Special-Purpose Tubes

NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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2 SPECIAL-PURPOSE TUBES

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this chapter, you will be able to: 1. Determine the number and type of individual tubes contained within the signal envelope of a multi-unit tube. 2. Explain the function and operating principle of the beam power tube and the pentode tube. 3. State the difference between the capabilities of conventional tubes and variable-mu tubes. 4. Describe the construction of uhf tubes, and explain the effects that ultra-high frequencies have on conventional-tube operation. 5. Explain the operation of gas-filled diodes, thyratrons, and cold-cathode tubes.

6. Explain the operating principles behind cathode-ray tubes, and the manner in which these tubes present visual display of electronic signals. 2.1 INTRODUCTION Because of their great versatility, the four basic tube types (diode, triode, tetrode, and pentode) covered in chapter 1 have been used in the majority of electronic circuits. However, these types of tubes do have limits, size, frequency, and power handling capabilities. Special-purpose tubes are designed to operate or perform functions beyond the capabilities of the basic tube types discussed in chapter 1. The special-purpose tubes covered in this chapter will include multi-unit, multi-electrode, beam power, power pentode, variable-mu, uhf, cold cathode, thyratrons, and cathode-ray tubes.

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2.2 MULTI-UNIT AND MULTI-ELECTRODE TUBES One of the problems associated with electron tubes is that they are bulky. The size of an electron tube circuit can be decreased by enclosing more than one tube within a single envelope, as mentioned in chapter 1. There is a large variety of tubes that can be combined into this grouping of "specialty tubes" called MULTI-UNIT tubes. Figure 2-1 illustrates the schematic symbols of a few of the possible combinations found in multi- unit tubes. Figure 2-1 Typical multi-unit tube symbols NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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An important point to remember when dealing with multi-unit tubes is that each unit is capable of operating as a separate tube. But, how it operates, either as a single tube or as a multi-unit tube, is determined by the external circuit wiring. When you analyze the schematic of a circuit, simply treat each portion of a multi-unit tube as a single tube, as shown in figure 2-2. Another type of special-purpose tube is the MULTI-ELECTRODE tube. In some applications, tubes require more than the three grids found in conventional tubes. In some cases, up to seven grids may be used. These types of tubes are called multi-electrode tubes and are normally classified according to the number of grids they contain. An example of this is illustrated in figure 2-3. Here, you see a tube with five grids; hence, its name is "pentagrid." The application of these tube types is beyond the scope of this module, but because multi-electrode tubes have been commonly used you should be aware of their existence.

Figure 2-2 Multi-unit tube Identification NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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2.3 BEAM POWER AND POWER PENTODE TUBES The tube types you studied in the first chapter have one serious drawback; namely, they are not suitable as power amplifiers. Because of high-plate resistance and internal construction, tubes such as the triode, tetrode, and pentode are used only as voltage amplifiers. When power amplification is required (high-current requirements), special- purpose tubes called POWER PENTODES and BEAM POWER tubes are used. Figure 2-4 shows the arrangement of grids in a conventional pentode. The small circles depict cross sections of the grids. Notice that each grid is offset, or staggered, from the grid directly behind it. This arrangement of grids permits each grid to be exposed to the electron stream flowing from cathode to plate.

Figure 2-3 Pentagrid multi-electrode tube Figure 2-4 Electron flow in a conventional pentode NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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In this way, each grid will have maximum effect on the electron stream. There are two undesirable effects associated with the staggered grid arrangement that make it unsuitable for use in power amplifiers. First, no direct path exists between the cathode and the plate. Electrons leaving the cathode must run an obstacle course around the grid wires to reach the plate. Some of these electrons are deflected by the grid and scattered and, thus, never reach the plate. Second, some electrons strike the grid wires and are removed from the electron stream as grid current. Because of these two undesirable effects, the amount of plate current that can flow through the tube is greatly reduced. Because of this loss of electrons from the stream, conventional tetrodes and pentodes are not suitable for power amplifiers.

Therefore, a special class of tubes has been developed to overcome this problem - the BEAM POWER TUBES and POWER PENTODE TUBES. Figure 2-5 shows the cross section of the power pentode. Notice that there is no staggered grid arrangement. Instead, each grid wire is directly in line with the grid in front of and behind it. The screen and suppressor grids are shielded from the electron stream by the control grid. Because the screen grid is "shielded" by the control grid, it can draw little grid current from the electron stream.

Figure 2-5 Electron flow in a power pentode NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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This arrangement of grids offers few obstacles to electron flow. Electrons will flow in "sheets" between the grid wires to the plate. The effect is to allow more of the electrons leaving the cathode to reach the plate. Thus, the tube has the advantage of high power output and high efficiency. An added advantage to this type of grid arrangement is high- power sensitivity. This means that the tube can respond to much smaller input signals than the conventional electron tube. The reason for this is obvious; many more electrons reach the plate from the cathode. Therefore, large plate currents can be obtained from relatively weak input signals.

Another type of power amplifier tube that is similar to the power pentode is the BEAM POWER TUBE. Beam power tubes have the same grid arrangement as the power pentodes. In addition, they use a set of beam-forming plates to force the electron stream into concentrated beams. Figure 2-6 depicts the internal construction of a beam-forming tube and its schematic representation. Figure 2-6 The beam-power tube NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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Notice that the beam-forming plates surround the grids and their supporting structures and are internally connected to the cathode. This internal connection ensures that the beam-forming plates are at the same negative potential as the cathode. Electrons that are emitted from the sides of the cathode are repelled from the grid supports and into the electron stream by the negative charge on the beam-forming plates. Electrons pass to the plate through the spaces between the beam-forming plates and, by doing so, are concentrated into beams. Because the beam-forming plates are at a negative potential, any electrons emitted by secondary emission are repelled back to the plate. The effect of the beam-forming plates is to increase the number of electrons in the electron stream by forcing stray electrons emitted from the sides of the cathode away from the grid supports and into the electron beam. Electrons that are deflected from the grid wires are also forced into the beam. This increases the total current flowing to the plate. For this reason, both beam-forming and power pentodes are suitable for use as power amplifiers.

2.4 VARIABLE-MU TUBES In most electron-tube circuits, the operating level of a tube is determined by the level of bias. When a negative-bias voltage is applied to the control grid of a tube, with no input signal, the conduction through the tube is reduced; thus the damage to the tube is minimized. There is one drawback to this. Because the control grid is already negatively charged by the bias voltage, the negative alternation of a large input signal will drive the tube into cutoff long before the positive alternation can drive the tube into saturation.

Once the negative alternation reaches a certain level (determined by the bias voltage and tube characteristics), the tube simply cuts off. For this reason, conventional tubes, which you previously studied, are called SHARP-CUTOFF TUBES. Because of this sharp cutoff, the range of amplification of the conventional tube is limited by the bias voltage and tube characteristics. Once this range is exceeded, the output becomes distorted due to cutoff. In most applications, the sharp cutoff feature of conventional electron tubes causes no problems. However, in some applications electron tubes are required to amplify relatively large input signals without distortion. For this reason, the variable-mu tube was developed. VARIABLE-MU TUBES have the ability to reduce their mu, or (μ), as the input signal gets larger. As the mu (μ) decreases, the likelihood that the tube will be driven into cutoff decreases. (For an amplifier, this may appear to be self-defeating, but it isn't.) The idea is to amplify large input signals as much as possible without causing the tube to cutoff or create distortion. Because of their ability to avoid being driven into cutoff, variable-mu tubes are called REMOTE-CUTOFF TUBES. You should be aware, however, that a variable-mu tube can be driven into cutoff, but the amplitude of the input signal required to do so is considerably greater than in conventional sharp- cutoff tubes.

