The Linotron character generator tube

A new multi-aperture camera tube has been developed for use as the character generator in an electronic photocomposition system known as the Linotron*. The tube is capable of generating alphanumerical characters of graphic arts quality at high speeds. Operating on the image dissector principle, the Linotron contains a photocathode, an electromagnetic imaging section, a dissecting plate with a 16 × 16 aperture array, an electronic switching section, and a ten-stage electron multiplier section. When an array of 256 typographic symbols are optically focused on the photocathode, electron images are formed and then magnetically focused on the aperture plate. Magnetic deflection fields, generated by external coils, scan the electron images across the aperture array and dissect the images into incremental parts. The switching section allows only one of the 256 dissected signals to pass, enter the multiplier section, and produce a video signal at the anode.