The beam-index tube is a color television cathode ray tube design, using phosphor stripes and active-feedback timing, rather than phosphor dots and a beam-shadowing mask as developed by RCA. Beam indexing offered much brighter pictures than shadow-mask CRTs, and only a single electron gun rather than three, making it easier to build and reducing power consumption.
Philco led development of the beam-indexing concept in a series of developments they called the "Apple" CRT. In spite of lengthy development, they were never able to manufacture a cost-competitive indexing tube, and eventually abandoned the concept. The system was re-introduced as the Uniray in the 1970s. Improvements in electronics greatly reduced the cost of implementing beam indexing, which became cost competitive with conventional sets. Several Japanese companies used it for a variety of specialist purposes, the best-known being the Sony Indextron series. The system also saw some military use, due to its low sensitivity to magnetic interference.
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Famous quotes containing the word tube:
“The last best hope of earth, two trillion dollars in debt, is spinning out of control, and all we can do is stare at a flickering cathode-ray tube as Ollie “answers” questions on TV while the press, resolutely irrelevant as ever, asks politicians if they have committed adultery. From V-J Day 1945 to this has been, my fellow countrymen, a perfect nightmare.”
—Gore Vidal (b. 1925)