitor 2 having a high capacitance C ₂ for supplying a substantially constant voltage Uc ₂ across its terminals. A first terminal of the first capacitor 2 is connected to ground, whilst its second terminal which supplies a positive voltage is connected to one of the terminals of a horizontal deflection winding shown as a first inductance 1. A first switching means 3, consisting of a first reverse blocking triode thyristor 4 (SCR) and a first recovery diode 5 in parallel, the two being interconnected to conduct current in opposite directions, is connected in parallel with the series combination formed by the deflection winding 1 and the first capacitor 2. The assembly of components 1, 2, 4 and 5 forms the final stage of the horizontal deflection circuit in a television receiver using electromagnetic delfection.

The deflection circuit also includes a drive stage for this final stage which here controls the turning off of the first thyristor 4 to produce the retrace or fly-back portion of the scan during the line-blanking intervals i.e. while the picture signal is not transmitted. This driver stage comprises a second voltage source in the shape of a DC power supply 6 which delivers a constant high voltage E. The negative terminal of the power supply 6 is connected to ground and its positive terminal to one of the terminals of a second inductance 7 of relatively high value, which draws a substantially lineraly varying current from the power supply 6 to avoid its overloading. The other terminal of the second inductance 7 is connected, on the one hand, to the junction of the deflection winding 1 and the first switching means 3 by means of a second inductance 8 and a second capacitor 9 in series and, on the other hand, to one of the terminals of a second controllable bi-directionally conducting switching means 10, similar to the first one 3, including a parallel combination of a second thyristor 11 and a second recovery diode 12 also arranged to conduct in opposite directions.

The respective values of the third inductance 8 (L ₈ ) and of the second capacitor 9 (C ₉ ) are principally selected so that, on the one hand, one half-cycle of oscillation of the first series resonant circuit L ₈ - C ₉ , (i.e. π √ L ₈ ^. C ₉ ) is longer than the turn-off time of the first thyristor 4, but still is as short as possible since this time interval determines the speed of the commutation of the thyristor 4, and, on the other hand, one half-cycle of oscillation of another series resonant circuit formed by L ₁ , L ₈ and C ₉ , i.e. π √ (L ₁ + L ₈ ) ^. C ₉ , is substantially equal to the required retrace time interval (i.e. shorter than the horizontal blanking interval).

The gate (control electrode) of the second thyristor 11 is coupled to the output of the horizontal oscillator 13 of the television receiver by means of a first pulse transformer 14 and a first pulse shaping circuit 15 so that it is fed short triggering pulses which are to turn it on.

The gate of the first thyristor 4 fed with signals of a substantially rectangular waveform which are negative during the horizontal blanking intervals, is coupled to a winding 16 by means of a second pulse shaping circuit 17, the winding 16 being magnetically coupled to the second inductance 7 to make up the secondary winding of a transformer of which the inductance 7 forms the primary winding. It will be noted here that it is also possible to couple the secondary winding 16 magnetically to a primary winding connected to a suitable output (not shown) of the horizontal oscillator 13.

The operation of a circuit of this type will be explained below with reference to FIG. 2 which shows the waveforms at various points in the circuit of FIG. 1 during approximately one line period.

FIG. 2 is not to scale since one line period (t ₇ - t ₀ ) is equal to 64 microseconds in the case of 625 lines and 49 microseconds in the case of 819 lines, while the durations of the respective horizontal blanking intervals are approximately 12 and 9.5 microseconds.

Waveform A shows the form of the current i _L1 passing through deflection winding 1, this current having a sawtooth waveform substantially linear from t ₀ to t ₃ and from t ₅ to t ₇ , and crossing zero at time instants t ₀ and t ₇ , and reaching values of + I _1m and - I _1m , at time instants t ₃ and t ₅ respectively, these being its maximum positive and negative amplitudes.

During the second half of the trace portion of the horizontal deflection cycle, that is to say from t ₀ to t ₃ , the thyristor 4 of the first switching means 3 is conductive and makes the high value capacitor 2 discharge through the deflector winding 1, which has a high inductance, so that current i _L1 increases linearly.

A few microseconds (5 to 8 μ s) before the end of the trace portion, i.e. at time instant t ₁ , the trigger of the second thyristor 11 receives a short voltage pulse V _G11 which causes it to turn on as its anode is at this instant at a positive potential with respect to ground, which is due to the charging of the second capacitor 9 through inductances 7 and 8 by the voltage E from the power supply 6.

When thyristor 11 is made conductive at time t ₁ , on the one hand, inductance 7 is connected between ground and the voltage source 6 and a linearly increasing current flows through it and, on the other hand, the reactive circuit 8, 9 forms a loop through the second and first switching means 10 and 3, thus forming a resonant circuit which draws an oscillatory current i ₈ ,9 of frequency ##EQU1##

This oscillatory current i ₈ ,9 will pass through the first switching means 3, i.e. thyristor 4 and diode 5, in the opposite direction to that of current i _L1 . Since the frequency f ₁ is high, current i ₈ ,9 will increase more rapidly than i _L1 and will reach the same level at time t ₂ , that is to say i ₈ ,9 (t ₂ ) = -i _L1 (t ₂ ) and these currents will cancel out in the thyristor 4 in accordance with the well known principle of forced commutation. After time instant t ₂ , current i ₈ ,9 continues to increase more rapidly than i _L1 , but the difference between them (i ₈ ,9 - i _L1 ) passes the diode 5 (see wave form B) until it becomes zero at time instant t ₃ which is the turn off time instant of the first switching means 3, at which the retrace begins.

The interval between the time instant t ₂ and t ₃ , i.e. (t ₃ -t ₂ ), during which diode 5 is conductive and the thyristor is reverse biased will be termed in what follows the circuit turn-off time and it should be greater than the turn-off time of the thyristor 4 itself since the latter will subsequently become foward biased (i.e. from t ₃ to t ₅ ) by the retrace or flyback pulse (see waveform E) which should not trigger it.

At time instant t ₃ , the switching means 3 is opened (i ₄ and i ₅ are both zero -- see waveforms B and C) and the reactive circuit 8, 9 forms a loop through capacitor 2 and the deflection coil 1 and thus a series resonant circuit including (L ₁ + L ₈ ) and C ₉ , C ₂ being of high value and representing a short circuit for the flyback frequency ##EQU2## thus obtained.

The retrace which stated at time t ₃ takes place during one half-cycle of the resonant circuit formed by reactances L ₁ , L ₈ and C ₉ , i.e. during the interval between t ₃ and t ₅ . In the middle of this interval i.e. at time instant t ₄ , both i _L1 (waveform A) and i ₈ ,9 (waveform D) pass through zero and change their sign, whereas the voltage at the terminals of the first switching means 3 (V ₃ , waveform E) passes through a maximum. Thus, from t ₄ onwards, thyristor 11 will be reverse biased and diode 12 will conduct the current from the resonant circuit 1, 8 and 9 in order to turn the second thyristor 11 off.

At time instant t ₅ , when current i _L1 has reached - I _1m and when voltage v ₃ falls to zero, diode 5 of the first switching means 3 becomes conductive and the trace portion of scan begins.

Current i ₈ ,9 nevertheless continues to flow in the resonant circuit 8, 9 through diodes 5 and 12, which causes a break to appear in waveform D at t ₅ , and a negative peak to appear in waveform D and a positive one in waveform B in the interval between t ₅ and t ₆ , these being principally due to the distributed capacities of coil 1 or to an eventual capacitor (not shown) connected in parallel to the first switching means 3.