The key to the ability of a variable-mu tube to decrease gain with an increase in the amplitude of the input lies in its grid construction. NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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To understand how the unique grid construction of a variable-mu tube works, we will first examine the grid operation of a conventional tube during cutoff. Look at figure 2-7. Here, you see a diagram of a conventional sharp-cutoff triode with zero volts applied to the control grid. In view A, the majority of the electrostatic lines of force leave the positive plate (+) and travel unhindered between the evenly spaced grid wires to the negative cathode (-). Electrons emitted by the cathode travel along these lines from the cathode, through the grid spacings, to the plate.

Figure 2-7 Cutoff in a conventional tube NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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In view B, a bias voltage of -6 volts is applied to the grid. As you can see, some of the electrostatic lines of force are attracted to the negatively charged grid wires while the rest pass through the grid spacings. Because there are fewer lines of force reaching the cathode, there are fewer paths for electrons to use to reach the plate. As a result, conduction through the tube is decreased. In view C, the negative potential of the grid has been raised to -20 volts, which drives the tube into cutoff. All of the electrostatic lines of force terminate at the negatively charged grid, instead of continuing on to the cathode. The electrons emitted by the cathode will not feel the electrostatic attractive force of the positively charged plate. Under these conditions, current cannot flow through the tube.

Now look at figure 2-8. Here you see a diagram of a variable-mu, or remote-cutoff, tube. The only difference between the remote-cutoff tube depicted and the sharp-cutoff tube is in the grid wire spacing. In the conventional sharp-cutoff tube, the grid wires are evenly spaced, while in the remote-cutoff tube the grid wires in the middle of the grid are placed relatively far apart. This is shown in view A. In view B, the control grid is at zero potential (0 volts). Just as in the sharp-cutoff tube, electrons leave the cathode and travel along the lines of electrostatic attraction, through the spaces between the grid wires to the plate. In view C, a bias voltage of -6 volts is applied to the grid. Because of the close spacing of the grid wires at the ends of the grid, electrostatic lines of force at the ends are effectively terminated. The lines of force can only pass between the widely spaced grid wires closer to the center of the grid.

In view D, the same negative potential -20 volts) is applied to the grid that caused the conventional sharp-cutoff tube discussed earlier to go into cutoff. This voltage is high enough to terminate most of the electrostatic lines of force on the grid wire. But, because of the wide spacing between the center grid wires, some electrostatic lines of force are still able to pass between the center grid wires and reach the cathode. Conduction will still occur in the tube, but at a reduced level. If the grid is driven even more negative, lines of force will be blocked from reaching the cathode, except at the very center of the grid. As you can see, the remote-cutoff tube, by its ability to reduce gain (conduction), handles large signals without going into cutoff. A variable-mu tube such as a 6SK7 with - 3 volts applied to the grid will have a transconductance of about 2000 (μ) mhos. If the grid is driven to -35 volts, the transconductance of the tube will decrease to 10 (μ) mhos.

This same increase in negative-grid voltage would have driven a conventional tube into cutoff long before the grid reached -35 volts. NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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Figure 2-8 Grid operation in a remote-cutoff tube NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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Q1. What is the major difference in grid construction between power pentodes and conventional pentodes? Q2. Beam-forming tubes and power tubes are similar except that power pentodes lack what element? Q3. What effect does the shielding of the screen grid by the control grid have on plate current in beam-forming tetrodes? Q4. What effect does a large negative input signal applied to a variable-mu tube have on a. conduction through the control grid, and b. gain of the tube? Q5. Identify the type of electron tube(s) that would be most suitable for the following applications.

a. Power amplifier b. Voltage amplifier with small signal inputs c. Low distortion amplifiers for use with large signal inputs NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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2.5 SPECIAL UHF TUBES In the earlier discussion of conventional-electron tubes, you learned some of the limitations of tubes. One of these limitations was that the conventional tube was not able to operate (amplify) at extremely high frequencies such as those used in radar equipment. Even at frequencies lower than those used in radar equipment, problems occur. For example, at ultrahigh frequencies (300 MHz to 3000 MHz), transit time effects make the operation of a conventional-electron tube impossible. For this reason, the special ultrahigh frequency tubes were developed to operate within this frequency range.

Before we discuss the way in which special uhf tubes counter the effects of transit time, you should understand the manner in which transit time affects conventional tubes. 2.5.1 Limitation of Transit Time We will explain the limitation of transit time by using figure 2-9. In view A, the positive- going alternation of a uhf ac signal is applied to the grid of a conventional-triode tube. The first positive-going alternation reduces the negative bias on the grid, and electrons start to move toward the grid. Since the input is an ultrahigh frequency signal, the majority of the electrons cannot pass the grid before the input signal progresses to the negative alternation. The electrons that have not yet passed the grid are either stopped or repelled back toward the cathode. This is shown in view B. Before these electrons can move very far, the second positive alteration reaches the grid, and causes even more electrons to move from the cathode (view C). At the same time, the electrons that were repelled from the grid toward the cathode by the first negative alternation feel the effect of the positive-going grid. These electrons reverse direction and again move toward the grid. Because these electrons had to first reverse direction, they are now moving slower than the electrons that are attracted from the cathode by the second positive alteration.

The result is that the electrons from the cathode catch up to the slower moving electrons and the two groups combine (view C). This action is called BUNCHING. NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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In effect, the area between the grid and cathode becomes highly negatively charged, as shown in view D. This negative charge is surrounded by an electrostatic field. The electrostatic field cuts the grid and repels electrons that are present in the grid. As electrons are forced from the grid, the grid tries to go positive. Unfortunately, this tendency toward a positive charge attracts electrons from the mass or bunched charge. Thus, as an electron is forced from the grid; it is replaced by another from the massed charge. Electrons forced from the grid represent grid current (Ig), as shown in view E.

The grid current flows from the grid through Rg, to the cathode, from the cathode, to the massed charged, and back again to the grid. The movement of current in this manner is, in effect, a path for current flow from the cathode to the grid. Because current flows between the cathode and grid, the resistance (rgk) between these elements is lowered to the point of a short circuit. The grid, in effect, is short circuited to the cathode and ceases to function; and this, in turn, lowers tube efficiency dramatically. This is shown in view F of figure 2-9.

Figure 2-9 Effect of transit time at ultrahigh frequencies NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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Transit time may be decreased by reducing the spacing between electrodes or by increasing the electrode voltages, which in turn increases electron velocity through the tube. The problem with the last solution is that the tube does not present an infinite resistance to current flow. If the operating voltage is raised to an operating potential that is too high, arcing (arc over) occurs between the cathode and the plate and, most likely, will destroy the tube. For this reason, the effects of transit time are reduced in uhf tubes by placing the tube elements very close together.

