Videocolor was a fabricant of Electronic components in Anagni (Italy).
Was formed from an Italian CRT Fabricant called ERGON which was sold to Thomson in 1971 and the technology further called PIL (Precision In Line) was produced by a collaboration with RCA. (ERGON S.P.A., ANAGNI, FROSINONE).
 They have patented several technologyes like the LICHT-KOLLIMATOR
 and  various methods to improve the fabrication of shadowmasks in CRT 
Tubes like the invention of a process of manufacturing a cathode-ray 
tube (CRT)
 having an anti-glare, anti-static, dark coating on an external surface 
of a faceplate panel thereof, and more particularly, to the formulation 
of such a coating.
They have patented several technologyes like the LICHT-KOLLIMATOR
 and  various methods to improve the fabrication of shadowmasks in CRT 
Tubes like the invention of a process of manufacturing a cathode-ray 
tube (CRT)
 having an anti-glare, anti-static, dark coating on an external surface 
of a faceplate panel thereof, and more particularly, to the formulation 
of such a coating. Further Inventions were related to inventions formulated for the control of electron beam for adjustment of, for example, static convergence and/or purity in a picture tube and others invention relates to a shadow mask or color selection electrode for a color television picture tube, as well as the support frame making it possible to stiffen or rigidify the mask.
Videocolor CRTs were widely used by many fabricants on European scale and even around the world.
Example of Videocolor CRTs were the P.I.L. (Precision In Line) the PIL S4 the PIL PLANAR the PIL MP the PIL FS10.......
In 2005 Videocolor was sold to Videocon An Indian monkeys dotheads conglomerate wich has converted it to Plasma Lcd (cheapshit Crap) manufacturing, resulting in a total FAIL !!
Now Videocolor has Stopped the production, it's gone (Forever-dead) !!
CRT TUBE VIDEOCOLOR A56-701X P.I.L. S4. In-line electron gun PRECISION IN LINE TECHNOLOGY p.i.l. VIDEOCOLOR (RCA TECHNOLOGY):The three co-planar beams of an in-line gun are converged near the screen of a cathode ray tube by means of two plate-like grids transverse to the beam paths and having corresponding apertures for the three beams. The three beam apertures of the first grid are aligned with the three beam paths. The two outer beam apertures of the second grid are offset outwardly relative to the beam paths to produce the desired convergence. The three sets of apertures also provide separate focusing fields for the three beams. The second plate-like grid is formed with a barrel shape, concave toward the first grid, to minimize elliptical distortion of beam spots on the screen due to crowding of the adjacent focusing fields. Each of the two outer beams is partially shielded from the magnetic flux of the deflecting yoke by means of a magnetic ring surrounding the beam path in the deflection zone, to equalize the size of the rasters scanned on the screen by the middle and outer beams. Other magnetic pieces are positioned on opposite sides of the path of the middle beam, to enhance one deflection field while reducing the transverse deflection field for that beam.
 1.
    In a color picture tube including an evacuated envelope comprising a
    faceplate and a neck connected by a funnel, a mosaic color phosphor 
   screen on the inner surface of said faceplate, a multiapertured color
    selection electrode spaced from said screen, an in-line electron gun
    mounted in said neck for generating and directing three electron 
beams    along co-planar paths through said electrode to said screen, 
and a    deflection zone, located in the vicinity of the junction 
between said    neck and said funnel, wherein said beams are subjected 
to vertical and    horizontal magnetic deflection fields during 
operation of said tube for    scanning said beams horizontally and 
vertically over said screen;  said   electron gun comprising: 2. The 
structure of claim 1, wherein  said   electron gun further comprises a 
pair of magnetic elements  positioned in   said deflection zone on 
opposite sides of the middle  beam path and in a   plane transverse to 
the common plane of said paths  for enhancing the   magnetic deflection 
field in said middle beam path  transverse to said   common plane and 
for reducing the magnetic  deflection field in said   middle beam path 
along said common plane,  thereby increasing the   dimension of the 
raster scanned by the middle  beam in said common plane   while reducing
 the dimension of said raster  in said transverse plane.  3.  In a color
 picture tube including an  evacuated envelope comprising a   faceplate 
and a neck connected by a  funnel, a mosaic color phosphor   screen on 
the inner surface of said  faceplate, a multi-apertured color   
selection electrode spaced from  said screen, an in-line electron gun   
mounted in said neck for  generating and directing three electron beams 
  along co-planar paths  through said electrode to said screen, and a   
deflection zone, located  in the vicinity of the junction between said  
 neck and said funnel,  wherein said beams are subjected to vertical and
   horizontal magnetic  deflection fields during operation of said tube 
for   scanning said  beams horizontally and vertically over said screen,
 and   wherein the  eccentrity of the outer ones of said beams in the 
deflection   fields  causes the sizes of the rasters scanned by the 
outer beams to   tend to  be larger than the size of the raster scanned 
by a middle beam,   said  electron gun comprising; 4. The tube as 
defined in claim 3,   including  two small discs of magnetic material 
located at the fringe of   the  deflection zone on opposite sides of the
 middle beam transverse to   the  plane of the three beams, whereby the 
magnetic flux on the middle    beam transverse to the plane of the three
 beams is enhanced and the flux    in the plane of the three beams is 
decreased thereby increasing the    middle beam dimension in the plane 
of the three beams while reducing  the   middle beam dimension in the 
plane of the three beams.
1.
