Patent Application
20050189862
This application claims priority of Korean Patent Application number 2004-0012952, filed Feb. 26, 2004, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cathode ray tube (CRT). More particularly, the present invention relates to a CRT having a scanning velocity modulation (SVM) coil, and to an electron gun applied to this CRT.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A CRT typically includes a panel, a funnel, and a neck, which are integrally fused to define an exterior of the CRT. A phosphor screen is formed on an interior surface of the panel. Also, an electron gun, which emits electron beams toward the phosphor screen, is mounted within the neck. The funnel is positioned between the panel and the neck, and has a deflection yoke mounted to an outer circumference thereof for deflecting the electron beams emitted from the electron gun.
A configuration in which an SVM coil is mounted on an outer circumference of the neck of the CRT is well known (e.g., the projection-type CRT). The SVM coil synchronizes the electron beams passing through electrodes of the electron gun with image signals applied to the CRT to deflect the electron beams, thereby improving the resolution around edges of the image realized on the phosphor screen. The SVM coil is generally comprised of two saddle-shaped coils that are connected in series.
An electron gun 1 includes a cathode 3 that emits electron beams. The electron gun 1 also includes a plurality of grid electrodes G1, G2, G3, G4, and G5 (hereinafter referred to as first, second, third, fourth, and fifth grid electrodes, respectively) that focus and accelerate the electron beams emitted from the cathode 3. A bead glass 5 aligns and fixes the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth grid electrodes G1, G2, G3, G4, and G5 in this sequence.
The first and second grid electrodes G1 and G2 have a short length in an axial direction Z of the CRT, while the third and fourth grid electrodes G3 and G4 are cylindrical and have a longer length in the axial direction Z relative to the first and second grid electrodes G1 and G2. The fourth grid electrode G4 acts as a focusing electrode that focuses electron beams. An SVM coil 7 is mounted to an outer circumference of a neck 9 at a position approximately corresponding to the location of the fourth grid electrode G4.
In the CRT structured as in the above, the SVM coil 7 applies a deflection magnetic field to the electron beams generated by the electron gun 1 so that the electron beams perform scanning in a favorable state to desired locations of a phosphor screen (not shown). However, with such a structure, the SVM magnetic field does not directly act upon the electron beams, and instead is partially blocked by the fourth grid electrode G4 such that its strength is reduced. Therefore, the electron beam position is unable to be precisely controlled.
Furthermore, an eddy current is generated on a surface of the fourth grid electrode G4 by the SVM magnetic field passing through the fourth grid electrode G4. This further weakens the magnetic field acting on the electron beams. The eddy current is directly proportional to a surface area of the electrode that blocks the magnetic field.
In an attempt to remedy these problems, Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. Showa 55-146847 discloses a CRT in which an electron gun corresponding to a position of an SVM coil is realized through at least two individual electrodes with a predetermined gap between the electrodes. The SVM coil is mounted to an outer circumference of a neck corresponding to a position of the gap (of the electron gun electrodes) such that a magnetic field generated by the SVM coil passes through the gap.
Although a sensitivity of the magnetic field can be enhanced with increases in gap size, such increases weaken the ability of the individual electrodes to focus electron beams as a result of an electrical field that enters from an exterior of the electrodes (e.g., an electrical field formed by a connector that electrically connects the individual electrodes). Therefore, there are limitations placed on how much the gap may be enlarged, and these limitations are such that the gap may not be made large enough to realize sufficient improvements in magnetic field sensitivity of the SVM coil. Stated differently, there are limits to how much the sensitivity of the magnetic field of the SVM coil can be increased.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. Heisei 2000-188607 discloses an electron gun in an effort to overcome these problems. In this patent, electrodes corresponding to a position of an SVM coil are formed in a coil configuration in an attempt to prevent a deterioration in the focusing of the electron beams by the influence of an exterior electric field, and to suppress eddy currents generated on the electrodes.
