Abstract: A novel electron gun for use in television cathode ray tubes of the direct view or projection type is disclosed. The cathode ray tube has associated therewith a power supply for developing a predetermined pattern of operating voltages including first and second adjustable voltages. The electron gun has apertured electrodes aligned on an axis for receiving the operating voltages to produce a focused beam of electrons. The electron gun comprises lower end means for generating an electron beam having a crossover. The beam expands in the aperture of a prefocusing electrode following the crossover and the outer rays of the expanding beam define a half-angle with respect to the axis. The tube also comprises main focus lens means adjacent to the prefocusing electrode for receiving the expanding beam and focusing the beam to form a beam spot of minimum size at a predetermined distance from the gun.

Abstract: An improvement in an anode contact spring for use in a color cathode ray tube is disclosed. The improvement comprises positive locking means for locking an attachment end of the contact spring to a supportive member for suspending the shadow mask adjacent to the panel. The positive locking means comprises bolt means extending from the supportive member and which is located in a preselected lateral position on the member. Clasping means on the attachment end provide for clasping the supportive member. One leg of the clasping means is a hasp for engaging the bolt. An anti-twistoff fold is provided in the contact spring adjacent to the attachment end. Upon engagement by manual pressure of the clasping means with a supportive member, the clasping means expands to provide engagement of the hasp with the bolt, then contracts to provide push-click positive locking of the contact spring to the supportive member.

Abstract: Apparatus and method is disclosed for spot-knocking a cathode ray picture tube by beneficial arcing between selected electrodes of an electron gun sealed in the evacuated envelope of the tube. The invention is particularly useful in spot-knocking certain cathode ray picture tubes having a resistive arc-suppression means and static elimination system. The picture tube has an inherent capacitance that can store energy in an amount capable of inducing destructive arcing during spot-knocking. In one embodiment of the invention, a bipolar potential is applied across the electrodes to be spot-knocked, resulting in the amount of energy in the induced arcing, for a given applied potential, being very much less than would be the case if a unipolar potential were applied. Other embodiments include resistive means and spark gap means for discharging the voltage between lead-in pins before a destructive arc can occur therebetween.

Abstract: A color cathode ray tube is depicted which has a faceplate and a shadow mask mounted in precise relationship to the faceplate by a plurality of suspension devices spaced on the periphery of the faceplate. The suspension devices provide for rigidly and stably suspending the mask. Each suspension device comprises a stud extending from the faceplate and a leaf spring formed to support and space the mask in proper relationship to the faceplate with the spring having a first end formed for detachable engagement to the stud. A bracket or frame attached to the mask has a seat for receiving in permanent attachment the second end of the spring. The suspension device is characterized by the spring and bracket or frame having configurations at their interface which are such that the lateral edges of the spring are compressively preloaded against the bracket or frame to provide a wide stance, which enhances the stability of the suspension of said mask in relation to said faceplate.

Abstract: An improved baked-hardenable solution and method is disclosed for painting an electrical bridge within a cathode ray tube during its manufacture. The solution is particularly valuable in providing a permanent electrically conductive bridge between the high-voltage charged shadow mask of a color picture tube and the aluminum film deposited on the faceplate to ensure that the aluminum film is charged with the same high voltage present on the shadow mask. The solution according to the invention essentially comprises a mixture of substantially equal parts of glass frit particles and graphite particles each consisting of about 14 to 21 percent weight percent of said solution and in the size range of 0.5 to 10 microns. The particles are in solution in an evaporable solvent consisting of about 14 to 21 weight percent and including a thickening agent in an amount sufficient to provide a paintable viscosity.

Abstract: An improved low-cost mask-faceplate assembly for a shadow-mask-type color cathode ray tube is disclosed. The assembly comprises a glass faceplate having a dished central section and a rearwardly extending flange. A substantially rectangular, frameless shadow mask has a dished perforate central section and rearwardly extending skirt. The mask is relatively stiff about its major and minor axes, but torsionally flexible and unstable with respect to its diagonals. The mask has an integral rim extending radially outward from the edge of the mask skirt to serve as an electron beam shield and to provide added stiffness for the mask. A corner mask suspension system consists of four suspension devices, one at each corner of the mask. Each device comprises a stud affixed to the faceplate flange and arranged to extend radially inwardly along the diagonal of the faceplate. A leaf spring is provided for detachably inter-connecting the mask corner to the stud.