    In a color picture tube including an evacuated envelope comprising a
    faceplate and a neck connected by a funnel, a mosaic color phosphor 
   screen on the inner surface of said faceplate, a multiapertured color
    selection electrode spaced from said screen, an in-line electron gun
    mounted in said neck for generating and directing three electron 
beams    along co-planar paths through said electrode to said screen, 
and a    deflection zone, located in the vicinity of the junction 
between said    neck and said funnel, wherein said beams are subjected 
to vertical and    horizontal magnetic deflection fields during 
operation of said tube for    scanning said beams horizontally and 
vertically over said screen;  said   electron gun comprising: 2. The 
structure of claim 1, wherein  said   electron gun further comprises a 
pair of magnetic elements  positioned in   said deflection zone on 
opposite sides of the middle  beam path and in a   plane transverse to 
the common plane of said paths  for enhancing the   magnetic deflection 
field in said middle beam path  transverse to said   common plane and 
for reducing the magnetic  deflection field in said   middle beam path 
along said common plane,  thereby increasing the   dimension of the 
raster scanned by the middle  beam in said common plane   while reducing
 the dimension of said raster  in said transverse plane.  3.  In a color
 picture tube including an  evacuated envelope comprising a   faceplate 
and a neck connected by a  funnel, a mosaic color phosphor   screen on 
the inner surface of said  faceplate, a multi-apertured color   
selection electrode spaced from  said screen, an in-line electron gun   
mounted in said neck for  generating and directing three electron beams 
  along co-planar paths  through said electrode to said screen, and a   
deflection zone, located  in the vicinity of the junction between said  
 neck and said funnel,  wherein said beams are subjected to vertical and
   horizontal magnetic  deflection fields during operation of said tube 
for   scanning said  beams horizontally and vertically over said screen,
 and   wherein the  eccentrity of the outer ones of said beams in the 
deflection   fields  causes the sizes of the rasters scanned by the 
outer beams to   tend to  be larger than the size of the raster scanned 
by a middle beam,   said  electron gun comprising; 4. The tube as 
defined in claim 3,   including  two small discs of magnetic material 
located at the fringe of   the  deflection zone on opposite sides of the
 middle beam transverse to   the  plane of the three beams, whereby the 
magnetic flux on the middle    beam transverse to the plane of the three
 beams is enhanced and the flux    in the plane of the three beams is 
decreased thereby increasing the    middle beam dimension in the plane 
of the three beams while reducing  the   middle beam dimension in the 
plane of the three beams.     The present invention relates to an improved in-line electron gun for a cathode ray tube, particularly a shadow mask type color picture tube. The new gun is primarily intended for use in a color tube having a line type color phosphor screen, with or without light absorbing guard bands between the color phosphor lines, and a mask having elongated apertures or slits. However, the gun could be used in the well known dot-type color tube having a screen of substantially circular color phosphor dots and a mask with substantially circular apertures.
In order to avoid wide spacings between the cathodes, which are undesirable in a small neck tube designed for high deflection angles, it is preferable to initiate the beams along substantially parallel (or even divergent) paths and provide some means, either internally or externally of the tube, for converging the beams near the screen. Magnet poles and/or electrostatic deflecting plates for converging in-line beams are disclosed in Francken U.S. Pat. No. 2,849,647, Gundert et al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,859,378 and Benway U.S. Pat No. 2,887,598.
The Moodey patent referred to above also includes an embodiment, shown in FIG. 2 and described in lines 4 to 23 of column 5, wherein an in-line gun for two co-planar beams comprises two spaced cathodes, a control grid plate and an accelerating grid plate each having two apertures aligned respectively with the two cathodes (as in FIG. 2) to initiate two parallel co-planar beam paths, and two spaced-apart beam focusing and accelerating electrodes of cylindrical form. The focusing electrode nearest to the first accelerating grid plate is described as having two beam apertures that are offset toward the axis of the gun from the corresponding apertures of the adjacent accelerating grid plate, to provide an asymmetric electrostatic field in the path of each beam for deflecting the beam from its initial path into a second beam path directed toward the tube axis.
Netherlands U.S. Pat. application No. 6902025, published Aug. 11, 1970 teaches that astigmatic aberration resulting in elliptical distortion of the focused screen spots of the two off-axis beams from an in-line gun, caused by the eccentricity of the in-line beams in a common focusing field between two hollow cylindrical focusing electrodes, can be partially corrected by forming the adjacent edges of the cylindrical electrodes with a sinusoidal contour including four sine waves. A similar problem is solved in a different manner in applicant's in-line gun.
