US3594607A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Direct viewing bistable storage tube having fast erase speed
Assignee: Tektronix Inc
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Filing: 1970-04-10
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Granted: 1971-07-20
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Expires: 1990-04-10
Abstract
Abstract A direct viewing bistable storage tube is described having a storage dielectric layer of phosphor material supported on the glass faceplate of such tube with a light transparent target electrode provided beneath such phosphor layer and a collector electrode in contact with the opposite side of such phosphor layer. High image resolution results from providing the collector electrode as a very fine mesh coating on the phosphor layer. The target electrode may be used as an erase electrode and because it is separate from the collector electrode the tube is provided with a faster erase speed, of about 1 to 50 milliseconds. Thus, the voltage on the collector electrode can be set for optimum secondary electron collection during erasure, as well as during storage, while the voltage of the erase electrode can be varied to provide an erase pulse of the proper amplitude and time for optimum erasure. The erase electrode can be split into a plurality of insulated conductive areas to provide independent operation of different portions of the storage dielectric in a storage or nonstorage mode. An intermediate layer of light transparent insulating material, such as silicon dioxide, may be provided between the target electrode and the phosphor layer to increase the voltage breakdown strength of the dielectric.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger A Frankland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:37
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J29/00; H01J29/02; H01J29/10; H01J31/00; H01J31/08; H01J31/10; H01J31/12; H01J31/122
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A storage apparatus capable of bistable storage of a charge image, comprising: a storage target including a support member of electrical insulative material, a storage dielectric layer of phosphor material provided on said support member, and a target electrode provided of said support member between the dielectric layer and said support member; writing means for bombarding the storage dielectric with a beam of high-velocity electrons to form a charge image thereon; holding means for bombarding the phosphor storage dielectric with low-velocity electrons and producing secondary electron emission to cause bistable storage of said charge image; and a collector electrode supported in contact with the phosphor dielectric layer on the opposite side of said dielectric layer from said target electrode so that said collector electrode is electrically insulated from said target electrode and positioned to collect the secondary electrons.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A storage apparatus capable of bistable storage of a charge image, comprising: a storage target including a support member of electrical insulative material, a storage dielectric layer of phosphor material provided on said support member, and a target electrode provided of said support member between the dielectric layer and said support member; writing means for bombarding the storage dielectric with a beam of high-velocity electrons to form a charge image thereon; holding means for bombarding the phosphor storage dielectric with low-velocity electrons and producing secondary electron emission to cause bistable storage of said charge image; and a collector electrode supported in contact with the phosphor dielectric layer on the opposite side of said dielectric layer from said target electrode so that said collector electrode is electrically insulated from said target electrode and positioned to collect the secondary electrons.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
Storage apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the storage dielectric layer contains phosphor material which emits a light image corresponding to the charge image, and the support member and target electrode are both light transparent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
Storage apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which the storage target also includes an intermediate layer of light transparent insulating mAterial having a dielectric constant greater than that of the phosphor material, said intermediate layer being provided on the support member between the phosphor layer and the target electrode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
Storage apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the collector electrode is a mesh electrode formed by a coating of electrical conductive material on the phosphor layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
Storage apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which the target electrode is divided into a plurality of spaced insulated conductive areas, and which also includes means for selectively applying erase pulses to different ones of said conductive areas to enable independent operation of the storage dielectric portions over said conductive areas in a storage mode or a nonstorage mode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
Storage apparatus in accordance with claim 2 provided by a cathrode-ray storage tube in which the storage target and the collector electrode are contained within the evacuated envelope of said tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
81 words
Storage apparatus in accordance with claim 6 in which a flat glass faceplate portion of the envelope forms the support member of the storage target and is sealed to a ceramic funnel portion of the envelope by an intermediate seal portion, and said target electrode and said collector electrode are connected to external voltage sources outside of the envelope by spaced, insulated leads of electrical conductive material coated on the faceplate beneath the seal portion and extending completely through the seal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
Storage apparatus in accordance with claim 7 in which the leads are made of tin oxide material and the seal portion is made of a crystallized glass material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
Storage apparatus in accordance with claim 4 in which the storage dielectric is a continuous undivided layer of phosphor material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
Storage apparatus in accordance with claim 9 in which the collector electrode is made of light-reflecting metal to increase the brightness of the light image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
Storage apparatus in accordance with claim 1 which also includes electrical readout means for scanning the storage dielectric with an electron beam to produce an electrical readout signal of the charge image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
Storage apparatus in accordance with claim 1 which also includes erase means for applying a voltage pulse to said target electrode to erase said charge image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
Storage apparatus in accordance with claim 12 in which the storage dielectric layer contains phosphor material which emits a light image corresponding to the charge image, and the support member and target electrode are both light transparent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
Storage apparatus in accordance with claim 13 in which the storage target also includes an intermediate layer of light transparent insulating material having a dielectric constant greater than that of the phosphor material, said intermediate layer being provided on the support member between the phosphor layer and the target electrode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
131 words
A storage apparatus capable of bistable storage of a charge image, comprising: a storage target including a support member of electrical insulative material, a storage dielectric layer provided on said support member, and a target electrode provided on said support member beneath the dielectric layer; writing means for bombarding the storage dielectric with a beam of high-velocity electrons to form a charge image thereon; holding means for bombarding the storage dielectric with low-velocity electrons and producing secondary electron emission to cause bistable storage of said charge image; a collector electrode supported in contact with the dielectric layer on the opposite side of said dielectric layer from said target electrode to collect the secondary electrons; and erase means for applying a voltage pulse to said target electrode to erase said charge image.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
131 words
A storage apparatus capable of bistable storage of a charge image, comprising: a storage target including a support member of electrical insulative material, a storage dielectric layer provided on said support member, and a target electrode provided on said support member beneath the dielectric layer; writing means for bombarding the storage dielectric with a beam of high-velocity electrons to form a charge image thereon; holding means for bombarding the storage dielectric with low-velocity electrons and producing secondary electron emission to cause bistable storage of said charge image; a collector electrode supported in contact with the dielectric layer on the opposite side of said dielectric layer from said target electrode to collect the secondary electrons; and erase means for applying a voltage pulse to said target electrode to erase said charge image.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3368093A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-19 | 1975-01-18 | 1975-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-19 | 1979-01-18 | 1979-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-19 | 1983-01-18 | 1983-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |