What is a CRT Monitor?
A CRT monitor, or Cathode Ray Tube, is a glass vacuum tube screen containing a charged cathode, which projects three electron guns: one each for red, green, and blue phosphor dots. When electricity is applied to them, these electron guns shoot rays onto a fluorescent screen, creating images. These images can either be oscilloscope waveforms, pictures, like those on televisions or monitors, or radar targets. CRTs were the old ‘Tube’ television sets, which have all but disappeared since the early 2000’s.
Industrial CRT Monitor Uses
A CRT monitor used in an industrial setting, are used to display faults, positioning, and machine status. Others are used in operator interfaces, industrial computers, and even early touchscreen applications. This is the terminal to both display and communicate with a machine: how to program it, what stage of the process it is on, and so forth. Many of the industrial monitors out there are being converted to LCD technology or are being replaced with whole systems that no longer use CRTs. CRT tubes are very scarce, and the plug and play LCD are becoming mainstay.
CRT Technology Still Preferred
Although CRT technology is a dying industry, there are still applications that use them. CRTs are useful for viewing photographs with high pixel resolution due to their superior color rendition. Also, it is still widely used in video production and graphics due in large to greater viewing of contrast and color fidelity, accuracy and detail. Finally, CRT monitors are still used in the study of the brain’s visual processing. Their speed and response make them well suited for a scientists’ need of having fine control over stimuli that are presented to a patient.
For further reading, click on one of our other tech notes about CRT monitors:
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