Abstract: Cleansing-scavenging means and method are disclosed for removing detritus from the inner surface of the neck of a cathode ray tube during manufacture. The means comprises probe means for insertion into the neck, and scrubbing means extending from the probe means for dislodging detritus. An expansible and contractible scavenging member is attached to a first end of the probe means. The member has a peripheral surface conformable to the inner surface of the neck for exerting, when expanded, outward scavenging pressure against the inner surface of the neck. Handle means are attached to the second end of the probe means for manipulating the probe means, with associated means providing for expanding and contracting the scavenging member. After the detritus is dislodged from the inner surface of the neck by the scrubbing means, and as the probe means is withdrawn from the neck, the scavenging member when expanded scavenges the detritus from the neck.

Abstract: This disclosure depicts means for providing greater spot size uniformity across the screen of cathode ray picture tubes. A beam-current-control signal is derived from the horizontal scansion circuit means in which the amplitude of the signal varies monotonically as a function of the distance of the beam spot from the minor axis of the faceplate. Means for receiving the beam-current-control signal for modulating the luminance signal are provided. The beam-current-control signal has such characteristics that the modulation causes a predetermined gradational reduction in beam current at least from the minor axis to the minor sides of the faceplate to inhibit beam spot enlargement in faceplate side zones and thus provide greater spot size uniformity across the screen.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing an electrically conductive bridge between the high-voltage charged shadow mask of a color picture tube and the aluminum film deposited on the faceplate to ensure that the aluminum film is charged with the same high voltage present on the shadow mask. A paintable solution is provided which essentially comprises a mixture of substantially equal parts of glass frit particles and graphite particles in the micron-sized range. The particles are in solution in an evaporable solvent including a thickening agent in an amount sufficient to provide a paintable viscosity.

Abstract: A television cathode ray picture tube has at least one electron gun for generating at least one electron beam for projecting at least one beam spot on the picture imaging screen of the tube. The gun has a plurality of differently electrically charged electrodes having facing sections comprising juxtaposed walls with coaxially aligned openings therethrough for passage of said beam, said walls defining at least one gap in which is established a beam-focusing electrostatic field. The tube is subject to influences which introduce an undesired distortion of the beam spot to the detriment of the quality of the image projected on the screen. The electron gun is characterized by at least one of the electrode walls being mechanically deformed in the perimeter of its opening to cause the field to be azimuthally asymmetrical about the opening. The mechanical deformation is effective to act on the beam in a sense tending to at least partially compensate for the undesired distortion of the beam spot.

Abstract: An improved electrically resistive arc-suppressive material is disclosed for use in a television cathode ray tube. The tube includes a funnel with a conductive coating on the inner surface thereof and a neck enclosing an electron gun having snubber springs extending from an anode electrode. The arc-suppressive material according to the invention is deposited in an area between the conductive coating and the gun and in contact with the snubber springs. The improved resistive material comprises tin oxide (SnO.sub.2) doped with an antimony compound and calcined in a semi-sealed crucible for about two hours at a temperature in the range of 1306.degree. C. to 1326.degree. C., and blended with glass frit in a weight-percent ratio range of 45-55. The doping and the temperature range and duration are effective to inbue the material with a hardness resistant to plowing by the snubber springs, and electrical resistance value effective to suppress arcing.

Abstract: Means and method are disclosed for compensating for non-linear magnification distortion in projection television systems. The projection television system has a projection screen for displaying a light image cast thereon. The screen is spaced apart from at least one light projection means whose projection optical axis lies at a non-zero, acute-angle A with respect to the screen axis. The light projection means comprises cathode ray tube means having a cathodoluminescent screen on the inside surface of a face panel thereof whose axis is substantially parallel to the projection optical axis. Electron-beam generating means are disposed on the cathode ray tube electron-optical axis for forming an electron image on the cathodoluminescent screen which is converted to a visible image by the cathodoluminescent screen. Lens means on the projection optical axis provide for projecting on the projection screen the light image of the electron-formed visible image.

Abstract: A turn-over mechanism for rectangular cassettes used in video and audio tape recording/reproducing in the first and a second direction is disclosed. The mechanism provides for turning over the cassette as it is raised and lowered from the operating deck of the recorder/reproducer. The mechanism comprises cassette holding means for detachably retaining the cassette. The cassette holding means is enclosed in main frame means; pivot means are included for rotation in the minor axis of the cassette within the main frame means. Paired arm means provide for rising and lowering the main frame means from and to the operating station. Each arm means is hingedly attached to the operating deck, and slidably engaged at the opposite end with the main frame means. The arm means hold the main frame means and the cassette substantially parallel with the deck during the raising and lowering. During the raising and lowering of the cassette, means provide for rotating the cassette holding means and the cassette 180.degree..

