Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6437838
-
Patent Number
6,437,838
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, January 30, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, August 20, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Mai; Lanna
- Anderson; Jerry A.
Agents
- Tripoli; Joseph S.
- Irlbeck; Dennis H.
- Herrera; Carlos M.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 348 818
- 348 821
- 348 822
- 348 825
- 348 826
- 348 836
- 313 482
- 220 21
- 220 23
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A display apparatus 10 comprises at least one speaker 16 and a cathode-ray tube (CRT) 14 secured within an enclosure 12 to a plurality of mounting bosses 50. The cathode-ray tube 14 has an evacuated envelope 17 with a substantially rectangular-shaped faceplate panel 18 having four corners and a viewing portion 26 extending to a peripheral sidewall 28. The viewing portion 26 has a luminescent line screen 32 on the interior surface thereof The viewing portion 26 including two orthogonal axes, a major axis, X, parallel to a longer dimension of the viewing portion and a minor axis, Y, parallel to a smaller dimension of the viewing portion. The CRT 14 has therein an electron gun 38, capable of generating at least one electron beam, aligned along a central longitudinal axis, Z, of the CRT that is perpendicular to the major and minor axes. The CRT 14 also has a color selection electrode 36 in proximity to the interior surface of the viewing portion 26 of the faceplate panel 18. An implosion protection band 44 extends around the sidewall 28 of the faceplate panel 18. At least four mounting lugs 146, 246, 346, each having a base portion 148, 248, 348 and an attachment portion 150, 249-250, 350, with a mounting aperture 152, 251-252, 352, therethrough, cooperate with the implosion protection band 44 to facilitate securing the CRT 14 within the enclosure 12. The attachment portion 150, 249-250, 350, of each of the mounting lugs 146, 246, 346, is aligned along the central longitudinal axis, Z, of the CRT 14 and parallel to at least one of the two orthogonal axes, X, Y, to strengthen the attachment portion and reduce microphonics induced by the speaker 16.
Description
The invention relates generally to structures for supporting a display apparatus, such as a color television picture tube, within an enclosure, such as a cabinet, having at least one speaker and, more particularly, to mounting lugs which provide greater support to the color television picture tube and a reduction in microphonics to certain of the components within the tube induced by the acoustical vibration of the speaker.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A cathode ray tube (CRT), such as a color television picture tube, is evacuated to a very low pressure and accordingly is subject to the possibility of implosion due to the stresses produced by atmospheric pressure acting on all surfaces of the tube. This problem has been addressed in the art by providing the CRT with an implosion protection band, which circumscribes the faceplate of the tube and applies a compressive force thereto. Mounting lugs, either integral with, or attached to the implosion protection band are used to support the tube within the cabinet. Typically, the mounting lugs are positioned at the corners of the tube and have an attachment surface disposed perpendicular to the sidewall of the faceplate and aligned along the faceplate diagonals. Bolts, screws or equivalent hardware extend through openings in the mounting surfaces of the lugs to attach the tube to mounting bosses in the cabinet. This effectively couples the tube to the cabinet along the longitudinal, or Z-axis of the tube. In a cabinet having front-mounted speakers, the acoustical vibration of the speakers induces a maximum vibration to the tube and its internal components, especially the color selection electrode, in the Z-axis direction. Additionally, during transporting of the display apparatus, mishandling occasionally occurs, for example if the apparatus is dropped. If the drop occurs with the CRT in a “neck down” orientation, the mounting lugs may be bent resulting in a gap between the bezel of the enclosure and the tube. If conductive material is inadvertently inserted into this gap it is possible that electrical contact with portions of the tube that operate a high voltage could occur.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A display apparatus comprises at least one speaker and a cathoderay tube (CRT) secured within an enclosure to a plurality of mounting bosses. The cathode-ray tube has an evacuated envelope with a substantially rectangular-shaped faceplate panel having four corners and a viewing portion extending to a peripheral sidewall. The viewing portion has a luminescent line screen on the interior surface thereof. The viewing portion including two orthogonal axes, a major axis parallel to a longer dimension of the viewing portion and a minor axis parallel to a smaller dimension of the viewing portion. The CRT has therein an electron gun, capable of generating at least one electron beam, aligned along a central longitudinal axis of the CRT that is perpendicular to the major and minor axes. The CRT also has a color selection electrode in proximity to the interior surface of the viewing portion of the faceplate. An implosion protection band extends around the sidewall of the faceplate panel. At least four mounting lugs, each having a base portion and an attachment portion with a mounting aperture therethrough, cooperate with the implosion protection band to facilitate securing the CRT within the enclosure. The attachment portion of each of the mounting lugs is aligned along the central longitudinal axis of the tube and parallel to at least one of the two orthogonal axes to strengthen the attachment portion and reduce microphonics induced by the speaker.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a display apparatus.