2.5.2 UHF Tube Types Uhf tubes have very small electrodes placed close together and often are manufactured without socket bases. By reducing all the physical dimensions of the tube by the same scale, the interelectrode-capacitance and transit time effects are reduced, without reducing the amplification capability of the tube. A disadvantage to this type of tube construction is that the power-handling capability of these tubes is also reduced due to the close placement of the tube elements. Uhf tubes are placed in three broad categories based on their shape and/or construction; ACORN, DOORKNOB, and PLANAR tubes.

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2.5.2.1 Acorn and Doorknob Tubes ACORN TUBES, as shown in figure 2-10, are available for use as diodes, triodes, or pentodes. Acorns are very small tubes that have closely spaced electrodes and no bases. The tubes are connected to their circuits by short wire pins that are sealed in the glass or ceramic envelope. Because of their small size, acorn tubes are usually used in low-power uhf circuits. The DOORKNOB TUBE is an enlarged version of the acorn tube. Because of its larger physical size, it can be operated at higher power than the acorn tube.

Figure 2-10 Acorn tubes NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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2.5.2.2 Planar Tubes PLANAR TUBES are so named because of their construction. The ordinary (conventional) tube you studied earlier uses concentric construction. This means that each element (cathode, grid, and plate) is cylindrical in shape. The grid is placed over the cathode, and the plate, which is the largest cylinder, is placed over the grid. The result is a tube composed of concentric cylinders like the one shown in figure 2-11. Thus, the name concentric tubes. Figure 2-11 Concentric construction of a conventional tube NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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At ultrahigh frequencies, the problems of producing small tube elements while reducing the spacing between elements become very difficult. Not only are the elements hard to keep parallel with each other during the manufacturing process, but they also have a tendency to warp and sag under normal operating conditions. Since these elements are already as close together as possible, any reduction in element spacing can cause arcing. Therefore, a new type of tube was developed to prevent arcing or element sagging in conventional tubes. This tube is known as the planar tube.

Planar tubes are electron tubes in which the cathode, plate, and grids are mounted parallel to each other. Their physical construction greatly resembles a schematic diagram of a normal tube, as shown in figure 2-12. Figure 2-12 Resemblance of a planar tube to a schematic diagram NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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A typical planar tube is depicted in figure 2-13. Notice that the tube elements are mounted close to each other and are parallel to one another. The oxide coating of the cathode is applied to the top surface only. Therefore, the emitting surface of the cathode is parallel to the plate and the grid. The plate of the tube consists of a cylindrical stud. This stud-plate construction has two purposes. Its flat lower surface serves as a parallel plate, and its external upper end serves as the external-plate connection from the tube to the circuit.

Because of its construction, the planar tube cannot use the ladder-type grid, with which you are familiar. Instead, the grid, formed into a circle, is composed of a wire mesh similar to that of a common screen door. Figure 2-13 Internal structure of a typical planar tube NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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The cathode structure is manufactured in two parts. Point A of figure 2-13 is the metallic shell of the tube and is used to couple (or connect) unwanted radio frequency signals from the cathode to ground. This connection is not, however, a direct coupling. The wafer at point C of figure 2-13 is composed of mica, which serves as a dielectric. The lower extension of the cathode serves as one plate of the capacitor, while the other plate is formed from the flattened upper portion of the cathode connector ring. The cathode has a direct connection to the tube pin through the connector labeled point B. You might think that this is a rather complicated method to connect the cathode to a circuit, but it serves a purpose. At high frequencies, the wiring of a circuit can pick up radio frequency signals and retransmit them. If the wiring involved happens to be the wiring used to supply dc voltages to the circuit, all the tubes in the circuit will receive the signal. The result will be massive distortion throughout the circuit.

The problem can be eliminated by isolating the dc and radio frequency circuits from each other. In planar tubes, this is fairly simple. The point A ring is grounded. Any rf signals that the cathode may pick up through tube conduction are grounded or shorted to ground through the capacitive coupling with the point A shell. In other words, the point A shell (capacitive ground) serves the same function as the bypass capacitor in a cathode-biased circuit. Because the capacitor will not pass dc, bias voltages can be applied to the cathode through the tube pins.

Notice the external shape of the planar tube in figure 2-13. The tube is composed of five sections, or cylinders. As you go from the top to the bottom, each cylinder increases in diameter. Because of this piled cylinder construction, the tube resembles a lighthouse, and is therefore known as a LIGHTHOUSE TUBE. Another type of planar tube is shown in figure 2-14. This type of tube, because of its external appearance, is called an OILCAN TUBE. The major difference between it and the lighthouse tube is the addition of cooling fins to allow it to handle more power than the lighthouse tube. Because of their planar construction, both types of tubes are capable of handling large amounts of power at uhf frequencies.

Figure 2-14 Oilcan planar tube NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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Q6. What effect does transit time have on a conventional triode operated at uhf frequencies? Q7. How do uhf tubes counter the effects of transit time? Q8. Why can acorn and doorknob tubes NOT handle large amounts of power? Q9. What type of uhf tube was developed to handle large amounts of power? 2.6 GAS-FILLED TUBES You know that great effort is made to produce a perfect vacuum within electron tubes. But, even the best vacuum pumps and getters cannot remove all of the air molecules. However, the chances of an electron hitting a molecule in a near-vacuum are very slim because of the great distance between the molecules, compared to the size of the electron.

An electron can pass between two molecules of air inside the tube as easily as a pea could pass through a circle with a diameter equal to that of the earth! In some tubes, the air is removed and replaced with an inert gas at a reduced pressure. The gases used include mercury vapor, neon, argon, and nitrogen. Gas-filled tubes, as they are called, have certain electrical characteristics that are advantageous in some circuits. They are capable of carrying much more current than high-vacuum tubes, and they tend to maintain a constant IR drop across their terminals within a limited range of currents. The principle of operation of the gas-filled tube involves the process called ionization.

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2.6.1 Electrical Conduction in Gas Diodes An operating gas-filled tube has molecules, ions, and free electrons present within the envelope. In a gas-filled diode, the electron stream from the hot cathode encounters gas molecules on its way to the plate. When an electron collides with a gas molecule, the energy transmitted by the collision may cause the molecule to release an electron. This second electron then may join the original stream of electrons and is capable of freeing other electrons. This process, which is cumulative, is a form of ionization. The free electrons, greatly increased in quantity by ionization, continue to the plate of the diode.

The molecule which has lost an electron is called an ion and bears a positive charge. The positive ions drift toward the negative cathode and during their journey attract additional electrons from the cathode. The velocity of the electrons traveling toward the plate varies directly with the plate voltage. If the plate voltage is very low, the gas-filled diode acts almost like an ordinary diode except that the electron stream is slowed to a certain extent by the gas molecules. These slower-moving electrons do not have enough energy to cause ionization when they hit the gas atoms. After the plate voltage is raised to the proper level of conduction, the electrons have enough energy to cause ionization when they hit the gas molecules. The plate potential at which ionization occurs is known as the IONIZATION POINT, or FIRING POTENTIAL, of a gas tube. If the plate voltage is reduced after ionization, it can be allowed to go several volts below the firing potential before ionization (and hence, high-plate current) win cease. The value of the plate voltage (Ep) at which ionization stops is called the DEIONIZATION POTENTIAL, or EXTINCTION POTENTIAL.