Another problem that exists in a cathode ray tube having an in-line gun is a coma distortion wherein the sizes of the rasters scanned on the screen by a conventional external magnetic deflection yoke are different, because of the eccentricity of the two outer beams with respect to the center of the yoke. Messineo et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,164,737 teaches that a similar coma distortion caused by using different beam velocities can be corrected by use of a magnetic shield around the path of one or more beams in a delta type gun. Barkow U.S. Pat. No. 3,196,305 teaches the use of magnetic enhancers adjacent to the path of one or more beams in a delta gun, for the same purpose. Krackhardt et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,534,208 teaches the use of a magnetic shield around the middle one of three in-line beams for coma correction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, at least two electron beams are generated along co-planar paths toward the screen of a cathode ray tube, e.g., a shadow mask type color picture tube, and the beams are converged near the screen by asymmetric electric fields established in the paths of two beams by two plate-like grids positioned between the beam generating means and the screen and having corresponding apertures suitably related to the beam paths. The apertures in the first grid (nearest the cathodes) are aligned with the beam paths. Two apertures in the second grid (nearest the screen) are offset outwardly with respect to the beam paths to produce the desired asymmetric fields. In the case of three in-line beams, the two outer apertures are offset, and the middle apertures of the two grids are aligned with each other. The pairs of corresponding apertures also provide separate focusing fields for the beams. In order to minimize elliptical distortion of one or more of the focused beam spots on the screen due to crowding of adjacent beam focusing fields, at least a portion of the second grid may be substantially cylindrically curved in a direction transverse to the common plane of the beams, and concave to the first grid. Each of the two outer beam paths of a three beam gun may be partially shielded from the magnetic flux of the deflection yoke by means of a magnetic ring surrounding each beam in the deflection zone of the tube, to minimize differences in the size of the rasters scanned on the screen by the middle and outer beams. Further correction for coma distortion may be made by positioning magnetic pieces on opposite sides of the middle beam path for enhancing one field and reducing the field transverse thereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view, partly in axial section, of a shadow mask color picture tube in which the present invention is incorporated;
FIG. 2 is a front end view of the tube of FIG. 1 showing the rectangular shape;
FIG. 3 is an axial section view of the electron gun shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, taken along the line 3--3 of that figure;
FIG. 4 is an axial section view of the electron gun taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a rear end view of the electron gun of FIG. 4, taken in the direction of the arrows 5--5 thereof;
FIG. 6 is a transverse view, partly in section, taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a front end view of the electron gun of FIGS. 1 and 4;
FIG. 8 is a similar end view with the final element (shield cup) removed; and
FIGS. 9 and 10 are schematic views showing the focusing and converging electric fields associated with two pairs of beam apertures in FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a 17V-90° rectangular color picture tube, for example, having a glass envelope 1 made up of a rectangular (FIG. 2) faceplate panel or cap 3 and a tubular neck 5 connected by a rectangular funnel 7. The panel 3 comprises a viewing faceplate 9 and a peripheral flange or side wall 11 which is sealed to the funnel 7. A mosaic three-color phosphor screen 13 is carried by the inner surface of the faceplate 9. The screen is preferably a line screen with the phosphor lines extending substantially parallel to the minor axis Y-Y of the tube (normal to the plane of FIG. 1). A multi-apertured color selection electrode or shadow mask 15 is removably mounted, by conventional means, in predetermined spaced relation to the screen 13. An improved in-line electron gun 19, shown schematically by dotted lines in FIG. 1, is centrally mounted within the neck 5 to generate and direct three electron beams 20 along co-planar convergent paths through the mask 15 to the screen 13.
 The
    tube of FIG. 1 is designed to be used with an external magnetic    
deflection yoke, such as the yoke 21 schematically shown, surrounding   
 the neck 5 and funnel 7, in the neighborhood of their junction, for    
subjecting the three beams 20 to vertical and horizontal magnetic flux, 
   to scan the beams horizontally and vertically in a rectangular raster
    over the screen 13. The initial plane of deflection (at zero  
deflection)   is shown by the line P--P in FIG. 1 at about the middle of
  the yoke  21.  Because of fringe fields, the zone of deflection of the
  tube  extends  axially, from the yoke 21, into the region of the gun 
19.  For   simplicity, the actual curvature of the deflected beam paths 
20  in the   deflection zone is not shown in FIG. 1.
The
    tube of FIG. 1 is designed to be used with an external magnetic    
deflection yoke, such as the yoke 21 schematically shown, surrounding   
 the neck 5 and funnel 7, in the neighborhood of their junction, for    
subjecting the three beams 20 to vertical and horizontal magnetic flux, 
   to scan the beams horizontally and vertically in a rectangular raster
    over the screen 13. The initial plane of deflection (at zero  
deflection)   is shown by the line P--P in FIG. 1 at about the middle of
  the yoke  21.  Because of fringe fields, the zone of deflection of the
  tube  extends  axially, from the yoke 21, into the region of the gun 
19.  For   simplicity, the actual curvature of the deflected beam paths 
20  in the   deflection zone is not shown in FIG. 1.The in-line gun 19 of the present invention is designed to generate and direct three equally-spaced co-planar beams along initially-parallel paths to a convergence plane C--C, and then along convergent paths through the deflection plane to the screen 13. In order to use the tube with a line-focus yoke 21 specially designed to maintain the three in-line beams substantially converged at the screen without the application of the usual dynamic convergence forces, which causes degrouping misregister of the beam spots with the phosphor elements of the screen, the gun is preferably designed with samll spacings between the beam paths at the convergence plane C--C to produce a still smaller spacing, usually called the S value, between the outer beam paths and the central axis A--A of the tube, in the deflection plane P--P. The convergence angle of the outer beams with the central axis is arc tan e/c+d, where c is the axial distance between the convergence plane C--C and the deflection plane P--P, d is the distance between the deflection plane and the screen 13, and e is the spacing between the outer beam paths and the central axis A--A in the convergence plane C--C. The approximate dimensions in FIG. 1 are c = 2.7 inches, d = 9.8 inches, e = 0.200 inch (200 mils), and hence, the convergence angle is 55 minutes and s = 157 mils.
