Method of fabricating an electron gun electrode member for a cathode-ray tube and cathode ray tube comprising an electron gun electrode member fabricated by this method

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method of fabricating a cathode-ray tube comprising in an evacuated envelope an electron gun to generate an electron beam and a target for receiving said electron beam, the electron gun including a cathode and at least two grid electrodes, a discretely configurated beam shaping region being fabricated in at least one of the grid electrodes, said region having a one-piece effectual portion presenting upper and lower surfaces defining a material thickness therebetween.

[0002] Such cathode-ray tubes are used to display, for example, television pictures or are used in an oscilloscope. In such cases the target is a display screen having a phosphor layer, for example, in a black-and-white display tube or in an oscilloscope tube, or having a pattern of phosphor elements luminescing in different colours in a colour display tube.

[0003] Such a tube may also be used as a camera tube. In that case the target is a photosensitive layer, for example, a photoconductive layer.

[0004] In all applications the spot formed when the electron beam impinges on the target must have predetermined, generally small, dimen- signs and the haze surrounding the target should be minimum.

[0005] Such a method is disclosed in the published Netherlands Patent Application 77 12 942. In the first grid electrode of the electron gun of the cathode ray tube described in said specification an aperture and a V-shaped or U-shaped groove is provided. This first electrode with groove constitutes, in cooperation with the second grid, a non-rotationally symmetrical electron lens, this asymmetry resulting in a quadrupole lens action focusing the electron beam in two focal lines instead of one concentrated stigmatic cross-over (waist). To permit such grooves to be made, a comparatively thick plate material has to be used.

[0006] Some beam shaping electrodes have been manufactured as two-piece structures in an effort to achieve the desired beam forming characteristics. For example, the article "30AX Self-aligning 110° in-line color TV display" in IEEE Transactions on Consumers Electronics, Vol. CE-24 No. 3, August 1978, pp. 481-487 discloses beam shaping electrodes constructed of two superimposed rectangularly slotted elements affixed in orthogonal relationship to provide a substantially square aperture therethrough. Through these slots the first grid electrode, in cooperation with the cathode, forms a first electrostatic quadrupole lens field and, in cooperation with the second grid electrode, forms a second electrostatic quadrupole lens field rotated 90° with respect to the first electrostatic quadrupole lens field. The electron beam is focused in two focal lines by said lens fields so that the mutual repelling of the electrons (space charge repelling) becomes less than in the case of one concentrated stigmatic cross-over. In fabrication, it is difficult to keep proper alignment between the two slots, and the affixural welding can produce surface imperfections which are deleterious to the forming of the desired beam shaping lensing.

[0007] Generally speaking, the use of beam shaping electrodes in electron guns to beneficially modify the lensing of the beams is known in the art. Discrete beam shapings minimize deflected spot distortion, such being especially true when self converging yokes are employed with in-line gun tubes. Electrodes with beam shaping properties provide a lensing field of equipotential lines of force to form the bundle of moving electrons into a beam of desired cross-sectional shaping. Exemplary art is also evidenced in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,852,608, 3,866,081 and 4,143,293. Such prior art achievements are complicated and expensive to fabricate.

[0008] It is therefore an object of this invention to reduce and obviate the aforementioned disadvantages and to provide a method of facilely fabricating a grid electrode for a cathode ray tube comprising an improved discretely configurated beam shaping region.

[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide a method of fabricating a one-piece beam shaping electron gun electrode that evidences improved beam forming properties.

[0010] According to the invention such a method is characterized in that said method comprises the steps of coining an elongated recess inward from said upper surface; coining a depression inward from said lower surface in opposed orientation to said recess coining to expedite a flow of electrode material to the upper coining region, thereby promoting the formation of a sub stantially sharp perimetrical edge in at least the central region of said recess shaping; and forming an aperture through the residual electrode material intermediate the bottoms of said coined recess and said coined depression to complete said beam shaping configuration.

[0011] The electrode fabrication procedure utilizing the aforementioned opposed coining makes the electrode material flow in a manner to assure the formation of a beneficially sharp perimetrical edge at least partially about the upper surface related recess. This sharp edge perimeter, in the region of the aperture, markedly augments the beam-shaping properties of the configuration, thereby promoting an improved lensing effect which beneficially modifies the cross-sectional shaping of the beam in the desired manner.

[0012] Moreoever, the electrode is also comparatively thin in the region of the aperture.

