Rca Inc.

John Guiry Endriz

Carmen A Catanese

Jan Aleksander Rajchman

Scott Allen Keneman

John A Van Raalte

George Fairbank Stockdale

Louis S Cosentino

The electron multiplier device is operable in a substantial vacuum and comprises a cathode which emits electrons upon ion bombardment and an electron multiplier section adjacent the cathode for multiplying electrons emitted from the cathode. An output target surface is partially interposed in the path of the electrons near the output of the multiplier. A portion of the electrons released by the multiplier strike the output target surface causing ions to be emitted therefrom. The ions then feed back and bombard the cathode causing it to release more electrons, which in turn are multiplied thereby providing a buildup of electrons leaving the multiplier output. The output electrons may be controlled by an electron control section aligned with the multiplier near its output end.

Electron multiplier device with surface ion feedback

A chain of planar dynodes is divided into two groups which are spaced from and substantially parallel to each other. A cathode which is capable of emitting electrons upon ion bombardment is at one end of the dynode chain. An envelope encloses the dynodes and the cathode. Also enclosed by the envelope are a plurality of shields. Each shield is located so as to prevent gas ions, present within the envelope, from striking the dynodes, while allowing the ions to strike the cathode.

Electron multiplier with ion bombardment shields

An image display device includes at least one display cell having the following in spaced relation: a photocathode; multiplier dynodes, an anode electrode; and a cathodoluminescent screen. In addition to an optical feedback fluorescent material, the anode electrode includes a material which exhibits slow fluorescence, e.g., Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 :Gd3%, such that it emits light energy for a finite time period after it has been excited by electrons. In the operation of the display device, an electrical discharge is employed to produce the desired optical output at the cathodoluminescent screen. Some of the electrons created in the discharge strike the anode electrode, causing light energy to be directed to the photocathode where it is converted into free electrons. The presence of these free electrons ensures the rapid initiation of subsequent electrical discharges. In other embodiments, the electrical discharge may be obtained through ion feedback or plasma discharge.

Image display device with optical feedback to cathode

The effects of oscillations of an electron beam traveling down a beam guide may be cancelled out by periodic switching of the electrical fields which confine the electron beam in the guide. The changing of the electrical fields periodically alters the phase of the electron beam so as to produce a net phase cancellation over a period of time.

Electron beam oscillation compensation method

A substantially flat, flexible, perforated interconnector of an electrically conductive material and such as a metal strip with holes or a metal mesh, is used to electrically connect conductors on a plurality of spaced substantially parallel insulating plates. The strip is placed across the edge of each of the plates adjacent to the conductors. An electrically conductive bonding material is placed on the strip at each plate with the bonding material extending through the openings in the strip and contacting the plates and the conductors. The bonding material adheres to the plates to mechanically secure the strip to the plates and contacts the conductors to provide an electrical connection between the strip and the conductors.

Electrical connection between conductors on spaced plates

An electron multiplier includes a plurality of staggered parallel dynodes. The dynodes include spaced confinement bumps along their lengths with active multiplying areas between the bumps. The confinement bumps and active areas therebetween define a plurality of channels which extend from a cathode at one end of the multiplier to the output end. Each channel traverses the staggered parallel dynodes and causes an electron beam to pass therethrough without substantial spreading. The electron multiplier includes additional structure for creating a high gain condition in the channels which are desired to be in an 'on' condition while simultaneously creating a low gain condition in the adjacent channels. Electrical potentials can be simply switched at the dynodes so as to change this first condition into a second condition where the relative gain parameters of the channels are reversed.

Electron multiplier with switchable beam confinement structure

An evacuated envelope includes a transparent front panel having a cathodoluminescent screen thereupon and a back panel interconnectably sealed to the front panel. The back has a plurality of cathode stripes thereon. A plurality of vanes, spaced from and parallel to each other, extend between the front and back panels orthogonal to the cathode stripes. Electrodes to control the operation of the device are formed directly on the vanes. Any two adjacent vanes form an electron multiplier in which a self sustaining source of electrons is created only at a location along the vanes which is determined by the proper energizing of the cathode stripe at that location.

Parallel vane structure for a flat display device

Electron beams in a cathodoluminescent display device are modulated utilizing a means for generating a voltage proportional to the instantaneous electrical charge on the cathodoluminescent screen and means for generating a periodic reference waveform having a peak voltage proportional to a sampling of the incoming video signal. A differential amplifier compares the voltage proportional to the electrical charge on the screen to the instantaneous voltage of the reference waveform. A regulator controls the flow of electrons to the screen so as to force the voltage which is proportional to the instantaneous screen charge to approximate the reference waveform voltage.

