Abstract: A circuit for pulse heating a line cathode also protects the cathode from voltage and current surges. An adjustable voltage regulator provides a regulated voltage to a pulse generation circuit. The voltage regulator has a control input which is used to control the regulator output. The voltage on the control electrode is controlled by a control circuit which is actuated by a logic circuit. The logic circuit and the pulse generator are responsive to the horizontal synchronization pulses of the display device containing the line cathode.

Abstract: A video image display apparatus of the flat tube and multi line cathode type of the present invention includes a phosphor screen, and a predetermined number (e.g. 15) of line cathodes for in-turn emitting a predetermined number of horizontal rows of electron beams. Each row has a second predetermined number (e.g. 320) of rod shaped electron beams for together producing one horizontal line of image on the phosphor screen. A vertical deflection means is provided for vertical deflection of the electron beams in turn at one vertically divided segment corresponding to one of the horizontal rows by means of a vertical deflection signal, e.g. a step wave having a saw-tooth wave envelope. The envelope is adjusted so as to be expanded or compressed or level changed, thereby eliminating any undesirable black horizontal band on the screen due to non-uniformity of electrode construction. A uniform raster is thereby obtainable.

Abstract: A flat type color display apparatus includes a phosphor screen and 15 horizontal line cathodes activated in turn from the top one to the bottom one. An electron beam control means and a beam deflection means are provided. Each horizontal line cathode emits a horizontal sheet-shaped electron beam which is vertically deflected in 16 steps, and is divided into 320 rod-shaped electron beams by 320 vertically oblong slits and individually controlled of its intensity by 320 beam-control electrodes. The rod-shaped electron beams are horizontally deflected each selectively impinging R, G and B vertical phosphor stripes in turn. In the operation circuit, R, G and B video signals are sampled and held in R, G and B parts of 320 sample-hold circuits, and stored at one time in 320 memories for respective colors, and time sharingly applied to the respective beam-control electrodes. A color video image is thereby displayed of 240 lines each having 320 picture elements.

Abstract: A flat type display apparatus includes an electron beam source for emitting a row of a large number of electron beams, and a phosphor screen having a phosphor layer which emits light in response to impingement by the electron beams. An electron beam convergence means is provided and an electrostatic deflection means for deflecting the electron beams prior to impingement on the phosphor screen. An electron beam controlling means has a number of electron beam controlling electrodes for individually controlling the current of the electron beams to control light emissions from the phosphor screen. A pulse width modulation circuit feeds electron control signals of a constant voltage and pulse-width modulated by video signal information to be displayed. Light emission control without changing converging conditions of electrostatic lenses is thus obtained so that a good linearity between the video signals and the electron beams is obtained.

Abstract: A flat cathode ray tube and method of using characterized by an evacuated chamber being subdivided into a guidance space and post deflection space by a control plate having row electrodes or conductors on one side and column electrodes or conductors on the other side which column electrodes face a cathode-luminescent layer in the deflection space and a source for producing a flat electron beam being positioned at the side of the guidance space. In controlling the beam, a beam guidance electrode in the guidance space is utilized so that the beam will move in a sinuous path and strike each of the selected row conductors with the desired angle. To accomplish this feature, the wave length of the path of the flat beam for adjacent rows is changed so that the beam is deflected from the same position in the wave length.

Abstract: Flat picture tube, including a front plate and a back plate vacuum-tightly connected to the front plate defining an evacuated envelope, a control matrix of line conductors and column conductors respectively extended in planes parallel to the front plate dividing the evacuated envelope into a forward post acceleration space and a rear electron storage space having electrically conducting rear and side walls, the control matrix of conductors having crossings with electron passage openings formed in the vicinity thereof, at least one thermal cathode in the rear electron storage space having an emission surface, at least one grid-shaped pulling anode each being associated with a respective one of the at least one thermal cathode and each covering the emission surface of the respective at least one thermal cathode at a substantially constant spacing, at least one other anode disposed in the forward post acceleration space, a fluorescent-material layer disposed on the other anode being excitable by electrons and be

Abstract: The picture image display apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises:a flat type vacuum enclosure having a transparent face panel,a row of parallelly disposed linear thermionic cathodes,electron beam forming electrode which produces a predetermined number of two dimensionally disposed electron beams out of the electron emission from said linear thermionic cathodes,a row of control electrodes disposed parallelly in a direction perpendicular to those of said linear thermionic cathodes,a row of deflection electrodes,a phosphor screen formed on the inner face of said face panel, andan anode of thin metal film formed on said surface of said phosphor screen,wherein the improvement is thata row of deflection-aiding electrodes is disposed between said row of deflection electrode and said anode, said post deflection electrodes being impressed with substantially constant positive potential with respect to said linear thermionic cathodes.

