How a Color CRT TV Works

•Beam of electrons are

sent from the
cathode/anode setup
•Directed beam sweeps
the screen many times
per second
•The eye sees it as
continually changing
picture

•Each “dot” on the screen one of three types of

phosphor – chemicals that emit red, green, or blue
light when hit with an electron
•These combine to make any possible color
Diagrams and legends taken from: http://www.howstuffworks.com/tv.htm
 Close Up Pictures of CRT
Screen

Picture taken from Picture taken from

www.dansdata.com/images/753df/closeup320.jpg content.answers.com/.../img/CDE/DOTPITCH.GIF

Hexagon Screen Pattern Rectangular Grid Pattern

Each of the screens has a repeating pattern of red,

green, and blue phosphors that together can make any
color.
 Spectra Taken from a CRT TV
Red CRT Screen Blue CRT Screen

8000 4000
Intensity (counts)

Intensity (counts)
6000 Red CRT Screen 3000 Blue CRT Screen

4000 2000

2000 1000

0 0
200 400 600 800 1000 200 400 600 800 1000
Wavelength (nm) Wavelength (nm)

Green CRT Screen White CRT Screen

5000 4000

Intensity (counts)
Intensity (counts)

4000 Green CRT Screen 3000

White CRT Screen
3000
2000
2000
1000 1000

0 0
200 400 600 800 1000 200 400 600 800 1000
Wavelength (nm) Wavelength (nm)

This data was taken from a Mitsubishi Diamond Plus

74SB-BK Computer Monitor