Patents Represented by Attorney Vincent J. Coughlin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5902708
    Abstract: A method of electrophotographically manufacturing a luminescent line screen 22 within a viewing area of a faceplate panel 12 includes providing a matrix 23 having a border 123 extending beyond the viewing area. A photoreceptor 36 overlies the matrix. The photoreceptor is electrostatically charged and a color selection electrode 25, having a multiplicity of openings therethrough, is mounted therein. The panel 12 is positioned on an exposure device having a multi-position visible light source. A least one series of light exposures utilizes both first and second order illumination to form selectively discharge the photoreceptor 36 in the viewing area and on the border 123 of the matrix. Then, triboelectrically charged, color-emitting phosphor is deposited onto the illuminated areas of the photoreceptor to form phosphor lines in the viewing area and phosphor traps over the matrix border.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Istvan Gorog, James Regis Matey, Robert Edward Simms
  • Patent number: 5807435
    Abstract: A spray module 40 for manufacturing a cathode-ray tube (CRT) 10 comprises an enclosure 42 having sidewalls 44, a base 46 attached to the sidewalls 44, for closing one end thereof, and a panel support 48 having an opening, 50 therethrough. The panel support 48 is attached to an opposite end of the sidewalls 44. The spray module 40 has at least one electrostatic spray gun 36 therein for spraying charged screen structure material through the opening 50 in the panel support 48 and onto an interior surface of a faceplate panel 12 of the CRT 10. The spray module 40 includes a primary shield assembly 55 disposed within the enclosure 42 and extending through the opening 50 in the panel support 48. A secondary shield assembly 56 also is disposed within the enclosure 42 The primary and secondary shield assemblies 55 and 56, respectively, direct the charged screen structure material toward the interior surface of the panel 12, thereby increasing the transfer efficiency of the spray gun 36.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Samuel Poliniak, Peter Michael Ritt, Brian Thomas Collins, Richard LaPeruta, Jr., Harry Robert Stork
  • Patent number: 5800234
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a metallized luminescent screen for a CRT. At least one phosphor layer is deposited (10) on an inner surface of a faceplate panel to form the luminescent screen. The panel containing the screen is then preheated (12) to a temperature equal to, or in excess of, a minimum film-forming temperature and prewetted (14) by applying water to the screen. An aqueous filming emulsion containing a copolymer of acrylates and methacrylates with an average molecular weight of from 250,000 to 500,000 is applied (16) to the prewetted screen and dried (18) to form a film layer. Next, a layer of aluminum is deposited (20) onto the film layer, and the panel, bearing the metallized screen, is sealed to a funnel by heating the panel and the funnel through a sealing cycle. The sealing cycle(22) has a first rate of temperature increase to a first temperature and a second rate of temperature increase, less than the first rate, to a second temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Videocolor S.p.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Spina, Patrizia Cinquina, Guido Manciocco, Aaron William Levine
  • Patent number: 5790913
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a method for manufacturing a color CRT (10) having a faceplate panel (12) is disclosed. The method includes the steps of forming a photoreceptor (36) on an interior surface of a viewing faceplate (17); establishing a substantially uniform electrostatic charge on the photoreceptor (36); and exposing selected areas of the photoreceptor (36) to visible light to form a latent charge image. The process further includes the steps of developing the latent charge image on the photoreceptor (36) by depositing (212, 213, 214) thereon charged phosphor particles; monitoring the width (218) of the deposition of the charged phosphor particles; and terminating the deposition (226, 227, 228) of the charged phosphor particles when predetermined process parameters (222, 224) are satisfied. A phosphor deposition monitor (PDM) apparatus (90) for monitoring the deposition of the charged phosphor particles on the latent charge image, formed on the photoreceptor (36), also is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Owen Hugh Roberts, Jr., Peter Michael Ritt, Peter David Southgate, Robert Anthony Duschl
  • Patent number: 5750187
    Abstract: A process of manufacturing a cathode-ray tube (21) having a faceplate panel (27) with an exterior surface (39) having thereon an anti-glare, anti-static, dark coating (37) is described. The process is characterized by the steps of (a) forming a substantially homogeneous initial carbon dispersion containing substantially equal parts, by weight, of carbon particles and an organic vehicle; and (b) combining a sufficient quantity of the homogeneous initial carbon dispersion with an aqueous solution of lithium polysilicate to form a final dispersion suitable for application to the faceplate of the CRT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Videocolor, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Magnone, Guido Manciocco, Patrizia Cinquina
  • Patent number: 5750054
    Abstract: According to the present invention, an anti-glare, anti-static coating (37) applied to a reflective-transmissive surface (39) comprises a thiophene-based, electroconductive polymer and a siliceous material. A composition for reducing glare and for providing an anti-static property when applied to the reflective-transmissive surface (39) also is disclosed, as is a method of applying the coating (37) to an exterior surface (39) of a faceplate panel (27) of a CRT (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Videocolor, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Patrizia Cinquina, Giuseppe Magnone, Guido Manciocco
  • Patent number: 5751103
