Deformographic storage display tube

Claim 2

In an electron beam storage tube of the electrostatic charge, image projection type, a target system providing deformation patterns in accordance with an impinging electron beam comprising a nonconductive target having an extended surface disposed substantially normal to and in the path of the impinging electron beam, an electrostatically deformable solid member adjacent to and substantially coextensive with said target, and disposed on the opposite side of said target from the impinging electron beam, and means disposed adjacent said deformable solid member and on the opposite side thereof from said target for providing a reference potential therefor.

Claim 3

A target system in accordance with claim 1, further including a dielectric mirror disposed between said target and said deformable solid member, said dielectric mirror comprising at least two layers of material having different dielectric constants.

Claim 4

A target system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outer periphery of said target is sealed to the tube providing a separate chamber isolated from the impinging electron beam and containing said deformable solid member and said reference potential means.

Claim 5

A target system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said target comprises a sheet of mica having an evaporated layer of magnesium fluoride on the side thereof adjacent the impinging electron beam.

Claim 6

A target system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said target is made of polyethylene terephthalate.

Claim 7

A target system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said deformable solid member is made of silicone rubber.

Claim 8

A deformographic storage display tube for forming an image from an electrical information bearing signal comprising an evacuated envelope, a target member of electrical insulating material mounted within the envelope, said target member dividing the interior of the envelope into separate electron beam and deformographic film chambers, a source of electrons within the electron beam chamber, means for controllably directing an electron beam from said source of electrons toward the target member to provide scanning of the target member, means disposed along the electron beam path for varying the beam intensity during scanning in accordance with the electrical information bear signal thereby to provide an electrostatic charge distribution pattern on the target surface, a conductive ground plane mounted within the deformographic film chamber and spaced apart relative to the target member, and a deformographic film disposed between the conductive ground plane and the target member within the deformographic film chamber and capable of deforming in accordance with the forces of an electrostatic field extending between the target member and the conductive ground plane.

Claim 9

A deformographic storage display tube for forming an image from an electrical information bearing signal comprising an evacuated envelope, a target member of electrical insulating material mounted within the envelope, said target member dividing the interior of the envelope into separate electron beam and deformographic film chambers, a source of electrons within the electron beam chamber, means for controllably directing an electron beam from said source of electrons toward the target member to provide scanning of the target member, means disposed along the electron beam path for varying the beam intensity during scanning in accordance with the electrical information bear signal thereby to provide an electrostatic charge distribution pattern on the target surface, a conductive ground plane mounted within the deformographic film chamber and spaced apart relative to the target member, and a deformographic film disposed between the conductive ground plane and the target member within the deformographic film chamber and capable of deforming in accordance with the forces of an electrostatic field extending between the target member and the conductive ground plane.

Claim 10

A deformographic storage display tube in accordance with claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the envelope wall within the deformographic film chamber is transparent, the conductive ground plane includes a substantially transparent conductive coating on the inside surface of the transparent portion of the envelope wall, and the deformographic film is comprised of an electrical insulating material.

Claim 11

A deformographic storage display tube in accordance with claim 8, wherein the target member and the deformographic film are made of substantially transparent material, and further including a source of light, means for focusing light from the source along an axis extending through the deformographic film and the target member, and means disposed on the opposite side of the deformographic film from the light source for focusing light passing through the deformographic film to form a visible image corresponding to deformations in the deformographic film.

Claim 12

A deformographic storage display tube in accordance with claim 9, wherein the means for focusing light from the source along an axis includes at least one lens and an aperture plate disposed between the at least one lens and the deformographic film, and wherein the means for focusing light passing through the deformographic film comprises a screen, at least one lens disposed between the screen and the deformographic film, and a stop plate disposed between the at least one lens and the screen.

