Trinitron

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Picture of a Dell-branded Sony Trinitron, still bearing the Trinitron logo.

Trinitron is Sony's brand name for its line of aperture grille cathode ray tube televisions and computer monitors. Sony invented the design in the 1960s and held the patent until 1996^{[citation needed]}. "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. 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.

Trinitron tubes are considered by many to be the best in terms of image quality and are generally regarded to look better than LCD's. Trinitron TVs too used to be 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.

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 Computer, Dell, Digital Equipment Corporation, 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.

As of 2007, Sony has discontinued all model Trinitrons, including those used in TV sets. This is due to the fact that LCD's and Plasma Displays have taken over the television market.