Tektronix has a long, rich history in custom cathode-ray tube (CRT) design and manufacturing, starting in 1954 and ending in 1996. This page is an index to the various articles and information on this website.
As the articles below describe, the need for superior CRT performance over that obtainable in the open market was the initial driving force for this move to vertical integration and was amplified through the years as competitors took the same path, until high speed semi-conductor signal capture devices allowed an oscilloscope’s waveform to be displayed on commodity-level flat panels.
The drive for CRT performance and quality improvements led to many innovations including Manufacturing processes, electron gun design and component fabrication, ceramic funnels, phosphor manufacturing, etc.
CRT History
CRT History This six-part article written by former Tek engineer Peter Keller describes in detail the first sixteen years of cathode ray technology at Tektronix.
Early days of CRT Manufacturing with Group Photos
CRTs on Display at the VintageTek Museum
CRT Time Capsule This capsule was created in 1989 and opened at the museum in 2017.
CRT Design Overview
Dual Beam Guns
7844 Compared To 556 by Murlan Kaufman, Tekscope 1974
Post Deflection Acceleration Overview from Cathode Ray Tubes: Getting Down To Basics
7504, 7704, R5030 CRTs by Larry Simpson and Connie Wilson, TekScope December 1969
Meshless Scan Expansion by Norm Franzen and Bo Janko, Tech. Report September 1983
Deflection System Overview from Cathode Ray Tubes: Getting Down To Basics
Storage CRTs
The three types of Tektronix storage CRTs are detailed here.
First was the Direct View Bistable Storage (DVST) technology, also known as Phosphor Storage. This low-cost approach first appeared in the 564 oscilloscope and later was used in large screen Information and Computer Terminal displays.
Next was the two-mesh storage utilizing a dielectric coated metal mesh which stored a written charge image which was then viewed on a conventional phosphor screen. Also known as halftone-storage, Tek's first use of this technology was in the 7613 oscilloscope. (Two-Mesh: One MgO coated target plus the collector mesh).
Third was the transfer storage technology where a high-speed signal was stored on a dielectric coated mesh, then the charge image was quickly transferred to a second coated mesh for long-term viewing. The 7623 oscilloscope was the first use of the charge transfer technology. (Three-Mesh: Two MgO coated targets plus the collector mesh).
Direct View Bistable Storage CRTs
Bistable Phosphor Storage Overview from Cathode Ray Tubes: Getting Down To Basics
The Storage Story by Bob Anderson
564 - Tektronix first Storage oscilloscope
7514 CRT Design by Chris Curtin
Information Display - The DVST and the growth of IDG
DVST Graphic Terminals from the 611 to 19" and 25" Terminals
Developments In Simplified Direct View Storage by R. Frankland, SID 1972. Brightness improvement in the 613 monitor and optical filter optimized for the green light emission of DVSTs. The paper is courtesy of the Society for Information Display. © Society for Information Display.
DVST Color Write-Thru for Information Display Graphics by Tom Woody, presented at Electrochemical Society (ECS) Fall 1980
Phosphor Development for Color Write-Thru by Ronald Petersen, presented at Electrochemical Society (ECS) Spring 1981
Two and Three Mesh Storage CRTs
Three Kinds of Storage in the 7000 Series Tekscope July 1972
Transfer Storage from Cathode Ray Tubes: Getting Down To Basics
7834 CRT by Ken Hawken and Jerry Rogers, Tekscope Sept. 1977
Increasing The Stored Writing speed of Charge-Transfer CRTs by Steve Blazo and Pete Perkins, Engineering News July 1979
Storage CRT Competition in 1978 by Chris Curtin, Engineering News January 1978
CRTs with a Microchannel Plate Multiplier
A New High-Speed CRT by Bozidar Janko, Proceedings of the SID, Second Quarter, 1979. The paper is a review of the CRT design for the 7104 oscilloscope and other high bandwidth deflection structures. The paper is courtesy of the Society for Information Display. © Society for Information Display.
7104 Micro Channel Plate CRT from Cathode Ray Tubes: Getting Down To Basics
MCP CRT Design for the 2476 by John Sonneborn and Ken Hawken SID 1986. The paper is courtesy of the Society for Information Display. © Society for Information Display.
Scan Expansion Lens used in the Microchannel Plate CRT by Conrad Odenthal, Electro-Optical Systems Design, August, 1979. The “Box Lens” used in the CRT for the 7104 oscilloscope.
This plaque was given to Lee Van Nice in 1986 recognizing his contribution to MCP technology.
Specialized Designs
T519 Cathode-Ray Tube used in the 519
7612 CRT for A-to-D Conversion from Cathode Ray Tubes: Getting Down To Basics
7912 Scan Conversion CRT from Cathode Ray Tubes: Getting Down To Basics
High Brightness CRTs for Avionics Application
Color CRT with Internal (“Chevron”) Alignment Marks
High Resolution Monochrome 19" CRT by Conrad Odenthal, SID 1984.
A Gatling-Gun Multibeam CRT by Conrad Odenthal and Robert Quick, SID 86 Digest. An eight-beam CRT design funded by an external customer for use in a high-resolution, high brightness, 19” display. The paper is courtesy of the Society for Information Display. © Society for Information Display.
Electron-Beam Addressed Liquid-Crystal Light Valve by Duane Haven, Proceedings of the SID, Vol. 24/2, 1983. A CRT with an electron-beam addressed liquid-crystal cell for projection display applications. The paper is courtesy of the Society for Information Display. © Society for Information Display.
Ceramic Funnels
Ceramic Strip Technology leads to Ceramic Funnels
Funnel molds found under Building 13
Ceramics Role in CRTs by Bill Gellatly
Ceramic Specifications for External Sales, 1989
CRT Manufacturing Technology
Early days of CRT Manufacturing
Example of information shipped with a completed 549 CRT
CRT Advertising for External Sales 1987
References
CRT Database A reference of what CRTs were used in what Tektronix products
Tektronix Instruments with storage CRTs from Cathode Ray Tubes: Getting Down To Basics
Tektronix Storage Oscilloscopes from February 1981 Brochure
Industry Standard Phosphors for CRTs from Cathode Ray Tubes: Getting Down To Basics
DVST Bibliography a listing of articles and talks regarding Direct View Storage Tubes
Movies/Videos
A Precision CRT (1955)