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cathode-ray tube fabricated according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of an electron gun showing the initial beam shaping region thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional perspective view of the improved beam shaping electrode;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same, taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the electrode blank prior to imparting beam shaping properties thereto; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional perspective view illustrating the fabrication of the electrode.

[0013] For a better understanding of the present invention together with other and further objects, advantages and capabilities thereof, reference is made to the following disclosure and appended claims taken in conjunction with the aforedescribed drawings.

[0014] For purposes of illustration, a color cathode ray tube employing an apertured mask and an in-line plural gun electron generating assembly will be initially described in this specification as an exemplary setting for the invention. It is understood that such is not to be considered limiting to the concept of the invention.

[0015] With particular reference to Fig. 1, the essentials of a plural in-line beam color cathode ray tube construction 11 are shown. The encompassing envelope is comprised of an integration of neck 13, funnel 15 and face panel 17 portions. A patterned cathodoluminescent screen 19 of color-emitting phosphor areas is disposed on the interior surface of the viewing panel 17 as an array of definite stripes or dots, in keeping with the state of the art. A multiple apertured structure 21, in this instance a shadowmask, is spatially related to the patterned screen; such being secured within the panel by conventional means, not shown.

[0016] Positioned within the neck portion 13 of the envelope is an electron gun assembly 23 comprised of several related electron guns, each of which produces a respective electron beam 25, 27 and 29. While not shown, each of these individual guns includes a cathode and a plurality of sequentially arranged cooperating electrode elements which are formed and spaced to achieve emission, formation, acceleration and focusing of the respective electron beam in a manner to properly impinge the screen 19.

[0017] Positioned externally of the tube 11 is a deflection yoke 31 which deflects the beams in a determined manner to provide an image display raster upon the screen. With the acceptance in the art of self-converging deflection yokes, a need has arisen for improved edge-of- screen focus 33. Thus, an improvement in the beam forming region of each electron gun is of important significance.

[0018] In referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, where is shown an exemplary enlarged sectional view of the rear beam forming region of one of the electron guns of the gun assembly 23. This shown portion of the gun structure includes a thermionic cathode structure 35 having external electron emissive material 37 terminally disposed thereon, such being activated by an internally positioned heating element 39. Positioned adjacent thereto is a first or control grid electrode (G1) 41 having a one-piece effectual portion 43 transversely oriented to the path of the beam of electrons 45. This effectual portion evidences an upper surface 47 and a lower surface 49, such defining a material thickness "T" therebetween. The shown effectual portion 43 of the control electrode 41 may be an element of several electrode constructions. For example, it can be the bottom part of an individual cup-shaped (G1) member, or a substantially planar dish-shaped portion of an integrated (G1) assembly utilizing a common grid plane for a plurality of guns. The invention relates to the improved beam shaping region regardless of the over-all construction of the electrode.

[0019] Formed in the electrode effectual portion 41 of the control electrode is the improved beam shaping region 51, which, on conjunction with the spatially related apertured second or screen grid electrode (G2) 53 in an operating gun, provides an initial beam lensing influence in the inter-electrode spacing 54 therebetween. The contoured configuration of the (G1) beam shaping region 51, adjacent the aperture 55 therethrough, and the related apertured effectual portion 57 of the second (G2) electrode, together influence shaping of the array of equipotential lines of force constituting the lensing an a manner ho beneficially modify the shaping of the beam bundle of electrons 45 passing therethrough.

[0020] In greater detail, the improved configurated beam shaping region in the control electrode 41 has an elongated recess 59 formed, as by coining, inward from the upper surface 47 thereof. The term "coining" as used herein refers to the deformation of material by applied pressure, whether or not the deformed material is contained in a die cavity. This recess, which is free of surface imperfections, has a defined width "W", length "L" and depth "D", and as exemplarily shown, is substantially rectangular in shape. There may be occasions when the desired lensing effects may require a more ovate modified shaping. It is an important lens forming consideration that this recess evidences a substantially sharp perimetrical edge 61 at least partially thereabout. This is usually difficult to achieve in a stamping or coining operation per se since such pressure techniques tend to form a slightly rolled or radiused edge.