The details of the improved gun 19 are shown in FIGS. 3 through 8. The gun comprises two glass support rods 23 on which the various electrodes are mounted. These electrodes include three equally-spaced co-planar cathodes 25, one for each beam, a control grid electrode 27, a screen grid electrode 29, a first accelerating and focusing electrode 31, a second accelerating and focusing electrode 33, and a shield cup 35, spaced along the glass rods 23 in the order named.
Each cathode 25 comprises a cathode sleeve 37, closed at the forward end by a cap 39 having an end coating 41 of electron emissive material and a cathode support tube 43. The tubes 43 are supported on the rods 23 by four straps 45 and 47 (FIG. 6). Each cathode 25 is indirectly heated by a heater coil 49 positioned within the sleeve 37 and having legs 51 welded to heater straps 53 and 55 mounted by studs 57 on the rods 23 (FIG. 5). The control and screen grid electrodes 27 and 29 are two closely-spaced (about 9 mils) flat plates having three pairs of small (about 25 mils) aligned apertures 59 centered with the cathode coatings 41 to initiate three equally-spaced coplanar beam paths 20 extending toward the screen 13. Preferably, the initial paths 20a and 20b are substantially parallel and about 200 mils apart, with the middle path 20a coincident with the central axis A--A.
Electrode 31 comprises first and second cup-shaped members 61 and 63, respectively, joined together at their open ends. The first cup-shaped member 61 has three medium-sized (about 60 mils) apertures 75 close to grid electrode 29 and aligned respectively with the three beam paths 20, as shown in FIG. 4. The second cup-shaped member 63 has three large (about 160 mils) apertures 65 also aligned with the three beam paths. Electrode 33 is also cup-shaped and comprises a base plate portion 60 positioned close (about 60 mils) to electrode 31 and a side wall or flange 71 extending forward toward the tube screen. The base portion 69 is formed with three apertures 73, which are preferably slightly larger (about 172 mils) than the adjacent apertures 67 of electrode 31. The middle aperture 73a is aligned with the adjacent middle aperture 67a (and middle beam path 20a) to provide a substantially symmetrical beam focusing electric field between apertures 67a and 73a when electrodes 31 and 33 are energized at different voltages. The two outer apertures 73b are slightly offset outwardly with respect to the corresponding outer apertures 67b, to provide an asymmetrical electric field between each pair of outer apertures when electrodes 31 and 33 are energized, to individually focus each outer beam 20b near the screen, and also to deflect each beam, toward the middle beam, to a common point of convergence with the middle beam near the screen. In the example shown, the offset of each beam aperture 73b may be about 6 mils.
 The
    approximate configuration of the electric fields associated with the
    middle and outer apertures are shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, 
respectively,    which show the equipotential lines 74 rather than the 
lines of force.    Assuming an accelerating field, as shown by the + 
signs, the left half    75 (on the left side of the central mid-plane) 
of each field is    converging and the right half 77 is diverging. Since
 the electrons are    being accelerated, they spend more time in the 
converging field than in    the diverging field, and hence, the beam 
experiences a net converging   or  focusing force in each of FIGS. 9 and
 10. Since the middle beam  20a   passes centrally through a symmetrical
 field in FIG. 9, it  continues in   the same direction without 
deflection. In FIG. 10, the  outer beam 20b   traverses the left half 75
 of the field centrally, but  enters the right   half 77 off-axis. Since
 this is the diverging part of  the field, and  the  electrons are 
subjected to field forces  perpendicular to the   equipotential lines or
 surfaces 74, the beam 20b  is deflected toward the   central axis 
(downward in FIG. 10) as it  traverses the right half 77,   in addition 
to being focused. The angle  of deflection, or convergence,   of the 
beam 20b can be determined by  the choice of the offset of the   
apertures 73 b and the voltages  applied to the two electrodes 31 and 
33.   For the example given, with  an offset of 6 mils, electrode 33 
would be   connected to the ultor or  screen voltage, about 25 K.V., and
 electrode   31 would be operated at  about 17 to 20 percent of the 
ultor voltage,   adjusted for best focus.  The object distance of each 
focus lens, that   is, the distance between  the first cross-over of the
 beams near the   screen grid 29 and the  lens, is about 0.500 inch; and
 the image distance   from the lens to the  screen is about 12.5. 
inches.
The
    approximate configuration of the electric fields associated with the
    middle and outer apertures are shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, 
respectively,    which show the equipotential lines 74 rather than the 
lines of force.    Assuming an accelerating field, as shown by the + 
signs, the left half    75 (on the left side of the central mid-plane) 
of each field is    converging and the right half 77 is diverging. Since
 the electrons are    being accelerated, they spend more time in the 
converging field than in    the diverging field, and hence, the beam 
experiences a net converging   or  focusing force in each of FIGS. 9 and
 10. Since the middle beam  20a   passes centrally through a symmetrical
 field in FIG. 9, it  continues in   the same direction without 
deflection. In FIG. 10, the  outer beam 20b   traverses the left half 75
 of the field centrally, but  enters the right   half 77 off-axis. Since
 this is the diverging part of  the field, and  the  electrons are 
subjected to field forces  perpendicular to the   equipotential lines or
 surfaces 74, the beam 20b  is deflected toward the   central axis 
(downward in FIG. 10) as it  traverses the right half 77,   in addition 
to being focused. The angle  of deflection, or convergence,   of the 
beam 20b can be determined by  the choice of the offset of the   
apertures 73 b and the voltages  applied to the two electrodes 31 and 
33.   For the example given, with  an offset of 6 mils, electrode 33 
would be   connected to the ultor or  screen voltage, about 25 K.V., and
 electrode   31 would be operated at  about 17 to 20 percent of the 
ultor voltage,   adjusted for best focus.  The object distance of each 
focus lens, that   is, the distance between  the first cross-over of the
 beams near the   screen grid 29 and the  lens, is about 0.500 inch; and
 the image distance   from the lens to the  screen is about 12.5. 
inches.The above-described outward offset of the beam apertures to produce beam convergence is contrary to the teaching of FIG. 3 of the Moodey patent described above, and hence, is not suggested by the Moodey patent.
