Abstract: A cathode ray tube has a tensioned mask supported by a support frame. The tension mask being susceptible to vibration and adapted for mounting in tension within the cathode ray tube. The tension mask includes damper wire support springs attached to, and extending from, opposite sides of the tension mask support frame. The damper wire support springs having a compliance section supporting a damper wire in contact with and across the surface of the tension mask for damping vibrations in the mask.

Abstract: A color picture tube having a tension mask attached to a support frame, wherein the mask if made from a material having a significantly lower coefficient of thermal expansion than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the material of the frame. The frame tensions the mask to have a fundamental resonant frequency of 90 Hz±20 Hz.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of attaching a tension mask to a frame to achieve desired tensions at a plurality of locations across the mask, wherein the frame has two opposite sides between which the mask is to be attached. Specific forces are applied from each of a plurality of separate actuators at positions, along each of the two opposite sides of the frame, that affect the mask tensions respectively at the plurality of locations across the mask. Each of the actuators is individually controlled to apply a specific force to a frame side that is directly related to the desired mask tension required at a particular mask location. While the specific forces are applied by the actuators, the mask is attached to the two opposite sides of the frame. Thereafter, the forces on the sides are released.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improvement in a color picture tube having a tension mask supported by a support frame mounted within the tube. The mask includes an active apertured portion formed by a plurality of parallel vertically extending strands, between which are elongated operational apertures through which electron beams pass during operation of the tube. Top and bottom border portions, outside the active apertured portion of the mask, have additional apertures therein that are aligned with the longitudinal centerlines of the strands.

Abstract: A color picture tube comprises an evacuated envelope having an electron gun therein for generating at least one electron beam, a faceplate panel having a luminescent screen with phosphor lines on an interior surface thereof, and a tension focus mask. The mask has spaced apart first metal strands which are adjacent to an effective picture area of the screen and define a plurality of slots substantially parallel to the phosphor lines. Each of the first metal strands across the effective picture area have a substantially continuous insulator layer on a screen-facing side thereof. The mask also includes a plurality of second metal strands oriented substantially perpendicular to the first metal strands. The second metal strands are spaced from the insulator layer when the tube is not energized and are in contact with the insulator layer when the tube is energized.

Abstract: An improved color picture tube has 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 improvement comprises the frame including two first members, paralleling the major axis, and two second members, attached to the ends of said first members, paralleling the minor axis. Each of the second members includes a pinched section that elongates it.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improvement in a CRT (10) having a tension mask (24) and support frame assembly (35). The support frame assembly (35) 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 (24) has a substantially cylindrical contour, being curved along the major axis and straight along the minor axis. The frame assembly (35) includes two first members (36, 38; 136, 138) that parallel the major axis and two second members (40, 42), attached to the ends of the first members, that parallel the minor axis. Each of the first members (36, 38; 136, 138) includes a rigid section (50; 150) and a compliant section (52; 152) cantilevered from the rigid section (50; 150). The compliant sections (52; 152) have a distal end (54; 154) and a proximal end (56; 156). The mask (24) is attached to the distal ends (54; 154) of the compliant sections (52; 152).

Abstract: A cathode-ray tube includes a tension mask attached to a rectangular support frame assembly that has two long sides paralleling a central major axis thereof and two short sides paralleling a central minor axis thereof. The frame assembly includes two first members, having oppositely disposed ends, paralleling the major axis, and two resilient U-shaped second members, having a first leg and a second leg attached to the oppositely disposed ends of the first members, paralleling the minor axis. Each of the first members has a compliant portion and a base portion. The mask is attached to the distal ends of the compliant portion. A detensioning rod assembly is disposed between the first and second legs of each of the second members to facilitate varying the tension of the mask.

Abstract: An improved color picture tube includes an evacuated envelope having a rectangular faceplate panel. The panel includes a viewing screen on an inner surface thereof and a shadow mask-frame assembly mounted therein. The shadow mask-frame assembly includes an apertured shadow mask and a peripheral frame to which the mask is attached. The improvement comprises the frame being formed by eight sections, two identical long side sections, two identical short side sections and four corner sections, that are attached together edge-to-edge. The two long side sections and the two short side sections are thinner than the four corner sections.

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: 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 average aperture width in a small area of an apertured member, such as a shadow mask for a cathode ray tube, is determined by passing a beam of substantially monochromatic light through an area of the member to form an interference pattern, detecting the intensities of at least two light fringes of the interference pattern, generating electrical signals which are representative of the detected intensities and then deriving the average width of apertures in the lit area of the members from the generated signals.

Abstract: The average aperture width in a small area of an apertured member, such as a shadow mask for a cathode-ray tube, is determined by passing a beam of substantially monochromatic light through an area of the member to form an interference pattern, detecting the intensities of at least two light fringes of the interference pattern, generating electrical signals which are representative of the detected intensities and then deriving the average width of apertures in the lit area of the member from the generated signals.