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Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Definition

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26 views2 pages

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Definition

Uploaded by

avinash.utikar
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) definition

The cathode ray tube is an electronic vacuum tube used for displaying electrical data in the form
of images or videos on the screen.
In 1897, German Physicist Karl Ferdinand Braun invented the cathode ray tube. The cathode ray
tube is also known as the Braun’s tube. It is used in electronic devices such as televisions (TV),
computer monitors, radar, and oscilloscope tubes.
Today the CRT displays were replaced by LCD, LED and plasma displays.
Cathode ray tube components
The components of a basic CRT are as follows:
1. Electron gun
The electron gun is used for generating, controlling and focusing the beam of electrons enclosed
in a vacuum tube.
The electron gun again internally consists of five components. They are:
A. Heater
B. Cathode
C. Control grid
D. Accelerating anode.
E. Focusing anode
2. Horizontal deflection plates
The horizontal deflection plates deflects the electrons horizontally.
3. Vertical deflection plates
The vertical deflection plates deflects the electrons vertically.
Both the horizontal and vertical deflection plates controls the path of electrons beam so that it
can be directed towards a specified positions on the phosphor-coated screen.
4. Fluorescent screen
Fluorescent screen is a transparent screen coated on one side with a phosphor that glows brightly
when exposed to cathode rays.
How cathode ray tube works
The electron gun is used for generating, controlling and focusing the beam of electrons enclosed
in a vacuum tube.
The electron gun again internally consists of five components. They are: heater, cathode, control
grid, accelerating anode, and focusing anode.
The heater at the left side in the figure heats the cathode to a high temperature. Cathode is a
conductor that emits electrons from its surface when heated to a high temperature.
A high positive voltage is applied to the accelerating anode of the order of 1 to 20,000 volts,
relative to the cathode. This potential difference generates an electric field between the
accelerating anode and the cathode which accelerates electrons from cathode to accelerating
anode. Electrons passing through the hole in the anode form a narrow beam and travel with
constant horizontal velocity from the anode to the florescent screen. The area where the electrons
beam strikes the screen glows brightly.
The control grid controls the flow of electrons between the cathode and the accelerating anode.
Hence, it controls the brightness of the spot on the screen.
The focusing anode ensures that the electrons emitted from the cathode in slightly different
directions are focused down to a narrow beam and all arrive at the same spot on the screen.
The assembly of heater, cathode, control grid, accelerating anode and focusing anode is called
the electron gun.
The beam of electrons passes between two pairs of deflection plates: horizontal deflection plates
and vertical deflection plates. The electric field between the horizontal deflection plates change
the direction of electrons horizontally, while the electric field between the vertical deflection
plates change the direction of electrons vertically.
The screen consists of a glass which is coated by some florescent material like zinc silicate
which is semitransparent phosphor substance. The phosphor substance converts the electrical
energy into light energy. When the high velocity electrons strike the phosphorescent screen, the
light is emitted from it. The property of phosphor to emit light when its atoms are excited is
called fluorescence. The intensity of the glow produced at the screen is determined by the
number of electrons striking the screen.
Applications of CRT
1. In televisions
2. In cathode ray oscilloscope
3. In computer monitors
4. As a display device in radar

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