Multibeam single gun electron discharge device

Claim 2

In a multibeam cathode ray tube having an axis and a cathodoluminescent screen, a related electron gun structure comprising: thermionic electron emission means in the form of a cathode having a common emission plane oriented substantially normal to said axis; a metallic control electrode plane formed of a plurality of substantially self-supporting control electrode members positioned in laterally spaced relationship with one another to form a substantially planar control electrode array spaced from and substantially parallel with said electron emission means and substantially normal to said axis, each of said individual electrode members having a substantially hexagonal shaped central portion wherein a beam aperture is defined, said electrode members being positioned in a manner whereof the hexagonal central portions of adjacent members are spatially nested in staggered orientation to provide a compact array of two parallel rows of apertures, each of said hexagonal portions having a supportive member extending longitudinally from eitHer side thereof, at least one of said supportive members being a substantially ribbon-like formation, one of said supportive members effecting a separate electrical connection for each electrode member to provide a plurality of spaced individually controlled electron beams; at least one plural-apertured metallic planar electrode member having a plurality of affixal perforations therein and oriented in spaced and substantially parallel relationship with said control electrode array to form an accelerating-collimating electrode plane wherein said plurality of beam apertures corresponds in array and number to the respective beam apertures in said control electrode array to provide acceleration and collimation of said plural electron beams, said accelerating-collimating electrode plane having a common electrical connection; insulative electrode spacer means having a plurality of affixal perforations therein and formed as a substantially planar member for contiguous parallel positioning between said control electrode array and said accelerating-collimating electrode plane to provide predetermined spacing therebetween, said electrode spacer means having framing means defining a central open portion, said individual members of said control electrode array being tautly bridged across said framing means; affixal means formed to provide aligned retention of said planar control electrode array, said accelerating-collimating electrode plane, and said insulative electrode spacer means by effecting alignment of the respective affixal perforations therein; and cathode spacer means having provisions for supporting said cathode in a plane substantially parallel to said control electrode array to provide predetermined spacing between said electron emission means, and said control electrode array.

Claim 3

In a multibeam cathode ray tube having an axis and a cathodoluminescent screen, a related electron gun structure comprising: thermionic electron emission means in the form of a cathode having a common emission plane oriented substantially normal to said axis; a metallic control electrode plane formed of a plurality of substantially self-supporting control electrode members positioned in laterally spaced relationship with one another to form a substantially planar control electrode array spaced from and substantially parallel with said electron emission means and substantially normal to said axis, each of said individual electrode members having a substantially hexagonal shaped central portion wherein a beam aperture is defined, said electrode members being positioned in a manner whereof the hexagonal central portions of adjacent members are spatially nested in staggered orientation to provide a compact array of two parallel rows of apertures, each of said hexagonal portions having a supportive member extending longitudinally from eitHer side thereof, at least one of said supportive members being a substantially ribbon-like formation, one of said supportive members effecting a separate electrical connection for each electrode member to provide a plurality of spaced individually controlled electron beams; at least one plural-apertured metallic planar electrode member having a plurality of affixal perforations therein and oriented in spaced and substantially parallel relationship with said control electrode array to form an accelerating-collimating electrode plane wherein said plurality of beam apertures corresponds in array and number to the respective beam apertures in said control electrode array to provide acceleration and collimation of said plural electron beams, said accelerating-collimating electrode plane having a common electrical connection; insulative electrode spacer means having a plurality of affixal perforations therein and formed as a substantially planar member for contiguous parallel positioning between said control electrode array and said accelerating-collimating electrode plane to provide predetermined spacing therebetween, said electrode spacer means having framing means defining a central open portion, said individual members of said control electrode array being tautly bridged across said framing means; affixal means formed to provide aligned retention of said planar control electrode array, said accelerating-collimating electrode plane, and said insulative electrode spacer means by effecting alignment of the respective affixal perforations therein; and cathode spacer means having provisions for supporting said cathode in a plane substantially parallel to said control electrode array to provide predetermined spacing between said electron emission means, and said control electrode array.

