CA1088988A - Cathode ray tube having improved shadow mask - Google Patents

Cathode ray tube having improved shadow mask

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Publication number
CA1088988A
CA1088988A CA314,837A CA314837A CA1088988A CA 1088988 A CA1088988 A CA 1088988A CA 314837 A CA314837 A CA 314837A CA 1088988 A CA1088988 A CA 1088988A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
mask
faceplate
points
tube
sides
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA314,837A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Albert M. Morrell
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
RCA Corp
Original Assignee
RCA Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US05/729,349 external-priority patent/US4072876A/en
Priority claimed from US05/729,592 external-priority patent/US4136300A/en
Priority claimed from CA287,182A external-priority patent/CA1088987A/en
Application filed by RCA Corp filed Critical RCA Corp
Priority to CA314,837A priority Critical patent/CA1088988A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1088988A publication Critical patent/CA1088988A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Abstract

CATHODE RAY TUBE HAVING IMPROVED SHADOW MASK

Abstract A shadow mask type of cathode ray tube is improved by corrugation of the mask and support of the corrugated mask at points of inflection at the edges of the mask.

Description

3~
RCA 688p5A/706~1 Div. A

This application is a division of application Serial I No. 287,182, filed 21 September 1977.
This invention relates to shadow mask type cathode ray tubes and, particularly, to such tub~es having corrugated shadow masks supported therewithin.
In a shadow mask tube, a plurality of convergent electron beams are projected through a multi-apertured color selection shadow mask to a mosaic screen. The beam paths are such that each beam impinges upon and excites only one kind of color-emitting phosphor on the screen. Generally, the shadow mask is attached to a rigid frame, which in turn is suspended within the picture tube envelope.
Presently, all commercial color picture tubes have a front ~r viewing faceplate portion that is either spherical or cylindrical. However, it is desirable to develop a tube having a generally flat facep]ate. There are problems that must be solved before a tube having a flat faceplate is commercially feasible. A major problem involves the shadow mask. According to prior art tube design concepts, in tubes having curved faceplates, the shadow mask is similarly curved so that it somewhat parallels the faceplate contour. Thus, in keeping with these prior art concepts, in a tube with a flat faceplate, the corresponding shadow mask should also have an almost flat contour. However, such a mask has insufficient self-supporting strength or rigidity. One way to provide this strength or rigidity would be to put the mask under tension as is done in some commercially available tubes having cylindrical faceplates. Ilowever, tension methods require undesirable and expensive frame structures.
Another way of providing strength to the mask would be .~ .

''`~ ' ""-`' ' : "' RCA ~ 5A/70641 Div. A
IL~B~8 I give it some degree of contour. However, this may raise a problem of doming during an initial period of tube operation, caused by shadow mask heating and expansion when the mask is bombarded by the electron beams.
In accordance with the invention, a shadow mask type of cathode ray tube is improved by including a mask having parallel corrugations. In one species of the invention, the distance between adjacent peaks of the corrugations is at least twice as great as the spacing between adjacent apertures f the mask. In another species of the invention, the mask is at least partially suspended in the tube hy support means attached at a plurality of points along the corrugated sides of the mask.
In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view,partly in axial s~ction, of a shadow mask cathode ray tube having a 1at faceplate.
; FIGURE 2 is a partially cut-away top view of a cathode ray tube in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the mask-faceplate assembly of the tube of FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a modification of the mask-faceplate assembly of FIGURE 3.
FIGURE 5 is a top view of a mask-faceplate assembly suggested by prior art.
FIGURE 6 is an enlarged top view of the mask-face-plate assembly of the tube of FIGURE 2.

FIGURES 7 and 8 are enlargements of the portions designated 7 and 8 in FIGURES 5 and 6, respectively.