Claim 13

A deformographic storage display tube in accordance with claim 8, wherein the deformographic film is made of substantially transparent material, and further including a dielectric mirror disposed between the target member and the deformographic film, a source of light, means for focusing light from the source along an axis which extends through the deformographic film to the dielectric mirror, and means for focusing light reflected by the dielectric mirror to form a visible image corresponding to deformations in the deformographic film.

Claim 14

A deformographic storage display tube in accordance with claim 11, wherein the means for focusing light from the source along an axis includes a first parabolic mirror, and the means for focusing light reflected by the dielectric mirror comprises a screen, a second parabolic mirror disposed in an optical path between the dielectric mirror and the screen, and a planar mirror having an aperture therein and disposed in the optical path between the second parabolic mirror and the screen.

Claim 15

An arrangement for producing an image corresponding to an electrical information signal comprising means for generating an electron beam modulated in accordance with the electrical information signal, means defining a surface spaced apart from the generating means, means for maintaining a reference potential on the surface, a target member disposed between the surface and the generating means and electrostatically chargeable by the electron beam, and a deformable member disposed between the surface and the target member and capable of deformation according to electrostatic field forces therebetween.

Claim 16

An arrangement for producing an image corresponding to an electrical information signal comprising means for generating an electron beam modulated in accordance with the electrical information signal, means defining a surface spaced apart from the generating means, means for maintaining a reference potential on the surface, a target member disposed between the surface and the generating means and electrostatically chargeable by the electron beam, and a deformable member disposed between the surface and the target member and capable of deformation according to electrostatic field forces therebetween.

Claim 17

An arrangement in accordance with claim 13, wherein the means defining a surface comprises an element of substantially transparent, conductive material.

Claim 18

A deformographic storage display tube comprising a sealed envelope, electron beam generating means located within the envelope, means extending inwardly from the inner wall of the envelope for dividing the interior of the envelope into first and second chambers sealed from one another, said means extending inwardly including a dielectric target of generally planar configuration, said electron beam generating means being located completely within the first chamber, a generally planar member being of solid dielectric material having a thickness less than 4 mils, said planar member being generally parallel to and disposed on the opposite side of the target from the electron beam generating means and in the second chamber, and means disposed adjacent said planar member on the opposite side thereof from said target and within the second chamber for providing a reference potential.

Claim 19

A deformographic storage display tube comprising a sealed envelope, electron beam generating means located within the envelope, means extending inwardly from the inner wall of the envelope for dividing the interior of the envelope into first and second chambers sealed from one another, said means extending inwardly including a dielectric target of generally planar configuration, said electron beam generating means being located completely within the first chamber, a generally planar member being of solid dielectric material having a thickness less than 4 mils, said planar member being generally parallel to and disposed on the opposite side of the target from the electron beam generating means and in the second chamber, and means disposed adjacent said planar member on the opposite side thereof from said target and within the second chamber for providing a reference potential.

Claim 20

An electron beam storage tube of the electrostatic charge, image projection type, comprising a target assembly for providing deformation patterns in accordance with an impinging electron beam, including a nonconductive target member having an extended surface disposed substantially normal to and in the path of the impinging electron beam, means disposed adjacent to and substantially coextensive with said target member and on the opposite side thereof from said impinging electron beam for establishing a reference potential therefor, and an electrostatically deformable solid member disposed between said nonconductive target member and said reference potential establishing means.

Claim 21

An electron beam storage tube of the electrostatic charge, image projection type, comprising a target assembly for providing deformation patterns in accordance with an impinging electron beam, including a nonconductive target member having an extended surface disposed substantially normal to and in the path of the impinging electron beam, means disposed adjacent to and substantially coextensive with said target member and on the opposite side thereof from said impinging electron beam for establishing a reference potential therefor, and an electrostatically deformable solid member disposed between said nonconductive target member and said reference potential establishing means.

Claim 22

An electron beam storage tube of the electrostatic charge, image projection type as defined in claim 16 and wherein said reference potential establishing means is spaced apart from said deformable solid member.