Abstract: An improved color picture tube includes a shadow mask and a dot screen, wherein the mask has two long sides and two short sides. The long sides of the mask parallel a central major axis of the mask, and the short sides parallel a central minor axis of the mask. The mask includes an array of apertures. The improvement comprises each of the shadow mask apertures being substantially rectangular with four sides. Two of the aperture sides approximately parallel the major axis and establish aperture height. The other two aperture sides approximately parallel the minor axis and establish aperture width The widths and heights of the apertures increase at a first rate and a second rate, respectively, from the center to the sides of the mask, along the major axis; and the widths and heights of the apertures increase at a third rate and a fourth rate, respectively, from the center to the top and bottom of the mask, along the minor axis.

Abstract: An improved color picture tube includes an evacuated glass envelope having a rectangular faceplate panel. The panel includes a shadow mask assembly mounted therein. The shadow mask assembly includes a shadow mask formed from a first metal having first coefficient of thermal expansion and a frame formed from a second metal having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The first coefficient of thermal expansion is substantially lower than the second coefficient of thermal expansion. The improvement comprises the shadow mask being interconnected with the frame by a plurality of bimetallic elements, each of the elements having a first end attached to the frame and a second end attached to the mask. Each bimetallic element is formed of materials that cause a bending of the element an amount related to the thermal expansion of the frame.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a color cathode-ray tube 10 having an evacuated envelope 11 with an electron gun 26 therein for generating at least one electron beam 28. The envelope 11 further includes a faceplate panel 12 having a luminescent screen 22 with phosphor lines on an interior surface thereof. A uniaxial tension focus mask 25, having a plurality of spaced-apart first metal strands 40, is located adjacent to an effective picture area of the screen. The spacing between the first metal strands 40 defines a plurality of slots 42 substantially parallel to the phosphor lines of the screen. Each of the first metal strands 40, across an effective picture area of the screen, has a substantially continuous first insulator layer 64 on a screen-facing side thereof. A second insulator layer 66 overlies the first insulator layer 64. A plurality of second metal strands 60 are oriented substantially perpendicular to the first metal strands 40 and are bonded thereto by the second insulator layer 66.

Abstract: A color cathode-ray tube 10 has an evacuated envelope 11 with an electron gun 26 therein for generating at least one electron beam 28. The envelope further includes a faceplate panel 12 having a luminescent screen 22 with phosphor lines on an interior surface thereof. A uniaxial tension focus mask 25, having a plurality of spaced-apart first metal strands 40, is located adjacent to an effective picture area of the screen 22. The spacing between the first metal strands 40 defines a plurality of slots 42 substantially parallel to the phosphor lines of the screen. A plurality of second metal strands 60 are oriented substantially perpendicular to the first metal strands 40 and are insulated therefrom across the effective picture area by insulators 62. The second metal strands 60 are attached by a glass conductor layer 68 to respective right and left first metal end strands 140 outside the effective picture area to form busbars.

Abstract: A color picture tube has a tensioned mask and a support frame, each of which is rectangular and has two long sides paralleling a central major axis and two short sides paralleling a central minor axis. The mask is cylindrically contoured, being curved along the major axis and straight along the minor axis. The support frame includes two first members paralleling the major axis and two second members attached to the ends of the first members and paralleling the minor axis. Each of the first members comprises a first part having two flanges, a first flange extending toward the screen and a second flange perpendicular to the first flange, in an L-shaped cross-section. The first flange varies in height along the first part, from a minimum height at the ends thereof to a maximum height at the center thereof. Each of the first members also comprises a second part which extends between the two flanges of the first part and forms a triangle therewith in cross-section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining the quality of an aluminized, luminescent screen 22 for a CRT 10. The luminescent screen 22 is disposed on an interior surface of a faceplate panel 12 with an aluminum layer 23 overlying the screen. The method includes the steps of: exposing the aluminum layer to ultraviolet radiation; and measuring the luminescence emitted by the screen through the aluminum layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an insulator 62 on one major surface of a uniaxial tension focus mask 25 includes the steps of: positioning a mask sheet 27, having a multiplicity of openings 42 that extend from a first major surface of the mask sheet through a main body portion thereof to an oppositely disposed second major surface, at a distance from a charging gun 72, 172 having a source 74, 174 of a dry-powdered insulative material; charging and directing the dry-powdered insulative material toward the first major surface of the mask to provide a coating of the charged, dry-powdered insulative material thereon, and providing means 70, 272 for preventing the charged, dry-powdered insulative material from extending into the openings 42 and being deposited onto the main body portion of the mask surrounding the openings and the second major surface.