The focusing apertures 67 and 73 are made as large as possible, to minimize spherical aberration, and as close together as possible, to obtain a desirable small spacing between beam paths. As a result, the fringe portions of adjacent fields interact to produce some astigmatic distortion of the focusing fields, which produces some ellipticity of the normally-circular focused beam spots on the screen. In a three-beam in-line gun, this distortion is greater for the middle beam than for the two outer beams, because both sides of the middle beam field are affected. In order to compensate for this effect, and minimize the elliptical distortion of the beam spots, the wall 69, or at least the surface thereof facing the electrode 31, is curved substantially cylindrically, concave to electrode 31, in the direction normal or transverse to the plane of the three beams, as shown at 79 in FIG. 3. Preferably, this curvature is greater for the middle beam path than for the outer bea
The shield cup 35 comprises a base portion 81, attached to the open end of the flange 71 of electrode 33, and a tubular wall 83 surrounding the three beam paths 20. The base portion 81 is formed with a large middle beam aperture 85 (about 172 mils) and two smaller outer beam apertures 87 (about 100 mils) aligned, respectively, with the three initial beam paths 20a and 20b.
In order to compensate for the coma distortion wherein the sizes of the rasters scanned on the screen by the external magnetic deflection yoke are different for the middle and outer beams of the three-beam gun, due to the eccentricity of the outer beams in the yoke field, the electron gun is provided with two shield rings 89 of high magnetic permeability, e.g., an alloy of 52 percent nickel and 48 percent iron, known as 52 metal, are attached to the base 81, with each ring concentrically surrounding one of the outer apertures 87, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7. These magnetic shields 89 by-pass a small portion of the fringe deflection fields in the path of the outer beams, thereby making a slight reduction in the rasters scanned by the outer beams on the screen. The shield rings 89 may have an outer diameter of 150 mils, an inner diameter of 100 mils, and a thickness of 10 mils.
A further correction for this coma distortion is made by mounting two small discs 91 of magnetic material, e.g., that referred to above, on each side of the middle beam path 20a. These discs 91 enhance the magnetic flux on the middle beam transverse to the plane of the three beams and decrease the flux in that plane, in the manner described in the Barkow patent referred to above. The discs 91 may be rings having an outer diameter of 80 mils, an inner diameter of 30 mils, and a thickness of 10 mils.
Each of the electrodes 27, 29, 31 and 33 are mounted on the two glass rods 23 by edge portions embedded in the glass. The two rods 23 extend forwardly beyond the mounting portion of electrode 33, as shown in FIG. 3. In order to shield the exposed ends 93 of the glass rods 23 from the electron beams, the shield cup 35 is formed with inwardly-extending recess portions 95 into which the rod ends 93 extend. The electron gun 19 is mounted in the neck 5 at one end by the leads (not shown) from the various electrodes to the stem terminals 97, and at the other end by conventional metal bulb spacers (not shown) which also connect the final electrode 33 to the usual conducting coating on the inner wall of the funnel 7.
CRT TUBE VIDEOCOLOR A56-701X P.I.L. S4. Color picture tube having an improved expanded focus lens type inline
electron gun -
VIDEOCOLOR (RCA) P.I.L. S4 CRT TUBE FAMILY TECHNOLOGYAn improved color picture tube has an inline electron gun for generating and directing three electron beams, a center beam and two side beams, along coplanar paths toward a screen of the tube. The gun includes a main focus lens for focusing the electron beams. The main focus lens is formed by two spaced electrode members ea
1. In a color picture tube having an inline electron gun for generating and directing three electron beams, a center beam and two side beams, along coplanar paths toward a screen of said tube, said gun including a main focus lens for focusing said electron beams, the main focus lens being formed by two spaced electrode members each having three separate inline apertures therein, each electrode also including a peripheral rim, the peripheral rims of the two electrodes facing each other, and the apertured portion of each electrode being within a recess set back from the rim, the improvement comprising
the width of the recess at least at the rim in at least one of the electrodes being wider at the side beam paths than at the center beam path, measured perpendicular to the plane containing the electron beam paths.
2. In a color picture tube having an inline electron gun for generating and directing three electron beams, a center beam and two side beams, along coplanar paths toward a screen of said tube, said gun including a main focus lens for focusing said electron beams, the main focus lens being formed by two spaced electrode members each having three separate inline apertures therein, each electrode also including a peripheral rim, the peripheral rims of the two electrodes facing each other, and the apertured portion of each electrode being within a recess set back from the rim, the improvement comprising
the width of the rim in at least one of the electrodes being narrower at the side beam paths than at the center beam path, the rim width being the rim thickness measured perpendicular to the plane containing the electron beam paths.
The present invention relates to color picture tubes having improved inline electron guns, and particularly to such guns having an improved expanded focus lens for reduced spherical aberration.
