Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Roland W. Norris
  • Patent number: 5407370
    Abstract: In a projection television display having three CRTs, the anode voltage wiring is simplified and made more economical by providing one CRT with a first anode button having voltage takeoffs for the other two CRT anode caps. The wire connections in the first anode cap allow for quick, tool free connection and disconnection of the wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Arthur J. Lostumo
  • Patent number: 5394051
    Abstract: A tension shadow mask CRT front assembly includes a flat strip shadow mask having a first wire and a second wire in contact with the strips of the mask on opposite sides of the mask for damping strip vibration. The two wires may be spaced apart on opposite sides of the mask, or lie directly opposite. If the wires are directly opposite, they may be formed from a single wire welded into a loop. The wires are held in tension by a spring attached to, and extending from, the inner surface of the faceplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Martin L. Lerner
  • Patent number: 5377120
    Abstract: An apparatus ideally suited for the small mailing service is disclosed. The apparatus can take pro-printed, un-addressed mail pieces of non-identical size delivered to the mailing service from different merchants and combine the mail pieces to create mailing bundles at the lowest postal rate and group the bundles to create a single mailing. In the apparatus a computer serves to take the merchant mailing lists, merge and sort the entries thereon into lowest postal rate groupings, and use this merged data base to enable a sequence controller and associated machinery to physically commingle and address the non-identical mail pieces into the single mailing bundle. Provision is also made for generating required postal service documentation and invoices from the mailing service to the merchants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Inventors: Carl L. Humes, Lawrence W. Dougherty
  • Patent number: 5363011
    Abstract: A striped-screen tension mask color CRT has a flat glass face with stripes of trios of colored-light-emitting phosphors deposited on its inner surface. An associated strip-type shadow mask has a predetermined downward curvature from center to sides effective to alleviate degrouping of electron beams when the tube is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: James R. Fendley
  • Patent number: 5355051
    Abstract: A CRT bulb is constructed from a front panel having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the funnel section to which it is rigidly attached, thereby favorably stressing the bulb in the funnel-to-panel seal area resulting in a bulb with adequate evacuated strength while utilizing a thinner front panel than otherwise possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Mark T. Fondrk
  • Patent number: 5343803
    Abstract: Direct contact printing methods and apparatuses are disclosed for applying screen elements to cathode ray tube (CRT) faceplates. A black-surround, or grille, is first applied to the faceplate, followed by deposition of light-emissive phosphors thereon. Means for repeatable positioning of the screen elements on the faceplate, means for registration of the screen elements with each other, and means for maintaining screen element shape and size are also disclosed. Effective pivot axes for the collector are arranged to lie in the plane of the printing substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Duchek, Paul Strauss
  • Patent number: 5338629
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for manufacturing photostencils used in screening the faceplates of color cathode ray tubes. The photostencils are produced as progeny from a parent stencil photo plotted according to the dictates of a proximity photoprinting process in conjunction with the electron optical characteristics of the operational CRT. A rectangular beam is used for radiating light through the pattern of features on the parent stencil onto the photoresist of the progeny stencil. As a result, the features of the progeny stencil differ in size or shape or both, from those of the parent stencil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Hibbard, Thomas M. Remec
  • Patent number: 5336575
    Abstract: A method of producing luminescent display screens for CRTs using meniscus coating to apply photosensitive slurries to the faceplate, thereby eliminating material waste, reducing particle contamination and improving coating uniformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hua-Sou Tong
  • Patent number: 5336964
    Abstract: A faceplate assembly for a color CRT includes a glass panel with a phosphor screen thereon and a plated mask support structure attached to the faceplate, with a foil shadow mask welded in tension to the mask support structure. The mask support structure comprises an inert substrate to which is electroformed a weld land suitable for accepting welds and retaining the mask thereby. A minimal amount of metal is used and the shape and size of the mask support are readily controllable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond G. Capek, Siegfried M. Greiner, Hua S. Tong
  • Patent number: 5296932
    Abstract: A television signal receiving apparatus with a channel tuner, such as a television, VCR, or cable box has circuitry for extracting nonprogram type information such as may be carried in the vertical blanking interval of a broadcast signal. In order to ensure a reliable signal source for the nonprogram type information the apparatus has a controller for setting the channel tuner to the proper channel and selecting the proper signal source to receive the nonprogram type information when the apparatus is not used for receiving regular programming signals selected by the viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Michael E. Long