[0021] To achieve the desired sharp edge 61 about at least the central region of the recess 59, a depression 63 is formed, as by coining, inward from the lower surface 49 of the control electrode 41 in opposed orientation to the upper surface-related recess 59. These upper and lower related coining operations produce a beneficial flow of electrode material. This lower surface depression is exemplarily shown as being circular in shape, but it too, may be of a modified ovate shaping. Its diameter or longest lateral dimension "B" should be sufficient to provide a flow of material to at least the central perimetrical region of the related recess 59. The residual electrode material 64 intermediate the bottom 65 of the recess and the bottom 67 of the depression evidences a thickness "t". In one example of structural relationships, the depth "D" of the recess 59 does not exceed the thickness "t" of the residual material, and the depth "d" of the depression 63 is less than the thickness "t" of the residual material. As shown in Fig. 2, the depression 63 is dimensioned to accommodate positioning of the cathode 35 in close spatial relationship with the bottom surface of the control (G1) electrode. Such accommodation tends to effect a degree of shielding for the emissive surface of the cathode.

[0022] An aperture 55 is formed through the residual material 64 in symmetrical relationship with the recess 59 and the depression 63 to complete the improved configurated beam shaping region 51. This aperture is exemplarily shown as being circular in shaping, but such is not to be considered limiting. Regardless of its shaping, its width or diametrical dimension "A", is slightly less than the width dimension "W" of the recess. Such dimensional relationship, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, allows a clean aperture to be formed through the residual material 64 without damaging the sharp perimetrical edge 61 of the recess or scarring the sidewalls thereof.

[0023] Regarding fabrication of the beam shaping configuration of the electrode, reference is directed to Fig. 5 wherein there is shown a grid blank for the control (G1) electrode 41. The effectual portion is defined by the perimeter 69, in this instance circular, with the upper surface 47 and the lower surface 49 threreof defining a given thickness therebetween. This blank is positioned in a tooling arrangement 71 as shown in Fig. 6. With the blank resting on a bottom anvil member, 72 a top forming die 73, having a defined projection 75, is pressured against an appropriate part of the upper surface of the ele- trode blank 41 in a manner to coin the substantially rectangular recess 59 therein. Preferably simultaneously, a movable coining die 77, contained for sliding operation within anvil member 72, is pressured against the lower surface 49 of the blank to coin the substantially circular depression 63 in the lower surface thereof. The resultant flow of material effected by the coining of the depression, forces some of the flow material to the top forming die to fill in the inherently round edge about the recess 59, thereby promoting the formation of the substantially sharp perimetrical edge 61 about at least the central portion thereof. This is an important fabrication consideration, since the sharp edge of the recess, particularly in the region of the aperture, subsequently effects a beneficial improvement in the beam shaping lensing.

[0024] The beam aperture 55 is thence provided in the coined region, being oriented as heretofore described. Thus, the forming of the configurated beam shaping region is completed.

[0025] Utilization of the aforedescribed double- coining fabrication procedure and the resultant improved electrode structure formed thereby obviate many of the disadvantages evidences in the prior art.

[0026] The electron gun electrode structure of cathode ray tube fabricated by the method according to the invention incorporates the forming of a discretely configurated beam shaping region which contributes to improved lensing influencing the initial shaping of the beam. The economical and expeditious double coined fabrication procedure assures the achievement of the beneficially sharp perimetrical edge in at least the critical region of the recess portion of the configuration. The one piece electrode structure reduces manufacturing costs, and overcomes further disadvantages of the two-piece structures of the prior art by eliminating the inaccuracies of multiple piece assembly and the possible presence of weld burrs on critical surfaces.

Claims

1. A method of fabricating a grid electrode for a cathode-ray tube comprising in an evacuated envelope an electron gun to generate an electron beam and a target for receiving said electron beam, the electron gun including a cathode (35) and at least two grid electrodes (41, 53), a discretely configurated beam shaping region (52) being fabricated in at least one of the grid electrodes, said region having a one-piece effectual portion (43), transverse to the path of the electron beam associated therewith presenting upper and lower surfaces (47, 49) defining a material thickness therebetween, characterized in that said method comprises the steps of coining an elongated recess (59) inward from said upper surface; coining a depression (65) inward from said lower surface in opposed orientation to said recess coining to expedite a flow of electrode material to the upper coining region, thereby promoting the formation of a substantially sharp perimetrical edge (61) in at least the central region of said recess shaping; and forming an aperture (55) through the residual electrode material intermediate the bottoms (65, 67) of said coined recess and said coined depression to complete said beam shaping configuration.

2. The method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the coining of said recess and the coining of said depression are substantially simultaneous operations.

