Trinitron

Trinitron is a trademark of Sony for a color picture tube technology, in which the phosphors are arranged as a strip in front of a strip or slot mask, instead of as hitherto in TripAdvisor gimbal assembly in front of a shadow mask. The three electron guns are not in this triangle ( former Delta tubes), but arranged horizontally next to each other ( "in line" ).

History

In 1967, the so-called Sony Trinitron picture tube the successor of the hitherto produced, but at that time very complex and error-prone Chromatron technique that overthrew Sony almost to ruin. The Trinitron technology used in color picture tubes instead of the usual shadow mask a stripe mask. This allowed that instead of 15 % of the electrons up to 20% (theoretically up to 33%) arrive at the phosphorus. The result is a higher contrast image.

A variant which not only differed only by a strip mask, but also by only one instead of three electron guns of other designs, initially hid their difficulties. The free-swinging vertical stripe mask allowed the electron under vibration arrive sometimes in the wrong place. The result was false colors, the distributed irregularly over the image. The solution, however, was very simple - a horizontally mounted tungsten wire held the mask together and the vibrations within limits.

Sony President Ibuka announced the first model, the KV -1310, on 15 April 1968. As of mid-October, they wanted to start selling by the end of the year 10,000 units should be delivered. The development team was surprised with it - they had just ten test equipment; the announced production target was nevertheless reached thanks to overtime.

After overcoming the initial difficulties, the Trinitron technology was established on a broad basis in the marketplace, SONY she developed over decades further away. New etching process allowed finer masks, new phosphors improved color and brightness properties. The screen was initially curved cylindrical; later succeeded quite planar ( flat front ) produce screens.

Probably the last stage of development of the Trinitron picture tube for TV shows a picture tube, in which the number of the mask stripes was increased to about 1400, which allows a representation of HDTV images in near-native resolution. A corresponding HDTV -ready TV is not offered by Sony, however, in the EU ( however, in the USA, Middle East, Australia and East Asia ).

Benefits

The convergence correction of the deflection angle of the three electron beams is much easier than in TripAdvisor gimbal assembly at adjacent electron systems, in addition, a higher light intensity and higher sharpness can be achieved.

The phosphor screen was not curved surface in two axes, but a section of a cylindrical shell with large diameter at first Trinitron CRT. Therefore Vertical lines appear at different viewing angles straight, which is important especially for CAD applications. Compared to only max. 23% of normal CRT devices take theoretically at the Trinitron CRT to 33 % of the electrons on the phosphor layer, thereby producing a brighter, higher-contrast image. The black color of the panel and an aluminum- deposited phosphor layer with black separating strip between the colors led to further increases in contrast ( "Black Trinitron ", " black matrix ").

Disadvantages

A by some people perceived as disturbing feature of the Trinitron picture tube is that you can detect one to three very thin retaining wires on a light, plain background if you look closely, located inside of the glass bulb of the picture tube and is noticeable as subtle shadows on the monitor screen making. Since the construction of the stripe mask to horizontal vibrations (eg large volume of the integrated loudspeakers) is very sensitive, are - depending on the size of the picture tube - one to three of these support wires mounted in a horizontal direction of the image tube to damage to the strip mask prevent and stabilize them.

Another potential disadvantage of the Trinitronbauweise significantly higher weight compared to other cathode ray tubes, which results from the fact that the wires of the stripe mask had to be stretched in a solid metal frame, in order to guarantee stability and durability of the image picture tube.

Especially in the last series of the Trinitron tubes with flat picture tube again is added extra weight, because the tube is only on the outside flat, inside but still bent, ie there is an additional glass on the front added in comparison to the old, cylindrical Trinitrons.

Application and related technology

Based on the Trinitron picture tube technology came mainly in TV sets for use, but found later as computer monitors widely used. They were also used in specialized equipment industry, medical technology, or as studio monitors in film studios, where she (2013 ) be used in part today.

Since a majority of the patents on the original concept Trinitron expired at the end of the 1990s, other companies were able to use the features of Sony's tube technology. Trinitron counterparts are, among others, developed by Mitsubishi Diamondtron picture tube or produced by LG Electronics Flatron models. These same except a few of SONY still patent-protected details largely the Trinitron tubes.

The production of Trinitron tubes was largely set by SONY and other manufacturers in the mid- 2000s, as LCD, LED and plasma screens had now replaced the classic tube out of business and the production had become unprofitable. SONY but produced to date (2013 ) in a factory in Singapore Trinitron tubes in small quantities for professional and industrial applications.