An inline electron gun is one designed to generate or initiate preferably three electron beams in a common plane and direct those beams along convergent paths in that plane to a point or small area of convergence near the tube screen. In one type of inline electron gun shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,873,879, issued to R. H. Hughes on Mar. 25, 1975, the main electrostatic focusing lenses for focusing the electron beams are formed between two electrodes referred to as the first and second accelerating and focusing electrodes. These electrodes include two cup-shaped members having bottoms facing each other. Three apertures are included in each cup bottom to permit passage of three electron beams and to form three separate main focus lenses, one for each electron beam. In a preferred embodim
In addition to the focus lens diameter, the spacing between focus lens electrode surfaces is important, because greater spacing provides a more gentle voltage gradient in the lens which also reduces spherical aberration. Unfortunately, greater spacing between electrodes beyond a particular limit (typically 1.27 mm) generally is not permissible because of beam bending from electrostatic charges on the neck glass penetrating into the space between the electrodes, which causes electron beam misconvergence.
 In
 copending U.S. patent application Ser.  No.   201,692, filed Oct. 29, 
1980 by R. H. Hughes and B. G. Marks, now  Pat.   No. 4,370,592, an 
electron gun is described wherein the main focus   lens  is formed by 
two spaced electrodes. Each electrode includes a    plurality of 
apertures therein equal to the number of electron beams and    also a 
peripheral rim, with the peripheral rims of the two electrodes    facing
 each other. The apertured portion of each electrode is located    
within a recess set back from the rim. The effect of this main focus    
lens is to provide the gentle voltage gradient sought to reduce    
spherical aberration. Because of the asymmetrical shape of the    
peripheral rims of the two electrodes, described in patent application  
  Ser. No. 201,692, horizontal and vertical focus voltage components for
    the inner and outer guns are not the same. In the vertical 
direction,    the center electron beam sees more a slot, and experiences
 more  focusing   action, than the sides, where the focusing geometry is
  bounded in part   by a circular arc. This is because the field  
penetrates the slot in  the  vertical direction more easily than an  
inscribed circular boundary.   Likewise, the horizontal focusing  
component at the outer electron  beams  may be more active than at the  
center beam, because the field in  the  horizontal direction falls away 
 more rapidly at the side ends of  the  peripheral rims than within the 
 center of the recessed cavity.   Therefore, there is a need to modify  
the peripheral rim geometry to   unitize the focus voltages.
In
 copending U.S. patent application Ser.  No.   201,692, filed Oct. 29, 
1980 by R. H. Hughes and B. G. Marks, now  Pat.   No. 4,370,592, an 
electron gun is described wherein the main focus   lens  is formed by 
two spaced electrodes. Each electrode includes a    plurality of 
apertures therein equal to the number of electron beams and    also a 
peripheral rim, with the peripheral rims of the two electrodes    facing
 each other. The apertured portion of each electrode is located    
within a recess set back from the rim. The effect of this main focus    
lens is to provide the gentle voltage gradient sought to reduce    
spherical aberration. Because of the asymmetrical shape of the    
peripheral rims of the two electrodes, described in patent application  
  Ser. No. 201,692, horizontal and vertical focus voltage components for
    the inner and outer guns are not the same. In the vertical 
direction,    the center electron beam sees more a slot, and experiences
 more  focusing   action, than the sides, where the focusing geometry is
  bounded in part   by a circular arc. This is because the field  
penetrates the slot in  the  vertical direction more easily than an  
inscribed circular boundary.   Likewise, the horizontal focusing  
component at the outer electron  beams  may be more active than at the  
center beam, because the field in  the  horizontal direction falls away 
 more rapidly at the side ends of  the  peripheral rims than within the 
 center of the recessed cavity.   Therefore, there is a need to modify  
the peripheral rim geometry to   unitize the focus voltages. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An improved color picture tube has an inline electron gun for generating and directing three electron beams, a center beam and two side beams, along coplanar paths toward a screen of the tube. The gun includes a main focus lens for focusing the electron beams. The main focus lens is formed by two spaced electrode members each having three separate inline apertures therein. Each electrode also includes a peripheral rim. The peripheral rims of the two electrodes face each other. The apertured portion of each electrode is within a recess set back from the rim. The width of the recess in at least one of the electrodes is wider at the side beam paths than at the center beam path, measured perpendicular to the plane containing the electron beam paths.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view partly in axial section, of a shadow mask color picture tube embodying the invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial axial section view of the electron gun shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an axial sectional view of the G3 and G4 electrodes of the electron gun of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the G4 electrode taken at line 4--4 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the stigmators on the G4 electrode taken at line 5--5 of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 FIG.
    1 is a plan view of a rectangular color picture tube having a glass 
   envelope 10 comprising a rectangular faceplate panel or cap 12 and a 
   tubular neck 14 connected by a rectangular funnel 16. The panel    
comprises a viewing faceplate 18 and peripheral flange or sidewall 20   
 which is sealed to the funnel 16. A mosaic three-color phosphor screen 
   22 is carried by the inner surface of the faceplate 18. The screen is
    preferably a line screen with the phosphor lines extending  
substantially   perpendicular to the high frequency raster line scan of 
 the tube   (normal to the plane of FIG. 1). A multiapertured color  
selection   electrode or shadow mask 24 is removably mounted, by  
conventional means,   in predetermined spaced relation to the screen 22.
  An improved inline   electron gun 26, shown schematically by dotted  
lines in FIG. 1, is   centrally mounted within the neck 14 to generate  
and direct three   electron beams 28 along coplanar convergent paths  
through the mask 24 to   the screen 22.