3. The method according to Claim 1, characterized in that said coined recess is of substantially circular shape.

4. The method according to Claim 1, characterized in that said coined depression is of substantially circular shape.

5. The method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the depth of said coined recess does not exceed half the thickness of said electrode material.

6. An electron gun electrode member for a cathode-ray tube fabricated by the method according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a one-piece effectual portion transverse to the path of the electron beam associated therewith, said portion evidencing upper and lower surfaces defining a material thickness therebetween and having formed therein a discretely configurated beam shaping region comprising: an elongated recess formed inward from said upper surface, said recess having defined width, length and depth dimensions and evidencing a substantially sharp perimetrical edge in at least the central region thereof; a depression formed inward from said lower surface in opposed orientation to said upper surface-related recess, the dimensions of said depression being sufficient to provide a flow of material to at least the central region of said recess perimeter; a residual thickness of original electrode material defined intermediate the bottom of said recess and the bottom of said depression; and an aperture formed through said residual material in symmetrical relationship with said recess and said depression to complete said configuration beam shaping region.

7. The electron gun electrode member of Claim 6, characterized in that said depression is substantially circular in shape.

8. The electron gun electrode member of Claim 6, characterized in that said depression has a depth less than the thickness of said residual material.

9. The electron gun electrode member of Claim 6, characterized in that the depth of said recess does not exceed the thickness of said residual material.

. 10. The electron gun electrode member of Claim 6, characterized in that said recess is of substantially rectangular shaping.

11. The electron gun electrode member of Claim 6, characterized in that said aperture is substantially circular having a diameter slightly less than the width of said recess.

Revendications

1. Procédé de fabrication d'une électrode de grille pour un tube à rayons cathodiques comportant, dans une enveloppe vidé d'air, un canon électronique fournissant un faisceau d'électrons et une cible servant à recevoir ledit faisceau d'électrons, le canon électronique comportant une cathode (35) et au moins deux électrodes de grille (41, 53), une région de formation d'un faisceau à configuration discrète (51) étant réalisée dans au moins l'une des électrodes de grille, ladite région ayant une partie active en une seule pièce (43) présentant des surfaces supérieure et inférieure (47, 49) définissant une épaisseur de matériau entre ces dernières, caractérisé en ce que ledit procédé comprend les étapes de pressage d'un évidement allongé (59) dans ladite surface supérieure, le pressage d'un enfoncement (65) dans ladite surface inférieure dans une direction opposée à celle dudit évidement, réalisation d'un flux de matériau d'électrode circulant vers la région formatrice supérieure, favorisant la formation d'un bord périphérique pratiquement aigu (61) dans au moins la région centrale dudit évidement; et formation d'une ouverture (55) à travers le matériau d'électrode résiduel entre les fonds (65, 67) dudit évidement pressé et dudit enfoncement pressé pour compléter ladite configuration de formation de faisceau.

2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le pressage dudit évidement et le pressage dudit enfoncement sont des opérations pratiquement simultanées.

3. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit évidement ressé présente une forme pratiquement rectangulaire.

4. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit enfoncement pressé présente une forme pratiquement circulaire.

5. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la profondeur dudit évidement pressé ne dépasse pas la moitié de l'épaisseur dudit matériau d'électrode.

6. Organe d'électrode à canon électronique pour tube à rayons cathodiques réalisé à l'aide du procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte une partie active en une seule pièce transversale au trajet du faisceau d'électrons correspondant, ladite partie présentant des surfaces supérieure et inférieure définissant une épaisseur de matériau entre celles-ci et présentant une région de formation de faisceau à configuration discrète formée dans ladite partie et comportant: un évidement allongé dans ladite surface supérieure, ledit évidement présentant des dimensions de largeur, de longueur et de profondeur définies et un bord périphérique pratiquement aigu dans au moins sa région centrale; un enfoncement formé dans ladite surface inférieure dans une direction opposée à celle dudit évidement de la surface supérieure, les dimensions dudit enfoncement étant suffisantes pour fournir un flux de matériau vers au moins la région centrale dudit bord d'évidement; une épaisseur résiduelle de matériau d'électrode initial défini se trouvant entre le fond dudit évidement et le fond dudit enfoncement; et une ouverture formée à travers ledit matériau résiduel en relation symétrique avec ledit évidement et ledit enfoncement pour compléter ladite région de formation de faisceau.

7. Organe d'électrode à canon électronique selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que ledit enfoncement présente une forme pratiquement circulaire.

