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Trinitron is Sony's brand name for its line of aperture grille cathode ray tube televisions and computer monitors. Sony patented the design, which was invented by E.O Lawrence at Autometric Laboratory, and called "Chromotron", in the 1960s and held the patent until 1996^{[citation needed]}. See pg 42-48 of "SONY" by John Nathan for more info on the birth of Trinitron.

Contents 1 Background 2 Visible Support Wires 3 Partial list of other aperture grille brands 4 End of Production Announcement 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] Background

"Trinitron" is sometimes used as a generic term for CRT monitors equipped with an aperture grille tube. Because of the expiration of Sony's Trinitron patent, manufacturers like Mitsubishi (whose monitor production is now part of NEC Display Solutions) are now free to use the Trinitron design for their own product line without license from Sony. However, they cannot use the Trinitron name; for example, Mitsubishi's are called Diamondtron.

Trinitron TVs were also once regarded as the best available in terms of picture quality, and Sony charged a premium for them. Because of the nature of the design, they had bright colors and high contrast with good across-the-screen electron focus compared to other television designs. With the emergence of gas plasma, liquid crystal display and other newer technologies for monitors and televisions, Trinitron and similar brands have been in decline. Nonetheless, Trinitron tubes are still considered by many to be the best in terms of image quality and are generally regarded as better than LCDs.

At the time of their introduction in the late 1950s, color CRTs included complicated dynamic convergence systems which were responsible for converging the three electron beams on one triad of phosphors. Part of the revolutionary nature of the Trinitron's design was the virtual elimination of dynamic convergence circuits, replacing them with bonded permanent magnets on the bell of the tube. Another feature was a three cathode single electron gun arrangement, in contrast to the then-dominant (and still common) three gun arrangement. Single gun systems tend to be easier to manufacture reliably, simplify beam focus and control, and are less prone to inter-electrode short circuits.

Over time, Sony Trinitron computer monitors have also been rebranded and distributed by Apple Inc. , Dell, Digital Equipment Corporation, Mitsubishi, Gateway, IBM, Silicon Graphics, and Sun Microsystems, among others. The monitors have an identical chassis to the Sony-branded counterparts, and most bear the "Trinitron" logo on the top-left corner of the bezel.

Eizo had become well known in the mid 1980s to be a very successful manufacturer of CRT based computer monitors. In particular the company was noted to pick only the best performing Sony Trinitron tubes from the Sony production line for use in their products.

In 2007, Sony announced that it would no longer market or sell Trinitrons in the USA or Canada, but continued to sell the Trinitron in China, India, and regions of South America.

[edit] Visible Support Wires

Monitors using this technology will have very thin and barely visible horizontal wire(s) (which are used to hold the aperture grille in place). 15" and smaller monitors have one wire 2/3 the way down the screen. Monitors greater than 15" have 2 horizontal wires at 1/4 to 1/3 and 2/3 to 3/4 the way down the screen. These are also visible on television screens using this technology.

[edit] Partial list of other aperture grille brands

• Diamondtron (NEC/Mitsubishi, a licensed reproduction of Sony Trinitron technology)
• SonicTron (ViewSonic, a licensed reproduction of Sony Trinitron technology)
• Technitron (MAG Innovision, a licensed reproduction of Sony Trinitron technology)
• Vivitron (Gateway Computer, a licensed reproduction of Sony Trinitron technology)

[edit] End of Production Announcement

Sony has already ended producing Trinitron CRT at the Singapore manufacturing plant and has announced Trinitron CRT production will cease in Japan at the end of March 2008. Sony has taken out all of Trinitron CRT models from the catalog at the end of 2006 for Japanese domestic market.

Sony has claimed to have produced more than 280 million units (incl. computer peripherals) since Trinitron began shipping in 1968. The sales peaked at year 2000 with sale of more than 11 million units and has steadily declined to 2.8 million units for year 2007. Market analysts predict Sony will be shifting its focus to LCD and EL based display models in the future.

[edit] See also

• Colortrak, RCA's notable television trademark

[edit] External links

• Sony Trinitron Explained

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