Claim 4

In a multibeam cathode ray tube having an axis and a cathodoluminescent screen, a related electron gun structure comprising: thermionic electron emission means in the form of a cathode having a common emission plane oriented substantially normal to said axis; a metallic control electrode plane formed of a plurality of substantially self-supporting control electrode members positioned in laterally spaced relationship with one another to form a substantially planar control electrode array spaced from and substantially parallel with said electron emission means and substantially normal to said axis, each of said individual electrode members having a substantially hexagonal shaped central portion wherein a beam aperture is defined, said electrode members being positioned in a manner whereof the hexagonal central portions of adjacent members are spatially nested in staggered orientation to provide a compact array of two parallel rows of apertures, each of said hexagonal portions having a supportive member extending longitudinally from eitHer side thereof, at least one of said supportive members being a substantially ribbon-like formation, one of said supportive members effecting a separate electrical connection for each electrode member to provide a plurality of spaced individually controlled electron beams; at least one plural-apertured metallic planar electrode member having a plurality of affixal perforations therein and oriented in spaced and substantially parallel relationship with said control electrode array to form an accelerating-collimating electrode plane wherein said plurality of beam apertures corresponds in array and number to the respective beam apertures in said control electrode array to provide acceleration and collimation of said plural electron beams, said accelerating-collimating electrode plane having a common electrical connection; insulative electrode spacer means having a plurality of affixal perforations therein and formed as a substantially planar member for contiguous parallel positioning between said control electrode array and said accelerating-collimating electrode plane to provide predetermined spacing therebetween, said electrode spacer means having framing means defining a central open portion, said individual members of said control electrode array being tautly bridged across said framing means; affixal means formed to provide aligned retention of said planar control electrode array, said accelerating-collimating electrode plane, and said insulative electrode spacer means by effecting alignment of the respective affixal perforations therein; and cathode spacer means having provisions for supporting said cathode in a plane substantially parallel to said control electrode array to provide predetermined spacing between said electron emission means, and said control electrode array.

Claim 5

A multibeam electron gun structure according to claim 1 wherein a plural-apertured metallic planar electrode member is spacedly positioned between said common emission plane and said metallic control electrode plane to pre-form said electron beam array.

Claim 6

An electron gun structure according to claim 1 wherein said cathode spacer means is in the form of a pair of wafer-like insulative spacers positioned in separate planes parallel with said axis and having a plurality of apertures therein to accommodate the positioning of said electron emission means in spaced relationship to said control electrode array.

Claim 7

An electron gun structure according to claim 1 wherein said cathode spacer means are in the form of a pair of spaced-apart angular-shaped stand-off positioners attached to said cathode and affixed to isolated elements in the electrode plane adjacent to said emission means.

Claim 8

A multibeam cathode ray tube having a longitudinal axis extending through an encompassing envelope formed of an integration of an extended neck portion having a stem closure with electrical connective leads therethrough, a funnel portion and a face panel having a viewing area, said tube internally comprising: a multiple beam electron gun structure positioned within said envelope neck portion adjacent said stem closure in a manner substantially normal to said axis and comprising: thermionic electron emission means in the form of a cathode having a common emission plane; a metallic control electrode plane spaced from and substantially parallel with said electron emission plane, said control electrode plane being an array formed of a plurality of substantially self-supporting individual control electrode members positioned in laterally spaced relationship to one another with each individual electrode member having a substantially hexagonal shaped central portion with a beam aperture therein, said electrode members being positioned in a manner whereof the hexagonal central portions of adjacent members are spatially nested in staggered orientation to provide a compact array of two parallel rows of apertures, each of said hexagonal portions having a supportive member extending longitudinallY from either side thereof, one of said supportive members effecting a separate electrical connection to provide a plurality of spaced individually controlled electron beams; shielding means spaced relative to said electron emission means to control stray electron emission; at least one plural-apertured metallic planar electrode having a plurality of affixal perforations therein and oriented in spaced and substantially parallel relationship to said control electrode array to form an accelerating-collimating electrode plane wherein said plurality of beam apertures corresponds in array and number to the respective beam apertures in said control electrode array, said accelerating-collimating electrode plane having a common electrical connection; insulative electrode spacer means having a plurality of affixal perforations therein and formed as a substantially planar member for contiguous parallel positioning between said control electrode array and said accelerating-collimating electrode plane to provide predetermined spacing therebetween, said electrode spacer means having a peripheral framing member defining a central cut-out portion, said individual members of said control electrode array being tautly bridged across said peripheral framing member; affixal means formed to provide aligned retention of said planar control electrode array, said accelerating-collimating electrode plane, and said insulative electrode spacer means by effecting alignment of the respective affixal perforations therein; cathode spacer means having provisions for supporting said cathode relative to said control electrode array to provide predetermined spacing between said shielding means, said electron emission means, and said control electrode array; a cathodoluminescent screen disposed relative to said viewing area in said face panel whereupon a plural beam array is displayed; and electrical conductive means applied to the interior surface of said neck and funnel portions to effect an electrical connection between said electron gun structure and said screen.

