Computer Graphics
Lecture 2
Computer Graphics Hardware Graphics Display Devices
University College in Adam
Graphics Display Devices
• The primary output device in a graphics system is a video monitor. These monitors are based on Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) design.
• CRT is a vacuum tube/electron tube.
• It has an electron gun at one end that emits beam of electrons (cathode rays).
Cathode Ray Tube
• The inner side of the screen is coated with phosphor substance which gives off light when it is stroked by electrons.
• It is possible to control the point at which the electron beam strikes the screen by deflecting the beam in the CRT.
Components of CRT
• CRT consists of following components:
1. Electron Gun
• The components of electron gun are:
- heating filament - cathode
- control grid
• When the current is passed through the
filament, it supplies the heat to the cathode and causes the electrons to boil off from the hot cathode surface.
• Control grid is a metal cylinder that fits over the cathode.
• It is used to control the intensity of electron beam by setting voltages.
• If high negative voltage is applied to the control grid the electron beam shuts off because electrons get repelled from the negative voltage of grid and cannot pass from the small hole at the end of the control grid.
• Smaller negative voltage on the grid decreases the number of electrons passing through.
• Brightness of the display depends on the number
2. Focussing System (Anode): it is the part of CRT that is used to force the electron beam to converge to small spots as it strikes the phosphor. Otherwise the electrons will repel each other and the beam would spread out as it reaches the screen.
Anode is positively charged which attracts the negatively charged electrons and causes them to converge towards center of the screen.
3. Accelerating system: it also uses an anode which accelerates the negatively charged electrons towards the phosphor coated screen.
4. Horizontal Deflection plates: it is a pair of plates placed vertically inside the CRT to control the horizontal deflection.
5. Vertical Deflection plates: it is a pair of plates placed horizontally to control the vertical deflection.