At time instant t ₆ , diode 12 of the second switching means 10 ceases to conduct after having allowed thyristor 11 time to become turned off completely.

The level of current i ₈ ,9 at time instant t ₅ (i.e. I _c ) as well as the negative peak I _D12 in i ₈ ,9 and the positive peak I _D5 in i ₅ depend on the values of L ₈ and C ₉ in the same way as does the turn-off time of the circuit (t ₃ - t ₂ ). If, for example, L ₈ and C ₉ , are increased I _D5 increases towards zero and this could cause diode 5 to be cut off in an undesirable fashion. I _c also increases towards zero, which is liable to cause diode 12 to be blocked and thyristor 11 to trigger prematurely.

From the foregoing it can be clearly seen that the choice of values for L ₈ and C ₉ is subject to four limitations which prevent the values from being increased to lengthen the turn-off time of the driver circuit of first switching thyristor 4 so as to forestall its spurious triggering.

Waveform F shows the voltage v _G4 obtained at the gate of thyristor 4 from the secondary winding 16 coupled to the inductor 7. This voltage is positive from t ₀ to t ₁ and from t ₆ to t ₇ and is negative between t ₂ and t ₆ i.e. while the second switching means 10 is conducting.

The present invention makes the lengthening of the turn-off time of thyristor 4 possible without altering the parameters of the circuit such as inductance 8 and capacitor 9.

In the circuit shown in FIG. 3, which illustrates the principle of the present invention, means are added to the circuit in FIG. 1 which enable the turn-off time to be lengthened by connecting a load to diode 5 so as to increase the current which flows through it during the time that it is conductive. These means are here formed by a resistor 18 connected in parallel with a capacitor 20 (which replaces capacitor 2) which is of a higher capacitance so that, in practice, it holds its charge during at least one half of the line period. FIG. 4, which shows the waveform of the current in the first switching means 3 for a circuit as shown in FIG. 3, makes it possible to explain how this lenthening of the turn-off time is achieved.

In FIG. 4, the broken lines show the waveform of the current in the first switch device 3 in the circuit of FIG. 1, this waveform being produced by adding waveforms B and C of FIG. 2. The current i ₄ above the axis flows through thyristor 4 and current i ₅ below the axis flows through diode 5. When the capacitance C ₂₀ of the capacitor in series with the deflector coil is increased to some tens of microfarads (C ₂ having been of the order of 1 μ F) and when there is connected in parallel with capacitor 20 a resistor 18 the value of which is calculated to draw a strong current I _R18 from capacitor 20, that is to say a current at least equal to 0,1 I _m (I _m being of the order of some tens of amperes), current I _R18 is added to that i ₅ which flows through diode 5 without in any way altering the linearity of the trace portion nor the oscillatory commutation of thyristor 4 which is brought about by the resonant circuit L ₈ , C ₉ .

The fact of loading capacitor C ₂₀ by means of a resistor 18 thus has the effect of permanently displacing the waveform of the current in the negative direction by I _R18 . Thus, during the trace portion of the scan, the transfer of the current from the diode 5 to the thyristor 4 begins at time t ₁₀ instead of t ₀ , that is to say with a delay proportional to I _R18 . The effect of the triggering pulse delivered by the horizontal oscillator (13 FIG. 1) to the second thyristor 11 at time instant t ₁ , will be to start the commutation process of the first thyristor 4 when the current it draws is less by I _R18 than that i ₄ (t ₁ ) which it would have been drawing had there been no resistor 18. Because of this, the turn-off time of the thyristor 4 proper, which as has been mentioned increases with the maximum current level passing throught it, is slightly reduced. Moreover, because the oscillatory current i ₈ ,9 (FIG. 2) from circuit L ₈ , C ₉ which flows through thyristor 4 in the opposite direction is unchanged, it reaches a value equal to that of the current i _L1 (FIG. 1) flowing in the coil 1 in a shorter time, that is to say at time t ₁₂ . Diode 5 will thus take the oscillatory current i ₈ ,9 (FIG. 2) over in advance with respect ro time instant t ₂ and will conduct it until it reaches zero value at a time instant t ₁₃ later than t ₃ , the amounts of advance (t ₂ - t ₁₂ ) and delay (t ₁₃ - t ₃ ) being practically equal.

It can thus be seen in FIG. 4 that the circuit turn-off time T _R of a circuit according to the invention and illustrated by FIG. 3 is distinctly longer than that T _r of the circuit in FIG. 1. This increase in the turn-off time (T _R - T _r ) depends on the current I _R18 and increases therewith.

It should be noted at this point that the current I _R18 produces a voltage drop at the terminals of the resistor the only effect of which is to heat up the resistor since the level of this voltage (40 to 60 volts) does not necessarily have a suitable value to be used as a voltage supply for other circuits in an existing transistorised television receiver.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIG. 5, an application is proposed for the additional current which is to be drawn through diode 5. In FIG. 5, the positive terminal of capacitor 20 is connected by a conductor 19 to the negative pole of the power supply 6 and the voltage at the terminals of capacitor 20 is thus added to that E from the source 6.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is shown in FIG. 6, it is possible to cause a supplementary current of a desired value to flow through the first diode 5 while obtaining a voltage which has a suitable value for use in another circuit in the television receiver.

If the voltage at the terminals of capacitor 20 in FIG. 3 is not a usable value, it is possible to connect in parallel with the series circuit comprising the deflector coil 1 and the capacitor 2 in FIG. 1, i.e. in parallel with the terminals of the first switching means 3, a series combination of an autotransformer 21 and a high value capacitor 22 (comparable with capacitor 20 in FIGS. 3 and 5). The autotransformer 21 has a tap 23 is suitably positioned between the terminal connected to capacitor 22 at the tap 24 connected to the first switching means 3. This autotransformer 21 may be formed by the one conventionally used for supplying a very high voltage to the cathode ray tube, as described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 3,452,244; such a transformer comprises a voltage step-up winding between taps 24 and 25, which latter is connected to a high voltage rectifier (not shown).

The waveform of the voltage at the various points in the autotransformer is shown in FIG. 7, in which waveform A shows the voltage at the terminals of capacitor 22, waveform B the voltage at tap 24 and waveform C the voltage at tap 23 of the autotransformer 21.

The voltage V _c22 at the terminals of capacitor 22 varies slightly about a mean value V _cm . It is increasing while diode 5 is conducting and decreasing during the conduction of the thyristor 4.

The voltage v ₂₄ at tap 24 follows substantially the same curve as waveform E in FIG. 2, that is to say that during the retrace time interval from t ₁₃ to t ₅ to a positive pulse called the flyback pulse is produced and, during the time interval while the first switching means 3 is conducting, the voltage is zero. The mean valve of the voltage v ₂₄ at tap 24 of the auto-transformer 21 is equal to the mean value V _cm of the voltage at the terminals of capacitors 2 and 22.

Thus, there is obtained at tap 23 a waveform which is made up, during the retrace portion, of a positive pulse whose maximum amplitude is less than that of v ₂₄ at tap 24 and, during the trace portion, of a substantially constant positive voltage, the level V of which is less than the mean value V _cm of the voltage v _c22 at the terminals of capacitor 22. By moving tap 23 towards terminals 24 the amplitude of the pulse during fly-back increases while voltage V falls and conversely by moving tap 23 towards capacitor 22 voltage V increases and the amplitude of the pulse drops.

In more exact terms, the voltage V at tap 23 is such that the means value of v ₂₃ is equal to V _cm . It has thus been shown that by choosing carefully the position of tape 23, a voltage V may be obtained during the trace portion of the scan, which may be of any value between V _cm and zero.