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I FIGURES 9, 10 and 11 are back, top and side views, respectively, of a cathode-ray tube cylindrical mask-faceplate assembly.
FIGURES 12, 13 and 14 are back, top and side views, respectively, of a cathode-ray tube spherical mask-faceplate assembly.
FIGURE 15 is a top view of a mask-faceplate assembly of a cathode-ra~ tube in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 16 is a top view of a mask-faceplate assembly of a cathode-ray tube in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention.
FIGURE 17 is a top view of a mask-faceplate assembly of a cathode-ray tube in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention.
FIGURE 18 is a section view taken at lines 18-18 in ~! FIGURE 17.
` FIGURE 19 is an enlarged partial section view taken at lines 19-19 in FIGURE 18.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a flat-face color television picture tube 16, whose apertured mask 18 has a reverse curvature to give it greater strength. A mask panel assembly similar to that incorpoxated in the tube 16 of FIGURE 1 is depicted in FIGU~E 2. FIGURE 2 illustrates an apertured-ma8k color television picture tube 20 constr~cted in accordance with the present invention, comprising an evacuated glass ; envelope 22. The envelope 22 includes a rectangularly-shaped flat faceplate panel 24, a funnel 26, and a neck 28. A

three-color phosphor-viewing screen 30 is supported on the inner surface 32 of the faceplate panel 24. An electron-gun : \ .

RC a~o5A/70641 Div. A

l~B~3988 assembly 34, positioned in the neck 28, includes three electron guns (not shown), one for each of the three color phosphors on the viewing-screen 30. A rectangular apertured mask 36 is -positioned in the envelope 22 adjacent the viewing screen 30.
The electron-gun assembly 34 is adapted to project three elec-tron beams through the apertured mask 36 to strike the viewing-screen structure 30 with the mask 36 serving as a color selection electrode. A magnetic deflection yoke 38 is positioned on the envelope 22 near the intersection of the funnel 26 and the neck 28. When suitably energized, the yoke 38 causes the electron beams to scan the screen 30 in a rectangular raster.
The apertured mask 36, further depicted in FIGURE 3, is corrugated or somewhat sinusoidally curved along the horizontal axis (in the direction of the longer dimension o~
the maskl with the corrugations extending vertically (between long sides of the mask or in the direction of the shorter dimension of the mask). It should be understood that the term corrugated is herein defined broadly to include various shapes including a sawtooth waveform as well as sinusoidal shapes.
Although the mask 36 is shown without any curvature vertically, it should be understood that a mask having some curvature along the vertical axis also is included within the scope of the present invention, an example of which is presented below.

The mask 36 includes a plurality of slit-shaped apertures 40 aligned in vertical columns. In order to keep acceptable line formation on the screen, that is maintaining even spacing or nesting between the phosphor lines, the horizontal spacing between aperture columns is varied as a function of the spacing between the mask 36 and the screen 30 ` ' ' ' , ' ' ' ' , RCA 6~ J5A/7064l Div. A

:

1 according to the following formula:
,, ~, where "a" is the horizontal spacing between aperture columns~
"q" is the spacing between the mask and the faceplate, "L" is the distance from the screen to the electron beam deflection plane, and "s" is the spacing between a center and outer beam at the deflection plane.
Therefore, once the mask contour "q" is established to obtain desired strength and/or rigidity, the parameter "a" is allowed to vary horizontally over the mask in accordance with such mask contour. Generally, the peak-to-peak wavelength dimension (e.g. from point A to point B) of the corrugated or sinusoidal variation in the mask should be at least twice as great as the spacing between adjacent apertures.
As shown in FIGURE 3, the apertured mask 36 is mounted to the faceplate panel 24 by a plurality of flexible supports 42 positioned along corrugated sides of the mask 36 and rigid supports 44 positioned at the straight sides of the mask 36.
Each of the flexlble supports 42 is L-shaped, comprising two flanges 46 and 48, and is attached -to the faceplate panel 24 at the bottom flange 46 by suitable means such as by being , sealed with a glass frit. The second flange 48 of each flex-ible support 42 is cantilevered out from the faceplate panel 24 and provides the flexible portion of the support 42. The ; mask 36 is connectecl to the flexible supports 42 on the corrugated sides at points of inflection where the direction of curvature of the mask changes. Such points are on the centerline of the corrugated or sine-wave mask shape. The ' R ~8805A/70641 Div. A