System for modulating a flat panel image display device

The structure comprises an evacuated envelope that includes a transparent front panel having a cathodoluminescent screen thereon and a back panel interconnectably sealed to the front panel. A plurality of first vanes, spaced from and parallel to each other, are perpendicular to and in contact with the back panel and a plurality of second vanes, spaced from and parallel to each other, are perpendicular to and in contact with the front panel. The first and second vanes are transverse to each other and provide mutual support for each other. Electroding to control operation of the device is formed directly on the vanes.

Vane structure for a flat image display device

An evacuated envelope having therein a vertical by horizontal matrix of cells. Each cell includes a line electron source; a digital modulation section; an electron accelerating and focusing region; and a cathodoluminescent phosphor screen. The digital modulation section includes a modulation mask disposed between the line electron sources and the electron accelerating and focusing region. The modulation mask comprises a metal sheet having a plurality of slots therein. Each slot is aligned within a cell and is surrounded by a sensing pad disposed on a surface of the modulation mask which faces the line electron sources, and by a modulation electrode disposed on the opposite surface. A digitally pulsed flow of electrons, produced by the line electron sources, is directed toward the modulation mask. A series of digital voltage pulses are applied to the modulating electrodes. The voltage pulses are synchronized with the digitally pulsed electron flow such that when a voltage pulse appears on the modulating electrodes the corresponding pulse from the line electron source will be denied passage through the slot in the modulation mask. The sensing pads are charged to a desired voltage in order to regulate the level of the pulses which are permitted passage through the slots in the modulation mask. The level of brightness produced at each of the cells in the matrix is a function of the number of digital pulses permitted to pass through the slots in the modulation mask as well as the level of these pulses.

Flat image display device utilizing digital modulation

A cathodoluminescent image display device utilizes a cold cathode as the source of electrons. The cold cathode comprises a photocathode, an electron multiplier and a fluorescent anode. The structure of the cathode is such that a portion of the light given off by the fluorescent anode is free to feedback and impinge upon the photocathode. The cold cathode disclosed herein is thus a closed loop device having a loop gain G. The electron multiplier has a gain G.sub.m such that the loop gain G of the device is maintained at a value greater than or equal to one thus causing a sustained electron discharge.

Fluorescent discharge cold cathode for an image display device

A metal sheet is provided with a plurality of slots which are disposed in parallel rows and columns. Charge sensing pads are disposed on an insulating layer on one surface of the metal sheet with a separate pair of the charge sensing pads being in abutting relation and sandwiching a separate slot. The sensing pads include a portion which extends beyond the length of the slot and is of a material having a high secondary emission ratio. The sensing pads have a capacitance to the metal layer such that they can be electrically charged to a common voltage level which permits a substantially uniform maximum electrical charge to pass into each one of the slots when the abutting sensing pads are discharged by line electron sources. The charge sensing pads may be repetitively charged, i.e., brought back to the common level, through secondary emission from the portions of the pads which extend beyond the slots. A plurality of substantially parallel modulating electrodes are disposed on, but insulated from, the other surface of the metal sheet. Each one of the modulating electrodes extends around one of the parallel columns of slots. The modulating electrodes control the charge which exits from each one of the slots during a charge-discharge cycle. The modulating mask is suitable for use with line electron sources to form a display having desirable characteristics. The modulation mask can be used in conjunction with feedback multiplier line sources as long as high energy electrons are eliminated through the use of high energy electron filters.

Modulation mask for an image display device

A metal sheet is provided with a plurality of slots which are disposed in parallel rows and columns. Charge sensing pads are disposed on an insulating layer on one surface of the metal sheet with a separate pair of the charge sensing pads being in abutting relation and sandwiching a separate slot. The sensing pads have a capacitance to the metal sheet such that they can be electrically charged to a common voltage level which permits a substantially uniform maximum electrical charge to pass into each one of the slots when the abutting sensing pads are discharged by line electron sources. The charge sensing pads may be repetitively charged, i.e., brought back to the common voltage level, through resistive leakage to a body at that common voltage. A plurality of substantially parallel modulating electrodes are disposed on, but insulated from, the other surface of the metal sheet. Each one of the modulating electrodes extends around one of the parallel columns of slots. The modulating electrodes control the charge which exits from each one of the slots during a charge-discharge cycle. The modulation mask is suitable for use with line electron sources to form a display having desirable characteristics. The modulation mask can be used in conjunction with feedback multiplier line sources as long as high energy electrons are eliminated through the use of high energy electron filters.

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Plainsboro, NJ, United States of America

John Guiry Endriz