Abstract: The video image display apparatus of flat tube type comprisinga phosphor screen, an electron beam source having a predetermined number (15) of line cathodes for inturn emitting said predetermined number of horizontal rows of electron beams, each row having a second predetermined number (320) of rod shaped electron beams for together producing one horizontal line of image on said phosphor screen,a horizontal deflection means for horizontally deflection of the electron beams to selectively emit red, green or blue phosphor stripes,a vertical deflection means for vertical deflections of the electron beams of the horizontal rows, thereby to vertically move one of the horizontal line in the vertically divided segment,wherein red, green and blue color signals are time sequentially sampled by sets of three sampling signals of time sequential relation, and the sampled color signals are impressed on the horizontal deflection means, andthereby, hitherto poor horizontal resolution is much improved as if the sampling freq

Abstract: A system for correcting for intensity variations and electron beam landing errors in a flat panel display device includes two compensation means. The first compensation means applies a continuously varying voltage to the modulation electrodes to add a varying current to the electron beam current. The compensation current offsets the intensity variations of the electron beam. The second compensation means applies an averaged position signal to the modulation electrodes to compensate for beam landing errors of the electron beam.

Abstract: In a display device which is divided into a plurality of channels by support vanes, scanning electrodes are arranged on both sides of the vanes. The scanning electrodes are segmented in the direction of electron beam propagation and one portion of the segments is biased with a varying voltage to scan the electron beams transversely across the channels. The remaining portion of the scanning electrodes is biased to deflect leakage electrons away from the screen to thereby improve the visual display.

Abstract: A flat panel display device is composed of a display section and an electron gun section which provides electron beams for forming a visual display on the display section. A line cathode within the electron gun section serves as the electron source. A plurality of electrode pairs are voltage biased to establish the conditions under which electrons are ejected from the cathode and also to focus electron beams for propagation along the display section.

Abstract: The minimum output level of an electron gun driven at discrete voltage levels is precisely established. A target value slightly above the minimum voltage level is compared with the actual value. The result of the comparison is used to uniformily establish the minimum electron gun drive voltage and thus compensates for electron gun transfer characteristic differences and variations within the gun drive circuitry. An additional circuit utilizing a target value slightly below the maximum voltage can be used to establish the maximum output level of the electron gun.

Abstract: A flat cathode ray tube is disclosed in which the deflection of an electron beam in the direction which requires a large deflection angle is carried out by the electromagnetic deflection, while the deflection of the electron beam in the direction which requires a small deflection angle is carried out by electrostatic deflection. Further, in the evacuated envelope of the flat cathode ray tube, there is located a high magnetic permeability body to concentrate the magnetic flux on the electron beam necessary for the electromagnetic deflection. In a certain case, a magnetic material body with the electrical conductivity is used as the high magnetic permeability body so as to provide it with the function of serving as an electrode plate for the electrostatic deflection of the electron beam.

Abstract: A flat panel display device includes means for focusing electron beams traveling from a beam guide structure towards a display screen. The means for focusing includes focus meshes which are parallel to and spaced from one another and from the electron beam propagation means.

Abstract: A triangular waveform generator for applying a scanning waveform to the scan electrodes of a modular display device includes a constant current source and a coupling transformer. A charge storage capacitor is coupled to the secondary of the coupling transformer. A squarewave generator actuates a switch to alternately charge the capacitor in opposite directions resulting in the generation of the triangular waveform. Discharge means is provided to protect the switch from high voltages which could be developed when the generator is turned off.

Abstract: In a flat panel cathodoluminescent display utilizing a plurality of electron guns a single line cathode is used as the electron source for all guns. Changes in electron beam current resulting from vibration of the line cathode are compensated for by the application of voltages which are related to the current changes. The compensating voltages are applied through an impedance network which relates the voltages in accordance with the envelope of vibration so that the actual compensations at the individual guns are related to the actual current changes at the respective guns.

Abstract: An evacuated envelope is divided into a plurality of electron propagation channels. Each channel includes an electron gun section and a beam guide section. The electron gun section provides electrons in the form of beams to the guide section. The guide section includes spaced guide meshes and the electrons are propagated along the channel in the space between the guide meshes. A launch section, in the form of at least one pair of launch electrodes, is arranged between the electron gun section and the beam guide section. The conditions under which electrons leave the gun section and enter the guide section are selected by the application of selected voltages to the launch electrodes.

