Diamond Vision® - How Does It Work???

A Diamond Vision® Large Scale Video Display can be closely compared to a typical home television in that they both use a series of Red, Green and Blue dots to create full color images. Each display uses these colored dots, illuminated at various levels of intensity to produce color images.
  The image to the left is a close-up of a Diamond Vision screen®. This is similar to what your television set might look like through a magnified image. 

ORIGINAL SYSTEM DESIGN:

In striving to meet the criteria for a full-color, large scale outdoor video display system, Mitsubishi engineers tested many methods and finally selected the Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) technology. CRT technology was at the time, a known quantity with a relatively simple design that would ensure high reliability and low power consumption. Early Diamond Vision® screens utilized flood-beam cathode ray tubes constructed into modules to form the display. These early versions screens proved bright enough to be used in an outdoor setting, but lacked the high resolution found in displays today. The primary reason for this lack of resolution was the size of the light emitting surface required to obtain adequate illumination (aperture ratio).

The first systems developed used CRTs that were 28mm in diameter (appx. 1-1/8") at a 35mm pitch . Later systems used tubes of 45mm (1-3/8") for increased brightness, and in an effort to increase resolution, smaller, 20mm (25/32") tubes were put into use.
  The first generation Diamond Vision® screens used 28mm Flood Beam CRTs as shown in the picture to the left. These particular tubes were the type used only at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. They are unique in that each tube used glass that was colored to correspond to its phosphor color. 
 
  Later versions of the first generation Diamond Vision® screens used Flood Beam CRTs of different sizes depending on the application. Pictured here, from left to right are the 35mm, 28mm and 20mm tubes. 

THE SECOND GENERATION: MARK II

  The Diamond Vision® MARK II FMCRT 
In the mid-1980's, a new Flat Matrix Cathode Ray Tube (FMCRT) was developed. This development was significant in that it allowed the massive Diamond Vision® screens to be utilized indoors where viewing distances are greatly reduced. The design of the FMCRT also allowed the dot sized to be reduced to 10mm, 1/2 the size of the previously smallest CRT, providing very high resolution. Additional advantages of the new FMCRT were extremely wide viewing angles and a thin cabinet design. Two of the new MARK II systems were installed at McNichols Memorial Sports Arena in Denver and two at the Veterans' Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix.

THE THIRD GENERATION: MARK III

Advancements to the FMCRT solved the brightness/resolution challenge and allowed Mitsubishi engineers to create screens that were bright enough for outdoor as well as offering high resolution. The new screen was dubbed Diamond Vision® MARK III with the first U.S. installation made at the Pontiac Silverdome in 1988.
  The Diamond Vision® MARK III FMCRT. To find out how it works, click here.
Continued enhancements to the FMCRT included the application of a unique High Contrast lens/filter assembly. The addition of the color filter provided higher contrast than previous screens, without a decrease in brightness output. The first system to utilize this advanced technology in the United States was the 1991 replacement of the original Diamond Vision® screen at Dodger Stadium that was installed in 1980.
  This image shows a FMCRT with and without the color filter and lens assembly attached. As seen in this photo, the phosphor dots on the FMCRT without the lens/filter assembly (center) is highly reflective. Adding the lens/filter assembly reduces reflected light by more than 1/2, which doubles the contrast ratio.
 
  Improvements in the manufacturing process, coupled with the use of advanced materials has netted increased brightness, longer lifetime expectancy and higher reliability. The current MARK III HB is rated at 6,000 cd/m², some six times brighter than the original Diamond Vision® screen.
 
  As with the early version flood-beam CRTs, various versions of the FMCRT were developed to meet certain applications. The photo on the left shows the three versions currently available, the chart below indicates the appropriate application.

 
 

WHAT SETS MITSUBISHI APART:
WHAT'S NEXT?

Recent developments in Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology has provided components capable of use for high resolution indoor video displays. Mitsubishi is leading the way with the introduction of it's new Diamond Vision® LEDERBOARD™. The revolutionary Diamond Vision® LEDERBOARD™ utilizes high brightness chip type LEDs that provide high resolution and wide viewing angles. Two important ingredients required to construct a video display for indoor use.

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