The firing point is always at a higher plate potential than the deionization point. 2.6.2 Gas Triode The point at which the gas ionizes can be controlled more accurately by inserting a grid into the gas diode. A negative voltage on the grid can prevent electrons from going to the plate, even when the plate voltage is above the normal firing point. If the negative-grid voltage is reduced to a point where a few electrons are allowed through the grid, ionization takes place. The grid immediately loses control, because the positive ions gather about the grid wires and neutralize the grid's negative charge. The gas triode then acts as a diode. If the grid is made much more negative in an effort to control the plate current, the only effect is that more ions collect about the grid wires—tube continues to conduct as a diode. Only by removing the plate potential or reducing it to the point where the electrons do not have enough energy to produce ionization will tube conduction and the production of positive ions stop. Only after the production of positive ions is stopped will the grid be able to regain control.

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Such gas-filled triodes are known as THYRATRONS. Thyratrons are used in circuits where current flow in the thyratrons output circuit is possible only when a certain amount of voltage is present on the thyratrons grid. The flow of plate current persists even after the initiating grid voltage is no longer present at the grid, and it can be stopped only by removing or lowering the plate potential. The symbols for the gas-filled diode, the voltage regulator, and the thyratron are the same as those for high-vacuum tubes except that a dot is placed within the envelope circle to signify the presence of gas. Some examples of gas-filled tube schematic symbols are shown in figure 2-15.

Before leaving this section, you should be aware of one precaution associated with mercury-vapor tubes. The mercury vapor is not placed in the tube as a vapor; instead a small amount of liquid mercury is placed in the tube before it is sealed. When the liquid mercury comes in contact with the hot filament, the mercury vaporizes. To ensure that the mercury has vaporized sufficiently, the filament voltage must be applied to mercury-vapor tubes for at least 30 seconds before the plate voltage is applied. If vaporization is incomplete, only partial ionization is possible. Under these conditions, the application of plate voltage results in a relatively high voltage drop across the tube (remember E = I × R), and the positive ions present are accelerated to a high velocity in the direction of the cathode.

Figure 2-15 Schematic diagram of gas-filled tubes NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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As the ions strike the cathode, they tear away particles of the emitting surface, usually causing permanent damage to the cathode and the tube. When the mercury is completely vaporized, the action of the gas is such that the voltage drop across the tube can never rise above the ionization potential (about 15 volts). At this low potential, positive-ion bombardment of the cathode does not result in damage to the emitting surface. Generally, when gas-filled tubes are in the state of ionization, they are illuminated internally by a soft, blue glow. This glow is brightest in the space between the electrodes and of lesser intensity throughout the remainder of the tube envelope. This glow is normal and must not be confused with the glow present in high-vacuum tubes when gases are present. A high-vacuum tube with a bluish glow is gassy and should be replaced. The ionization of these gases will distort the output of the tube and may cause the tube to operate with much higher plate current than it can carry safely.

2.7 COLD-CATHODE TUBES The cold-cathode, gas-filled tube differs from the other types of gas-filled tubes in that it lacks filaments. Thus, its name "COLD-CATHODE TUBE." In the tubes covered in this text thus far, thermionic emission was used to send electrons from the cathode to the plate. This conduction of electrons can be caused in another manner. If the potential between the plate and the cathode is raised to the point where tube resistance is overcome, current will flow from the cathode whether it is heated or not. In most applications in electronics, this method is not used because it is not as efficient as thermionic emission. There are two applications where cold-cathode emission is used.

The first application you are already familiar with, although you may not be aware of it. Every time you look at a neon sign you are watching a cold-cathode tube in operation. Thus, the first application of cold-cathode tubes is for visual display. You are also familiar with the reason for this visual display. In the NEETS module on matter and energy, we explained that when energy is fed into an atom (neon in this case), electrons are moved, or promoted, to higher orbits. When they fall back, they release the energy that originally lifted them to their higher orbits. The energy is in the form of light. Cold- cathode tubes are also used as VOLTAGE REGULATORS. Because voltage regulators will be dealt with extensively in the next chapter, we will not cover their operation now.

At this point, you only need to understand that a cold-cathode tube has the ability to maintain a constant voltage drop across the tube despite changes of current flow through the tube. The tube does this by changing resistance as current flow varies. NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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Examine figure 2-16. Here you see a cold-cathode tube connected to a variable voltage source. The variable resistor rkp does not exist as a physical component, but is used to represent the resistance between the cathode and the plate. Most cold-cathode tubes have a firing point (ionizing voltage) at about 115 volts. Thus, the tube in view A of the figure is below the firing point. Because the tube lacks thermionic emission capabilities, no current will flow and the tube will have a resistance (rkp) near infinity. The potential difference between the plate and ground under these conditions will be equal to the source (Ebb) voltage, as shown on the voltmeter.

In view B, the source voltage has been raised to the firing point of 115 volts. This causes the gas to ionize and 5 milliamperes of current will flow through the tube. Because the tube represents a resistance (rkp), voltage will be dropped across the tube; in this case, 105 volts. The plate-load resistor (RL) will drop the remaining 10 volts. The resistance of the tube at this time will be equal to: rkp ൌ E I rkp ൌ 105 volts . 005 amperes rkp = 21 kohms Figure 2-16 Cold-cathode tube operation NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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In view C, the source voltage has been raised to 200 volts. This will cause more gas in the tube to ionize and 40 milliamperes of current to flow through the tube. The increased ionization will lower the resistance of the tube (rkp). Thus, the tube will still drop 105 volts. The tube's resistance (rkp) at this time will be equal to: rkp ൌ E I rkp ൌ 105 volts 40 milliamperes rkp = 2.625 kohms As you can see, increasing the current flow will cause more ionization in the tube and a corresponding decrease in the tube's resistance. Because of this, the tube will always have a constant voltage drop between its plate and cathode throughout its operating range.

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2.8 THE CATHODE-RAY TUBE (CRT) Although you may not be aware of this fact, the CATHODE-RAY TUBE shown in figure 2-17 is, in all probability, the one tube with which you are most familiar. Before you started your study of electronics, you probably referred to cathode-ray tubes as picture tubes. The cathode-ray tube (CRT) and the picture tube of a television set are one and the same. Cathode-ray tubes are used in more applications than just television. They can be considered as the heart of the many types of information.

Cathode-ray tubes have one function that cannot be duplicated by any other tube or transistor; namely, they have the ability to convert electronic signals to visual displays, such as pictures, radar sweeps, or electronic wave forms. All CRT's have three main elements: an electron gun, a deflection system, and a screen. The electron gun provides an electron beam, which is a highly concentrated stream of electrons. The deflection system positions the electron beam on the screen, and the screen displays a small spot of light at the point where the electron beam strikes it.

Figure 2-17 Cutaway view of a typical CRT NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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2.8.1 The Electron Gun The ELECTRON GUN is roughly equivalent to the cathodes of conventional tubes. The cathode of the electron gun in the CRT is required not only to emit electrons, but also to concentrate emitted electrons into a tight beam. In the electron tubes that you have studied, the cathode was cylindrical and emitted electrons in all directions along its entire length. This type of cathode is not suitable for producing a highly concentrated electron- beam. The cathode of the CRT consists of a small diameter nickel cap. The closed end of the cap is coated with emitting material. This is shown in figure 2-18. Because of this type of construction, electrons can only be emitted in one direction. Notice that the emitted electrons shown in figure 2-18 are leaving the cathode at different angles. If these electrons were allowed to strike the screen, the whole screen would glow. Since the object of the electron gun is to concentrate the electrons into a tight beam, a special grid must be used. This special grid is in the form of a solid metal cap with a small hole in the center. The grid is placed over the emitting surface of the cathode and charged negatively in relation to the cathode.