FIG. 2
is a plan view, partially in axial section, of a color CRT used in the display apparatus of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 3
is a rear view of the display apparatus of
FIG. 1
utilizing a prior art CRT mounting structure.
FIG. 4
is an enlarged section of a tension mask shown within circle
4
of FIG.
3
.
FIG. 5
is a rear view of the display apparatus utilizing a first embodiment of the novel CRT mounting structure.
FIG. 6
is an enlarged view of a portion of the novel CRT mounting structure with the circle
6
of FIG.
5
.
FIG. 7
is a rear view of a portion of the display apparatus utilizing the first embodiment of the novel CRT mounting structure.
FIG. 8
is a rear view of the display apparatus utilizing a second embodiment of the novel CRT mounting structure.
FIG. 9
is a rear view of a portion of the display apparatus utilizing the second embodiment of a novel CRT mounting structure.
FIG. 10
is a rear view of a portion of the display apparatus utilizing a third embodiment of a novel CRT mounting structure.
FIG. 11
is a rear view of a portion of the display apparatus utilizing the third embodiment of a novel CRT mounting structure.
FIG. 12
is a rear view of the display apparatus utilizing a fourth embodiment of a novel CRT mounting structure.
FIG. 13
is a rear view of a portion of the display apparatus utilizing the fourth embodiment of a novel CRT mounting structure.
FIG. 14
is a rear view of the display apparatus utilizing a fifth embodiment of a novel CRT mounting structure.
FIG. 15
is a rear view of a portion of the display apparatus utilizing the fifth embodiment of a novel CRT mounting structure.
FIG. 16
is a rear view of the display apparatus utilizing a sixth embodiment of a novel CRT mounting structure.
FIG. 17
is an enlarged plan view of a mounting adapter utilized in the sixth embodiment.
FIG. 18
is a bottom view along line
18
—
18
of FIG.
17
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1
shows a display apparatus, such as a color television receiver,
10
comprising an enclosure
12
having therein a color CRT
14
and at least one audio speaker
16
. As shown in
FIG. 2
, the color CRT
14
comprises an evacuated glass envelope
17
having a substantially rectangular faceplate panel
18
and a tubular neck
20
connected by a rectangular funnel
22
. The funnel
22
has an internal conductive coating (not shown) that is in contact with and extends from an anode button
24
to the neck
20
. The faceplate panel
18
has a viewing portion
26
and a peripheral sidewall
28
that is sealed to the funnel
22
by a glass frit
30
. The viewing portion
26
of the faceplate panel
18
includes a major axis, X, parallel to a longer dimension of the viewing portion and a minor axis, Y, orthogonal to the major axis and parallel to a smaller dimension of the viewing portion of the faceplate panel. The CRT
14
further includes a central longitudinal axis, Z, which is mutually orthogonal to the major and minor axes, X and Y, respectively. A three-color luminescent phosphor screen
32
is carried on the inner surface of the viewing portion
26
. The screen
32
is a line screen that includes a multiplicity of screen elements comprised of red-emitting, green-emitting and blue-emitting phosphor lines, R, G, and, respectively, arranged in triads, each triad including a phosphor line of each of the three colors. A thin conductive layer
34
, preferably of aluminum, overlies the screen
32
and provides means for applying a potential thereto. A multi-apertured color selection electrode, such as a tension mask,
36
is removably mounted, by conventional means, within the faceplate panel
18
, in predetermined spaced relation to the screen
32
. An electron gun
38
, shown schematically by the dashed lines in
FIG. 2
, is centrally mounted within the neck
20
to generate and direct three inline electron beams
40
along convergent paths through the tension mask
36
to the screen
32
. The inline direction of the beams
40
is normal to the plane of the paper.