Claim 9

A multibeam cathode ray tube having a longitudinal axis extending through an encompassing envelope formed of an integration of an extended neck portion having a stem closure with electrical connective leads therethrough, a funnel portion and a face panel having a viewing area, said tube internally comprising: a multiple beam electron gun structure positioned within said envelope neck portion adjacent said stem closure in a manner substantially normal to said axis and comprising: thermionic electron emission means in the form of a cathode having a common emission plane; a metallic control electrode plane spaced from and substantially parallel with said electron emission plane, said control electrode plane being an array formed of a plurality of substantially self-supporting individual control electrode members positioned in laterally spaced relationship to one another with each individual electrode member having a substantially hexagonal shaped central portion with a beam aperture therein, said electrode members being positioned in a manner whereof the hexagonal central portions of adjacent members are spatially nested in staggered orientation to provide a compact array of two parallel rows of apertures, each of said hexagonal portions having a supportive member extending longitudinallY from either side thereof, one of said supportive members effecting a separate electrical connection to provide a plurality of spaced individually controlled electron beams; shielding means spaced relative to said electron emission means to control stray electron emission; at least one plural-apertured metallic planar electrode having a plurality of affixal perforations therein and oriented in spaced and substantially parallel relationship to said control electrode array to form an accelerating-collimating electrode plane wherein said plurality of beam apertures corresponds in array and number to the respective beam apertures in said control electrode array, said accelerating-collimating electrode plane having a common electrical connection; insulative electrode spacer means having a plurality of affixal perforations therein and formed as a substantially planar member for contiguous parallel positioning between said control electrode array and said accelerating-collimating electrode plane to provide predetermined spacing therebetween, said electrode spacer means having a peripheral framing member defining a central cut-out portion, said individual members of said control electrode array being tautly bridged across said peripheral framing member; affixal means formed to provide aligned retention of said planar control electrode array, said accelerating-collimating electrode plane, and said insulative electrode spacer means by effecting alignment of the respective affixal perforations therein; cathode spacer means having provisions for supporting said cathode relative to said control electrode array to provide predetermined spacing between said shielding means, said electron emission means, and said control electrode array; a cathodoluminescent screen disposed relative to said viewing area in said face panel whereupon a plural beam array is displayed; and electrical conductive means applied to the interior surface of said neck and funnel portions to effect an electrical connection between said electron gun structure and said screen.

Claim 10

A multibeam cathode ray tube according to claim 5 wherein said electrical conductive means associated with said neck portion is in the form of a spiral accelerator of resistive material applied to the interior surface of said neck portion in a helical manner to extend substantially from the forward portion of said multiple beam electron gun to said funnel portion.

Claim 11

A multibeam cathode ray tube according to claim 5 wherein said cathode spacer means are in the form of a pair of wafer-like insulative spacers positioned in separate planes parallel with said axis, said wafer-like spacers having apertures therein to effect support of said emission means.

Claim 12

A multibeam cathode ray tube according to claim 5 wherein said cathode spacer means are in the form of a pair of spaced-apart angular shaped stand-off positioners attached to said cathode and affixed to isolated elements in the electrode plane adjacent to said emission means.

Claim 13

A mulitbeam cathode ray tube according to claim 5 wherein said cathode is laterally encompassed by frame-like insulative spacer means to reduce heater warm-up time and enhance control of spurious electron emission.

Claim 14

A multibeam cathode ray tube according to claim 9 wherein said frame-like insulative spacer means is in the form of a pair of superjacently positioned spacers, and wherein the leads of the cathode heater are extended exteriorly of the gun structure by sandwich orientation between said superjacent spacers.

