Abstract: The heating unit for sealing vacuum electron tubes of the type having a glass stem, a glass exhaust tubulation extending from the stem and a plurality of electrically-conducting leads extending from the stem in a circular array around the tabulation includes a cylindrical heating coil within a coil recess of an electrically-insulating coil support. The coil recess circumscribes a central aperture within the coil support. The coil support has a first and a second surface with a coil-positioning lip projecting upwardly from the second surface thereof and circumscribing the central aperture. A hollow, substantially cylindrical, tubulation-locator having an outwardly extending flange formed in an outside surface thereof is disposed between the second surface of the coil support and a base plate. The locator also includes a centering collar formed in its outside surface and a tubulation centering aperture formed in the inside surface. A top plate is adjacent to the first surface of the coil support.

Abstract: An electron gun assembly for use in a color CRT includes a pair of insulating support rods, three inline indirectly heated cathode disposed between the support rods, a heater for each of the cathodes and a pair of improved, reinforced heater tabs. The heater includes a pair of heater legs which are attached to the heater tabs. Heater bead straps are provided for attaching the heater tabs to the support rods. The electron gun also includes a plurality of electrodes for focusing and accelerating an electron beam generated by the cathodes. The reinforced heater tabs comprise a main body portion including a first and a second part. Each of the parts is attached to one of the heater legs. Each of the heater tabs has a pair of outwardly directed feet each of which is connected to one of the parts of the main body portion by a pair of substantially orthogonal legs extending therebetween.

Abstract: A method of surface-treating dry-powdered phosphor particles to control the triboelectric charge characteristics thereof includes the steps of providing the phosphor particles with a first coating of silica, dissolving a coupling agent selected from the group consisting of silanes and titanates in a suitable solvent to form a mixture, surface-coating the silica-coated phosphor particles with the mixture to provide a second coating of the coupling agent on the phosphor particles, filtering the surface-treated particles, rinsing the surface-treated particles with the solvent, and drying the surface-treated particles. The resultant dry-powdered surface-treated phosphor particles are used to make a luminescent viewing screen for a CRT. The coupling agent overlying the silica coating controls the triboelectric charging characteristics of the phosphor particles during the electrophotographic manufacturing of the screen.

Abstract: The method of electrophotographically manufacturing a screen assembly on a substrate for use within a CRT, according to the present invention, includes the steps of sequentially coating a substrate with a conductive layer and an overcoating of a photoconductive layer, establishing an electrostatic charge on the photoconductive layer, and exposing selected areas of the photoconductive layer to visible light to affect the charge thereon. Then the photoconductive layer is developed with a charged screen structure material. The improved process utilizes a dry-powdered screen structure material having at least a surface charge control agent thereon to control the triboelectrical charging of the screen structure material.

Abstract: In a vacuum electron tube, a novel oxide cathode comprising a metal substrate, means for heating said substrate to its operating temperature, and a layer of alkaline-earth-metal oxide on the substrate. The substrate is essentially free from silicon and contains operative concentrations greater than 1.0 weight % of chromium metal for progressively migrating into the oxide layer and reducing the oxide to yield alkaline-earth-metal.

Abstract: A system for analyzing an aluminum deposition process to form a coating on a surface of a CRT faceplate panel disposed on an exhaust cart includes: an apparatus within the exhaust cart for controlling the distribution of the aluminum; a sensor disposed on the panel for determining whether aluminum was deposited thereon, and a plurality of thickness monitors disposed on the panel for generating a plurality of signals representative of the relative thickness of the aluminum coating at a plurality of locations on the surface thereof. The signals are converted into data values to indicate whether the aluminum coating achieves a predetermined thickness profile.A method of depositing the aluminum coating is also disclosed. The method provides an indication of the performance of each of the exhaust carts and permits the categorization of defects for the panels not meeting the predetermined thickness profile.

Abstract: The novel spot-knocking method for an electron gun mount assembly in an evacuated CRT comprises applying a spot knocking voltage between a first and second anode, and a first focus electrode with the remaining gun elements including a heater, a cathode, a control electrode, a screen electrode and a second focus electrode electrically floating.

Abstract: The novel spot-knocking method for an electron gun mount assembly having a gun axis in an evacuated CRT comprises interconnecting a heater, a cathode, a control electrode and a screen electrode. Then, providing a magnetic field along the gun axis while applying spot-knocking voltages between an anode and the interconnected gun elements. The magnetic field facilitates the initiation of arcs parallel to the magnetic field and to the gun axis and between the adjacent gun elements, and inhibits the initiation of arcs in directions transverse to the magnetic field and the gun axis.

Abstract: A color cathode-ray tube comprises an evacuated envelope having an electron gun for producing at least one electron beam and, preferably three beams, a phosphor screen and a shadow mask adjacent to the screen. The mask has an improved heat dissipative, electron reflective coating on its electron gun-facing surface to minimize the effects of overall mask doming and blister warpage. The coating comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of bismuth (tri)oxide-potassium silicate and tungsten-potassium silicate. A method of making and applying the coating also is disclosed.

Abstract: An improved color display system includes a cathode-ray tube and a magnetic deflection yoke positioned on the tube. The tube includes an envelope having an inline electron gun for generating and directing three inline beams along initially coplanar paths toward a screen on an interior surface portion of the envelope. The gun includes a plurality of spaced electrodes which comprise three lenses. The first lens includes a beam-forming region for providing substantially symmetrical beams to a second lens. The second lens includes a first modulation electrode for providing asymmetrically-shaped beams to a third, or main, lens. At least one and preferably two dynamic voltage signals are applied to the modulation electrode of the second lens. Another dynamic voltage signal is applied to a second modulation electrode of the third lens. The voltage signals are related to the deflection of the beams and improve the electron beam spot size at the periphery of the tube screen.