The CRT of
FIG. 2
is used with an external magnetic deflection yoke
42
shown in the neighborhood of the funnel-to-neck junction. When activated, the yoke
42
subjects the three beams
40
to magnetic fields that cause the beams to scan a horizontal and vertical raster over the screen
32
.
An implosion protection band
44
surrounds at least a portion of the sidewall
28
. The band
44
has at least four conventional mounting lugs
46
that are located at the corners of the band, as shown in FIG.
3
. Each of the mounting lugs
46
includes a mounting aperture
48
therethrough, which is aligned along the longitudinal axis, Z, of the CRT
14
. A screw or bolt, not shown, extend through each of the apertures
48
to affix the CRT
14
to retainers, not shown, aligned along the Z-axis of bosses
50
formed in the corners of the enclosure
12
The tension mask
36
includes two long sides
52
,
54
attached to a frame
56
, which is shown in
FIG. 2
, and two short sides
58
,
60
. The long sides
52
,
54
of the mask parallel the major axis, X, of the CRT and the two short sides
58
,
60
parallel the minor axis, Y, of the CRT. With reference to
FIG. 4
, the tension mask
36
includes a plurality of elongated metal strands
62
separated by substantially equal-spaced slots
64
that parallel the minor axis, Y, of the CRT and the phosphor lines, not shown, of the screen
32
, as is known in the art. In an enclosure
12
, having front-mounted speakers
16
, the acoustical vibrations of the speakers may, under certain circumstances, induce microphonic vibrations to the metal strands
62
of the tension mask
36
, which visibly distort the color fidelity of the image on the screen
32
.
FIGS. 5-7
show a first embodiment of the present invention that substantially reduces the microphonic vibrations of the metal strands
62
, shown in
FIG. 4
, of the tension mask
36
due to the acoustical vibrations of the speakers
16
. As shown in
FIG. 5
, the CRT
14
is secured within the enclosure
12
by means of a plurality of mounting lugs
146
that are attached in proximity to the corners of the implosion protection band
44
. Each lug
146
includes a base portion
148
and an upstanding attachment portion
150
with an aperture
152
therethrough. The thickness, t, of the lug
146
is determined by the size and weight of the CRT
14
but is typically within the range of 2 to 3.2 mm. The width, W, of the upstanding portion
150
is typically 20-40 mm. The base portion
148
may include an arcuate shoulder portion
154
which extends around at least a portion of the corner of the CRT
14
and is attached to the implosion protection band
44
, for example by welding. When attached to the band
44
, the width of the upstanding portion
150
of the lug
146
is aligned along the Z-axis of the CRT and the aperture
152
is perpendicular thereto. As shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6
, a mounting bolt or screw
156
is disposed through the apertures
152
and secured within a retainer
158
formed in a side of the mounting boss
50
. In the first embodiment, each lug
146
is attached to the right hand side of the mounting boss
50
in what is referred to hereinafter as a right-hand configuration. In this configuration the upstanding portions
150
of the upper left and lower right mounting lugs
146
are parallel to the Y-axis while the upstanding portions
150
of the upper right and the lower left mounting lugs
146
are parallel to the X-axis. Because the width of the upstanding portion
150
of the lug
146
is aligned along the Z-axis of the CRT
14
and has a significantly greater stiffness in the Z-axis, the acoustical vibrations of the speakers
16
cause substantially no motion of the CRT in the Z-axis direction and thereby isolate the strands
62
of the tension mask
36
from the acoustical vibrations of the speakers
16
. To further aid in isolating the tension mask
36
from acoustical vibrations, a first isolator member
160
is disposed between the mounting bolt
156
and one surface of the upstanding portion
150
of the mounting lug
146
. A second isolator member
162
is disposed between the opposite surface of the upstanding portion
150
and the boss
50
. The isolator members
160
and
162
are formed of a suitable vibration or shock damping material, such as vinyl, thermoplastic rubber, or urethane. The isolator material may be tuned to the specific characteristics of the CRT by controlling both the stiffness and the damping characteristics of the material. Such materials are available from E-A-R Specialty Composites, Indianapolis, Ind., USA. Furthermore, in the event the display apparatus is dropped in a “neck down” orientation or otherwise mishandled, the upstanding portions
150
of the lugs
146
, oriented in the right-handed configuration, are less likely to bend than the mounting lugs in the prior art configuration.