Abstract: A color cathode-ray tube 10 has an evacuated envelope 11 with an electron gun 26 therein for generating at least one electron beam 28. The envelope further includes a faceplate panel 12 having a luminescent screen 22 with phosphor lines on an interior surface thereof. A uniaxial tension focus mask 25, having a plurality of spaced-apart first metal strands 40, is located adjacent to an effective picture area of the screen 22. The spacing between the first metal strands 40 defines a plurality of slots 42 substantially parallel to the phosphor lines of the screen. Each of the first metal strands 40, across the effective picture area of the screen, has a substantially continuous first insulator layer 64 on a screen-facing side thereof. A second insulator layer 66 overlies the first insulator layer 64. A plurality of second metal strands 60 are oriented substantially perpendicular to the first metal strands 40 and are bonded thereto by the second insulator layer 66.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the thickness of an OPC layer 24 that is strongly absorptive to light at a first wavelength and substantially transmissive to light at a second wavelength. According to the method, the OPC layer is illuminated with light from an array 34 of fluorescent lamps 36 and the light transmitted through the layer is incident on a first filter 42 that is transmissive to light of the first wavelength. A first light intensity pattern transmitted through the first filter is sensed and stored in a first memory frame. Then OPC layer is illuminated again with light and the light transmitted through the layer is incident on a second filter 44 transmissive to light of the second wavelength. A second light intensity pattern transmitted through the second filter is sensed and stored in a second memory frame. The ratio of the first light intensity pattern and the second light intensity pattern is determined and utilized to calculate the thickness of the layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a tensioned focus mask. Such a mask includes a set of parallel strands and a set of parallel wires that are perpendicular to the strands and separated from the strands by insulator means. The method includes attaching the strands to a mask frame and then coating the strands with a first insulator. The first insulator is then cured, and a second insulator is applied to the first insulator. Next, wires are wound over and in contact with the second insulator, by rotating the mask frame and by drawing a continuous wire from a source through a tensioner, while guiding the continuous wire into desired positions overlying the strands. Finally, the second insulator is heated until the wires attach to the second insulator.

Abstract: The invention relates to an implosion protection band 26, 126 for a CRT having a plurality of brackets 40, 70, 140 that are disposed between the band and a sidewall 3 of the CRT 1 and detachably attached to the implosion protection band to support either a degaussing coil 9 or to facilitate mounting the CRT within a receiver.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (70) and method for removing particles from an interior of a CRT envelope (12). The CRT envelope includes a faceplate panel (14), with a color selection electrode assembly (30) detachably mounted therein, sealed to a funnel (18). The apparatus comprises a plurality of thumper mechanisms (84, 184 and 284) for imparting asynchronous vibrations to the funnel of the envelope while the interior of the funnel is flushed with a suitable fluid. The embodiment further includes a plurality of vibrators (51) for imparting asynchronous vibrations to the color selection electrode assembly to remove particles therefrom, before the color selection electrode assembly is mounted into the panel and sealed to the funnel. A method for removing particles using the apparatus also is described.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improvement in a color picture tube having a tensioned mask and support frame assembly. Each of the mask and the support frame is rectangular and has two long sides that parallel a central major axis thereof and two short sides that parallel a central minor axis thereof. The mask has a substantially cylindrical contour, being curved along the major axis and straight along the minor axis. The improvement comprises the frame including two first members that parallel the major axis and two second members, attached to the ends of the first members, that parallel the minor axis. Each of the first members includes a rigid section and a compliant section cantilevered from the rigid section. The mask is attached to the distal ends of the cantilevered compliant sections.