  • Patent number: 5295887
    Abstract: A K-G1 spacing apparatus provides for spacing the dispenser cathode of a CRT electron gun a desired distance from an adjacent apertured grid electrode known as "G1." A probe has an outer shaft with a shoulder for registering with the G1 electrode. The probe includes an inner shaft having a tip on one end for contacting the face of the cathode, and at the opposite end, a linear velocity differential transformer (LVDT). When the cathode contacts the tip of the probe, the LVDT produces an electrical signal which is indicated on a calibrated column, and which denotes the location of the cathode face relative to the G1 electrode. When the desired K-G1 spacing has been attained, the cathode is fixed in permanent relationship with the G1 electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Chester L. Zdanowski
  • Patent number: 5274307
    Abstract: A single IC chip, eight channel, correction waveform generator for CRT displays is disclosed. Each channel may output a different waveform to correct a different form of raster distortion. A correction waveform is developed for each type of display distortion. For each correction waveform eight correction waveform segments spaced over the vertical scan cycle are then selected and nine values on each waveform segment are digitally stored in the chip for each channel. The chip generates a corrective waveform segment per channel for each horizontal scan line in the display by serially horizontally interpolating values for the intervals between the selected nine values. This horizontal interpolation uses weighted sum equations applied to the closest four known waveform segment values around the interval to produce interpolated values lying on curves between the selected values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Steven B. Christensen
  • Patent number: 5258688
    Abstract: A CRT funnel, especially useful for CRTs having flat face panels, has concave diagonal walls sections to reduce discontinuity stresses between the face panel and funnel in the evacuated CRT envelope, thereby increasing the CRT pressure strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Mark T. Fondrk
  • Patent number: 5248920
    Abstract: In a color CRT with an in-line gun and a pin cushion correcting yoke, there is disclosed an eyebrow effect electronoptical distortion correction device comprising two pair of coils, each pair having a coil on each outer electron beam side of the neck in the plane of the beams. The coil pairs are spaced apart along the Z-axis between the gun and the yoke and are driven by a sawtooth current having a bow-tie envelope synchronous with the raster scan to correct the dynamic, antisymmetrical eyebrow effect apparent as a purity defect on the raster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Norman F. Gioia, Richard M. Gorski, Lionel A. Watson, Robert Adler, Wayne R. Chiodi
  • Patent number: 5240447
    Abstract: Accelerated thermal upshock rates in the exhaust cycle of a CRT envelope are attained for a tension mask CRT having a shadow mask supporting rail frame affixed to the front panel. The actual corners of the rail frame are chamfered or left open to provide an increased separation distance from the corners of the funnel seal land. Panel fracturing stresses generated in the funnel seal area corners during upshock are thus alleviated allowing for faster CRT throughput during manufacture, without increasing the size of the CRT components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond G. Capek, Mark T. Fondrk, Siegfried M. Greiner
  • Patent number: 5231799
    Abstract: A localized grinder is traversed in series over flat tension mask support rails affixed to a CRT front panel to produce a constant "Q"-height on the mask support surface above the rails. A local measuring device is used to develop point-specific rail height information relative to the screen edges for operation of the grinder in order to ascertain an effective "Q"-height measurement from the panel surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Rowe, Paul Strauss
  • Patent number: 5188553
    Abstract: A CRT bulb that has been preloaded to counter the atmospheric load placed on the seal area of an evacuated and sealed CRT is disclosed along with methods of constructing the bulb. The front panel is simply supported on the funnel and deflected inwardly during affixation of the panel to the funnel to form the bulb. When the deflection load is removed from the affixed panel, the resultant strain energy imparted to the bulb seal area offsets at least some of the atmosphericly induced strain on the sealed CRT. The bulb has a more evenly balanced stress distribution between the front panel and the funnel seal area than previous flat panel CRTs, enabling the use of thinner front panels and seal land.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence W. Dougherty
  • Patent number: 5170101
    Abstract: A three beam, in-line, color CRT electron gun is disclosed for use in high resolution tubes with self convergent yokes. The dynamic quadrupole and main lenses of the gun are complementary to provide emitted beams that are radially symmetrical and of like size and shape, and of constant horizontal dimension and focal length throughout the deflection cycle, thus letting the yoke provide for the correct beam focus upon deflection. Vertical emitted-beam dimension is balanced against the yoke compressive force and the increased deflected beam throw distance to provide well-controlled spot sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Richard M. Gorski, Eugene A. Babicz
  • Patent number: D356312
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Richard K. Althans
  • Patent number: D356794
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Richard K. Althans