However, the coil-shaped electrodes are mounted along all directions perpendicular to an axial direction of the CRT such that although part of the magnetic field generated by the SVM coil acts on the coil-shaped electrodes, there is no substantial increase in the effect of the SVM coil with this configuration.
One exemplary embodiment of the present invention is an electron gun for a CRT having an SVM coil, and a CRT having the electron gun, in which the efficiency of using a magnetic field generated by the SVM coil is maximized, and a deterioration in focusing characteristics caused by an external electric field is prevented.
One exemplary embodiment of the present invention is an electron gun for a cathode ray tube including a scanning velocity modulation coil mounted on an outer circumference of a neck of the cathode ray tube includes a cathode for emitting an electron beam; a plurality of grid electrodes sequentially arranged starting from the cathode, and including a plurality of focus electrodes arranged with a predetermined gap therebetween; supports on which the plurality of grid electrodes are fixed in a row; and a shield electrode configured between the plurality of focus electrodes and connected to the plurality of focus electrodes. The shield electrode defines a continuous space along a long axis direction of the cathode ray tube.
The shield electrode includes at least one gap along a direction substantially perpendicular to the long axis direction of the cathode ray tube.
The shield electrode includes a pair of first and second shield electrodes provided opposing one another with a predetermined gap therebetween, and configured so as to form the space, the first and second shield electrodes closely contacting the focus electrodes and being fixed to the same.
The space is formed along a direction in line with the supports.
The first and second shield electrodes may be welded to the focus electrodes.
The first and second shield electrodes may each include a plurality of strips arranged at predetermined intervals, and connecting bars arranged between the strips for interconnecting adjacent strips.
The connecting bars may alternatingly be mounted to ends of the strips.
In one embodiment, if a width of the stripes is W1, and a length of the gap is W2, the following condition is satisfied,
W1<W2.
Corners of the strips are formed at an angle, or may be rounded.
A combination of the first and second shield electrodes may be dome-shaped. Also, the strips and the connecting bars may be made of thin plates having predetermined thicknesses and widths, or of wires having a predetermined diameter.
The first and second shield electrodes are individually formed, or may be interconnected by a connector that extends from an end of the first shield electrode to an end of the second shield electrode.
In another exemplary embodiment, an electron gun for a cathode ray tube includes a scanning velocity modulation coil mounted on an outer circumference of a neck of the cathode ray tube includes a cathode for emitting an electron beam; a plurality of grid electrodes sequentially arranged starting from the cathode, and including a plurality of focus electrodes arranged with a predetermined gap therebetween; supports on which the plurality of grid electrodes are fixed in a row; and a shield electrode configured between the plurality of focus electrodes and connected to the plurality of focus electrodes, wherein the shield electrode forms a plurality of first slots formed in a direction substantially parallel to an elongated axis direction of the cathode ray tube, and a plurality of second slots formed along a direction that is different from the direction of the first slots.
The plurality of first slots are formed along the elongated axis of the cathode ray tube.
The plurality of second slots are formed at predetermined intervals and may be formed substantially transversed to the direction of the first slot.
In one embodiment, if a length of one of the slots in the plurality of first slots is W3, and a width of one of the slots in the plurality of second slots is W4, the following condition is satisfied,
W3>W4.
The supports are formed within the first slots.
The shield electrode comprises a pair of opposing electrodes each formed in a meander pattern.
Each of the opposing electrodes of the shield electrode is formed having a cross section, taken along a plane perpendicular to the long axis of the cathode ray tube, that is arc shaped.
The shield electrode is mounted to an outer circumference of the focus electrodes.