Abstract: A display device includes an evacuated envelope having a back wall and a plurality of mutually parallel internal support walls. Each of the support walls comprises a separable first and second wall member. Each of the first wall members has a proximal end in contact with the back wall. The support walls are substantially perpendicular to the back wall so that the support walls partition the device into a plurality of channels. A faceplate assembly integral with one surface of the envelope comprises in combination; a viewing faceplate, a mosaic screen, registration blocks disposed on the inner surface of the faceplate beyond the screen, a plurality of second wall members detachably attached to the registration blocks so that each of the second wall members extend between the distal end of a different one of the first wall members and the screen, and a plurality of discrete shadow masks slidably attached to and extending between adjacent ones of the second wall members.

Abstract: A picture display device comprising an electron source for producing band-shaped electron beams, electron beam control means for controlling the selective passage of the electron beams, deflection means for horizontally and vertically deflecting the electron beams and display means for emitting light in response to impingement of the electron beams thereon. The electron source comprises a plurality of linear thermionic cathodes, a focusing electrode for focusing the electron beams emitted from each linear thermionic cathode to band-shaped electron beams and an electron beam emitting electrode having a plurality of apertures therethrough, and a negative pulse voltage is sequentially applied to the linear thermionic cathodes to emit the required electron beams for one scanning line.

Abstract: An image display device includes a flat evacuated envelope which has a front and a back wall. On the inner surface of the front wall is a phosphor screen for displaying the image. A first set of electron beam guides is between the back wall and the screen. A second set of electron beam guides is at one end of the first set of beam guides. A source of electrons is postioned to inject an electron beam into the second set of guides. A deflection means is provided to direct the electron beam from the second set of guides into the first set of guides.

Abstract: An evacuated envelope has front and rear walls spaced apart by a plurality of side walls. On the inner surface of the front wall is a cathodoluminescent screen. A magnet structure extends along one of the side walls spaced therefrom and has two spaced poles each of which is parallel to the front wall. The magnet structure generates a uniform magnetic field between the two poles. An electron gun is within the envelope for generating and directing an electron beam into the space between one side wall and the magnet structure. Also included in the device is means for deflecting the electron beam so that it will pass between the poles of the magnet at a plurality of points along the magnet's length. The deflection means maintains a constant angle of incidence at which the electron beam enters the space between the two poles at various points. Means are also included for deflecting the electron beam towards the screen as it emerges from between the magnet poles.

Abstract: A series of discrete heating current pulses are passed through a line cathode so as to cause the cathode to emit electrons therefrom. Between each consecutive pair of pulses is a cooling period during which no heating current flows through the cathode. Current is extracted from the cathode during this cooling period. In a preferred embodiment for an image display device, the heating pulse duration is about 10 .mu.sec and the cooling period is about 50.mu.sec. In this scheme, the heating period corresponds roughly to the horizontal retrace time between line times of 50.mu.sec.

Abstract: Across the screen is a mosaic of phosphor bodies which will emit light of different colors when excited by electrons. Phosphors which will emit three different colors, e.g. red, green and blue, are used and are disposed in a regular repetitive array of groups of three, i.e. triads. In every other triad the phosphor body which emits the color which has the least acuity to the eye, e.g. blue, is replaced by a nonluminescent black material. This black material is used to hide the edges of a support wall which extends to the screen.

Abstract: A cathode device which employs regenerative ion feedback for sustained electron emission includes an enclosure filled with inert gas. A cathode, an electron multiplier region, and an ion interaction region are disposed in consecutive order within the enclosure with the interaction region being positioned at the output of the electron multiplier region. Means are provided for controlling the magnitude of ion feedback to the cathode whereby the feedback loop gain of the device can be caused to be either greater than, or less than, unity. The cathode device is useful in a cathodoluminescent cell which further includes an electron accelerating region and a cathodoluminescent screen. A plurality of these cathodoluminescent cells can be arranged so as to constitute an image display device. Disclosed also is a method of operating the cathode device and image display device.

Abstract: In the system disclosed a driving circuit repeatedly scans along a plurality of aligned electrodes in an enclosure filled with ionizable gas, by sequentially grounding the aligned electrodes and repeating the process cyclically. Within each cycle, a pulse width modulator energizes an anode opposite the electrodes for a period of time corresponding to an input value. Sequential glow discharges thus occur between the cathodes and the anode over a portion of the anode length. The discharges occur with sufficient rapidity so that they are observed as an illuminated portion of a bar formed by the electrodes. A second set of electrodes is scanned and an opposing anode energized to produce two illuminated bands separated from each other. Desired upper and lower set point limits for the input quantity determine the lengths of the bands and the separation between them.