Abstract: The method comprises applying to a surface to be etched a coating of a borax-free, low dichromate, casein photoresist liquid composition comprising an acid-precipitated casein, sodium hydroxide as an alkalizing agent, an alkali dichromate photosensitizer and water. The composition has a pH in the range of 6.0 to 7.0, and reduced quantities of the alkalizing agent and photosensitizer compared to prior coating compositions.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a glass stem for an electron tube comprises a first (upper) stem mold assembly and an improved second (lower) stem mold assembly. The improved second stem mold assembly includes a universal second (lower) stem mold having a plurality of lead-in conductor receiving openings formed therethrough. At least one removable stem mold plug is disposed and retained within one of the openings.

Abstract: An improved transfer printing ink for printing indicia on impervious surfaces, such as glass, is comprised of a liquid resin component comprising one or more liquid acrylate monomers, one or more polyfunctional acrylate monomers, one or more polymeric binders and one or more photoinitiators. The transfer ink also is comprised of a solid component comprising one or more pigment materials and a particulate glass frit mixture. The glass frit mixture consists of a pluality of wetting agents and a frit flux. The wetting agents melt at an elevated temperature to fuse the pigments and the frit flux to the glass.

Abstract: A method for preparing an integral cathode substrate and support includes the steps of placing formed metal parts on a pin holder, masking selected surface portions of the formed metal parts, etching the unmasked surface portions, and then removing the mask. The present method is an improvement over prior methods since the parts are arranged in a staggered array to increase the turbulence of the etchant during the etching step. The turbulence provides additional oxygen to increase the rate and uniformity of the etching.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a glass stem for an electron tube comprises a first mold assembly and a second mold assembly for forming the stem therebetween. The glass stem includes a plurality of fillets with a lead-in conductor through less than all of the fillets and at least one dummy fillet without a lead-in conductor therethrough. The first mold assembly includes a universal stem having a mold block with fillet-forming openings therein. A replaceable marker pin is disposed and retained within the openings. The marker pin has a first end and an oppositely disposed second end. The first end has a distinctive geometric shape for contacting the dummy fillet and for conveying intelligible information thereto.

Abstract: The novel CRT has an electron gun mount assembly therein which is similar in construction to prior CRT's. The electron gun mount assembly includes a cathode for generating at least one electron beam and a plurality of successively spaced electrodes including a screen grid electrode, a focusing electrode and an anode electrode secured to one major surface of at least two longitudinally extending insulating support beads. A first gap of predetermined width extends between the anode electrode and one end of the focusing electrode. A second gap of predetermined width extends between the opposite end of the focusing electrode and the screen grid electrode. An opposite major surface of each of the support beads faces outwardly and has thereon an electrically-conducting coating having a longitudinal dimension, d. Suitable voltages are applied to the electrodes to generate electrical activity. The coating on each of the beads is spaced a distance 1.25.times.

Abstract: An apparatus used to manufacture a molded glass stem comprises a plurality of conventional lower stem mold assemblies and a plurality pre-heating, heating, forming, and annealing stations. The forming stations include at least one primary forming station having a primary upper stem mold assembly and at least one secondary forming station having a secondary upper stem mold assembly. The primary upper stem mold assembly includes a primary universal stem mold having primary fillet-forming means formed in a first mold block thereof. The secondary upper stem mold assembly includes a secondary universal stem mold having secondary fillet-forming means formed in a second mold block thereof. The primary fillet-forming means includes a plurality of longitudinal fillet-forming openings formed through the first mold block of the novel primary universal stem mold. A plurality of novel primary inserts are replaceably disposed within the openings in the first mold block.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a glass stem for an electron tube has a plurality of lead-in conductors and a plurality of fillets with the lead-in conductors extending through the fillets. The apparatus comprises a first stem mold assembly and a second stem mold assembly for forming the stem therebetween. The first stem mold assembly comprises a universal stem mold having a plurality of longitudinal fillet-forming openings formed through a mold block. A plurality of inserts are replaceably disposed and retained within the openings in the mold block. Each of the inserts has a first end, an oppositely disposed second end, and a shank portion therebetween. Each of the inserts has a recess provided in the first end and a lead-accommodating opening extending from the recess into the shank portion of the insert. The mold block also accommodates one or more solid inserts in the openings to produce stems having dummy fillets, i.e., fillets without lead-in conductors therethrough.

Abstract: A noise-reducing foam member for prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation without degradation consists essentially of a major proportion of a room-temperature silicone rubber foaming material and minor proportions of a room-temperature foaming curing agent and at least two and preferably three ultraviolet stabilizing materials selected from the group consisting of carbon black, cerium oxide, 2(2'-hydroxy-3',5'-di-tert-amylphenyl) benzotriazole and zinc oxide.The foam member is made by mixing together suitable quantities of the silicone rubber foaming material, the ultraviolet stabilizing materials and the curing agent. The mixture is then cured to provide the foam member.

Abstract: An electron gun assembly for use in a CRT includes a pair of insulating support rods, at least one indirectly heated cathode disposed between the support rods, a heater for the cathode and an improved heater tab. The heater includes a pair of heater legs which are attached to the heater tab. Heater bead straps are provided for attaching the heater tab to the support rods. The electron gun also includes a plurality of electrodes for focusing and accelerating an electron beam generated by the cathode. The improved heater tab comprises a main body portion including a first and a second part. Each of the parts is attached to one of the heater legs. The heater tab has a pair of outwardly directed feet each of which is connected to one of the parts of the main body portion by a pair of substantially orthogonal legs extending therebetween.