Cathode ray tube display with increased cathode efficiency

Abstract: A CRT heater circuit for a CRT display is described, the circuit comprising control means (4) for dynamically varying a voltage (Vh) across the cathode heater in response to variations in the beam current density (I) within the CRT. In this way the optimum voltage across the heater coils is maintained, thus preventing "cathode stripping" at times of peak beam currents, and optimising the CRT's working lifetime.

Description: The present invention relates to increasing the efficiency of a cathode in a cathode ray tube (CRT) and in particular to a cathode heater circuit for a CRT display. CRT displays can present visual outputs from computers, television receivers and electrical measuring apparatus. The IBM 8515 colour monitor is an example of a CRT display for presenting a visual output from a computer. The cathode ray tube (CRT) utilises a cathode to produce hot electrons by thermionic emission. The electrons are accelerated and deflected to yield an image on a screen. The brightness or luminous intensity of this image can be related to the number of electrons attracted to the screen at any one time, (this electron stream is termed the beam current) with increased brightness resulting from higher beam currents. The cathode is frequently composed of carbonates of barium and strontium that are converted to oxides in a vacuum. When the cathode is activated, an excess of barium oxide (or strontium oxide) is produced and, in this state, the cathode becomes highly conductive at the operating temperature (typically around 1000° K), yielding a copious supply of electrons. The amount of excess barium oxide, and hence the supply of electrons, increases with temperature. The cathode, however, has only a finite supply of barium and, once depleted, the supply of electrons ceases. There is a relationship between the cathode temperature, the CRT lifetime, and the voltage applied to an electrical heater for heating the cathode. In the prior art there are two common ways of supplying the heater voltage; firstly using a horizontal flyback voltage with suitable limiting resistors to supply a Root Mean Square (RMS) voltage, or secondly a DC regulated supply. In both cases the average heater power is heavily regulated to a fixed value (based on a predicted average beam current) as recommended by the CRT manufacturer to ensure long life. Problems can arise when high beam currents are required, in that insufficient free electrons are present at the surface of the cathode, and cathode stripping occurs (that is the CRT display is unable to meet the brightness requirement). Increasing the cathode temperature (as a function of the cathode heater voltage) would prevent this but would necessarily lead to shortened CRT lifetime. With the continual drive towards improved performance, one of the requirements of today's monitors is to provide increased display brightness, while maintaining a long CRT working life. IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin Vol.29 No.9 February 1987 describes an automatic CRT heater controller for extending the lifetime of a CRT in a CRT display. This resets the heater voltage when the CRT display is turned on to the value needed in order to give a predetermined beam current. An object of the present invention is to satisfy the conflicting interests of prolonged CRT lifetime, while meeting the need for an increased brightness capability. In accordance with the present invention there is now provided, a cathode heater circuit for a CRT display, the circuit comprising control means for varying a voltage across the cathode heater in response to variation in the beam current density within the CRT; characterised in that the circuit comprises: a voltage generator for generating a CRT final anode voltage; a power supply for supplying power to the voltage generator to produce the final anode voltage and for supplying power to the cathode heater; and an electronic network for transferring power from the power supply to the voltage generator, the network being configured to dynamically vary the heater voltage in response to variation in power drawn from the power supply by the voltage generator. This has an advantage that the control means dynamically varies the heater voltage during display operation to maximise the CRT lifetime in response to displayed image content. The present invention is therefore particularly suitable for displaying computer-generated information in the form of high brightness blocks or "windows". Viewing the present invention from another aspect there is now provided a method for increasing the cathode efficiency within a CRT display, the method comprising: varying a voltage across the cathode heater in response to variation in the beam current density within the CRT; generating, using a voltage generator, a CRT final anode voltage; supplying power from a power supply to the voltage generator and to the cathode heater; transferring power from the power supply to the voltage generator using an electronic network, dynamically varying, using the electronic network, the heater voltage in response to variation in power drawn from the power supply by the voltage generator. A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a block diagram of a heater circuit of the present invention; Figure 2 is an example of a heater circuit of the present invention; Figure 3a, 3b and 3c show different relationships between heater voltage and beam current. A heater circuit of the present invention will now be described with reference to figure 1. Block 1 supplies power to a CRT 2. Block 3 represents an anode voltage generator; changing the anode voltage used to attract electrons to the screen can be utilised to vary the beam current (I) within the CRT 2. The beam current is "sensed" and the cathode heater voltage regulated as a function of the beam current, by block 4. In this way, the supply of electrons generated at any one time by the cathode 5 for the desired beam current (I) is optimised. In the simplest case the system would have three modes of operation, corresponding to the zero, maximum, or some intermediate beam current. In a zero, or very low beam current situation, the heater voltage would be maintained at a lower limit, and at an upper limit during times of maximum beam current. In an intermediate condition the heater voltage would be regulated to a value proportional to the beam current. The upper and lower limits would be chosen in conjunction with the CRT manufacturer, to ensure that the temperature of the cathode would always be sufficient to supply the number of electrons required. By way of example, a circuit is shown in Figure 2 which could perform the task of "sensing" the beam current and subsequently modifying the cathode heater voltage accordingly. The solution shown utilises the feedback control loop of a switch mode power supply unit (block 1 in Figure 1 - such units are frequently incorporated in CRT displays. A transformer 6, draws power from the power supply 1, while a feedback loop 7 to the power supply 1, works to maintain high voltage supply rail 8 at a constant voltage V. Z is a network used to provide the desired heater voltage, beam current (Vh-I) characteristic as recommended by the CRT manufacturer. Power is supplied to, for example, the anode voltage generator 3 along line 9. When a higher beam current (I) is required, more power is drawn, which results in DC rectified voltage V1 being greater than V, the difference between the two being dependent on the characteristics of Z and the amount of power drawn off (which in turn is related to the desired beam current). As the power drawn increases (this is analogous to a larger beam current), DC rectified voltage V1 increases to maintain the high voltage rail 8 at constant voltage V. From the circuit shown, it is apparent that Vh is a fraction of V1. Hence, as V1 increases, so does Vh, thereby resulting in greater energy being imparted by the cathode heater 10 and the generation of a greater number of electrons; the relationship between the relative change in Vh and beam current is defined by the characteristics of network Z. Figure 3a, shows the Vh-I characteristics for one particular embodiment, where Z is composed of a resistor (R) in parallel with a diode (D). Figures 3b and c illustrate other Vh-I characteristics, Z consisting of a resistor (R) in Fig. 3b and of a diode (D1) in series with a resistor (R1), both components in parallel with a second resistor (R2) in Fig. 3c. It will be appreciated that different Vh-I characteristics could be realised using more complex networks in location Z, depending on the Vh-I characteristics recommended by the CRT manufacturer. Although at times of maximum stress, that is when peak beam currents are required, the heater voltage and hence the cathode temperature would be greater than a fixed mean value, over a period of time the ability of the system described to vary the heater voltage with beam current would result in a decreased average heater voltage, and thus an increase in CRT lifetime. An added benefit of the system described is that the ability of the heater voltage to vary dynamically as a function of beam current, would greatly decrease the likelihood of cathode stripping. A simple heater control circuit for a CRT display has been described which operates to extend the life time of the CRT while achieving the high brightness requirements of modern display designs.

