Abstract:
The heater filaments of the cathode-ray guns of a color television picture tube are connected across the low-voltage secondary winding of a transformer, the primary of which is connected across the terminals of a conventional household alternating current supply through a thermistor to effect gradual increase of potential across the secondary winding. As the filament voltage increases to normal operating potential, the degree of intensity of the lamps indicates the relative electron emission of the cathodes. As the filament voltage increases above normal operating potential, the temperature of the filament and cathode are increased above normal to effect progressive removal of contaminating materials from the cathodes. The cathodes are connected to one terminal of the alternating current supply and the control grids are connected to the other terminal of the alternating current supply each through a dropping resistance, circuit breaker and indicator lamp, to produce a pulsating direct current which effects progressive drawing of fresh electron emissive material to the surface of the cathodes. This automatic progressive restoration of the cathode is evidenced by progressive brightening of the lamps and when restoration of each cathode is completed, the associated circuit breaker opens automatically to terminate the treatment.