This voltage V is thus obtained by periodically controlled rectification during the trace portion of the scan. For this purpose an electronic switch is used to periodically connect the tap 23 of trnasformer winding 21 to a load. This switch is made up of a power transistor 26 whose collector is connected to tap 23 and the emitter to a parallel combination formed by a high value filtering capacitor 27 and the load which it is desired to supply, which is represented by a resistor 28. The base of the transistor 26 receives a control voltage to block it during retrace and to unblock it during the whole or part of the trace period. A control voltage of this type may be obtained from a second winding 29 magnetically coupled to the inductance 7 of the deflection circuit and it may be transmitted to the base of transistor 26 by means of a coupling capacitor 30 and a resistor 31 connected between the base and the emitter of transistor 26.

It may easily be seen that the DC collector/emitter current in transistor 26 flows through the first diode 5 of the first switching means 3 via a resistor 28 and the part of the winding of auto-transformer 21 located between taps 23 and 24.

Experience has shown that a circuit as shown in FIG. 6 can supply 24 volts with a current of 2 amperes to the vertical deflection circuit of the same television set, the voltage at the terminals of capacitor 22 being from 50 to 60 volts.

It should be mentioned that, when the circuit which forms the load of the controlled rectifier 26, 27 does not draw enough current to sufficiently lengthen the circuit turn-off time T _R , an additional resistor (not shown) may be connected between the emitter of transistor 26 and ground or in parallel to capacitor 22, which resistor will draw the additional current required.

GRUNDIG SUPER COLOR 6632 IT CHASSIS 29301-374.21(03) Gating circuit for television SCR deflection system AND REGULATION / stabilization of horizontal deflection NETWORK CIRCUIT with Transductor reactor / Reverse thyristor energy recovery circuit.
In a television deflection system employing a first SCR for coupling a deflection winding across a source of energy during a trace interval of each deflection cycle and a second SCR for replenishing energy to the source of energy during a commutation interval of each deflection cycle, a gating circuit for triggering the first SCR. The gating circuit employs a voltage divider coupled in parallel with the second SCR which develops gating signals proportional to the voltage across the second SCR.


1. In a television deflection system in which a first switching means couples a deflection winding across a source of energy during a trace interval of each deflection cycle and a second switching means replenishes energy to said source of energy during a commutation interval of each deflection cycle, a gating circuit for said first switching means, comprising:
capacitive voltage divider means coupled in parallel with said second switching means for developing gating signals proportional to the voltage across said second switching means; and
means for coupling said voltage divider means to said first switching means to provide for conduction of said first switching means in response to said gating signals.
2. A gating circuit according to claim 1 wherein said voltage divider includes first and second capacitors coupled in series and providing said gating signals at the common terminal of said capacitors. 3. A gating circuit according to claim 2 wherein said first and second capacitors are proportional in value to provide for the desired magnitude of gating signals. 4. A gating circuit according to claim 3 wherein said means for coupling said voltage divider means to said first switching means includes an inductor. 5. A gating circuit according to claim 4 wherein said inductor and said first and second capacitors comprise a resonant circuit having a resonant frequency chosen to shape said gating signal to improve switching of said first switching means.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a gating circuit for controlling a switching device employed in a deflection circuit of a television receiver.






























Various deflection system designs have been utilized in television receivers. One design employing two bidirectional conducting switches and utilizing SCR's (thyristors) as part of the switches is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,452,244. In this type deflection system, a first SCR is










employed for coupling a deflection winding across a source of energy during a trace interval of each deflection cycle, and a second SCR is employed for replenishing energy during a commutation interval of each deflection cycle. The first SCR is commonly provided with gating voltage by means of a separate winding or tap of an input reactor coupling a source of B+ to the second SCR.





Various regulator system designs have been utilized in conjunction with the afore described deflection system to provide for uniform high voltage production as well as uniform picture width with varying line voltage and kinescope beam current conditions.
One type regulator system design alters the amount of energy stored in a commutating capacitor coupled between the first and second SCR's during the commutating interval. A regulator design of this type may employ a regulating SCR and diode for coupling the input reactor to the source of B+. With this type regulator a notch, the width of which depends upon the regulation requirements, is created in the current supplied through the reactor and which notch shows up in the voltage waveform developed on the separate winding or tap of the input reactor which provides the gating voltage for the first SCR. The presence of the notch, even though de-emphasized by a waveshaping circuit coupling the gating voltage to the first SCR, causes erratic control of the first SCR.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a gating circuit of a television deflection system employing a first switching means for coupling a deflection winding across a source of energy during a trace interval of each deflection cycle and a second switching means for replenishing energy to said source of energy during a commutation interval of each deflection cycle includes a voltage divider means coupled in parallel with the second switching means for developing gating signals proportional to the voltage across the second switching means. The voltage divider means are coupled to the first switching means to provide for conduction of the first switching means in response to the gating signals.
A more detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention is given in the following description and accompanying drawing of which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram, partially in block form, of a prior art SCR deflection system;
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram, partially in block form, of an SCR deflection system of the type shown in FIG. 1 including a gating circuit embodying the invention;
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram, partially in block form, of one type of a regulator system which employs an SCR as a control device and which is suitable for use with the SCR deflection system of FIG.2;
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram, partially in block form, of another type of a regulator system suitable for use with the deflection circuit of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram, partially in block form, of still another type of a regulator system suitable for use with the SCR deflection system of FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram, partially in block form, of a prior art deflection system of the retrace driven type similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,452,244. This system includes a commutating switch 12, comprising a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) 14 and an oppositely poled damper diode 16. The commutating switch 12 is coupled between a winding 18a of an input choke 18 and ground. The other terminal of winding 18a is coupled to a source of direct current voltage (B+) by means of a regulator network 20 which controls the energy stored in the deflection circuit 10 when the commutating switch is off, during an interval T3 to T0' as shown in curve 21 which is a plot of the voltage level at the anode of SCR 14 during the deflection cycle. A damping network comprising a series combination of a resistor 22 and a capacitor 23 is coupled in parallel with commutating switch 12 and serves to reduce any ringing effects produced by the switching of commutating switch 12. Commutating switch 12 is coupled through a commutating coil 24, a commutating capacitor 25 and a trace switch 26 to ground. Trace switch 26 comprises an SCR 28 and an oppositely poled damper diode 30. An auxiliary capacitor 32 is coupled between the junction of coil 24 and capacitor 25 and ground. A series combination of a horizontal deflection winding 34 and an S-shaping capacitor 36 are coupled in parallel with trace switch 26. Also, a series combination of a primary winding 38a of a horizontal output transformer 38 and a DC blocking capacitor 40 are coupled in parallel with trace switch 26.
A secondary of high voltage winding 38b of transformer 38 produces relatively large amplitude flyback pulses during the retrace interval of each deflection cycle. This interval exists between T1 and T2 of curve 41 which is a plot of the current through windings 34 and 38a during the deflection cycle. These flyback pulses are applied to a high voltage multiplier (not shown) or other suitable means for producing direct current high voltage for use as the ultor voltage of a kinescope (not shown).
An auxiliary winding 38c of transformer 38 is coupled to a high voltage sensing and control circuit 42 which transforms the level of flyback pulses into a pulse width modulated signal. The control circuit 42 is coupled to the regulator network 20.
A horizontal oscillator 44 is coupled to the gate electrode of commutating SCR 14 and produces a pulse during each deflection cycle slightly before the end of the trace interval at T0 of curve 21 to turn on SCR 14 to initiate the commutating interval. The commutating interval occurs between T0 and T3 of curve 21. A resonant waveshaping network 46 comprising a series combination of a capacitor 48 and an inductor 50 coupled between a winding 18b of input choke 18 and the gate electrode of trace SCR 28 and a damping resistor 52 coupled between the junction of capacitor 48 and inductor 50 and ground shapes the signal developed at winding 18b (i.e. voltage waveform 53) to form a gating signal voltage waveform 55 to enable SCR 28 for conduction during the second half of the trace interval occurring between T2 and T1' of curve 41.
The regulator network 20, when of a type to be described in conjunction with FIG. 3, operates in such a manner that current through winding 18a of input choke 18 during an interval between T4 and T5 (region A) of curves 21, 53 and 55 is interrupted for a period of time the duration of which is determined by the signal produced by the high voltage sensing and control circuit 42. During the interruption of current through winding 18a a zero voltage level is developed by winding 18b as shown in interval T4 to T5 of curve 53. The resonant waveshaping circuit 46 produces the shaped waveform 55 which undesirably retains a slump in region A corresponding to the notch A of waveform 53. The slump in waveform 55 applied to SCR 28 occurs in a region where the anode of SCR 28 becomes positive and where SCR 28 must be switched on to maintain a uniform production of the current waveshape in the horizontal deflection winding 34 as shown in curve 41. The less positive amplitude current occurring at region A of waveform 55 may result in insufficient gating current for SCR 28 and may cause erratic performance resulting in an unsatisfactory raster.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram, partially in block form, of a deflection system 60 embodying the invention. Those elements which perform the same function in FIG. 2 as in FIG. 1 are labeled with the same reference numerals. FIG. 2 differs from FIG. 1 essentially in that the signal to enable SCR 28 derived from sampling a portion of the voltage across commutating switch 12 rather than a voltage developed by winding 18b which is a function of the voltage across winding 18a of input choke 18 as in FIG. 1. This change eliminates the slump in the enabling signal during the interval T4 to T5 as shown in curve 64 since the voltage across the commutating switch 12 is not adversely effected by the regulator network 20 operation.
A series combination of resistor 22, capacitor 23 and a capacitor 62 is coupled in parallel with commutating switch 12, one terminal of capacitor 62 being coupled to ground. The junction of capacitors 23 and 62 is coupled to the gate electrode of SCR 28 by means of the inductor 50. The resistor 52 is coupled in parallel with capacitor 62.
Capacitors 23 and 62 form a capacitance voltage divider which provides a suitable portion of the voltage across commutating switch 12 for gating SCR 28 via inductor 50. The magnitude of the voltage at the junction of capacitors 23 and 62 is typically 25 to 35 volts. It can, therefore, be seen that the ratio of values of capacitors 23 and 62 will vary depending on the B+ voltage utilized to energize the deflection system. Capacitors 23 and 62 and inductor 50 form a resonant circuit tuned in a manner which provides for peaking of the curve 64 between T4 and T5. This peaking effect further enhances gating of SCR 28 between T4 and T5.
Since the waveshape of the voltage across commutating switch 12 (curve 21) is relatively independent of the type of regulator system employed in conjunction with the deflection system, the curve 64 also is independent of the type of regulator system.
When commutating switch 12 switches off during the interval T3 to T0' curve 21, the voltage across capacitor 62 increases and the voltage at the gate electrode of SCR 28 increases as shown in curve 64. As will be noted, no slump of curve 64 occurs between T3 and T5 because there is no interruption of the voltage across commutating switch 12.



















FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram, partially in block form, of one type of a regulator system which may be used in conjunction with the invention. B+ is supplied through a regulator network 20 which comprises an SCR 66 and an oppositely poled diode 68. The diode is poled to provide for conduction of current from B+ to the horizontal deflection circuit 60 via winding 18a of input choke 18. Current flows through the diode during the period T3 to T4 of curve 21 FIG. 1 after which current tries to flow through the SCR 66 from the horizontal deflection circuit to B+ since the commutating capacitor 25 is charged to a voltage higher than B+.
The horizontal deflection circuit 60 produces a flyback pulse in winding 38a of the flyback transformer 38 which is coupled to winding 38c. The magnitude of the pulse on winding 38c determines how long the signal required to switch SCR 66 on is delayed after T4 curve 21 FIG. 1. If the flyback pulse is greater than desirable, the SCR 66 turns on sooner than if the flyback pulse is less than desirable and provides a discharge path for current in commutating capacitor 25 back to the B+ supply. In this manner a relatively constant amplitude flyback pulse is maintained.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram, partially in block form, of another well-known type of a regulator system which may be used in conjunction with the invention shown in FIG. 2. B+ is coupled through winding 18a of input choke 18 and through a series combination of windings 70a and 70b of a saturable reactor 70 and a parallel combination of a diode 72 and a resistor 74 to the horizontal deflection circuit 60. Diode 72 is poled to conduct current from the horizontal deflection circuit 60 to B+.
Flyback pulse variations are obtained from winding 38c of the horizontal output transformer 38 and applied to a voltage divider comprising resistors 76, 78 and 80 of the high voltage sensing and control circuit 42. A portion of the pulse produced by winding 38c is selected by the position of the wiper terminal on potentiometer 78 and coupled to the base electrode of a transistor 82 by means of a zener diode 84. The emitter electrode of transistor 82 is grounded and a DC stabilization resistor 85 is coupled in parallel with the base-emitter junction of transistor 82. When the pulse magnitude on winding 38c exceeds a level which results in forward biasing the base-emitter junction of transistor 82, current flows from B+ through a resistor 86, a winding 70c of saturable reactor 70 and transistor 82 to ground. Due to the exponential increase of current in winding 70c during the period of conduction of transistor 82, the duration of conduction of transistor 82 determines the magnitude of current flowing in winding 70c and thus the total inductance of windings 70a and 70b. The current in winding 70c is sustained during the remaining deflection period by means of a diode 88 coupled in parallel with winding 70c and poled not to conduct current from B+ to the collector electrode of transistor 82. A capacitor 90 coupled to the cathode of diode 88 provides a bypass for B+. Windings 70a and 70b are in parallel with input reactor 18a and thereby affect the total input inductance of the deflection circuit and thereby controls the transfer of energy to the deflection circuit. The dotted waveforms shown in conjunction with a curve 21' indicate variations from a nominal waveform provided at the input of horizontal deflection circuit 60 by the windings 70a and 70b.













FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of yet another type of a regulator system which may be used in conjunction with the invention. B+ is coupled through a winding 92a and a winding 92b of a saturable reactor to the horizontal deflection circuit 60. Windings 92a and 92b are used to replace the input choke 18 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 while also providing for a regulating function corresponding to that provided by regulating network 20.
Flyback pulse variations are obtained from winding 38c and applied to the high voltage sensing and control circuit 42 as in FIG. 4. Current flows from B+ through resistor 86, a winding 92c and transistor 82 to ground. As in FIG. 4 the duration of the conduction of transistor 82 determines the energy stored in winding 92c and thus the total inductance of windings 92a and 92b which control the amount of energy transferred to the deflection circuit during each horizontal deflection cycle. The variations in waveforms of curve 21', shown in conjunction with FIG. 4, are also provided at the input of horizontal deflection circuit 60 by windings 92a and 92b.
For various reasons including cost or performance, a manufacturer may wish to utilize a particular one of the regulators illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. Regardless of the choice, the gating circuit according to the invention may be utilized therewith advantageously by providing improved performance and the possibility of cost savings by eliminating taps or extra windings on the wound components which heretofore normally provided a source of SCR gating waveforms.