The accompanying drawings, which together with the specification illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.
a and 5b are respectively a side sectional view and a plan view of a shield electrode of
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The CRT is a projection-type CRT (or monochrome CRT) that may be applied to a display device such as a projection television. Its structure, as with the conventional CRT, includes a panel 2 on an inside surface of which is formed a phosphor screen, a funnel 6 connected to the panel 2 with a deflection device 4 mounted to an outer circumference thereof for deflecting electron beams by generating a magnetic field, and a neck 10 connected to the funnel 6 and inside of which is mounted an electron gun 8 for emitting electron beams. The panel 2, the funnel 6, and the neck 10 are fused together to form a vacuum tube assembly.
The electron gun 8 generates a single electron beam, as opposed to the three beams generated by an electron gun in a color CRT. Referring now to
The grid electrode 8e includes a plurality of focus electrodes with a predetermined gap therebetween. In this exemplary embodiment, the grid electrode 8e includes a first focus electrode 80e and a second focus electrode 82e. The first and second focus electrodes 80e and 82e are provided as individual units and are mounted with a predetermined gap therebetween. The CRT also includes an SVM coil 14 mounted to an outer circumference of the neck 10. The SVM coil 14 is mounted to the exterior of the neck 10 at a position corresponding to the gap between the first and second focus electrodes 80e and 82e.
In the CRT structured as discussed above, the following structure is used to maximize the efficiency at which the magnetic field generated by the SVM coil 14 is used, and to effectively prevent a deterioration in focusing caused by an external electric field.
A shield electrode 16 is mounted between and electrically connected to the focus electrodes 80e and 82e. The shield electrode 16 functions such that the electron beam passing through the focus electrodes 80e and 82e is not affected by an external electric field.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the shield electrode 16 is configured and mounted between the focus electrodes 80e and 82e in such a manner as to form a continuous space 17 along a long axis Z of the CRT. The space forms a type of columnar slot between the first and second focus electrodes 80e and 82e. For easy reference, the slot will subsequently be referred to as a first slot 18, shown in
The continuous space 17 refers to the space between the shield electrodes 16a and 16b on the periphery of an imaginary cylinder configured between the imagery lines 17b and the pair of shield electrodes 16a and 16b, when they are brought together, that is the first slot 18, shown in
With reference to
The first slot 18 is formed along the long axis Z as described above. The shield electrode 16, which forms the first slot 18, includes a pair of shield electrodes 16a and 16b (i.e., first and second shield electrodes, shown in
In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, ends of the first shield electrode 16a and the second shield electrode 16b closely contact an outer circumference of the focus electrodes 80e and 82e and are fixed thereto by forming welds at the areas of contact. However, it is noted that this is just one example of the interconnection between these elements. For example, the ends of the first and second shield electrodes 16a and 16b may closely contact an inner circumference of the focus electrodes 80e and 82e, and the connection may be made using other methods besides welding.
In particular, the focus electrodes 80e and 82e are cylindrical electrodes having an inner space defined therebetween.
The first shield electrode 16a is formed of a plurality of strips 160a, with connecting bars 162a interconnecting adjacent strips 160a. Similarly, the second shield electrode 16b is formed of a plurality of strips 160b, with connecting bars 162b interconnecting adjacent strips 160b. The connecting bars 162a and 162b interconnect ends of the strips 160a and 160b, respectively, in a state where adjacent strips 160a and 160b are at a predetermined distance from each other. Also, with respect to the first shield electrode 16a, one of the connecting bars 162a interconnects one of the ends of a pair of adjacent strips 160a and opposite ends of the next pair of adjacent strips 160a. This pattern is repeated for the entire shield electrode 16a and is also used for the second shield electrode 16b.
Using this connecting structure of the strips 160a and 160b and the connecting bars 162a and 162b, the overall shape of each of the first shield electrode 16a and the second shield electrode 16b is similar to that of the dome form, and when interconnected, the outer shape of the combined first and second shield electrodes 16a and 16b correspond to the shape of the focus electrodes 80e and 82e. A plan view is such that each of the first and second shield electrodes 16a and 16b is formed into a meandered pattern as shown in
With this configuration, second slots 164a and 164b are formed in the spaces between the strips 160a and 160b, respectively. The second slots 164a and 164b are formed along a direction that is different from the direction along which the first slot 18 is formed. In the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, if a line is drawn through any two points in arcs formed by the second slots 164c and 164b, the line is substantially perpendicular to the long axis direction of the first slot 18.