Abstract: A color picture tube has a rectangular shadow mask mounted therein in spaced relation to a viewing screen. A major axis passes through the center of the mask and parallels the long sides thereof and a minor axis passes through the center of the mask and parallels the short sides thereof. The mask has an aperture array that includes slit-shaped apertures aligned in columns that essentially parallel the minor axis and end at a border of the aperture array. Adjacent apertures in each column are separated by tie bars in the mask that are longitudinally offset from column to adjacent column. The spacing from tie bar to tie bar in a column is the tie bar pitch at a location on the mask. A first set of the aperture columns, comprising every other column, has full length ultimate apertures at least at one end thereof, and a second set of the aperture columns, comprising every other column not in the first set, has partial length ultimate apertures at least at one end thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improvement in a color picture tube. The tube includes an envelope comprising a faceplate panel, a funnel and a neck. The faceplate panel includes a transparent rectangular faceplate having a cathodoluminescent screen on an interior surface thereof, and a peripheral sidewall. The improvement comprises the faceplate panel having either an interior or exterior blend radius from the faceplate to the sidewall that varies around the periphery of the panel in such a manner that the stresses in predetermined areas of the panel are reduced.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a method of electro-photographically manufacturing a luminescent screen assembly on an interior surface of a faceplate panel 12 for a color CRT 10 includes the steps of coating the interior surface of the faceplate panel with a volatilizable, organic conductive solution to form an organic conductive (OC) layer 32, and overcoating the OC layer with a volatilizable, organic photoconductive solution to form an organic photoconductive (OPC) layer 34. The step of overcoating the OC layer to form the OPC layer is improved by the substeps of: grounding the OC layer; providing an organic photoconductive (OPC) solution comprising a resin, an electron donor material and electron acceptor material, and a suitable solvent; and spraying electrostatically-charged droplets of the OPC solution onto the OC layer, with at least one electrostatic spray gun 47, to provide an OPC layer, having uniform thickness, overlying the OC layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a color CRT 10 having an evacuated envelope 11 includes a funnel 15 sealed at one end to a faceplate panel 12. A luminescent screen 22 is provided on an interior surface of the panel. A color selection electrode assembly 27 is disposed within the envelope in proximity to the screen. An internal magnetic shield 30, having an exterior surface 32, is secured to the color selection electrode assembly and is spaced from and extends along at least a portion of the funnel. A getter spring assembly 33 is disposed within the envelope to deposit a film of getter spring material onto the exterior surface 32 of the magnetic shield 30. The getter assembly 33 is improved by being detachably attached to the color selection electrode assembly 27 and prevented from rotating by an orientation plate 60 having a projection 70 with a flat contact surface that bears against the color selection electrode assembly.

Abstract: An improved color picture tube includes a shadow mask and a dot screen, wherein the mask is rectangular and has two horizontal long sides and two vertical short sides. The long sides parallel a central major axis of the mask and the short sides parallel a central minor axis of the mask. The mask includes an array of apertures arranged in vertical columns and horizontal rows. Apertures in one row are in different columns than are the apertures in adjacent rows. The vertical spacing between apertures in the same column is the vertical pitch of the apertures and the horizontal spacing between apertures in the same row is the horizontal pitch of the apertures. The improvement includes the horizontal pitch of the apertures increasing from the minor axis to the short sides of the mask and decreasing from the major axis to the long sides of the mask.

Abstract: An improved color picture tube, operable in a multistandard television receiver, includes a viewing screen, a shadow mask and an electron gun for generating and projecting three electron beams through the shadow mask and onto the screen. The screen includes phosphor lines that extend in a first direction. The electron beams are subject to deflection in the first direction and in a second direction, that is substantially perpendicular to both the first direction and the phosphor lines. The shadow mask includes elongated slit-shaped apertures that are aligned in columns that substantially parallel the phosphor lines. The adjacent apertures in each column are separated from each other by tie-bars in the mask, and the tie-bars in one column are offset from the tie-bars in adjacent columns in the first direction. The improvement includes the tie-bars in alternate columns lying on substantially straight lines that form an angle of approximately 2 degrees with respect to the second direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a CRT 10 having an evacuated envelope comprising a funnel 11 sealed at one end to a faceplate panel 12 with a luminescent screen 14 on an interior surface thereof. A color selection electrode 16, mounted on a frame 19, is disposed within the envelope in proximity to the screen. An internal magnetic shield 22, is secured to the frame of the color selection electrode, and is spaced from and extends along at least a portion of the funnel. The magnetic shield has a plurality of openings 32 therethrough. An evaporable getter 28 is disposed within the envelope adjacent to the exterior surface 26 of the magnetic shield 22. The magnetic shield is improved by having tabs or louvers 36, 38, 136, 138, associated with the openings, for restricting the deposition of a film of getter material 30 to the exterior surface 26 of the shield 22.