GRUNDIG SUPER COLOR 6632 IT CHASSIS 29301-374.21(03) E/W PINCUSHION CORRECTION CIRCUIT WITH SATURABLE REACTOR FOR CORRECTING RASTER DISTORTION:

Saturable reactor apparatus in which primary and secondary windings, respectively coupled to horizontal and vertical deflection current sources, are wound on the shaft of a ferrite core at the opposite ends of which are permanent magnets. Flux generated in the core is controlled either by adjustment of the permanent magnets or by the use of a further permanent magnet.

1. Saturable reactor apparatus comprising a ferrite core including a central part and a shaft extending in opposite directions therefrom and flanges on the shaft defining spaces on opposite sides of the central part, primary and secondary windings on the shaft in each of said spaces and in close coupling relationship, the secondary windings being oppositely wound, permanent magnets at opposite ends of the shaft to generate flux in said core, and means to control the thusly generated flux. 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means includes means to vary the position of the permanent magnets relative to said shaft. 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means includes a further permanent magnet adjacent the core and rotatable about an axis perpendicular to said shaft. 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said magnets are of plate-form. 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising horizontal and vertical deflection deflection television-receiver circuits generating horizontal and vertical deflection currents, and means for respectively coupling the currents to said primary and secondary windings. 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said further magnet is of circular form and has peripheral magnetic poles therein. 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the latter said means includes threaded rods.

A saturable reactor comprised of a cross-shaped core having a yoke on the center portion thereof and protrusions at right angles to the yoke and two coils wound on the yoke. Each coil of the said two coils is divided into two coil parts which are wound on the right and left yoke arms. The first pair of the said two coils is constituted so as to be identical as to the direction of the magnetic generation as is the pair of coils wound on the right and left yoke arms. The second pair of coils is constituted so as to be opposite to each other as to the direction of magnetic flux generation as is the pair of coils wound on the right and left yoke arms.

1. A saturable reactor for correcting raster distortion comprised of a cross-shaped magnetic core consisting essentially of a central yoke portion and a divider portion in the form of a protrusion intersecting the central portion at a right angle and extending to the opposite side thereof, thereby dividing the central yoke portion into separate arm portions and forming a magnetic core which is cross-shaped when viewed in cross-section, and two coils wound on the yoke portion, each of said coils being subdivided into two parts and the thus divided coils being wound on the respective arm portions formed on both sides of the protrusion, the first coil being so constituted that the magnetic fluxes generated in the two divided coil parts assume the same direction when an electric current is caused to flow therethrough, while the said second coil is so constituted that the magnetic fluxes will be generated in opposite directions in the two divided coil parts when an electric current is caused to flow therethrough, and wherein the core is so structured that the cross-sectional dimensions are identical along its entire length, with

2. A saturable reactor for correcting raster distortion according to claim 1, wherein at least one end of the protrusion is extended in a direction 3. A saturable reactor for correcting raster distortion according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion consists of two oppositely positioned 4. A saturable reactor for correcting raster distortion according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion consists of a continuous disc surrounding the 5. A saturable reactor for correcting raster distortion according to claim 1, wherein a cylindrical core is mounted on the cross-shaped core with the inside wall of the cylindrical core in slidable contact with said divider 6. A saturable reactor for correcting raster distortion according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion is extended by attaching thereto core strips in 7. A saturable reactor for correcting raster distortion according to claim 1, wherein a U-shaped permanent magnet having magnetic poles at both ends is mounted on the cross-shaped core so that the said magnetic poles contact the right and left arm portions of the yoke respectively, and 8. A saturable reactor for correcting raster distortion according to claim 1, wherein permanent magnets for bias are mounted on both ends of the 9. A saturable reactor for correcting raster distortion according to claim 1, wherein a cavity is provided in the center of the yoke in the axial direction thereof and a permanent bar magnet magnetized in the axial 10. A saturable reactor for correcting raster distortion according to claim 9, wherein core strips are placed on both ends of the yoke.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a reactor for controlling or modifying "pincushion" type distortion in cathode ray tube displays. It is particularly well suited for use in conjunction with color display tubes.

Pincushion type distortion of cathode ray tube displays has long been recognized. In black-and-white displays, this type of distortion is corrected to a considerable extent through the use of permanent magnets, which are so shaped and fixed in positions relative to the cathode as to produce an appropriate magnetic biasing effect on the cathode ray beam. In the case of color display tubes, which are based on the use of shadow mask or similar principles, however, fixed correcting magnets cannot be used.

One approach, which has been adopted in connection with the correction of pincushion distortion in color displays involves modulation or variation of one of the sweep currents in such a manner as to produce the desired results.

In the arrangement for correction of raster distortion occurring in the vertical direction (e.g., top and bottom pincushion distortion), the cyclically varying vertical scanning current must be modulated at a higher horizontal rate, such as by adding a horizontal rate correction current alternated parabolically to the vertical deflection current.

In the arrangement for the correction of raster distortion occurring in the horizontal direction (e.g., side pincushion distortion), the cyclically varying horizontal scanning must be varied at a lower vertical rate, since the magnitude of a horizontal scanning must be varied at a lower vertical rate, since the magnitude of a horizontal scanning current is parabolical.

It has further been suggested in the prior art that this modulation be accomplished electromagnetically using a combination of magnetic and electrical circuitry which works on the principle of magnetic saturability.

In general, nominal correction can be produced by this means. There are many kinds of saturable reactor device and circuit connections for correcting pincushion distortion such as those described in U.S. Pats. No. 2,906,919, No. 3,346,765, and No. 3,444,422.

The existing reactor, as seen in the aforementioned U.S. patents, is composed of a core that mutually couples the two ends of three parallel yokes, a coil is shunt-wound on the two yokes on both sides of the said core in opposite winding direction and is connected in series, and another coil is wound on the center of the said core. Since the vertical deflection current has been applied to one of the above-mentioned coils and the horizontal deflection current has been applied to the other coil, the device has disadvantages as described herein.

In the manufacture of a reactor, coils are fitted to respective yokes of an E-shaped core, and I-shaped cores are coupled on the free ends of the yokes of the E-shaped core in order to magnetically couple the yokes. Using this process, the manufacturing process has been time-consuming, making it unsuited to mass-production. Magnetic flux leakage has been small, since the yokes formed a closed magnetic path. However, since current magnetic flux density in the closed magnetic path varied markedly depending on the infinitesimal differences in the gaps in the magnetic path, the characteristics of individual products lost uniformity because of disparity in the gap arising in the coupled part of the E-shaped core and the I-shaped core.

The present invention offers saturable reactors extremely easy to assemble and manufacture and with uniform quality of individual products.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the invention there is provided a saturable reactor for correcting raster distortion comprised of a cross-shaped magnetic core having a yoke on the center portion thereof and protrusions being provided at right angles thereto, and two coils wound on the said yoke, each coil of the said two coils being divided into two parts and the divided coils wound on the respective arms formed on both sides of the said protrusions, the first coil being so constituted that the magnetic fluxes generated in the two divided coil parts assume the same direction when an electric current is caused to flow therethrough, while the said second coil is so constituted that the magnetic fluxes will be generated in opposite directions in the two divided coil parts when an electric current is caused to flow therethrough.