A second embodiment of the invention is shown in
FIGS. 8 and 9
. In this embodiment, the mounting lugs
146
, which are identical, in all respects, to those described in the first embodiment, also are attached in proximity to the corners of the implosion protection band
44
. Each lug
146
is attached to the left-hand side of the mounting shown in
FIG. 8
, in what is referred to hereinafter as a left-hand configuration. In this configuration, the upstanding portions
150
of the upper right and lower left mounting lugs
146
are parallel to the Y-axis while the upstanding portions
150
of the upper left and the lower right mounting lugs
146
are parallel to the X-axis. Because the width of the upstanding portion
150
of the lug
146
is aligned along the Z-axis of the CRT
14
and has a width significantly greater than its thickness, the acoustical vibrations of the speakers
16
cause substantially no motion of the CRT in the Z-axis direction and thereby isolate the strands
62
of the tension mask
36
from the acoustical vibrations of the speakers
16
. Furthermore, in the event the display apparatus is dropped in a “neck down” orientation or otherwise mishandled, the upstanding portions
150
of the lugs
146
, oriented in the left-handed configuration, are less likely to bend that in the prior art configuration. The lugs
146
are attached to the bosses
50
in the manner described with respect to the first embodiment, utilizing bolts or screws
156
disposed through the apertures
152
and secured within the retainers
158
formed in the bosses
50
. Preferably, isolator members
160
and
162
also are utilized is the manner described above.
A third embodiment of the invention is shown in
FIGS. 10 and 11
. In this embodiment, a mounting lug
246
is attached, for example by welding, to each of the corners of the implosion protection band
44
. As shown in
FIG.11
, each mounting lug
246
includes a base portion
248
and two upstanding attachment portions
249
and
250
with apertures
251
and
252
, respectively, therethrough. The thickness, t, of the lug
246
is determined by the size and weight of the CRT
14
but is typically within the range of 2 to 3.2 mm. The width, W, of the upstanding portions
249
and
250
is typically 20-40 mm. The base portion
248
includes an arcuate shoulder portion
254
that extends around the corner of the CRT
14
and is attached to the implosion protection band
44
, for example by welding. When attached to the band
44
, the upstanding portion
249
of the lug
246
is parallel to the major axis, X, of the CRT and the width of the upstanding portion
249
is aligned along the Z-axis of the CRT while the aperture
251
is perpendicular thereto. The upstanding portion
250
of the lug
246
is parallel to the minor axis, Y, of the CRT and the width of the upstanding portion
250
is aligned along the Z-axis of the CRT while the aperture
252
is perpendicular thereto. In the third embodiment, the upstanding portions
249
and
250
of each lug
246
are attached to opposite sides of the mounting boss
50
by means of bolts or screws
156
disposed through the apertures
251
and
252
and secured within the retainers formed in the boss. Preferably isolator members
160
and
162
are utilized as described above. Because the width of the upstanding portions
249
and
250
of the lug
246
are aligned along the Z-axis of the CRT
14
and have a width significantly greater than the thickness, the acoustical vibrations of the speakers
16
cause substantially no motion of the CRT in the Z-axis direction and thereby isolate the strands
62
of the tension mask
36
from the acoustical vibrations of the speakers
16
. Furthermore, in the event the display apparatus is dropped in a “neck down” orientation. or otherwise mishandled, the upstanding portions
249
and
250
of the lugs
246
, attached to both sides of the bosses
50
, provides even greater strength than either of the first and second embodiments.
