ADAMA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

UNIVERSITY

Computer graphics
Individual assignment 1
Name:- Guda Tiruneh
Id no:-ugr/30603/15

Submitted to :-instructor Alemayehu Megersa

Submission date :-November 6 2024
1.The method of cathode ray tube

The cathode ray tube (CRT) is a technology that was widely used in the early and
mid-20th century for television displays and computer monitors. It operates on the
principle of electron beam manipulation and has several key components and methods
of operation. Here's a detailed discussion of its methods and functioning:

Key Components of a CRT

1. Electron Gun
- The electron gun is responsible for generating and directing a beam of electrons. It
typically consists of:
- Cathode: A heated filament that emits electrons through thermionic emission.
- Control Grid: A mesh that modulates the flow of electrons, allowing for control
over the brightness of the beam.
- Anodes: Electrode structures that accelerate and focus the electron beam.

2. Deflection System:
 - CRTs use either electromagnetic or electrostatic deflection systems to manipulate
the path of the electron beam:
- Electromagnetic Deflection: Utilizes magnetic fields to steer the electron beam.
This method is common in larger CRTs.
- Electrostatic Deflection: Uses electric fields generated by charged plates to
control the beam's trajectory. This is typical in smaller CRTs.
3. Phosphor Coating:
- The inner surface of the screen is coated with phosphorescent materials
(phosphors). When the electron beam strikes these phosphors, they emit light,
producing the visible image.

4. Glass Envelope:
- The CRT is encased in a glass envelope that maintains a vacuum environment,
allowing the electron beam to travel without interference from air molecules.

Method of Operation
1. Electron Emission:
- The cathode is heated, causing it to emit electrons. This process is known as
thermionic emission. The emitted electrons form a cloud around the cathode.

2. Beam Acceleration:
- The control grid modulates the number of electrons that pass through it,
controlling the intensity of the beam. The electrons are then accelerated toward the
anodes, which are at a higher voltage, increasing their kinetic energy.

3. Beam Focusing:
- The electron beam is focused into a narrow, precise stream using focusing
electrodes. This focusing is crucial for achieving sharp images on the screen.

4. Deflection:
- As the beam travels towards the screen, it is deflected using either electromagnetic
or electrostatic methods. The deflection system allows the beam to move horizontally
and vertically, scanning across the screen in a raster pattern (left to right and top to
bottom).
5. Phosphor Excitation:
- When the electron beam strikes the phosphor-coated screen, the energy from the
electrons excites the phosphor atoms, causing them to emit light. Different phosphors
emit different colors when excited.

6. Image Formation:
- The brightness of the emitted light is controlled by the intensity of the electron
beam. By varying the beam current (controlled by the control grid), the CRT can
produce different shades of color and brightness.

7. Persistence:
- The phosphors have a certain persistence, meaning they continue to emit light for a
short period after being struck by the electron beam. This helps in creating a stable
image even as the beam moves across the screen.

Color CRTs

For color displays, CRTs use a combination of red, green, and blue phosphors
arranged in patterns (typically stripes or dots) on the screen. The electron gun is
usually divided into three separate guns, one for each primary color:

- Shadow Mask: A metal sheet with small holes placed in front of the phosphor
coating. It ensures that each electron beam only strikes the corresponding color
phosphor, preventing color bleeding.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages:
- High-quality color reproduction and contrast.
- Fast response times and low motion blur.
- Capable of displaying a wide range of resolutions.

Disadvantages:
- Bulkiness and weight compared to modern flat-panel displays (LCD/LED).
- Limited viewing angles and potential for geometric distortion.
- Radiation emission concerns and the need for a vacuum, making it less
environmentally friendly.

Conclusion

The cathode ray tube was a groundbreaking technology that laid the foundation for
modern display systems. While it has largely been replaced by flat-panel technologies
like LCD and OLED, understanding the CRT's operation provides important insights
into the evolution of display technology.

Beam penetration and shadow mask in CRT

In the context of cathode ray tubes (CRTs), "beam penetration" and "shadow mask"
are critical concepts that relate to how images are formed on the screen. Here’s a
detailed explanation of both:

Beam Penetration
Beam Penetration refers to the depth at which the electron beam can penetrate the
phosphor layer on the screen of a CRT. This concept is particularly relevant in color
CRTs, where the screen is coated with different phosphors that emit light when struck
by the electron beam.

Key Points:
- Phosphor Layers: In a color CRT, the screen is coated with red, green, and blue
phosphors. When the electron beam strikes the phosphor coating, it excites the atoms
in the phosphor, causing them to emit light.
- Depth of Impact: The penetration depth of the beam affects the brightness and
quality of the emitted light. If the beam penetrates too deeply, it may excite multiple
layers of phosphors, leading to color blending or unwanted effects.

- Influence of Beam Energy: The energy of the electrons in the beam determines how
deeply they penetrate. Higher energy electrons can penetrate deeper, while lower
energy electrons may only affect the surface layer.