GRUNDIG SUPER COLOR 6632 CHASSIS 29301-374.21(03) VIDEO Amplifier suitable for use as a color CRT TUBE / kinescope driver:

A color kinescope matrix amplifier has a first input coupled through a capacitor to a source of color difference signals. Another input is coupled to a source of luminance signals. The matrix amplifier includes a cascode output stage direct current coupled to a cathode of a kinescope. A portion of a direct voltage developed at the cascode output amplifier is coupled to one input of a comparator circuit. The other input of the comparator circuit is coupled to a temperature compensated direct voltage reference source. The comparator is rendered operative during horizontal retrace intervals to provide a current to either charge or discharge the input capacitor in accordance with the difference between the voltage at the output of the cascode output amplifier and the reference voltage to compensate for voltage variations at the output of the cascode amplifier due to power supply variations and the like. To compensate for droop caused by the discharge of the input capacitor during the scanning interval, one input of a differential amplifier is included between the input capacitor and the input of the cascode output stage. Negative signal feedback is provided from the output stage to the other input of the differential amplifier via a capacitor arranged to be charged during the horizontal retrace interval. The two capacitors discharge at substantially the same rates during the scanning interval. By virtue of the common mode operation of the differential amplifier droop effects are minimized.


1. In a television receiver including an image reproducing device, a source of chrominance signa

ls, a source of luminance signals and a source of horizontal blanking pulses, said horizontal blanking pulses occurring during the time interval during which said image reproducing device is horizontally retraced, the apparatus comprising:
amplifying means for combining said chrominance signals and said luminance signals, said amplifying means including first and second input terminals and an output terminal, said output terminal being direct current coupled to said image reproducing device, said second input terminal being direct current coupled to said source of said luminance signals;
first capacitive means for coupling said chrominance signals to said first input terminal;
comparator means having first and second input terminals for comparing voltages applied thereto, said comparator means being normally inoperative;
a relatively low level stabilized reference voltage source coupled to said first input terminal of said comparator means;
means coupled to said second input terminal of said comparator means for providing a direct voltage proportional to the direct voltage developed at said output terminal;
means for selectively rendering said comparator operative in response to said horizontal blanking pulses; and
current converting means coupled to said comparator and to said first capacitive means for charging and discharging said capacitive means to a direct voltage level in relation to the difference in voltage between said first and second input terminals of said comparator means so as to counteract the changes of the voltage developed at said output terminal.
2. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said amplifying means includes:
a differential amplifier having first and second input terminals and an output terminal, said first input terminal being coupled to sai

d first input terminal of said amplifying means, said output terminal of said differential amplifier being coupled to said output terminal of said amplifying means;
second capacitive means coupled to said second input terminal of said differential amplifier; and
means for selectively charging said second capacitive means during said horizontal retrace interval, said first and second capacitive means being selected to have substantially equal discharging rates during the time intervals between said horizontal retrace intervals.
3. The apparatus recited in claim 2 wherein said second capacitive means is coupled between said output terminal of said amplifying means and said second input terminal of said differential amplifier. 4. The apparatus recited in claim 3 wherein said amplifying means includes a cascode amplifier coupled between the output of said differential amplifier and said output terminal of said amplifying means. 5. The apparatus recited in claim 3 wherein said amplifying means includes first and second transistors, the emitter of said first transistor being direct current coupled to the collector of said second transistor, the base of said first transistor being coupled to said first input terminal of said amplifying means, the base of said second transistor being coupled to said second input terminal of said amplifying means, the emitter of said first transist

or being coupled to said first input terminal of said differential amplifier. 6. The apparatus recited in claim 3 wherein said means for selectively charging said second capacitive means includes means for clamping the second input terminal of said differential amplifier to a predetermined voltage during said horizontal retrace interval. 7. The apparatus recited in claim 3 wherein means are provided for adjusting the portion of the voltage developed at said output terminal of said amplifying means which is coupled to said second capacitive means. 8. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said means coupled to said second input terminal of said comparator means for providing a direct voltage proportional to the direct voltage developed at said output terminal of said amplifying means includes means for adjusting the voltage coupled to said second input terminal of said comparator means. 9. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said comparator means includes:
a differential amplifier having two input terminals and two output terminals, one of said input terminals being coupled to said reference voltage source, the other of said input terminals being coupled to said output terminal of said amplifier means; and
a current mirror circuit having an input and an output, one of said output terminals of said differential amplifier being coupled to said input terminal of said current mirror circuit, the other of said output terminals of said differential amplifier being coupled to the output of said current mirror circuit and to said first capacitor means.
10. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said voltage reference source is temperature compensated. 11. In a television receiver including a color kinescope leaving a plurality of electron beam forming apparatus, a source of luminance signals, a source of a plurality of color difference signals, and a source of horizontal blanking pulses, said horizontal blanking pulses corresponding to the time interval during which said electron beams are horizontally retraced, the apparatus comprising:
a plurality of amplifiers, each of said amplifiers including
amplifying means for com

bining one of said plurality of color difference signals with said luminance signals, said amplifying means including first and second input terminals and an output terminal, said output terminal being direct current coupled to a respective one of said plurality of electron beam forming apparatus, said second input terminal being direct current coupled to said source of said luminance signals, capacitive means for coupling said one of said plurality of color difference signals to said first input terminal,
comparator means having first and second input terminals for comparing voltages applied thereto, said comparator means being normally inoperative,
means coupled to said second input terminal of said comparator means for providing a direct voltage proportional to the direct voltage developed at said output terminal,
means for selectively rendering said comparator operative in response to said horizontal blanking pulses, and
current converting means coupled to said comparator and to said capacitive means for charging and discharging said capacitive means to a direct voltage level in relation to the difference in voltage between said first and second input terminals of said comparator means so as to counteract the changes of the voltage developed at said output terminal; and a relatively low level stabilized reference
voltage source coupled to said first input terminals of each of said plurality of comparator means.

Description:

The present invention is directed to the field of amplifiers and is particularly directed to the field of amplifier arrangements utilized to drive color image reproducing devices such as kinescopes.
The electron guns of a color kinescope are typically driven by separate amplifier stages. Variations of the operating conditions of an amplifier stage, such as variations of the stage's supply voltage, tend to produce variations in the brightness of a reproduced image. Furthermore, because each of the stages tends to operate at different power dissipation levels the operating conditions of the stages vary with respect to each other and hence color imbalances may occur.
Athou

gh supply voltage regulators and high level clamping circuits have been employed in conjunction with kinescope amplifier stages to inhibit the aformentioned problems, it is desirable to provide kinescope driver amplifier arrangements which maintain their operating point stability with variations in operating conditions such as power supply variations without the need of supply voltage regulators or high level clamping circuits.
Furthermore, it is desirable, because of the trend toward miniaturization in electronic art, that at least a portion of the kinescope amplifier driver should be able to be constructed in integrated circuit form.
It is also desirable to provide kinescope driver amplifier arrangements which include independent controls for adjusting the DC level and the AC amplitude of the signals coupled to the kinescope. This is particularly desirable where "precision-in-line" kinescopes or the like, in which the electron guns have common control electrodes, are employed since, in these types of kinescopes, it is difficult to independently adjust the operating conditions associated with the respective guns because of the commonality of control electrodes.
Furthermore, it is desirable that a kinescope driver amplifier which is to be utilized with a precision-in-line type of kinescope provide a relatively wide bandwidth without the requirement of high frequency peaking coils. Peaking coils tend to be bulky. In addition, undesirable voltages may be developed across a peaking coil due to the large magnetic fields which may be produced by the yokes associated with a precision-in-line kinescope. These undesirable voltages may produce disconcerting brightness and/or hue changes.
In accordance with the present invention, one input terminal of amplifying means is coupled to a source of chrominance signals through capacitive means. A second input of the amplifying means is direct current coupled to a source of luminance signals. The output terminal of the amplifying means is direct current coupled to a color image reproducing device such as a precision-in-line kinescope of the like. The amplifying means includes means for combining the luminance and chrominance signals to provide the image reproducing device with color signals. The amplifying means also includes comparator means for comparing the voltage developed at the output terminal to a reference voltage to generate a current to control the charging of the capacitive means in a manner so as to counter-act the changes of the voltage developed at the output due, for example, to changes in the power supply voltage. The comparator means is arranged to be normally inoperative and is selectively rendered operative during the horizontal retrace interval.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the amplifying means includes a differential amplifier having first and second input terminals and an output terminal. The output terminal of the differential amplifier is coupled to the output terminal of the amplifying means. The first input terminal of the differential amplifier is coupled to the input terminal of the amplifying means. The second input terminal of the differential amplifying means is coupled to a second capacitive means. Means are provided for selectively charging the second capacitive means during the horizontal retrace interval. The first and second capacitive means are selected to have substantially equal discharging rates so as to compensate for any decrease in the DC content (i.e., droop) at the output terminal of the amplifying means during the scanning interval.
In accordance