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improvement in a color picture tube 10 of a type that has a glass envelope 11 with a substantially rectangular faceplate panel 12, a funnel 16 and a neck 14. The glass envelope 11 has three orthogonal axes, a major axis, X--X, substantially parallel to a wider dimension of the faceplate panel 12, a minor axis, Y--Y, substantially parallel to a narrower dimension of the faceplate panel 12, and a longitudinal axis, Z--Z, extending through the center of the neck 14 and the center of the faceplate panel 12. The funnel 16 has a main body portion 30 and a yoke region 32 which is sealed to the neck 14. The weight of the funnel 16 is reduced by reducing the thickness of a sidewall 31 within the main body portion 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Thomas Opresko, Richard Wayne Hutzler
  • Patent number: 5744270
    Abstract: The novel method for producing a coded marking on a CRT faceplate panel having an exterior and an interior surface with a viewing area surrounded by a periphery and having a luminescent screen with a plurality of different light-emitting phosphors separated by light-absorbing material includes the steps of: depositing a suitable photoresist on the interior surface of the panel to form a layer that extends across the viewing area and onto the periphery; illuminating areas of the photoresist on both the viewing area and the periphery with actinic radiation to selectively change the solubility of the photoresist; developing the photoresist to remove the more soluble areas, thereby exposing underlying portions of the interior surface of the panel while leaving retained areas of less soluble photoresist. The retained areas of the photoresist and the exposed portions of the interior surface of the panel are then overcoated with a light-absorbing material which is dried to form a coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Pearlman, Robert Anthony Duschl, Anthony Stanley Baran, Glenn William Brunner, George Simon Gadbois, Frank Thomas DiAugustine
  • Patent number: 5730887
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a display apparatus 8 comprises a color CRT 10 having an evacuated envelope 11 with a faceplate panel 12 sealed to one end of a funnel 15 that is closed at the other end by a neck 14. The faceplate panel has a luminescent screen 22 on an interior surface thereof. A shadow mask 25 is located in proximity to the screen. The shadow mask comprises a metal sheet having a central portion and an exterior portion with a plurality of apertures 40, 43 therethrough. An electron gun 26 is disposed within the neck for generating and directing electron beams 28 toward the screen. A deflection yoke 30 is disposed around the envelope at the junction of the neck and the funnel. The yoke deflects the beams to scan a raster across the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore Frederick Simpson, Istvan Gorog, Bruce George Marks, Charles Michael Wetzel, Craig Clay Eshleman
  • Patent number: 5723071
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bake-hardenable solution that is electrically conductive, when hardened. The resultant conductive panel coating 38 is utilized for electrically interconnecting a metal stud 27 embedded in a sidewall 20 of a faceplate panel 12 of a CRT 10 to a conductive layer 24 overlying a luminescent screen 22 on an interior viewing surface of said faceplate panel 12. The solution consists essentially of the following ingredients: glass frit powder; graphite; organic binder; solvent; and a material to enhance the porosity of the resultant conductive panel coating 38.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Walter Bartch, James Francis Edwards
  • Patent number: 5718874
    Abstract: Ferric chloride is separated from nickel chloride in a spent etchant solution 10 using a solvent extractant system 12. An extractant solution 14 is mixed with an HCl solution 16 to form an aqueous layer 18 and an organic extractant 20. The organic extractant 20 is introduced into an extraction section 22 of the system 12 and mixed with a recycled, stripped organic solvent 32 and a first raffinate 34 to form a first mixture 36 which is separated into a first organic layer 38 and a Ni-containing aqueous layer 40. A feed solution 44 consisting of the spent etchant solution 10 and concentrated HCl is combined with the first organic layer 38 to form a second mixture 46 which is separated into the first raffinate 34 and an organic solution 47 having a high concentration of iron. The solution 47 is introduced into a stripping section 48 of the system 12 and mixed with a raffinate 58 to form a third mixture 60 which is separated into a partially stripped organic layer 62 and an aqueous ferric chloride solution 64.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: John Joseph Moscony, Barry Michael Cushman
  • Patent number: 5707682
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a phosphor screen (22) on an interior surface (23) of a faceplate panel (12) is characterized by the steps of: forming a light-absorbing matrix (24) on an interior surface (23) of the faceplate panel (12); applying an aqueous surfactant solution thereto to solubilize oily contaminants and emulsify undissolved oily contaminants of the matrix (24); and serially applying three light-emitting phosphors (G, B, R) to the interior surface (23) of the faceplate panel (12) to form the phosphor screen (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Videocolor S.p.A.
    Inventors: Himanshu M. Patel, Antimo Pezzulo
  • Patent number: 5647653
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: RCA Thomson Licensing Corp.
    Inventor: Satyam Choudary Cherukuri
  • Patent number: 5640019
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: George Milton Ehemann, Jr., Richard LaPeruta, Jr., Edward Richard Garrity, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5629051
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson Multimedia, S. A.
    Inventor: Eugene S. Poliniak
  • Patent number: 5625251
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Nosker, Joey J. Michalchuk, Dennis L. Matthies
  • Patent number: 5619330
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: George M. Ehemann, Jr., Edward R. Garrity, Jr., Robert A. Duschl, Istvan Gorog
  • Patent number: 5606377
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Harry R. Swank
  • Patent number: 5595520
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Piascinski, Eric E. Fritz, Morton J. Nierenberg, Leonard P. Wilbur, Jr., Leroy W. Horn
  • Patent number: 5554468
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Pabitra Datta, Eugene S. Poliniak, Brian T. Collins, Harry R. Stork, Peter M. Ritt, Edward R. Garrity, Jr., Richard LaPeruta, Jr., George M. Ehemann, Jr.