- Impact on Image Quality: Proper beam penetration is crucial for achieving sharp and
vibrant colors. If the penetration is not controlled, it can result in blurred images or
inaccurate color reproduction.

Shadow Mask

The Shadow Mask is a critical component in color CRTs that ensures the correct
targeting of the electron beams to their corresponding phosphor elements on the
screen.

Key Points:
- Structure: The shadow mask is a thin metal sheet with tiny holes (or slots) that align
with the color phosphors on the screen. It is placed between the electron guns and the
phosphor-coated screen.

- Functionality:
- The primary role of the shadow mask is to prevent the electron beams from hitting
the wrong color phosphors. Each electron gun is dedicated to a specific color (red,
green, or blue), and the shadow mask ensures that each beam only activates its
corresponding phosphor.
- This prevents color bleeding and ensures that the colors remain distinct,
contributing to the overall clarity and accuracy of the displayed image.

- Types of Shadow Masks:

 - Conventional Shadow Mask: A flat mask with holes aligned with phosphor dots or
stripes, used in many traditional CRTs.
- Aperture Grille: A different design used in some CRTs, such as those from Sony,
that consists of vertical wires rather than a solid mask. This design enhances
brightness and allows for a thinner tube.

- Impact on Image Quality: A well-designed shadow mask helps produce sharp

images with accurate colors. Poor alignment or defects in the mask can lead to image
distortion or color inaccuracies.
Summary
- Beam Penetration relates to how deeply the electron beam can penetrate the
phosphor layer and its impact on color reproduction and image clarity.
- Shadow Mask is a metal sheet with holes that ensures precise targeting of electron
beams to the corresponding phosphors, preventing color mixing and ensuring high-
quality image output.

Both concepts are integral to the operation of color CRTs and play vital roles in
delivering the quality of images that CRTs are known for.

2. How the CTR operates

The cathode ray tube (CRT) is a technology that was widely used in television sets
and computer monitors prior to the advent of flat-panel displays. Understanding its
basic operation involves several key processes that work together to produce images
on the screen. Here’s a detailed explanation of how a CRT works:

1. Structure of the CRT

A typical CRT consists of several main components:

- Electron Gun: This is located at the rear of the tube and generates the electron beam.
- Deflection System: This system steers the electron beam horizontally and vertically
across the screen.
- Phosphor-Coated Screen: The inner surface of the glass screen is coated with
phosphorescent materials that emit light when struck by electrons.
- Glass Envelope: The entire assembly is enclosed in a vacuum-sealed glass envelope.

2. Basic Operation Steps

Step 1: Electron Emission

- Heating the Cathode: The process begins with the heating of the cathode (the
negative electrode) in the electron gun. This heating causes the cathode to emit
electrons through a process known as thermionic emission.

Step 2: Electron Acceleration

- Control Grid: As the electrons are emitted, they pass through a control grid, which
modulates the number of electrons that can continue down the beam path. This
controls the brightness of the image.

- Anodes: The electrons are then accelerated toward the anodes (positively charged
electrodes) which are at a higher voltage. This acceleration gives the electrons
sufficient energy to travel toward the screen.

Step 3: Beam Focusing

- Focusing Electrode: The beam is focused into a narrow, precise stream using
focusing electrodes. This is crucial for ensuring that the image is sharp and clear when
it hits the screen.

Step 4: Beam Deflection

- Deflection System: The electron beam is directed toward the screen using either
electromagnetic or electrostatic deflection methods:
- Electromagnetic Deflection: Uses magnetic fields generated by coils around the
tube to steer the beam.
- Electrostatic Deflection: Utilizes charged plates to control the beam’s path.

- The beam scans across the screen in a systematic manner, moving from left to right
and top to bottom in a raster pattern.

Step 5: Phosphor Excitation

- Impact on the Screen: When the electron beam strikes the phosphor coating on the
inside of the screen, the energy from the electrons excites the phosphor atoms. This
excitation causes the phosphors to emit light.

- Color Emission: In color CRTs, the screen is covered with red, green, and blue
phosphors arranged in patterns (like dots or stripes). Different electron guns target
each color, and the intensity with which they strike the phosphors determines the
color and brightness of each pixel on the screen.

Step 6: Image Formation

- Persistence of Vision: The phosphors have a property known as persistence, which

means they continue to emit light for a brief moment after being struck by the
electrons. This helps create a stable image even as the electron beam moves.
- Control of Brightness and Color: By varying the current to each electron gun, the
CRT can produce a wide range of colors and brightness levels, allowing for the full
spectrum of images to be displayed.

3. Conclusion
The CRT operates by generating a beam of electrons, directing that beam across a
phosphor-coated screen, and using the interaction of the electrons with the phosphors
to produce visible images. The process involves several steps, including emission,
acceleration, focusing, deflection, and excitation of phosphors. While CRT
technology has largely been replaced by modern display technologies such as LCD
and OLED, it laid the groundwork for much of the display technology we use today.

Reference:
 Circuit Globe
https://circuitglobe.com › cathode-ray-tube-crt.html

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