with still another feature of the present invention, the second capacitive means is coupled to the output terminal of the amplifying means in a manner so as to allow adjustment of the AC gain of the amplifying means. The DC conditions of the output of the amplifying means may be controlled by controlling the portion of the voltage developed at the output terminal coupled to the comparator means.
The present invention may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawing which shows, partially in block diagram form and partially in schematic form, the general arrangement of a color television receiver employing a kinescope driver amplifier arrangement constructed in accordance with the present invention .
The color television receiver includes a video signal processing unit 141 responsive to radio frequency (RF) signals, received by an antenna, for receiving in a known manner, a composite video signal comprising chrominance, luminance, sound and synchronizing signal components.
The output of video processing unit 141 is coupled to a chrominance channel 142 including a chrominance processing unit 143 and a color demodulator 144. Chrominance processing unit 143 separates chrominance signals from the composite video signal. Color demodulator 144 derives signals of the appropriate polarity representing, for example, R-Y, G-Y and B-Y color difference signal information from the chrominance signals. The TAA630 integrated circuit or similar circuit is suitable for use as color demodulator 144.
The output of video processing unit 141 is also coupled to a luminance channel 145 including a luminance processing unit 146 which amplifies and processes luminance components of the composite signal to form an output signal of the appropriate polarity representing luminance, Y, information. A brightness control unit 147 to control the DC content of luminance signal Y and a contrast control unit 148 to control the amplitude of luminance signal Y are coupled to processing unit 146.
The composite video signal is also coupled to a sync separator 149 which, in turn, is coupled to a horizontal deflection unit 151 and a vertical deflection unit 152. Horizontal deflection unit 151 is also coupled to a high voltage unit 154 which generates operating voltages for kinescope 153. Outputs from horizontal deflection unit 151 and vertical deflection unit 152 are coupled to luminance pr
ocessing unit 146 to inhibit or blank luminance signal Y during the horizontal and vertical retrace intervals. Similarly, an output from horizontal deflection unit 151 may be coupled to chroma processing unit 143 or color demodulator 144 to inhibit the color difference signals during the horizontal retrace interval. Furthermore, first and second signals including positive going pulses, the pulses of each signal being coincident with the horizontal retrace or blanking interval, are coupled to matrix unit 100 to control its operation, as will appear below, via conductors 159 and 167, respectively.

The R-Y output signal and luminance signal Y are coupled to a matrix unit 100 where they are combined to form a color signal representing red (R) information. Similarly, the B-Y and G-Y color difference signals are respectively coupled to matrix-driver units 150 and 157, similar to the combination of matrix unit 100 and kinescope driver 199, where they are matrixed with luminance signal Y to produce color signals representing blue (B) and green (G) information. Since the matrix units for the various color difference signals are similar, only matrix unit 100 will be described in detail.
Matrix unit 100, enclosed within dotted line 160, is suitable for construction as an integrated circuit. The R-Y color difference signal is coupled through a capacitor 110 to the base of an NPN transistor 101 which is a

rranged as a common collector amplifier for color difference signals. Transistor 101, NPN transistor 102, resistors 178 and 184 form a summing circuit 161 for the color difference signal and luminance signal Y, the latter being direct current coupled to the base of transistor 102. The combined output of circuit 161, taken at the collector of transistor 102, is coupled to the base of an NPN transistor 105. Transistor 105 and an NPN transistor 106 form a differential amplifier 162 to which bias current is supplied from a current source including a suitably biased transistor 182. The output of differential amplifier 162, taken at the collector of transistor 105, is coupled through a level shifter, shown as the series connection of a zener diode 163, and a diode 165 to a kinescope 199. Bias current is provided for zener diode 163 and diode 165 through a resistor 183, which serves as the load resistor of transistor 105, and resistors 176 and 177.
Kinescope driver 199 comprises a cascode amplifier 164 including NPN transistors 120 and 119. The output of matrix unit 100 is coupled to the base of transistor 119 while a positive supply voltage (e.g. +12 volts) is coupled to the base of transistor 120. The output of kinescope driver 199, taken at the collector of transistor 120 is direct current coupled through a resistor 179 to the red (R) cathode of kinescope 153. The collector of transistor 120 is coupled to a source of supply voltage B+ through a load resistor 165. Supply voltage B+ is a relatively high voltage, typically, in the order of 200 to 300 vdc.
The collector of transistor 120 is also coupled to a series combination of a resistor 166 and a black level setting potentiometer 167, the latter being returned to ground. A direct voltage proportional to that at the collector of transistor 120 is developed at the wiper arm of potentiometer 167 and is coupled to one input of a voltage comparator circuit 168. Comparator 168 comprises NPN transistors 103 and 104 coupled as a differential amplifier. A second input of comparator 168, at the base of transistor 103, is coupled to a temperature compensated voltage reference (TCVR) unit 169. Voltage reference unit 169, which may, for example, be similar to that employed in the CA3085 integrated circuit manufactured by RCA Corporation, supplies a regulated reference voltage of approximately 1.6 vdc.
Voltage reference unit 169 is also coupled to the matrix portions of units 150 and 157 via conductor 155 so that a common reference voltage is coupled to the respective comparators of units 100, 150 and 157. It is noted that matrix unit 100 and the matrix portions of units 150 and 153 may be constructed as a single integrated circuit.
A current source including an NPN transistor 170 is coupled to the jointly connected emitters of transistors 103 and 104. The first horizontal blanking pulse signal generated by horizontal deflection unit 151 is coupled to the base of transistor 170 via conductor 159.
The output of differential amplifier 168 provided at the collector of NPN transistor 103 is converted to a bidirectional current by means of a current mirror circuit 180 comprising a diode-connected PNP transistor 172 and a PNP transistor 173. The collector of transistor 173 is coupled to the collector of transistor 104 and to the base of transistor 101.
The junction of resistors 166 and 167 is coupled to a signal feedback circuit comprising a series connection of a potentiometer 174 and a resistor 175. Feedback voltage developed at the wiper arm of potentiometer 174 is coupled through a capacitor 120 to the base of transistor 106 (i.e., one input of differential amplifier 162). The base of transistor 106 is returned to ground through resistor 181 and the collector-emitter junction of a transistor 108. The base of transistor 108 is coupled to horizontal deflection unit 151 to receive the first horizontal blanking pulse signal via conductor 159. An NPN transistor 107, the emitter of which is coupled to the base of transistor 106, is arranged together with resistor 181 and the collector-emitter junction of transistor 108 as an emitter follower. The base of transistor 107 is coupled to horizontal deflection unit 151 to receive the second horizontal blanking pulse signal via conductor 167. It is noted that this signal may also be generated within the IC device.
Kinescope 153 may be a precision-in-line kinescope such as the RCA type 15VADTCO1. As is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,817,397, issued May 21, 1974, there is no provision for separate adjustment of red, green and blue gun screen and grid potentials and only the cathodes of the three guns of such a kinescope are available for separate adjustment of the cut off point of the guns. As will become apparent in the following description, matrix unit 100 and kinescope driver 199 are particularly suited to a kinescope of the precision-in-line type but it should be appreciated that they may be utilized for other types of kinescopes such as delta-gun, shadow mask or other slotted mask types.
In operation, the signal supplied to the base of transistor 107 during the scanning interval by horizontal deflection unit 151 is of sufficiently low amplitude (e.g., less than +4vdc) in relationship to the voltage at its emitter (controlled by the charge on capacitor 120 as will be explained) that it is non-conductive. Because of relatively low voltage applied to the bases of transistors 108 and 170 during the scanning interval, transistors 108, 170, 103 and 104 are also non-conductive and do not affect the operation of matrix circuit 100 during the scanning interval.
The signal -(R-Y), representing red color difference information, and the signal Y, representing luminance information, are coupled to amplifier 161 where they are combined in the emitter circuit of transistor 101 to form a signal -R, representing red information. The signal -R is further amplified and inverted twice by differential amplifier 162 and cascode amplifier 164 for application to kinescope 153.
It is noted that resistors 183, 176 and 177 should be selected so that zener diode 163 is biased well into its reverse breakdown region to inhibit noise.
The portion of the output signal of cascode amplifier 164 developed at the wiper arm of potentiometer 174, is capacitively fed back to one input of differential amplifier 162. This negative feedback arrangement, in conjunction with the use of cascode amplifier 199, provides for a relatively wide bandwidth, thereby eliminating the need for peaking coils or the like to improve high frequency response. The AC gain (or drive) of the matrix unit-kinescope driver arrangement may be adjusted by adjustment of the wiper arm of potentiometer 174 (normally a service or factory adjustment).
During the horizontal retrace interval, a relatively high voltage (e.g., approximately +6 vdc plus the base to emitter voltage of transistor 107 when transistor 107 is rendered conductive) is applied to the base of transistor 107 from horizontal deflection unit 151. Horizontal deflection unit 151 also applies a relatively high voltage to the bases of transistors 108 and 170. As a result transistors 107, 108, 170, 103 and 104 are rendered conductive and the base of transistor 106 is clamped to a voltage substantially equal to the voltage at the base of transistor 107 less the base emitter voltage of transistor 107 (e.g., +6 vdc). The voltage to which the base of transistor 106 is clamped is sufficiently lower than that at the base of transistor 105 so that transistor 106 will be rendered non-conductive and transistor 105 will be rendered fully conductive. Under these conditions, the voltage developed at the collector of transistor 120 will rise toward B+ to a voltage determined by t
he conduction of transistors 119 and 120 and the voltage division action of resistors 165, 166 and the impedance of potentiometer 167 in parallel combination with the series combination of potentiometer 174 and resistor 175.