A fourth embodiment of the invention is shown in
FIGS. 12 and 13
. In this embodiment, a mounting lug
346
is attached to the implosion protection band
44
along the smaller dimension of the faceplate panel
18
, adjacent to each of the corners. Each mounting lug
346
includes a base portion
348
and an upright portion
350
with an aperture
352
therethrough. The thickness, t, of the lug
346
is determined by the size and weight of the CRT
14
but is typically within the range of 2 to 3.2 mm. The width, W, of the upstanding portion
350
is typically 20-40 mm. The width of the upstanding portion
350
of the lug
346
is aligned along the Z-axis of the CRT and the aperture
352
is perpendicular thereto. In the fourth embodiment, each lug
346
is faceplate panel
18
so that the upright portion
350
of each of the lugs
346
is parallel to the Y-axis of the faceplate panel
18
. The lugs
346
are attached to the bosses
50
in the manner described with respect to the first embodiment, utilizing bolts or screws
156
disposed through the apertures
352
and secured within the retainers
158
formed in the bosses
50
. Preferably, isolator members
160
and
162
also are utilized is the manner described above. Because the width of the upstanding portion
350
of the lug
346
is aligned along the Z-axis of the CRT
14
and has a width significantly greater than its thickness, the acoustical vibrations of the speakers
16
cause substantially no motion of the CRT in the Z-axis direction and thereby isolate the strands
62
of the tension mask
36
.
A fifth embodiment of the invention, shown in
FIGS. 14 and 15
, is a variation of the fourth embodiment. In this embodiment, the mounting lugs
346
, which are identical, in all respects to those described in the fourth embodiment, also are attached in proximity to the corners of the implosion protection band
44
, but along the longer dimension of the faceplate
18
. In the fifth embodiment, because each lug
346
is attached to the longer dimension of the implosion protection band, the upright portion
350
of each of the lugs
346
is parallel to the Y-axis of the faceplate panel
18
. Because the width of the upstanding portion
350
of the lug
346
is aligned along the Z-axis of the CRT
14
and has a width significantly greater than its thickness, the acoustical vibrations of the speakers
16
cause substantially no motion of the CRT in the Z-axis direction and thereby isolate the strands
62
of the tension mask
36
.
A sixth embodiment of the invention is shown in
FIGS. 16-18
. In this embodiment, which is similar to the fourth embodiment, the mounting lug
346
is attached to the implosion protection band
44
along the smaller dimension of the faceplate panel of the CRT
14
, adjacent to each of the corners so that the upright portion
350
of each of the lugs
346
is parallel to the Y-axis of the faceplate panel
18
. Each of the lugs
346
is attached to a mounting adapter
360
by means of a bolt or screw
156
disposed through a first aperture
362
formed through the body of the mounting adapter
360
. A second aperture
364
, which is perpendicular to the first aperture
362
, also extends through the body of the adapter
360
.
A bolt or screw, not shown, is utilized to affix the mounting adapter
360
to a retainer, not shown, that is aligned along the Z-axis of each boss
50
. This configuration permits the CRT
14
to be secured within an enclosure
12
that is identical to that of the prior art. However, in this embodiment, the mounting adapter
360
may be formed of metal or a suitable vibration or shock damping material, such as vinyl, thermoplastic rubber, or urethane. The material composition of the mounting adapter
360
may be tuned to the specific characteristics of the CRT by controlling both the stiffness and the damping characteristics thereof. Such materials are available from E-A-R Specialty Composites, Indianapolis, Ind., USA. In this example, the mounting adapter
360
has a length, l, of about 30 mm, a width, w, of about 30 mm, at its widest part, and a height, h, of about 16 mm. The corner of the mounting adapter
360
is truncated because of the cost of the damping materials. Because the width of the upstanding portion
350
of the mounting lug
346
is aligned along the Z-axis of the CRT
14
and has a width significantly greater than its thickness, the acoustical vibrations of the speakers
16
cause substantially no motion of the CRT in the Z-axis direction and thereby isolate the strands
62
of the tension mask
36
.
While the sixth embodiment shows the mounting lugs
346
attached to the implosion protection band
44
along its smaller dimension, it is within the scope of the invention to attach the lugs
346
along the larger dimension of the band
44
, as shown in
FIG. 14
, and then attach the mounting adapters
360
thereto in order to secure the CRT
14
to the retainers formed along the Z-axis of the bosses
50
.