Claim 15

A multibeam cathode ray tube having a longitudinal axis extending through an encompassing envelope formed of an integration of an extended neck portion having a stem closure with electrical connective leads therethrough, a funnel portion and a face panel having a viewing area, said tube internally comprising: a multiple beam electron gun structure positioned within said envelope neck portion adjacent said stem closure in a manner substantially normal to said axis and cOmprising: thermionic electron emission means in the form of a cathode having a common emission plane; a metallic control electrode plane spaced from and substantially parallel with said electron emission plane, said control electrode plane being an array formed of a plurality of substantially self-supporting individual control electrode members positioned in laterally spaced relationship to one another with each individual electrode member having a substantially hexagonal shaped central portion with a beam aperture therein, said electrode members being positioned in a manner whereof the hexagonal central portions of adjacent members are spatially nested in staggered orientation to provide a compact array of two parallel rows of apertures, each of said hexagonal portions having a supportive member extending longitudinally from either side thereof, one of said supportive members effecting a separate electrical connection to provide a plurality of spaced individually controlled electron beams; shielding means spaced relative to said electron emission means to control stray electron emission; a plurality of plural-apertured metallic planar electrodes each having a plurality of affixal perforations therein and oriented sequentially in spaced and substantially parallel relationship to said control electrode array to form a series of accelerating-collimating electrode planes wherein said respective plurality of beam apertures corresponds in array and number to the respective beam apertures in said control electrode array, each of said accelerating-collimating electrode planes having a respective electrical connection; a plurality of insulative electrode spacer means each having a plurality of affixal perforations therein and formed as substantially planar members for contiguous parallel positioning between said control electrode array and between said accelerating-collimating electrode planes to provide predetermined spacings therebetween, each of said electrode spacer means having framing means defining a central open portion, said individual members of said control electrode array being tautly bridged across said contiguous framing means; affixal means formed to provide aligned retention of said planar control electrode array, said plurality of accelerating-collimating electrode planes, and said plurality of insulative electrode spacer means by effecting alignment of the respective affixal perforations therein; cathode spacer means having provisions for supporting said cathode relative to said control electrode array to provide predetermined spacing between said shielding means, said electron emission means, and said control electrode array; a mesh lens element insulatively spaced from and positioned substantially parallel with the final of said accelerating-collimating electrode planes; a cathodoluminescent screen disposed relative to said viewing area in said face panel whereupon a plural beam array is displayed; and electrical conductive means applied to the interior surface of said neck and funnel portions to effect an electrical connection between said electron gun structure and said screen.

Claim 16

A multibeam cathode ray tube having a longitudinal axis extending through an encompassing envelope formed of an integration of an extended neck portion having a stem closure with electrical connective leads therethrough, a funnel portion and a face panel having a viewing area, said tube internally comprising: a multiple beam electron gun structure positioned within said envelope neck portion adjacent said stem closure in a manner substantially normal to said axis and cOmprising: thermionic electron emission means in the form of a cathode having a common emission plane; a metallic control electrode plane spaced from and substantially parallel with said electron emission plane, said control electrode plane being an array formed of a plurality of substantially self-supporting individual control electrode members positioned in laterally spaced relationship to one another with each individual electrode member having a substantially hexagonal shaped central portion with a beam aperture therein, said electrode members being positioned in a manner whereof the hexagonal central portions of adjacent members are spatially nested in staggered orientation to provide a compact array of two parallel rows of apertures, each of said hexagonal portions having a supportive member extending longitudinally from either side thereof, one of said supportive members effecting a separate electrical connection to provide a plurality of spaced individually controlled electron beams; shielding means spaced relative to said electron emission means to control stray electron emission; a plurality of plural-apertured metallic planar electrodes each having a plurality of affixal perforations therein and oriented sequentially in spaced and substantially parallel relationship to said control electrode array to form a series of accelerating-collimating electrode planes wherein said respective plurality of beam apertures corresponds in array and number to the respective beam apertures in said control electrode array, each of said accelerating-collimating electrode planes having a respective electrical connection; a plurality of insulative electrode spacer means each having a plurality of affixal perforations therein and formed as substantially planar members for contiguous parallel positioning between said control electrode array and between said accelerating-collimating electrode planes to provide predetermined spacings therebetween, each of said electrode spacer means having framing means defining a central open portion, said individual members of said control electrode array being tautly bridged across said contiguous framing means; affixal means formed to provide aligned retention of said planar control electrode array, said plurality of accelerating-collimating electrode planes, and said plurality of insulative electrode spacer means by effecting alignment of the respective affixal perforations therein; cathode spacer means having provisions for supporting said cathode relative to said control electrode array to provide predetermined spacing between said shielding means, said electron emission means, and said control electrode array; a mesh lens element insulatively spaced from and positioned substantially parallel with the final of said accelerating-collimating electrode planes; a cathodoluminescent screen disposed relative to said viewing area in said face panel whereupon a plural beam array is displayed; and electrical conductive means applied to the interior surface of said neck and funnel portions to effect an electrical connection between said electron gun structure and said screen.