While the base of transistor 106 is clamped to the voltage applied to the base of transistor 107 less the voltage developed between the base and emitter of transistor 107, the AC feedback provided by capacitor 120 is effectively disconnected and capacitor 120 is provided with a charging path including resistor 166 and a portion of potentiometer 174 by which it is rapidly charged to a voltage determined by the voltage at the emitter of transistor 107 and DC voltage developed at the collector of transistor 120.
The voltage developed at the wiper arm of potentiometer 167 is coupled to the base of transistor 104 and, during each horizontal retrace interval, is compared to the voltage developed at the base of transistor 103 by TCVR 169. A difference in voltage is converted by virtue of the current mirror configuration of transistors 172 and 173 into an error current at the junction of the collectors of transistors 104 and 173. The error current acts, depending on the relative levels at the bases of transistors 103 and 104, to charge or discharge capacitor 110.
Potentiometer 167 initially is adjusted to provide a voltage at the collector of transistor 120 sufficient to cut off the red gun of kinescope 153 when a black image signal is present. Therefore, it is desirable to select the values of resistors 165 and 166 and potentiometer 167 to ensure that the full range of black level control at the red cathode of kinescope 153 is available.
Matrix circuit 100 is arranged so that capacitor 110 will be charged or discharged in a manner to compensate for any change in B+. For example, if B+ decreases, the voltage developed at the base of transistor 104 will decrease relative to the stable reference voltage developed at the base of transistor 103. Therefore, the collector current of transistor 103 and the substantially equal currents flowing through the emitter-collector circuits of transistors 172 and 173 will increase, causing capacitor 110 to be charged. As a result, the voltage at the base of transistor 101 will increase, the voltage at the bas

e of transistor 105 will increase, the voltage at the collector of transistor 105 will decrease and the voltage at the collector of transistor 120 will increase.
It is noted that transistor 173 and transistor 104 operate in what may be termed a push-pull fashion in that the change in current flowing between the emitter and collector of transistor 173 is inversely related to the change in current flowing between the collector and the emitter of transistor 104. Thus, if the current flowing through the emitter-collector of transistor 104 increases, the current through the collector-emitter of transistor 173 decreases, so that capacitor 110 is discharged by the excess of current flowing through transistor 104 rather than being charged by current from transistor 173.
Thus, the feedback arrangement including TCVR 169 of matrix unit 100 adjusts the charge on capacitor 110 to compensate for, and therefore substantially eliminate, the effect on the direct voltage applied to the kinescope cathodes of variations in B+. Furthermore, it is noted that variations in other portions of the matrix amplifier driver arrangement (such as variations caused by temperature or component tolerance changes) affecting the DC conditions at the collector of transistor 120 will be compensated for by the arrangement in a similar manner.
The charge stored on capacitor 110 during the horizontal retrace interval serves to control the bias on cascode amplifier 164 during the succeeding scanning interval. It is noted that the charge on capacitor 110 is not affected by the color difference signals or luminance signals during the horizontal retrace interval, since these signals are arranged to be constant during the horizontal retrace interval.
After the horizontal retrace interval, transistors 103, 104, 170, 172, 173, 107 and 108 are rendered nonconductive (as previously described) and capacitors 110 and 120 begin to discharge. While capacitor 110 controls the bias voltage at the base of transistor 105, capacitor 120 controls the bias voltage at the base of transistor 106. Capacitors 110 and 120 and their associated discharging circuitry preferably are selected so that capacitors 110 and 120 discharge at substantially equal rates. The similar changes in voltage are applied to opposite sides of differential amplifier 162. The common mode rejection characteristics of differential amplifier 162 will prevent the discharging of capacitor 110 to be reflected in the DC conditions at the collector of transistor 120. This "droop" compensation feature provided by capacitor 120 in junction with differential amplifier 162 is desirable, since in its absence, capacitor 110 would have to be a relatively large value to prevent droop. This is especially undesirable if it is desired to construct matrix unit 100 as an integrated circuit because large currents, not compatible with integrated circuit technology, would be required to charge and discharge capacitor 110.

Typical values for the arrangement are shown on the accompanying drawing.
It should be noted that although the present invention has been described in terms of a particular configuration shown in the diagram, modifications may be made which are contemplated to be within the scope of the invention. For instance, cascode driver 199 may be placed with other driver stages well known in the art. Furthermore, the current mirror configuration comprising transistors 172 and 173 may be modified in accordance with other known current mirror configurations.