Abstract: A method is disclosed for mating the tubular cap and tubular shank of the cathode assembly used in TV CRT electron guns. The shank has an end larger in diameter than the cap, and a narrow end adapted to fit into the cap. The method comprises causing the cap to fall open-end-down into a first receptacle. The first receptacle is inverted in conjunctive alignment with a second receptacle, causing the cap to fall open-end-up into the second receptacle. The shank is then caused to fall narrow-end-down into the second receptacle and into the cap; the second receptacle is adapted to reject the larger end of the shank. The second receptacle is inverted in conjunctive alignment with the first receptacle, causing the mated cap and shank to fall shank-end-down into the first receptacle where it is held cap-side-up for further processing.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the temporary retention of insulated electrical leads by a printed circuit board preparatory to permanent electrical and mechanical attachment. Also disclosed is apparatus for forming the leads for said retention. The lead has a metallic wire therethrough with a residuum of elasticity. The printed circuit board consists of an insulative sheet with a plurality of selectively interconnected metallic electrical terminals each having a hole therethrough smaller in diameter than the outside diameter of the electrical lead, but larger in diameter than the wire by a factor of appreciably greater than 2. The method according to the invention comprises stripping the insulation from an end of the lead to provide a predetermined length of wire projecting from the abutment of the insulation formed by the stripping. The wire is then folded to form a narrow J-hook, the folded width of which is appreciably greater than the diameter of the hole.

Abstract: This disclosure depicts a high-voltage cathodoluminescent gas discharge image display panel having an ordered array of display elements. The panel includes envelope means containing an ionizable gas at a predetermined very low pressure. The envelope means includes a transparent faceplate on the inner surface of which are disposed cathodoluminescent target elements. Electron source means produces at a given time at least one high-density electron beam, and includes means to cause a plasma sac to generate and gather electrons, and accelerate them to form a concentrated electron beam. An ultor electrode receiving a predetermined relatively high ultor voltage establishes a high voltage gradient in a plasma-free acceleration section which is effective to straight-line accelerate said electron beam in a substantially collision-free path directly into high-energy bombardment of the cathodoluminescent target elements.

Abstract: This disclosure depicts an arc-suppression means for use in cathode ray tubes having an electron gun and ancillary electrical circuits susceptible to damaging electrical arcing currents, and wherein getter means are used to capture residual gases in the evacuated envelope of the tube. The arc-suppression means is electrically resistive and is connected in an electrical path between the gun and a high voltage source, and its surface is physically exposed to a deposit of getter material when the getter is flashed. The arc-suppression means includes shadowing means for shadowing at least portions of the exposed surface from a deposit of the getter material to prevent the creation of an electrically conductive shorting path capable of permitting an arc to bypass or substantially nullify the arc-suppression means.

Abstract: This disclosure depicts an image display having a viewing faceplate for exhibiting an informational color image. The faceplate has deposited on an inner surface thereof a light-absorbing matrix surrounding mutually spaced elemental areas. The faceplate and each area includes a plurality of different colorants. The faceplate shows a body color of an undesired hue. The image display is characterized by the matrix having a color complementary to the undesired hue effective to counteract the hue and provide a substantially neutral body color.

Abstract: This disclosure depicts a television picture tube subject to an undesired build-up of localized high-potential static charges and high-potential charge retention. The tube is characterized by a resistive coating deposited on at least one of the normally uncoated outer areas of the tube and in contact with the conductive coating to disperse any static charges by means of a flow of electrons through the resistive coating. The "rush" of electrons which may cause an annoying crackling sound upon tube turn-on and turn-off is attenuated thereby to suppress the sound, and any residual high-potential charges remaining after turn-off are discharged to ground.

Abstract: This invention relates to improvements in the art of aluminizing the phosphor screens of image display devices such as television cathode ray picture tubes. An improved method comprises the application of a highly alkaline aqueous dispersion of a siliceous coating agent and a surfactant prior to aluminizing. The solution includes an acidic pH-lowering substance in an amount sufficient to adjust pH to a neutral range.