Claims: A cathode heater circuit for a CRT display, the circuit comprising control means (4) for varying a voltage (Vh) across the cathode heater (5) in response to variation in the beam current density (I) within the CRT (2); characterised in that the circuit comprises: a voltage generator (3) for generating a CRT final anode voltage; a power supply (1) for supplying power to the voltage generator (3) to produce the final anode voltage and for supplying power to the cathode heater (5); and an electronic network (Z) for transferring power from the power supply (1) to the voltage generator (3), the network (Z) being configured to dynamically vary the heater voltage in response to variation in power drawn from the power supply (1) by the voltage generator (3). A cathode heater circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the network comprises a resistor (R). A cathode heater circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the network comprises a diode (D) in parallel with a resistor (R). A cathode heater circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the network comprises a series connected diode (D1) and first resistor (R1) connected in parallel with a second resistor (R2). A CRT display comprising a cathode heater circuit as claimed in any preceding claim. A method for increasing the cathode efficiency within a CRT display, the method comprising: varying a voltage (Vh) across the cathode heater (5) in response to variation in the beam current density (I) within the CRT (2); generating, using a voltage generator, a CRT final anode voltage; supplying power from a power supply to the voltage generator (3) and to the cathode heater (5); transferring power from the power supply (1) to the voltage generator (3) using an electronic network, dynamically varying, using the electronic network, the heater voltage in response to variation in power drawn from the power supply (1) by the voltage generator (3).

Inventors: CLITHEROE ADRIAN MARK, EAGLE DAVID JOHN, MORRISH ANDREW JOHN, WILLIAMS JULIAN DAVID, CLITHEROE, ADRIAN MARK, EAGLE, DAVID JOHN, MORRISH, ANDREW JOHN, WILLIAMS, JULIAN DAVID
Applicants: IBM, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Application year: 1990
Main classification: H04N3
IPC codes: H04N5, H04N3, G09G1