1 cantilever structure of the supports 42 permits flexibility in the direction of the corrugations, i.e. in the vertical direction ~as determined by the tube in its normal operating orientation) thus allowing for thermal expansion of the mask in this direction. Since the phosphor lines extend vertically, there is no misregister caused by mask expansion in the vertical direction. In the perpendicular or horizontal direction, however, the supports 42 are very rigid.
Correspondingly, the supports 44 on the side of the mask 36 are rigid in both the hori7ontal and vertical directions and hold the center of the mask from movement.
An alternative version of a mask supporting embodiment that provides a similar type of mask suspension is shown in FIGURE4 . In this embodiment, the flexible supports at the top and bottom of the mask are replaced with two metal bars 50 having low expansion characteristics relative to the mask material. For example, if the material of the mask 36 is steel, the bars 50 may be invar. The mask 36 is connected to the support bars 50 along the centerline of its corxugated or sine wave shaped sides. The bars 50 in turn are mounted to the ~aceplate panel 24 by flexible supports 52 that are attached near each end of each bar 50. Side supports 54 for the mask 36 are attached to the short sides of the mask and perform the same function as described with respect to the supports 44 of the previous embodiment, that of fixing the position of the center of the mask.

An advantage of the mask support of the present invention can be appreciated by comparing an embodiment of the invention with an embodiment suggested by the prior art.
FIGURE 5 shows a flat faceplate 56 having a spherically ~ RC. j~805A/7064l Div. A
. .

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1 contoured apertured mask 58 mounted thereto by means of rigid support members 60. FIGURE 6 shows a similar view of the faceplate and mask assembly of the tube of FIGVRE 2. The dashed lines 59 and 37 in FIGtJRES 5 and 6, respectively, represent the configuration the masks take in a condition of thermal expansion due to bombardment by the electron beams. The spherical mask 58 of FIGURE 5, being held at its edges by the supports 60, domes substantially toward the faceplate 56. However, the mask 36 of FIGURE 6 is held at various points by the supports 42 and therefore only domes between these support points.
The net effect of this doming is illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8, which are enlargements of the indicated areas of FIGURES 5 and 6, respectively. As shown in FIGURE

7, the landing spot of an electron beam 6~ passing through an aperture 64 of the heated domed mask 59 is displaced a distance ~ from the landing spot of an electron beam 62 passing through an aperture 68 of an unheated mask 58 However, in a tube using the present invention, displacement of the heated mask is much less. FIGURE 8 shows the position of the heated mask 37 only slightly moved from the position of the unheated mask 36. The resultant shift ; of the beam spot is designated ~', which from the illustrations can be seen to be considerably less than the shift encountered with the prior art tube because of the reduced mask movement.
Although the invention has been described with respect to a flat faceplate, it should be appreciated that the invention is also applicable if the faceplate has cuxvature. FIGURES 9,lO and ll depict a faceplate panel R( ~8805A/70641 Div. A

assembly 70 having a rectangular faceplate 72 khat is cyllndrical~y curved and to which an apertured mask 74 is mounted by means of flexible and rigid supports, 76 and 78, respectively. The mask 74 is corrugated with the points of inflection of the corrugations lying in a curved or cylindrical plane. The flexi~le supports 76 extend from the faceplate 72 and are attached to the long sides of the mask 74 at the points of inflection. ~he rigid supports 78 also extend from the faceplate 72 and are l attached to the mask 74 at the center of its short sides.
In another embodiment, illustrated in FIGURES 12, 13 and 14, a faceplate panel assembly 80 is shown with a spherically curved faceplate 82. A mask 84 is attached to the faceplate 82 by means of flexible and rigid supports 86 and 88, respectively. The mask 84 is spherically curved similar to the faceplate 82 and has vertically extending corrugations superimposed thereon.
Like the previous embodiment, the flexible supports 86 extend from the faceplate 82 and are attached to the points of inflection along the long sides of the mask 84 and the rigid supports 88 are attached to the centers of the short sides of the mask.
Although the preceding embodiments have been shown with the corrugated masks attached to the supports at the points of inflection at the corrugated sides of the masks, the scope of the invention can include other mounting points of mutual correspondence. For example, the mounting points may be at any other regular points on the mask that are a fixed distance from a reference plane, such _g_ .~