Figure 2-18 CRT cathode NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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The dotted lines represent the direction of cathode emitted electron repulsion, as shown in figure 2-19. Since all emitted electrons leave the cathode (point C), their paths can be identified. An electron attempting to travel from point C to point B (downward) will instead follow the path from point C to point E to point P. Consider an electron leaving from C in the direction of point A (upward). Its path will be curved from point C to point P by electrostatic repulsion. These curving electron paths are due to the negative potential of the grid coupled with the high positive potential of the anode. The potential of the anode attracts electrons out of the cathode-grid area past point P toward the screen. The grid potential may be varied to control the number of electrons allowed to go through the control-grid opening. Since the brightness or intensity of the display depends on the number of electrons that strike the screen, the control grid is used to control the brightness of the CRT.

The proper name, BRIGHTNESS CONTROL, is given to the potentiometer used to vary the potential applied to the control grid. The control grid actually serves as an electron lens. It is this electronic lens that you adjust when you turn up the brightness control on your TV set. Notice that the effect of the grid is to focus the electron beam at point P in figure 2-19. Figure 2-19 Operation of the CRT grid NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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After passing point P, the electrons start to spread out, or diverge, again. Therefore, it becomes necessary to provide some additional focusing to force the electrons into a tight beam again. This is done by two additional positively-charged electrodes as shown in figure 2-20. The first electrode is commonly called the FOCUSING ANODE. Generally, the focusing anode is charged a few hundred volts positive with respect to the cathode. Electrons emitted by the cathode are attracted to the focusing anode. This is the reason that they travel through the small hole in the grid. The second electrode, called the ACCELERATING ANODE, is charged several thousand volts positive in relation to the cathode. Any electrons approaching the focusing anode will feel the larger electrostatic pull of the accelerating anode and will be bent through the opening in the focusing anode and will travel into the area labeled D. You might think that once an electron is in this region, it is simply attracted to the accelerating anode and that is the end of it. This does not happen. Because the accelerating anode is cylindrical in shape, the electrostatic field radiating from it is equal in all directions. Thus, an electron is pulled in all directions at once, forcing the electron to travel down the center of the tube. Then, the electron is accelerated into the accelerating anode. Once it passes the mid-point (point E), it feels the electrostatic attraction from the front wall of the accelerating anode, which causes it to move faster toward the front. Once the electron reaches point F, equal electrostatic attraction on either side of the opening squeezes it through the small opening in the front of the anode. From there, it is joined by millions of other electrons and travels in a tight beam until it strikes the screen (point S).

Figure 2-20 Electron-beam formation In a CRT NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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2.8.2 The CRT Screen The inside of the large end of a CRT is coated with a fluorescent material that gives off light when struck by electrons. This coating is necessary because the electron beam itself is invisible. The material used to convert the electrons' energy into visible light is a PHOSPHOR. Many different types of phosphor materials are used to provide different colored displays and displays that have different lengths of PERSISTENCE (duration of display). In one way, the CRT screen is similar to a tetrode vacuum tube. Both suffer from the effects of secondary emission. In order to reach the screen, electrons from the cathode are accelerated to relatively high velocities. When these electrons strike the screen, they dislodge other electrons from the material of the screen. If these secondary emission electrons are allowed to accumulate, they will form a negatively-charged barrier between the screen and the electron beam, causing a distorted image on the CRT screen. The method used to control secondary emission, which you are already familiar with, i.e., a suppressor grid, is not practical in CRT's. Instead, a special coating called an AQUADAG COATING is applied to the inside of the tube as shown in figure 2-21. This coating is composed of a conductive material, such as graphite, and has the same high- positive potential applied to it that is applied to the accelerating anode. This allows the aquadag to perform two functions. First, since the aquadag coating is positive, it attracts the secondary emitted electrons and removes them. Second, because the aquadag is operated at a high-positive potential and is mounted in front of the accelerating anode, it aids in the acceleration of electrons toward the screen.

Figure 2-21 Aquadag coating in a CRT NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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Before going on, let's review what you have already learned about CRT operation. 1. Electrons are emitted from a specially constructed cathode and move toward the front of the CRT. 2. The number of electrons that leave the area of the cathode is determined by the cap- shaped grid. In addition, the grid concentrates the emitted electrons into a beam. 3. The electron beam is focused and accelerated toward the screen by two electrodes: the focusing anode and the acceleration anode. 4. The electron beam strikes the screen and causes a bright spot to appear at the point of impact.

5. Any electrons released by secondary emission are removed from the tube by the aquadag coating. 2.8.3 Deflection At this point, you have a bright spot in the center of the CRT screen as shown in figure 2-22. Having watched TV, you know that a TV picture consists of more than just a bright spot in the center of the picture tube. Obviously, something is necessary to produce the picture. That something is called DEFLECTION. For the CRT to work properly, the spot must be moved to various positions on the screen. In your TV set for example, the spot is moved horizontally across the CRT face to form a series of tightly packed lines.

As each line is displayed, or traced, the electron beam is moved vertically to trace the next line as shown in figure 2-23. This process starts at the top of the tube and ends when the last line is traced at the bottom of the CRT screen. Because the beam is swept very quickly across the CRT and the phosphor continues to glow for a short time after the beam has moved on, you do not see a series of lines, but a continuous picture. Figure 2-22 Impact of an electron beam on a CRT screen NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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These same principles also apply to the CRT used in your use of your major tool: the OSCILLOSCOPE. Remember, the unique function of a CRT is to convert electronic (and electrical) signals to a visual display. This function of a CRT is used in the oscilloscope to show the waveform of an electronic signal. To help you understand better how an oscilloscope works, we will discuss the type of deflection used in oscilloscopes. Bear in mind that the following discussion is only about deflection; we will cover the actual operation of an oscilloscope in a later NEETS module that deals specifically with test equipment.

2.8.3.1 Electrostatic Deflection As you should know, there are two ways to move an electron (and thus an electron beam): either with a magnetic or with an electrostatic field. Because of this, there are three possible ways to move or deflect an electron beam in a CRT: magnetically, electromagnetically, and electrostatically. All three ways are used in electronics. In general, though, electrostatic and electromagnetic deflection are used most often. Your TV set, for example, uses electromagnetic deflection, while much of the test equipment in the Navy uses electrostatic deflection.

Figure 2-23 Deflection of an electron beam across a TV screen NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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ELECTROSTATIC DEFLECTION uses principles you are already familiar with. Namely, opposites attract, and likes repel. Look at figure 2-24, view A. Here you see an electron traveling between two charged plates, H1 and H2. As you can see, before the electron reaches the charged plates, called DEFLECTION PLATES, its flight path is toward the center of the screen. In view B, the electron has reached the area of the deflection plates and is attracted toward the positive plate, H2, while being repelled from the negative plate, H1. As a result, the electron is deflected to the right on the inside of the screen. You, the viewer, will see the spot of light on the left side of the CRT face (remember, you are on the opposite side of the CRT screen). This is shown in view C.