8. Organe d'électrode à canon électronique selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que ledit évidement présente une profondeur inférieure à l'épaisseur dudit matériau résiduel.

9. Organe d'électrode à canon électronique selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que la profondeur dudit évidement ne dépasse pas l'épaisseur dudit matériau résiduel.

10. Organe d'électrode à canon électronique selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que ledit évidement présente une forme pratiquement rectangulaire.

11. Organe d'électrode à canon électronique selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que ladite ouverture est pratiquement circulaire et présente un diamètre légèrement inférieur à la largeur dudit évidement.

Ansprüche

1. Verfahren zur Herstellung einer Gitterelektrode für eine Elektronenstrahlröhre mit einem Elektronenstrahlerzeugungssystem in einem evakuierten Aussenkolben zum Erzeugen eines Elektronenstrahls une mit einem Target zum Empfangen des Elektronenstrahls, wobei das Strahlerzeugungssystem eine Kathode (35) und zumindest zweit Gitterelektroden (41, 53) enthält, wobei ein diskret gestalteter Strahlformungsbereich (51) in zumindest einer der Gitterelektroden hergestellt wird und über einen wirksamen Teil (43) aus einem Stücke quer zum Weg des zugeordneten Elektronenstrahls verfügt, welcher wirksame Teil eine obere und untere Fläche (47, 49) aufweist, die eine zwischenliegende Materialdicke abgrenzen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass dieses Verfahren die Schritte zum Prägestanzen einer länglichen Vertiefung (59) in der oberen Fläche, zum Prägestanzen einer Senkung (63) in der unteren Fläche in entgegengesetzter Richtung zur Prägestanzung der Vertiefung zum Befördern eines Elektrodenwerkstoff-Flusses zum oberen Prägestanzbereich, wobei die Ausbildung eines im wesentlcihen scharfen Umfangrandes (61) in zumindest dem zentralen Bereich der Vertiefungsbildung gefördert und eine Offnung (55) durch das restliche Elektrodenmaterial zwischen den Böden (65, 67) der prägegestanzten Vertiefung und der prägegestanzten Senkung zum Erhalten der Strahlformungskonfiguration geformt wird.

2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Prägestanzvorgänge zum Erzeugen der Vertiefung und der Senkung im wesentlichen gleichzeitig erfolgen.

3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die prägegestanzte Vertiefung im wesentlichen eine Rechteckform hat.

4. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die prägegestanzte Senkung eine im wesentlichen runde Form hat.

5. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Tiefe der prägegestanzten Vertiefung die Hälfte der Dicke des Elektrodenwerkstoffs nicht überschreitet.

6. Elektrode eines Elektronenstrahlerzeugungssystems für eine Elektrodenstrahlröhre in der Herstellung mit dem Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Elektrode einen wirksamen Teil aus einem Stück quer zum Weg des zugeordneten Elektronenstrahls enthält, welcher Teil eine obere und eine untere Fläche aufweist, die eine zwischenliegenden Materialdicke abgrenzen, und in welchem Teil einen diskret ausgebildeten Strahlformungsbereich gebildet ist, der folgende Elemente enthält: eine längliche Vertiefung in der oberen Fläche mit definierten Breiten-, Längen- und Teifenabmessungen und mit einem im wesentlichen scharfen Umfangsrand in zumindest ihrem zentralen Bereich, eine Senkung in der unteren Fläche in der entgegengesetzten Richtung zur Vertiefung in der oberen Fläche, wobei die Abmessungen der Senkung dazu ausreichen, einen Werkstoff-Fluss zumindest zum zentralen Bereich des Vertiefungssumfangs zu erzeugen, eine restliche Dicke des ursprünglichen Elektrodenwerkstoffs zwischen der Böden der Vertiefung und der Senkung, und eine Öffnung durch das Restmaterial in symmetrischem Verhältnis zur Vertiefung und Senkung zum Erhalten der Strahlformungskonfiguration.

7. Elektrode nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Senkung eine im wesentlichen runde Form hat.

8. Elektrode nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Tiefe der Senkung die Dicke des Restmaterials, unterschreitet.

9. Elektrode nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Tiefe der Vertiefung die Dicke des Restmaterials nicht überschreitet.

10. Elektrode nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Vertiefung im wesentlichen eine Recheckeform hat.

11. Elektrode nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Öffnung im wesentlichen kreisförmig mit einem Durchmesser ist, der etwas kleiner als die Breite der Vertiefung ist.

Drawing