Abstract: The radiation generated by electrons from field emission current striking the anode of a high voltage vacuum device is used as an analog for the emission current in a method for assessing the dielectric state of the device. The emission current is determined by applying a variable voltage, less than that required to produce breakdown, to the device and measuring the radiation generated by the emission current. The radiation measurement is correlated to the amount of field emission current by means of a predetermined relationship, and the field enhancement factor, .beta., associated with the dielectric state of the device is determined from the slope of a plot of the logarithm of the quantity resulting from dividing the emission current by the square of the applied voltage, versus the reciprocal of the applied voltage. Alternatively, .beta. may be determined from the slope of a plot of the measured radiation versus the reciprocal voltage.

Abstract: The novel method of electrically processing a completed and operative CRT comprises (A) heating the portions of the focus electrode that face a high-voltage electrode at temperatures above about 700.degree. C. and simultaneously (B) spot-knocking the heated portions of the focus electrode. The novel method can be applied during the initial processing of the CRT and/or subsequently during a reprocessing procedure.

Abstract: A method is disclosed which permits instant-heat cathodes for color-picture tubes to be formed in a single process step and avoids the formation of an activated barium-oxide deposit on the grid cylinder. This is achieved by alternately switching the heater current on and off with the operating voltages applied, the heater voltage and the "on" and "off" periods of the heater current being chosen so that, averaged over the "on" and "off" periods, the rated heating power and the rated power dissipation are maintained during the formation process, and that, when the temperature of the emitting material decreases during the "off" periods, no saturation of the electrode currents occurs.

Abstract: An article of manufacture is disclosed comprising a cathode ray tube having a glass face panel with a cathodoluminescent screen on the inner surface thereof. The screen has a phosphor constituent vulnerable to patterned discoloring known as character burn. Character burn is caused by static area electron bombardment of such time and intensity as to discolor the phosphor, but not appreciably degrade phosphor efficiency. The tube according to the invention is characterized by having a conditioned screen uniformly burn-discolored throughout at least in the visible portion of the screen to render substantially imperceptible patterned character burn resulting from use. A process is also disclosed for use in the manufacture of cathode ray tubes and display monitors, and the reclamation of character-burned cathode ray tubes to render character burn substantially imperceptible.

Abstract: A method of processing regunned cathode ray tubes by exhausting/baking the tube, aging the cathode, and only then flashing the getter. Finally, the gettered tube is high voltage conditioned before testing.

Abstract: A method of producing a magnetron is disclosed which has a getter on at least one of the opposed surfaces of two end shields of a cathode. The getter is formed in such a manner that after the cathode is assembled, a paste containing a getter metal powder is coated on at least one of the opposed surfaces of the end shields and dried before the filament of the cathode is carburized and then while the magnetron is being exhausted, the dried paste is sintered to produce a sintered substance of the getter metal powder.

Abstract: A process for making an envelope for a projection televised tube, that includes a spherically curved electronic beam target surface spaced away from the neck of the tube, a larger reflective surface spherically curved concentrically with the target surface on an end plate located close to the tube neck, a target support that preferably constitutes a face plate for the envelope, and a hollow cylindrical spacer member for closing the side of the tube envelope and for holding the target support accurately spaced from the reflective surface, includes making the ends of the cylindrical member and the abutting peripheral surfaces of the end plate and target concentric with the target and reflective surfaces, so that slight relative lateral motion of the parts during assembly and bonding will not affect tube projection optics, while the relationship between the target and reflective surfaces is precisely maintained in spaced concentric relationship.

Abstract: An aging method for a thin-film electroluminescent display element comprises the steps of applying an AC voltage having at least one characteristic selected from the features that its frequency is approximately within 500 Hz through 10 KHz, its pulse width is approximately within 20 .mu.sec through 100 .mu.sec, and its voltage is of a magnitude, at which a virgin thin-film electroluminescent display element starts to emit electroluminescence, plus 30 V through 60 V.

Abstract: While a CRT is being baked at temperatures up to about 450.degree. C. and exhausted of gases prior to sealing, the mount assembly is heated to higher temperatures with RF energy. In the novel method, a selected portion of the mount assembly is shielded from the RF energy in such manner that it is not heated above about 350.degree. C.

Abstract: Before a CRT is tipped off following exhaustion of gases to a low pressure, at least a portion of one of the electrodes of the mount assembly (e.g., the grid electrode facing the anode) is heated to high temperatures, preferably about 700.degree. to 800.degree. C., in an atmosphere having a partial pressure of oxygen.

Abstract: A method is proposed for eliminating so-called halo blocked apertures in color picture cathode-ray tubes. The cathode-ray tube comprises an evacuated envelope having therein a luminescent viewing screen, an electron gun for producing at least one electron beam for exciting the screen to luminescence and an apertured mask closely spaced from the screen for selectively intercepting and transmitting portions of the electron beam. A getter is provided for coating an interior surface of the apertured mask with a gas-sorbing, conductive getter material film. The halo blocked apertures are caused by insulative negatively-charged particles attached to the interior surface of the apertured mask. The conventional tube processing includes the steps of getter flashing, cathode discharge ball gap, cathode conversion, hot shot, first low voltage age, implosion proofing, external coating, frit breakdown check, radio frequency spot knock and final low voltage age.

Abstract: In a method of fabricating a cathode-ray tube, an evacuated and sealed bulb provided with a phosphor screen and an electron gun including a cathode is subjected to a process of flashing a getter attached to the inner wall of the bulb. Thereafter, the bulb is subjected to a scanning process of causing the electron gun to emit an electron beam therefrom while deflecting the electron beam. The scanning process is followed by an aging process for the cathode of the electron gun.

Abstract: A method of aging a cathode of an evacuated cathode-ray tube having an electron gun including a heater, a cathode, a control electrode, a screen electrode and a focus electrode is proposed. The cathode and the focus electrode are interconnected. A first potential is applied to the heater while a second potential is applied to the cathode and focus electrode. At the same time, a third potential, more positive than the second potential, is applied to the control electrode. A fourth potential is applied to the screen electrode. A change in the fourth potential is sensed and the sensed change in the fourth potential is used to generate a control signal to vary the first potential to the heater. The aging process is terminated when the control signal causes a predetermined value of the first potential to be achieved. A structure to provide at least some of the above-indicated potentials as well as to sense the change in one of the potentials and to generate the control signal is also disclosed.