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The Trinitron system employed a one gun (instead of three in conventional sets) inline three beam tube with one large lens instead of three small lens in conventional color sets. The three inline beams, red, green and blue, focused though the center of one large lens instead of using almost the entire lens times three in conventional sets. Photographers understand the concept, one achieves the sharpest image when the lens is closed down, IE; using only the center portion which is the sharpest with least distortion. Because the beams were inline, Sony created color phosphor strips instead of the conventional triad arrangement. To match this new phosphor arrangement, Sony re-invented the shadow mask, calling it an Aperture Grill which also were arranged in vertical, unbroken slots to match the color strips. This allowed more light to pass though. RCA sets from the 50’s blocked 85% of the light with their shadow masks. Sony’s aperture grill design of 1968, blocked only 25% of the light. Additionally this new vertical alignment of phosphor and aperture grill gave the tube a new, appealing look. The tube was vertically flat and reduced vertical reflections. This new system was a revelation improvement in picture quality. Folks noticed immediately the increased clarity, focus, brightness and color quality. Additionally, because the Trinitron only used one gun and one lens, they greatly reduced the convergence requirements over conventional color TV. I have owned numerous Trinitron TV’s, not one required convergence adjustment. In the day, the difference was almost as big as high definition is to standard definition. The rest is history, becoming the most successful color television and even winning an Emmy award for technical excellence in 1973. Advancements led to a flat screen CRT which eliminated distortion and reflections, a new phosphor for increased contrast and super fine pitch. These high end models were used in hospitals and professional fields. The Trinitron CRT was imitated but never equaled and sold in sets with 3.7 inch all the way up to 40 inch. (a 43 inch model was available in the Japanese market) Sony’s patent expired in 1996 and other companies were free to use the design. With the advent of flat panel television, Sony shut down production in early 2008.
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