Also, in the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a width W3 of the first slot 18 (
In addition, in this exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the strips 160a and 160b, and the connecting bars 162a and 162b of the first and second shield electrodes 16a and 16b, are made of thin plate members having a predetermined thickness t and widths W1 and W2(see
W1<W2.
These dimensions of the first and second shield electrodes 16a and 16b are those determined through repeated tests performed by the inventors to provide optimal structural strength to the shield electrode 16 and usage efficiency of the SVM coil 14 (i.e., efficiency in using the magnetic field generated by the SVM coil 14).
In the CRT structured as in the above, the phosphor screen formed on the inner surface of the panel 2 is illuminated by the electron beams emitted by the electron gun 8 to thereby produce specific images. The magnetic field generated by the SVM coil 14 during this process controls the electron beam passing through the first slot 18 and the second slots 164a and 164b of the shield electrode 16, and through the focus electrodes 80e and 82e.
The magnetic field generated by the SVM coil 14 easily reaches the scanning path of the electron beam by passing into the first slot 18 and through the second slots 164a and 164b of the shield electrode 16. In addition, a surface area of the shield electrode 16 may be optimized by the first slot 18 and the second slots 164a and 164b such that an eddy current formed on the surface thereof may be minimized, thereby allowing the efficiency in using the magnetic field generated by the SVM coil 14 to be maximized.
Furthermore, the combination of the first and second shield electrodes 16a and 16b of the shield electrode 16 is dome-shaped as described above, to correspond to the shape of the focus electrodes 80e and 82e. This allows easy welding of the shield electrode 16 to the focus electrodes 80e and 82e.
In addition, since it is unnecessary for the shield electrode 16 to be elastic as with the conventional coil-type shield electrode, heat treating of the shield electrode 16 is possible to thereby improve the ability of the same to withstand voltage.
A height of the first slot 18, that is, a gap (g) between the first and second electrodes 16a and 16b affects the degree to which the magnetic field generated by the SVM coil 14 influences the electron beam and the amount of deterioration in the path of the electron beam caused by an external electric field. It was determined through repeated testing by the inventors that it is preferable that the gap (g) does not reach or exceed 4 mm.
Additional exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described.
The shield electrode 30 includes first and second shield electrodes 30a and 30b. The first shield electrode 30a is formed of a plurality of strips 300a, with connecting bars 302a interconnecting adjacent strips 300a. Similarly, the second shield electrode 30b is formed of a plurality of strips 300b, with connecting bars 302b interconnecting adjacent strips 300b. Taking into consideration strength and ease of manufacture of the shield electrode 30, it is preferable that a diameter of the wires forming the first and second shield electrodes 30a and 30b is in the range of 0.3˜1.5 mm, and a distance (d) between the strips is in the range of the 0.3˜2.0 mm.
Further, although not shown in the drawings, it is possible for the shield electrode to be formed by the combination of a plurality of strips in a zigzag pattern.
In the CRT of the present invention described above, the structure of the shield electrode is improved such that the sensitivity to a magnetic field generated by the SVM coil is increased and the negative affect on focusing characteristics of the electron beam caused by an external electric field is prevented, thereby improving the resolution around edges of the image realized on the phosphor screen.
In addition, since it is possible to heat treat the shield electrode, its ability to withstand higher voltages may be improved. Also, the formation of the shield electrode to a shape corresponding to the structure of the focus electrodes allows for easy connection between these elements using, for example, a welding process, thereby improving productivity.
Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinabove in connection with certain exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary is intended to cover various modifications and/or equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2004-0012952 | Feb 2004 | KR | national |
