Phosphor screens for flat cathode ray tubes

In the Zeus display panel, as in other flat-panel cathode ray tubes, the anode voltage is limited to a few kV. The effects of the anode voltage on phosphor screen performance are discussed which include energy conversion loss processes at the phosphor surface and variation of the number of luminescent centres available. Phosphor efficiency saturation has been measured in the range of 1 to 10 kV, using a pulse-width-modulation scheme. The luminance performance at different excitation conditions is predicted and confirmed experimentally.

Coulomb degradation of phosphor screens is shown to increase with decreasing anode voltage. Novel ultra-thin and dense anti-degradation coatings have been developed for zinc sulphide phosphors which effectively prevent fast degradation due to chemical surface reactions. In this way a satisfactory solution has been found to obtain in the Zeus display a luminance level about equal to the best conventional tubes.