Figure 2-24 Deflection in a CRT NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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A spot of light on the left-hand side of the CRT screen, however, is no more useful than a spot of light in the center of the screen. To be useful, this spot will have to be converted to a bright line, called a sweep, across the face of the CRT screen. We will explain the manner in which this is done by using figure 2-25. In view A, five electrons are emitted in sequence, 1 through 5, by the electron gun. The right deflection plate, H2, has a large positive potential on it while the left plate, H1 has a large negative potential on it. Thus, when electron 1 reaches the area of the deflection plates, it is attracted to the right plate while being repelled from the left plate. In view B, electron 2 has reached the area of the deflection plates.

Figure 2-25 Horizontal deflection NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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However, before it arrives, R1 and R2 are adjusted to make the right plate less positive and the left plate less negative. Electron 2 will still be deflected to the right but not as much as electron 1. In view C, electron 3 has reached the area of the deflection plates. Before it gets there, R1 and R2 are adjusted to the mid-point. As a result, both plates have 0 volts applied to them. Electron 3 is not deflected and simply travels to the center of the CRT screen. In view D, electron 4 has reached the area of the deflection plates. Notice that R1 and R2 have been adjusted to make the right plate negative and the left plate positive. As a result, electron 4 will be deflected to the left. Finally, in view E, the left plate is at its maximum positive value. Electron 5 will be deflected to the extreme left.

What you see when you are facing the CRT is a bright luminous line, as shown in view E. While this description dealt with only five electrons, in reality the horizontal line across a CRT face is composed of millions of electrons. Instead of seeing five bright spots in a line, you will see only a solid bright line. In summary, the horizontal line displayed on a CRT or on the face of a television tube is made by sweeping a stream of electrons rapidly across the face of the CRT. This sweeping action, or scanning, is performed by rapidly varying the voltage potential on the deflection plates as the electron stream passes.

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2.8.3.2 Vertical Deflection As we mentioned earlier, a CRT can be used to graphically and visually plot an electronic signal, such as a sine wave. This is done by using a second set of deflection plates called VERTICAL-DEFLECTION PLATES. Examine figure 2-26. You are looking at the front view (facing the screen) of a CRT, back into the tube at the deflection plates. In normal usage, the horizontal plates sweep a straight line of electrons across the screen from left to right while the signal to be displayed is applied to the vertical deflection plates. A circuit of this type is shown in figure 2-27. We will use this figure to explain how a sine wave is displayed. First, however, you need to understand what is happening in view A. The box on the left of the CRT labeled HORIZONTAL-DEFLECTION CIRCUITS is an electronic circuit that will duplicate the actions of R1 and R2 used earlier in making up a horizontal line. How it works will be discussed in a later NEETS module. Notice T1; the output of this transformer is applied to the vertical-deflection plates. The signals applied to the vertical plates are 180º out of phase with each other.

Thus, when one plate is attracting the electron beam, the other will be repelling the electron beam. Because you are only concerned with what happens inside the CRT, this circuitry will be eliminated and only the CRT and its deflection plates will be shown, as in view B. Figure 2-26 Arrangement of deflection plates in a CRT, front view NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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Now look at view C. While this illustration looks complicated, don't let it worry you. You have already analyzed more complicated diagrams. The sine wave in the center of the screen is the signal that will be displayed as a result of the two 180º out-of-phase sine waves applied to the vertical-deflection plates. The five spots on the center sine wave represent the five electrons used to explain horizontal deflection. Only now these electrons will be deflected both vertically and horizontally. Time lines T1 through T5 represent the time when each like-numbered electron reaches the area of the deflection plates. Because you already know how the electron beam is swept or deflected horizontally, we will not discuss horizontal deflection.

Figure 2-27 Vertical deflection in a CRT NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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Just remember that from T1 to T5, the electron beam will be continuously moved from your left to your right. Now that you know where everything is on the illustration, you are ready to discover how a sine wave is displayed on a CRT. At time 1 (T1), the sine waves applied to both vertical-deflection plates are at their null points, or zero volts. As a result, electron 1 is not vertically deflected and strikes the CRT at its vertical center. At time 2 (T2), the sine wave applied to the top plate is at its maximum negative value. This repels electron 2 toward the bottom of the CRT. At the same time, the sine wave applied to the bottom plate is at the most positive value, causing electron 2 to be attracted even further toward the bottom of the CRT. Remember, the beam is also being moved to the left. As a result, electron 2 strikes the CRT face to the right of and below electron 1. At time 3 (T3), both sine waves applied to the vertical- deflection plates are again at the null point, or zero volts. Therefore, there is no vertical deflection and electron 3 strikes the CRT face in the center of the vertical axis. Because the electron beam is still moving horizontally, electron 3 will appear to the right of and above electron 2. At time 4 (T4), the sine wave applied to the top vertical-deflection plate is at its maximum positive value. This attracts electron 4 toward the top deflection plate.

The upward deflection of electron 4 is increased by the negative-going sine wave (at time 4) applied to the bottom deflection plate. This negative voltage repels electron 4 upward. Thus, electron 4 strikes the CRT face to the right of and above electron 3. Finally, at time 5 (T5) both input sine waves are again at zero volts. As a result, electron 5 is not deflected vertically, only horizontally. (Remember, the beam is continually moving from right to left.) While this discussion is only concerned with five electrons, vertical scanning, or deflection, involves millions of electrons in a continuous electron beam. Instead of seeing five spots on the CRT screen, you will actually see a visual presentation of the sine wave input. This was, as you remember, described earlier as the unique feature of the CRT.

You may have wondered why so much space in this chapter was taken up with the discussion of the CRT. There are two reasons for this. First, the field of electronics is in a constant state of evolution. Transistors replaced most vacuum tubes. Transistors are being replaced by integrated circuits (ICs). As you progress in your career in electronics, you will find that the equipment you work on will follow this evolution, from transistors to IC chips. Of all the tubes discussed in this text, the CRT is the least likely to be replaced in the near future. Thus, in all probability, whether your career in electronics lasts for only the time you spend with this text or 20 years, the CRT will be your constant companion and co-worker.

The second reason for this rather extensive coverage of the CRT is that, while the CRT has a unique ability, it operates exactly like all the tubes previously discussed. NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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2.8.4 Summary of the CRT This summary will not only review the CRT, but will also point out the similarities between the CRT and other tubes. Look at figure 2-28. Here you see both a schematic diagram and a pictorial representation of a CRT. Each element is identified by a circuit number. We will review briefly the function of each element in a CRT and its similarity to elements in conventional tubes. This summary will help you tie together everything you have learned about the CRT and electron tubes in general. Figure 2-28 Summary of the CRT NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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1. The Heater - serves as the source of heat for the cathode in both the CRT and indirectly heated tubes. 2. The Cathode - serves as the source of thermionically emitted electrons in both the CRT and conventional tubes. The major difference is that in the CRT, the cathode is circular in shape and the outer surface is coated to ensure that electron emission is roughly unidirectional. 3. The Control Grid-in both the CRT and conventional vacuum tubes, the control grid controls the number of electrons that will be fired across "the gap." The major difference is in the physical construction. Conventional tubes use a wire-mesh ladder-type grid, while the CRT uses a cap-like grid.