Abstract: In an image display, the video information may be keyed to the position of the electron beam by sensing the beam deflection voltage. A keying system utilizes means for generating a reference voltage which is proportional to the anode voltage and means for comparing the reference voltage to the deflection voltage for the electron beam. When a predetermined relationship between the two voltages, such as equality, is reached; the comparing means produces an output which indicates the deflected position of the electron beam. The output of the comparing means can be used to switch the video information to modulate the electron beam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a picture image display device constituted a control electrode for taking out an electron beam from a flat electron source and a display plate for emitting light in accordance with the impinging of the electron beam. The picture image display device has a control for deflecting the electron beam before it reaches the display plate, a plural number of slits are provided in an insulating substrate, on the wall surfaces of which slits are electron beam controlling electrodes.

Abstract: This disclosure depicts an image display panel partitioned into two distinct sections comprising a high voltage front section and a low voltage rear section. An electron source means located in the low-voltage rear section is disposed along a row-wise edge of the panel for generating a supply of electrons. A plurality of low-energy electron beams drawn from the electron source means are formed, shaped and modulated. Each beam is directed into a beam guide-isolator responsive to relatively low applied beam control voltages. The beams are further directed by the plurality of beam guide-isolators perpendicular to said edge and parallel to the image display panel faceplate, and are repetitively, and preferably substantially periodically, focused and refocused to constrain the electrons from leaving the beam guide-isolators.

Abstract: This disclosure depicts an image display panel partitioned into two distinct sections comprising a high voltage front section and a low voltage rear section. An electron source means located in the low-voltage rear section is disposed along a row-wise edge of the panel for generating a supply of electrons. A plurality of low-energy electron beams drawn from the electron source means are formed, shaped and modulated. Each beam is directed into a beam guide-isolator responsive to relatively low applied beam control voltages. The beams are further directed by the plurality of beam guide-isolators perpendicular to said edge and parallel to the image display panel faceplate, and are repetitively, and preferably substantially periodically, focused and refocused to constrain the electrons from leaving the beam guide-isolators.

Abstract: An image display device has a plurality of electron guides for guiding electron beams to different areas of the device's cathodoluminescent screen. An image is displayed on a device by generating a plurality of electron beams and modulating each of the electron beams with the image information. The beams are directed into one group of a plurality of adjacent electron beam guides so that each beam is directed into a separate guide. The electron beams are then sequentially switched into the next group of adjacent guides until each electron guide has had one beam directed into it.

Abstract: Electrodes in an image display device are biased by a circuit composed of a first switch means for applying a first potential to one of at least two sets of alternate electrodes. The circuit also includes means for isolating each of the electrodes in a given set from the other electrodes in that set. A second switch means applies a second electrical potential to one electrode in the other set. Alternate embodiments of the present invention relate to multiplexing of the switching circuitry to reduce the number of components.

Abstract: Each beam of a multi-electron beam display device is controlled to achieve uniformity of the displayed image. A collector senses the electron current of each beam. The level of the electron current of each beam is stored in a memory. When a particular beam is to be modulated, the memory is addressed so that the electron current level information for that beam is read out. The stored information and the incoming image element brightness information are combined to modulate the particular electron beam.

Abstract: A flat tube display is fabricated having internal structural supports running the height of the display at selected periodic intervals. This construction permits light weight face plates and back plates to be used in the construction of displays independent of display size, yet still providing the required stength to withstand atmospheric pressure. By compressing the dot matrix of the first plate of the switching stack, relatively large areas free of the dot matrix are provided whereby the internal supports may be attached without interferring with the operation of the display. The control plates of the flat tube display are pseudo-aligned to the phosphor screen. Electrons are injected into the stack channel comprising plates at successively higher positive potentials so that self-guiding through the channels at 100% transmission is achieved. Apertures of the control stack are fabricated into horizontal slots to provide for increased brightness as a result of greater electron transmission through the stack.

Abstract: A flat tube display is fabricated having internal structural supports running the height of the display at selected periodic intervals. This construction permits light weight face plates and back plates to be used in the construction of displays independent of display size, yet still providing the required strength to withstand atmospheric pressure. By compressing the dot matrix of the first plate of the switching stack, relatively large areas free of the dot matrix are provided whereby the internal supports may be attached without interfering with the operation of the display. The control plates of the flat tube display are psuedo-aligned to the phosphor screen. Electrons are injected into the stack channel comprising plates at successively higher positive potentials so that self-guiding through the channels at 100% transmission is achieved.