RCA 1BO5A/70641 Div. A
..~

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1 as at the points on the mask nearest the faceplate panel.
FIGURES 15 and 16 show such a mask support system. In FIGURE 15, a corrugated mask 90 is shown mounted to a flat faceplate panel 92 by means of flexible and rigid supports 94 and 96, respectively. The flexible supports 94 are affixed to the panel 92 and are attached to the corrugated sides of the mask at points on the mask closest to the faceplate panel.
Correspondingly, FIGURE 16 shows a corrugated mask 98 mounted at its corrugated sides to a faceplate panel 100 with metal bars 102 which are attached to and at least partially supported by flexible supports 104 similar to those shown with respect to the embodiment of FIGURE 4.
It should be appreciated, however, that the effect of doming in the embodiments of FIGURES 15 and 16, although much less than in the single arch example o~ FIGU~E 5, will be somewhat greater than in the embodiment of FIGURE 6 (wherein the mask is supported at points of inflection) since the mask span between supports is greater.
In all of the foregoing embodiments, the mask supports have been shown extending direc~ly from the edges of the viewing portion of the tube faceplate as illustrated examples. This is only one possible arrangement of the supports within the scope of the present invention.
The supports also can be extended from the sidewalls of the tube faceplate instead of from the viewing portion.
Alternatively, the supports can al50 extend between the mask and a frame which in turn is suspended within the tube faceplate.

E~C~ El805A/70641 DiV. A

I FIGURES 17, 18 and 19 illustrate another embodiment according to the present invention, wherein a corrugated rectangular apertured mask 110 is attached to a peripheral frame 112. The frame 112 is suspended within a flat rectangula~ faceplate panel 114 by a plurality of spring supports 116 that are removably mounted on conical studs 118 embedded within a peripheral sidewall 120 of the panel 114.
The attachment of the mask 110 to the frame 112 is made by means of a plurality of tabs 122 formed integrally as part of the mask structure. Each tab 122 extends from a side of the mask 110 at a point of inflection on the corrugated cross-section and is welded to a flange of the frame 112.
Two additional tabs 124 are located at the center of the two opposite vertical sides of the mask to prevent vertical displacement of the mask during tube operation.
The tabs 122 and 124 are preferably formed ~y adding their outline to the photographic mastexs that are used to - expose the aperture pattern during mask fabrication. The ~inal shape of the mask and tabs are then defined when the mask is etched.

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Claims (6)

1. A shadow mask type cathode-ray tube comprising a faceplate, and a shadow mask having a plurality of aper-tures therethrough, wherein said mask has parallel corru-gations delineated by two corrugated sides and two other sides, said corrugations extending linearly from one cor-rugated side to the other, and said mask being at least partially suspended in said tube by support means attached at a plurality of points of mutual correspondence along each of said corrugated sides.
2. The tube according to claim 1, wherein said points of mutual correspondence are points of inflection along said corrugated sides of said mask.
3. The tube according to claim 1, wherein said support means includes flexible portions to allow for expansion of said mask.
4. The tube according to claim 3, wherein said support means comprises individual supports attached at points of inflection along said corrugated sides of said mask, said individual supports being each separately affixed to said faceplate.
5. The tube according to claim 3, wherein said support means comprises bar members attached each at points of inflection along one or the other of said corrugated sides of said mask, said bar members being of a material having a substantially lower thermal expansion coefficient than that of said mask.
6. The tube according to any one of claims 1,2 and 3, wherein restraints are attached to the centers of said other sides of said mask.
CA314,837A 1976-10-04 1978-10-30 Cathode ray tube having improved shadow mask Expired CA1088988A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA314,837A CA1088988A (en) 1976-10-04 1978-10-30 Cathode ray tube having improved shadow mask

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US05/729,349 US4072876A (en) 1976-10-04 1976-10-04 Corrugated shadow mask assembly for a cathode ray tube
US05/729,592 US4136300A (en) 1975-03-19 1976-10-04 Cathode ray tube having improved shadow mask
US729,349 1976-10-04
US729,592 1976-10-04
CA287,182A CA1088987A (en) 1976-10-04 1977-09-21 Cathode ray tube having improved shadow mask
CA314,837A CA1088988A (en) 1976-10-04 1978-10-30 Cathode ray tube having improved shadow mask

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1088988A true CA1088988A (en) 1980-11-04

Family

ID=27426029

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA314,837A Expired CA1088988A (en) 1976-10-04 1978-10-30 Cathode ray tube having improved shadow mask

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1088988A (en)

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