4. The Focusing Anode - in the CRT, this anode serves a dual purpose of attracting electrons from the area of the control grid and focusing the electrons into a beam. Its function of attracting electrons from the area of the grid is similar to the action of the plate in a conventional tube. The focusing action of the anode is similar to that performed by beam-forming plates in the beam-forming tetrode. Bear in mind, though, that beam- forming plates are negatively charged and repel electrons into electron sheets, while the focusing anode is positively charged and attracts electrons into beam.

5. The Accelerating Anode - in the CRT, this anode is used to accelerate the electrons toward the front of the tube. Its action is similar to the screen grid of tetrodes and pentodes. But remember, while the screen grid in conventional tubes accelerates electrons toward the plate, its primary purpose is to reduce interelectrode capacitance, NOT accelerate electrons. 6. The Vertical - Deflection Plates - in the CRT, these plates move the electron beam up and down the screen. The input signal is usually applied to these plates. While no equivalent element is found in conventional tubes, the principle employed (electrostatic attraction and repulsion) forms the heart of all vacuum tube operation.

7. The Horizontal-Deflection Plates - in the CRT, these plates move the electron beam by electrostatic attraction and repulsion, horizontally across the CRT screen. In most equipment using the CRT, including television sets, electronic signals are supplied to these plates to trace or paint a horizontal line. 8. The Aquadag Coating - in the CRT, this coating performs the same function as the suppressor grid in conventional tubes; namely, eliminating the effects of secondary emission. In conventional tubes, the suppressor grid is negatively charged and repels secondary emission electrons back to the plate. In the CRT, the aquadag is positively charged and attracts secondary emission away from the screen.

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9. The Screen - also called the face, is a unique element of the CRT. When struck by electrons, the phosphor coating becomes luminous, or glows, thus enabling the tube to visually present electronic signals. From this comparison of the CRT and other types of electron tubes, one fact should be clear. Almost all tubes, no matter what their function, operate on two principles: electrostatic attraction and repulsion, and thermionic emission. By keeping these two principles in mind, you should be able to analyze any type of tube operation.

Q14. What is the unique ability of the CRT? Q15. What are the three main parts of CRT? Q16. What term is used for the ability of a spot on a CRT screen to continue to glow after the electron bean has struck it and moved away? Q17. The electron beam in a CRT is made to sweep from left to right across the screen. What tube element causes this sweeping motion? Q18. In applications where electronic waveforms are displayed on a CRT screen, the input signal is normally applied to what CRT element? NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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2.9 SAFETY There are certain safety precautions you should follow when you work with or handle the special tubes covered in this chapter. We will examine these tubes and their associated precautions in the following sections. 2.9.1 Electron Tubes The average electron tube is a rugged device capable of withstanding the shocks and knocks of everyday usage and handling. However, they are not indestructible. You should remember that most electron tubes contain a near vacuum enclosed by a glass envelope. Because of this, the glass is under constant stress from atmospheric pressure.

Any undue stress, such as striking the envelope against a hard surface, may cause the envelope to shatter, resulting in an IMPLOSION. An implosion is just the opposite of an explosion. When the glass envelope of an electron tube shatters, the outside atmosphere rushes into the tube to fill the vacuum. As the air rushes into the tube, it carries glass fragments of the envelope with it. Once these fragments reach the center of the tube, they continue outward with considerable velocity. The result is similar to an explosion, in that the immediate area surrounding the electron tube is filled with fast-moving glass fragments. You, as a nearby object, may find yourself the target for many of these glass fragments. For this reason you should handle all electron tubes with care.

2.9.2 Cathode-Ray Tubes (CRTS) Since most electron tubes are small, the possibility of them being a safety hazard is usually very small. There are two exceptions to this: CRT's and radioactive tubes. The glass envelope of a CRT encloses a high vacuum. Because of its large volume and surface area, the force exerted on a CRT by atmospheric pressure is considerable. The total force on a 10-inch CRT may exceed 4,000 pounds. Over 1000 pounds is exerted on the CRT face alone. NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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When a CRT is broken, a large implosion usually occurs. Almost two tons of force hurl glass fragments toward the center of the tube. At the same time, the electron gun is normally thrown forward inside the tube. The face, because of its size, tends to move very slowly toward the center of the tube. This presents one of the main hazards of a broken CRT. The electron gun passes through the center of the tube with considerable force. It continues until it strikes the CRT face. The impact from the electron gun normally breaks the CRT face into many small fragments, which are hurled outward. The face is coated with a chemical coating that is extremely toxic. If you are unfortunate enough to experience an accidental implosion of a CRT and are nicked by one of these fragments, seek immediate medical aid. As you can see, improper handling of a CRT can be very hazardous to your health.

The CRT is, in essence, a tiny fragmentation bomb. The major difference between a CRT and a bomb is that a bomb is designed to explode; a CRT is not. As long as you handle a CRT properly, it represents no danger to you. Only when you mishandle it do you risk the danger of being pelted with an electron gun and toxic glass fragments. When handling a CRT, you should take the following precautions: 1. Avoid scratching or striking the surface of the CRT. 2. Do not use excessive force when you remove or replace a CRT's deflection yoke or socket.

3. Do not try to remove an electromagnetic-type CRT from its yoke until you have discharged the high voltage from the CRT's anode connector (hole). 4. Never hold the CRT by its neck. 5. Always set the CRT with its face down on a thick piece of felt, rubber, or smooth cloth. 6. Always handle the CRT gently. Rough handling or a sharp blow on the service bench can displace the electrodes within the tube, causing faulty operation. 7. Wear safety glasses and protective gloves. One additional handling procedure you should be aware of is how to dispose of a CRT properly. When you replace a CRT, you cannot simply throw the old CRT over the side of the ship, or place it in the nearest dumpster. When thrown over the side of a ship, a CRT will float; if it washes ashore, it is dangerous to persons who may come in contact with it. A CRT thrown in a dumpster represents a hidden booby trap. Therefore, always render the CRT harmless before you dispose of it. This is a fairly simple procedure, as outlined below.

Note: Be sure to wear safety goggles. NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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 Place the CRT face down in an empty carton and cover its side and back with protective material.  Carefully break off the plastic locating pin from the base (fig. 2-29) by crushing the locating pin with a pair of pliers.  Brush the broken plastic from the pin off the CRT base.  Look into the hole in the base where the locator pin was. You will see the glass extension of the CRT called the vacuum seal. Grasp the vacuum seal near the end with the pliers and crush it. This may sound a little risky but it isn't. The vacuum seal can be crushed without shattering the tube. Once the seal has been crushed, air will rush into the tube and eliminate the vacuum.

Figure 2-29 Cathode-ray tube base structure NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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2.9.3 Radioactive Electron Tubes Another type of tube that can prove hazardous to you, if you handle it improperly, is the radioactive tube. These tubes contain radioactive material and are used as voltage-regulator, gas-switching, and cold-cathode, gas-rectifier tubes. Some of these tubes have dangerous radioactive intensity levels. Radioactive tubes are marked according to military specifications. Radioactive material is added to a tube to aid in ionization. The radioactive material emits relatively slowly moving particles. This should not worry you because the glass envelope is thick enough to keep these particles inside the tube. Therefore, proper handling is nothing more than ensuring that the envelope remains unbroken. If these tubes are broken and the radioactive material is exposed, or escapes from the confines of the electron tube, the radioactive material becomes a potential hazard.