FIG.
    1 is a plan view of a rectangular color picture tube having a glass 
   envelope 10 comprising a rectangular faceplate panel or cap 12 and a 
   tubular neck 14 connected by a rectangular funnel 16. The panel    
comprises a viewing faceplate 18 and peripheral flange or sidewall 20   
 which is sealed to the funnel 16. A mosaic three-color phosphor screen 
   22 is carried by the inner surface of the faceplate 18. The screen is
    preferably a line screen with the phosphor lines extending  
substantially   perpendicular to the high frequency raster line scan of 
 the tube   (normal to the plane of FIG. 1). A multiapertured color  
selection   electrode or shadow mask 24 is removably mounted, by  
conventional means,   in predetermined spaced relation to the screen 22.
  An improved inline   electron gun 26, shown schematically by dotted  
lines in FIG. 1, is   centrally mounted within the neck 14 to generate  
and direct three   electron beams 28 along coplanar convergent paths  
through the mask 24 to   the screen 22. The tube of FIG. 1 is designed to be used with an external magnetic deflection yoke, such as the yoke 30 in the neighborhood of their junction. When activated, the yoke 30 subjects the three beams 28 to magnetic fields which cause the beams to scan horizontally and vertically in a rectangular raster over the screen 22. The initial plane of deflection (at zero deflection) is shown by the line P-P in FIG. 1 at about the middle of the yoke 30. Because of fringe fields, the zone of deflection of the tube extends axially, from the yoke 30 into the region of the gun 26. For simplicity, the actual curvature of the deflection beam paths in the deflection zone is not shown in FIG. 1.
 The
    details of the gun 26 are shown in FIGS. 2 through 5. The gun   
comprises  two glass support rods 32 on which the various electrodes are
   mounted.  These electrodes include three equally spaced coplanar   
cathodes 34 (one  for each beam), a control grid electrode 36 (G1), a   
screen grid  electrode 38 (G2), a first accelerating and focusing   
electrode 40 (G3),  and a second accelerating and focusing electrode 42 
  (G4), spaced along  the glass rods 32 in the order named. Each of the 
 G1  through G4  electrodes has three inline apertures therein to permit
   passage of three  coplanar electron beams. The main electrostatic   
focusing lens in the  gun 26 is formed between the G3 electrode 40 and  
 the G4 electrode 42.  The G3 electrode 40 is formed with four 
cup-shaped   elements 44, 46, 48  and 50. The open ends of two of these 
elements,  44  and 46, are attached  to each other, and the open ends of
 the other  two  elements, 48 and 50,  are also attached to each other. 
The closed  end  of the third element 48  is attached to the closed end 
of the  second  element 46. Although the G3  electrode 40 is shown as a 
 four-piece  structure, it could be fabricated  from any number of  
elements,  including a single element of the same  length. The G4  
electrode 42 also  is cup-shaped, but has its open end  closed with an  
apertured plate 52.
The
    details of the gun 26 are shown in FIGS. 2 through 5. The gun   
comprises  two glass support rods 32 on which the various electrodes are
   mounted.  These electrodes include three equally spaced coplanar   
cathodes 34 (one  for each beam), a control grid electrode 36 (G1), a   
screen grid  electrode 38 (G2), a first accelerating and focusing   
electrode 40 (G3),  and a second accelerating and focusing electrode 42 
  (G4), spaced along  the glass rods 32 in the order named. Each of the 
 G1  through G4  electrodes has three inline apertures therein to permit
   passage of three  coplanar electron beams. The main electrostatic   
focusing lens in the  gun 26 is formed between the G3 electrode 40 and  
 the G4 electrode 42.  The G3 electrode 40 is formed with four 
cup-shaped   elements 44, 46, 48  and 50. The open ends of two of these 
elements,  44  and 46, are attached  to each other, and the open ends of
 the other  two  elements, 48 and 50,  are also attached to each other. 
The closed  end  of the third element 48  is attached to the closed end 
of the  second  element 46. Although the G3  electrode 40 is shown as a 
 four-piece  structure, it could be fabricated  from any number of  
elements,  including a single element of the same  length. The G4  
electrode 42 also  is cup-shaped, but has its open end  closed with an  
apertured plate 52.  The facing closed ends of the G3 electrode 40 and the G4 electrode 42 have large recesses 54 and 56, respectively, therein. The recesses 54 and 56 set back the portion of the closed end of the G3 electrode 40 that contains three apertures, 58, 60 and 62, from the portion of the closed end of the G4 electrode 42 that contains three apertures, 64, 66 and 68. The remaining portions of the closed ends of the G3 electrode 40 and the G4 electrode 42 form rims 70 and 72, respectively, that extend peripherally around the recesses 54 and 56. The rims 70 and 72 are the closest portions of the two electrodes 40 and 42. It has been found that the vertical focusing action on the center electron beam can be decreased by reducing the width of the rim 72 on the G4 electrode 42, the divergent side of the electrostatic lens formed in and between the recesses 54 and 56. As shown in FIG. 4, the recess 56 in the G4 electrode 42 is wider at the side beam path than at the center beam paths, the width being measured perpendicular to the plane containing the electron beam paths. It also has been found that the horizontal focusing action on the two outer beams can be decreased by decreasing the length of the recess 56 in the G4 electrode.
