orthicon
Noun: A specific type of cathode-ray tube, now obsolete, that was used as the image pickup device in early television cameras. It operates by emitting electrons from a photosensitive surface in proportion to the intensity of light striking it; these electrons are then focused onto a target, causing a secondary emission of electrons which creates the video signal.
The term 'orthicon' is a technical, historical noun used specifically in the context of television and camera technology. It refers to a now-outdated piece of equipment.
- The early broadcast relied on a camera equipped with an orthicon tube.
- Museum exhibits on media history often feature an orthicon from the mid-20th century.
- Engineers developed the image orthicon to improve upon earlier, less sensitive camera tubes.
- Image orthicon: A common and more advanced variant of the orthicon tube, known for its higher sensitivity. It was widely used in television studios from the 1940s through the 1960s.
- The image orthicon was a significant technological leap for live television.
- Image orthicon (n): The predominant and more sensitive type of orthicon tube.
- Orthiconoscope (n): An alternate, less common name for the same type of tube.
- Iconoscope (n): An earlier, less sensitive type of television camera tube that preceded the orthicon.
- Vidicon (n): A later, simpler, and more compact type of camera tube that largely replaced the orthicon.
- Camera tube
- Pickup tube (in the specific context of television cameras)
The word 'orthicon' is highly specialized and historical. Its meaning is fixed to a specific obsolete technology within electronic engineering and broadcasting history. It is not used in general language or modern technical contexts, having been superseded by solid-state image sensors like CCDs and CMOS chips.
- a now obsolete picture pickup tube in a television camera; electrons emitted from a photoemissive surface in proportion to the intensity of the incident light are focused onto the target causing secondary emission of electrons