The concentration of radioactivity in an average collection of electron tubes in a maintenance shop does not approach a dangerous level, and the hazards of injury from exposure are slight. However, at major supply points, the storage of large quantities of radioactive electron tubes in a relatively small area may create a hazard. For this reason, personnel working with equipment using electron tubes containing radioactive material, or in areas where a large quantity of radioactive tubes are stored, should read and become thoroughly familiar with the safety practices contained in Radiation, Health, and Protection Manual, NAVMED P-5055. Strict compliance with the prescribed safety precautions and procedures of this manual will help to prevent accidents, and to maintain a safe working environment which is conducive to good health.

The clean-up procedures listed below are based on NAVMED P-5055. Your ship or station may have additional procedures that you should follow. Be sure you are aware of your command's policy concerning decontamination procedures before you begin working on equipment containing radioactive tubes. Some important instructions and precautions for the proper handling of radioactive tubes are listed below: NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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1. Do not remove radioactive tubes from their carton until you are ready to install them. 2. When you remove a tube containing a radioactive material from equipment, place it immediately in an appropriate carton to prevent possible breakage. 3. Never carry a radioactive tube in a manner that may cause it to break. 4. If a radioactive tube that you are handling or removing breaks, notify the proper authority and obtain the services of qualified radiological personnel immediately. 5. Isolate the immediate area of exposure to protect other personnel from possible contamination and exposure.

6. Follow the established procedures set forth in NAVMED P-5055. 7. Do not permit contaminated material to come in contact with any part of your body. 8. Take care to avoid breathing any vapor or dust that may be released by tube breakage. 9. Wear rubber or plastic gloves at all times during cleanup and decontamination procedures. 10. Use forceps to remove large fragments of a broken radioactive tube. Remove the remaining small particles with a designated vacuum cleaner, using an approved disposal collection bag. If a vacuum cleaner is not designated, use a wet cloth to wipe the affected area. In this case, be sure to make one stroke at a time. DO NOT use a back-and-forth motion. After each stroke, fold the cloth in half, always holding one clean side and using the other for the new stroke. Dispose of the cloth in the manner stated in instruction 14 below.

11. Do not bring food or drink into the contaminated area or near any radioactive material. 12. Immediately after leaving a contaminated area, if you handled radioactive material in any way, remove all of your clothing. Also wash your hands and arms thoroughly with soap and water, and rinse with clean water. 13. Notify a medical officer immediately if you sustain a wound from a sharp radioactive object. If a medical officer cannot reach the scene immediately, stimulated mild bleeding by applying pressure about the wound and by using suction bulbs. DO NOT USE YOUR MOUTH if the wound is a puncture-type wound. If the opening is small, make an incision to promote free bleeding, and to make the wound easier to clean and flush.

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14. When you clean a contaminated area, seal all debris, cleaning cloths, and collection bags in a container such as a plastic bag, heavy wax paper, or glass jar, and place them in a steel can until they can be disposed of according to existing instructions. 15. Use soap and water to decontaminate all tools and implements you used to remove the radioactive substance. Monitor the tools and implements for radiation with an authorized radiac set to ensure that they are not contaminated. As you can see, the cleanup that results from breaking a radioactive tube is a long and complicated procedure. You can avoid this by simply ensuring that you don't break the tube.

2.9.4 Conventional Tubes While conventional tubes present few safety problems, beyond broken glass and the possibility of cutting yourself, there is one precaution you must know. Namely, electron tubes are hot. The filaments of some tubes may operate at several thousand degrees. As a result, the envelopes can become very hot. When you work on electron tube equipment, always deenergize the equipment and allow the tubes sufficient time to cool before you remove them. If this is impossible, use special tube pullers which the Navy stocks for this purpose. Never attempt to remove a hot tube from its socket with your bare fingers.

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2.10 SUMMARY The following summary covers the main points of this chapter. Study it to be sure you understand the material before you begin the next chapter. MULTI-UNIT TUBES were developed to reduce the size of vacuum tube circuits. Incorporating more than one tube in the same envelope allowed the size of a vacuum tube circuit to be reduced considerably. While a single envelope may contain two or more tubes, these tubes are independent of each other. MULTI-ELECTRODE TUBES were developed to extend the capability of conventional tubes. In some cases, a multi-element tube may contain up to seven grids.

These types of tubes are normally classified by the number of grids they contain. POWER PENTODES are used as current or power amplifiers. Power pentodes use in- line grid arrangements. In this manner, more electrons can reach the plate from the cathode. In effect, this lowers plate resistance and allows maximum conduction through the tube. BEAM-POWER TUBES are also used as power amplifiers. In addition to the in-line grid arrangement, beam-power tubes use a set of negatively charged beam-forming plates. The beam-forming plates force electrons that would normally be deflected from the plate back into the electron steam and, thus, add to the number of electrons the tube can use for power amplification.

VARIABLE-MU (μ) TUBES or REMOTE-CUTOFF TUBES were developed to extend the amplification range of electron tubes by avoiding the possibility of driving the tube into cutoff. This is done by uneven spacing of the grid wires. UHF TUBES are special-purpose tubes designed to operate at ultrahigh frequencies between 300 MHz and 3000 MHz with minimum effect from transit time limitations. Among these are acorn tubes, and doorknob tubes, lighthouse tubes, and oilcan tubes. PLANAR TUBES have their plates and grids mounted parallel to each other. Because of their planar construction, they can handle large amounts of power at uhf frequencies.

GAS-FILLED TUBES contain a small amount of gas that ionizes and reduces the internal resistance of the tubes. Because of this, gas-filled tubes can handle relatively large amounts of power while maintaining a constant voltage drop across the tube. NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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COLD-CATHODE TUBES lack heaters or filaments and, therefore, do not use thermionic emission. Instead, a voltage potential applied across the tube causes the internal gas to ionize. Once ionization has occurred, the voltage drop across the tube remains constant, regardless of increased conduction. The CRT is a special-purpose tube that has the unique ability to visually display electronic signals. The CRT uses the principles of electrostatic attraction, repulsion, and fluorescence. Because of its unique ability, the CRT makes up the heart of many types of test equipment that you will become familiar with during your career in electronics.

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Answers To Questions Q1. Through Q18.

A1. Conventional pentodes have a staggered grid arrangement, while power pentodes have a shielded grid arrangement. A2. Beam-forming plates. A3. By increasing the number of electrons that reach the plate, plate current is increased. A4. A large negative voltage causes conduction to occur only at the center of the grid A5. Decreases gain. a. Power pentode or beam-forming tetrode. b. Conventional tube. c. Variable-mu tube. A6. It causes the control grid to short to the cathode. A7. By reducing the spacing between tube elements.

A8. The close spacing of tube elements allows for the ready formation of arcs or short circuits. A9. Planar A10. a. They can carry more current. b. They maintain a constant IR drop across the tube. A11. None. A12. The filament's voltage should be applied to the tube at least 30 seconds before attempting to operate the tube. A13. They have the ability to maintain a constant voltage drop across the tube despite changes in current flow. A14. To visually display electronic signals. NEETS MODULE 6-Electronic Emission, Tubes, and Power Supplies

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A15. a. Electron gun. b. Deflection system c. Screen. A16. Persistence. A17. The horizontal-deflection plate. A18. The vertical-deflection plate.