Henricus Jozef Ligthart

Performance of Zeus displays

Abstract It is shown that the overall performance of Zeus displays is quite good, as illustrated by photographs of operating panels displaying ‘CRT-quality’ TV pictures. Results of measurements of all relevant performance parameters are presented, as well as an analysis of these data in relation to the design and operation of the displays. Measurements of the luminance as a function of the screen current density and of the screen voltage of Zeus displays are reported. A white D65 luminance of 1000 Cd/m2 is obtained at a screen voltage of 4.5 kV and a screen current density of about 9 μA/cm2. The luminous efficacy of the phosphor screen in the panels is found to be 12 lm/W (in the absence of saturation) for white D65. The efficacy of a 17″ Zeus panel (including transport power dissipation, cathode heating power and addressing power) is about 4 lm/W. The factors determining the internal contrast and colour purity of Zeus panels are discussed. Experiments to determine the relevant contrast parameters are described as well as the results of direct measurements of the internal contrast, colour purity and colour selectivity. Internal contrast values of more than 1000 have been obtained, and a colour selectivity better than 700. The available colour gamut is close to that of CRTs. Preliminary measurements of the external contrast of 17″ panels with a black matrix and front glass with 50% optical transmission yield a contrast value of 60 at an ambient light level of 100 lux. The factors determining the picture uniformity in Zeus displays are discussed. Several panels with good uniformity have been realized. No artefacts associated with moving pictures occur, the only significant artefact is caused by charge transfer effects. The visibility of this effect can be sufficiently reduced by using suitable ‘flush’ pulses and by optimizing the geometry. The displays used for the performance measurements have a quincunx dot arrangement and dot pitches 0.5 × 0.6mm, giving PAL resolution on 28″ panels. Small experimental panels with pitches of 0.3 × 0.5 mm and 0.25 × 0.30 mm have been realized and operate satisfactorily. The viewing angle of Zeus displays is close to 180 degrees. Preliminary tests show that lifetimes well over 10,000 h are possible if the glass surfaces hit by electrons are covered with an MgO coating and if the blue phosphor is coated with a very thin calcium polyphosphate layer.