Claims
- 1. A display apparatus comprising a cathode-ray tube secured within an enclosure to a plurality of mounting bosses, said enclosure further including at least one speaker, said cathode-ray tube having an envelope with a substantially rectangularly-shaped faceplate panel having corners and including a viewing portion extending to a peripheral sidewall, said viewing portion having a luminescent screen on an interior surface thereof, said viewing portion including two orthogonal axes, a major axis parallel to a longer dimension of said viewing portion and a minor axis parallel to a smaller dimension of said viewing portion, said cathode-ray tube having therein an electron gun for generating at least one electron beam along a central longitudinal axis which is perpendicular to said major and minor axes, said cathode-ray tube having a color selection electrode in proximity to said interior surface of said viewing portion, and implosion protection band extending around said sidewall of said faceplate panel and a plurality of mounting lugs each having a base portion and an attachment portion with a mounting aperture therethrough, said mounting lugs cooperating with said implosion protection band to secure said cathode-ray tube within said enclosure wherein said attachment portion of said mounting lugs are secured to said bosses and oriented in a left-hand configuration, said attachment portion of each of said mounting lugs having a width and a thickness wherein the width is greater than the thickness thereof, said attachment portion being parallel to at least one of said major and minor axis, the width of said attachment portion being aligned along said central longitudinal axis to strengthen said attachment portion and reduce microphonics induced by said speaker.
- 2. A display apparatus comprising a cathode-ray tube secured within an enclosure to a plurality of mounting bosses, said enclosure further including at least one speaker, said cathode-ray tube having an envelope with a substantially rectangularly-shaped faceplate panel having corners and including a viewing portion extending to a peripheral sidewall, said viewing portion having a luminescent screen on an interior surface thereof, said viewing portion including two orthogonal axes, a major axis parallel to a longer dimension of said viewing portion and a minor axis parallel to a smaller dimension of said viewing portion, said cathode-ray tube having therein an electron gun for generating at least one electron beam along a central longitudinal axis which is perpendicular to said major and minor axes, said cathoderay tube having a color selection electrode in proximity to said interior surface of said viewing portion, and implosion protection band extending around said sidewall of said faceplate panel and a plurality of mounting lugs each having a base portion and two attachment portions one attachment portion being aligned parallel to said major axis and the other attachment portion being aligned parallel to said minor axis with a mounting aperture therethrough, said mounting lugs cooperating with said implosion protection band to secure said cathode-ray tube within said enclosure, said attachment portion of each of said mounting lugs having a width and a thickness wherein the width is greater than the thickness thereof, the width of said attachment portion being aligned along said central longitudinal axis to strengthen said attachment portion and reduce microphonics induced by said speaker.
- 3. A display apparatus comprising a cathode-ray tube secured within an enclosure to a plurality of mounting bosses, said enclosure further including at least one speaker, said cathode-ray tube having an envelope with a substantially rectangularly-shaped faceplate panel having corners and including a viewing portion extending to a peripheral sidewall, said viewing portion having a luminescent screen on an interior surface thereof, said viewing portion including two orthogonal axes, a major axis parallel to a longer dimension of said viewing portion and a minor axis parallel to a smaller dimension of said viewing portion, said cathode-ray tube having therein an electron gun for generating at least one electron beam along a central longitudinal axis which is perpendicular to said major and minor axes, said cathode-ray tube having a color selection electrode in proximity to said interior surface of said viewing portion, and implosion protection band extending around said sidewall of said faceplate panel and a plurality of mounting lugs each having a base portion and an attachment portion with a mounting aperture therethrough, said mounting lugs cooperating with said implosion protection band to secure said cathode-ray tube within said enclosure wherein said attachment portion of said mounting lugs are secured to said bosses and oriented in a right-hand configuration, said attachment portion of each of said mounting lugs having a width and a thickness wherein the width is greater than the thickness thereof, said attachment portion being parallel to at least one of said major and minor axis, the width of said attachment portion being aligned along said central longitudinal axis to strengthen said attachment portion and reduce microphonics induced by said speaker.
- 4. The display apparatus as described in claim 2, 1 or 3, wherein a mounting adapter is attached between each of said attachment portions of said mounting lugs and said bosses.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
5-182602 |
Jul 1993 |
JP |