 The
  electron  gun 26 of FIG. 2 provides a main  focusing lens having  
substantially  reduced spherical aberration compared  to that of prior  
guns discussed  above. The reduction in spherical  aberration is caused 
 by an increase  in the size of the main focus lens.  This increase in  
lens size results  from recessing the electrode  apertures. In most 
prior  inline guns,  the strongest equipotential lines  of the 
electrostatic  field are  concentrated at each opposing pair of  
apertures. However, in  the gun  26 of FIG. 2, the strongest 
equipotential  lines extend  continuously  from between the rims 70 and 
72, so that the  predominant  portion of  the main focus lens appears to
 be a single large  lens  extending  through the three electron beam 
paths. The remaining  portion  of the  main focus lens is formed by 
weaker equipotential lines  located  at the  apertures in the 
electrodes. The performance and  advantages of  an  electron gun similar
 to the electron gun 26 are  discussed in   previously cited copending 
U.S. patent application Ser. No.  201,692.
The
  electron  gun 26 of FIG. 2 provides a main  focusing lens having  
substantially  reduced spherical aberration compared  to that of prior  
guns discussed  above. The reduction in spherical  aberration is caused 
 by an increase  in the size of the main focus lens.  This increase in  
lens size results  from recessing the electrode  apertures. In most 
prior  inline guns,  the strongest equipotential lines  of the 
electrostatic  field are  concentrated at each opposing pair of  
apertures. However, in  the gun  26 of FIG. 2, the strongest 
equipotential  lines extend  continuously  from between the rims 70 and 
72, so that the  predominant  portion of  the main focus lens appears to
 be a single large  lens  extending  through the three electron beam 
paths. The remaining  portion  of the  main focus lens is formed by 
weaker equipotential lines  located  at the  apertures in the 
electrodes. The performance and  advantages of  an  electron gun similar
 to the electron gun 26 are  discussed in   previously cited copending 
U.S. patent application Ser. No.  201,692. There is a slot effect astigmatism formed by the main focusing lens as a result of penetration of the vertical focusing field through the open areas of the recesses. This effect is caused by the greater compression of vertical equipotential lines than of horizontal equipotential lines. The field penetration causes the focus lens to have greater vertical lens strength than horizontal lens strength. A correction is made for this astigmatism in the electron gun 26 of FIG. 2 by the inclusion of a horizontal slot opening at the exit of the G4 electrode 42. One particular embodiment has the slot width one-half the lens diameter and is spaced from the opposite surface of the G4 electrode at 86 percent of the lens diameter. This slot is formed by two strips 96 and 98, shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, welded to the apertured plate 52 of the G4 electrode 42 so as to extend across the three apertures therein in the plate 52.
 To
    statically converge the two outer beams with the center beam, the   
 length "E" of the recess 56 in the G4 electrode 42 is slightly greater 
   than the length "F" of the recess 54 in the G3 electrode 40 (FIG. 3).
    The effect of the greater recess length in the G4 electrode 42 is 
the    same as that discussed with respect to the offset apertures in 
U.S.  Pat.   No. 3,772,554, issued to Hughes on November 13, 1973.
To
    statically converge the two outer beams with the center beam, the   
 length "E" of the recess 56 in the G4 electrode 42 is slightly greater 
   than the length "F" of the recess 54 in the G3 electrode 40 (FIG. 3).
    The effect of the greater recess length in the G4 electrode 42 is 
the    same as that discussed with respect to the offset apertures in 
U.S.  Pat.   No. 3,772,554, issued to Hughes on November 13, 1973. Some typical dimensions for an electron gun such as the electron gun 26 of FIG. 2, but without the slot formed by strips 96 and 98, are presented in the following table.
| TABLE | 
| ______________________________________ | 
| External diameter of tube neck 29.00 mm Internal diameter of tube neck 24.00 mm Spacing between G3 and G4 electrodes 40 and 42 1.27 mm Center-to-center spacing between adjacent apertures in G3 electrode 40 (A in FIG. 3) 6.6 mm Inner diameter of apertures 58, 60 and 62 in G3 electrode 40 (B in FIG. 3) 5.4 mm Width at center beam path of recess 56 in G4 electrode 42 (C in FIG. 4) 6.30 mm Width near outer beam paths of recess 56 in G4 electrode 42 (D in FIG. 4) 7.02 mm Length of recess 56 in G4 electrode 42 (E in FIG. 3) 20.7 mm Length of recess 54 in G3 electrode 40 (F in FIG. 3) 20.2 mm Depth of recess in the electrodes 40 and 42 (G in FIG. 3) 1.65 mm Width of G3 electrode 6.99 mm | 
| ______________________________________ | 
 











































No comments:
Post a Comment
The most important thing to remember about the Comment Rules is this:
The determination of whether any comment is in compliance is at the sole discretion of this blog’s owner.
Comments on this blog may be blocked or deleted at any time.
Fair people are getting fair reply. Spam and useless crap and filthy comments / scrapers / observations goes all directly to My Private HELL without even appearing in public !!!
The fact that a comment is permitted in no way constitutes an endorsement of any view expressed, fact alleged, or link provided in that comment by the administrator of this site.
This means that there may be a delay between the submission and the eventual appearance of your comment.
Requiring blog comments to obey well-defined rules does not infringe on the free speech of commenters.
Resisting the tide of post-modernity may be difficult, but I will attempt it anyway.
Your choice.........Live or DIE.
That indeed is where your liberty lies.
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.