Abstract: An evacuated envelope has a rectangular display section and a gun section at one edge of the display section. The display section includes front and back walls which are generally rectangular, in closed spaced, parallel relation, and a plurality of spaced, parallel support walls between the front and back walls forming a plurality of parallel channels. The gun section extends across one end of the channels and includes therein gun structure which will direct electrons into the channels. In each of the channels is a beam guide which confines the electrons in a beam and guides the beam along the length of the channel. The beam guide also includes means for selectively deflecting the electron beam out of the guide at selective points along the guide so that the beam will impinge upon a phosphor screen along the inner surface of the front wall.

Abstract: The effects of oscillations of an electron beam traveling down a beam guide may be cancelled out by periodic switching of the electrical fields which confine the electron beam in the guide. The changing of the electrical fields periodically alters the phase of the electron beam so as to produce a net phase cancellation over a period of time.

Abstract: An evacuated envelope has a rectangular display section and a gun section at one side of the display section. The display section includes rectangular front and back walls in closely spaced, substantially parallel relation, and a plurality of spaced, substantially parallel support walls between the front and back walls forming a plurality of parallel channels. The gun section extends across one end of the channels and includes gun structure which will selectively direct one or more electron beams along each of the channels. In each of the channels is a beam guide which utilizes "slalom focusing" to confine each electron beam in the channel and guide the beam along the length of the channel wherein the electron beam is confined to an undulating path along the channel. The beam guide also permits selective deflection of the electron beam out of the guide toward a phosphor screen on the inner surface of the front wall.

Abstract: An evacuated envelope includes front and back walls and a plurality of spaced, parallel supports between, and perpendicular thereto which form a plurality of parallel channels. A gun structure at one end of the channels directs one or more electron beams along each of the channels. In each of the channels is at least one beam guide which confines the electrons of the beam but permits selective deflection of the electron beam out of the guide toward a phosphor screen on the inner surface of the front wall. The beam guide includes electrodes on the inner surface of the back wall and either a single grid plate or a pair of spaced, parallel grid plates spaced from and parallel to the back wall. The beam guide also includes means for laterally confining the electrons of the beam which may include spaced parallel wires between the back wall and the grid plates and extending along the channel or a special configuration of the electrodes on the back wall.

Abstract: An evacuated envelope has a rectangular display section and a gun section at one side of the display section. The display section includes rectangular front and back walls in closely spaced, substantially parallel relation, and a plurality of spaced, substantially parallel support walls between the front and back walls forming a plurality of parallel channels. The gun section extends across one end of the channels and includes gun structure which will selectively direct one or more electron beams along each of the channels. In each of the channels is a beam guide which confines the electrons of the beam but permits selective deflection of the electron beam out of the guide toward a phosphor screen on the inner surface of the front wall. The beam guide includes spaced, parallel conductors on the inner surface of the back wall extending transversely across the channels and a plurality of electrodes on the surfaces of walls which extend from the back wall toward the front wall.

Abstract: An evacuated envelope includes spaced, substantially parallel front and back walls, and a plurality of spaced, parallel supports between the front and back walls and forming a plurality of channels. A gun structure at one end of the channels directs at least one beam of electrons along each channel. In each of the channels is at least one beam focusing guide which confines the electrons in the beams but allows the beam to be selectively deflected out of the guide toward a phosphor screen on the inner surface of the front wall. Each of the focusing guides includes spaced walls between which the electron beam passes. Between the gun structure and each of the focusing guides is a beam clean-up section. The beam clean-up section serves to remove from the beam those electrons whose position and velocity vector are such that they would impinge on a wall of its focusing guide during the travel of the electron along the guide.

Abstract: An evacuated envelope has a rectangular addressing section and a gun section at one edge of the addressing section. The addressing section includes front and back walls in closely spaced, parallel relation, and a plurality of spaced, parallel support walls between the front and back walls forming a plurality of parallel channels. The gun section extends across one end of the channels and includes gun structure which will selectively direct electrons along each of the channels. In each of the channels are guide means to confine the electrons in a beam which is spaced from the walls of the channel and guide the beam along the length of the channel. Deflection means are provided which permit selective deflection of the electron beams toward a target, e.g. a phosphor screen, which is disposed along the inner surface of the front wall.