orthicon
Very low (C2/professional technical)Technical/Historical
Definition
Meaning
A type of television camera tube that converts light into an electronic signal.
Specifically refers to an image orthicon tube, a highly sensitive pickup device used in early television broadcasting that employed electron scanning of a photoelectric storage plate.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Term is now largely historical, replaced by solid-state imaging technology. Still used in discussions of television history, vintage equipment restoration, and media archaeology.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning; term is identical in both technical communities.
Connotations
Evokes mid-20th century broadcasting technology, often associated with early live television, black-and-white broadcasts, and large studio cameras.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general discourse; encountered only in technical histories, museum contexts, or among vintage electronics enthusiasts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [noun] used an orthicon.They replaced the orthicon with a newer tube.An orthicon is a type of [noun].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in media history, history of technology, and electrical engineering contexts discussing obsolete imaging technology.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Precise term for a specific, now-obsolete electronic vacuum tube for television imaging.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The signal was orthiconned from the studio.
American English
- They orthiconned the live feed.
adverb
British English
- The image was captured orthiconically.
American English
- The camera operated orthiconically.
adjective
British English
- The orthicon stage of television development was crucial.
American English
- They studied orthicon-era broadcast quality.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Early television cameras used a special tube called an orthicon.
- The museum's 1950s television camera contains a large, sensitive orthicon tube for capturing images.
- The transition from the orthicon to solid-state sensors in the 1970s revolutionized broadcast television's portability and image consistency.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
ORTHOgraphic (correct image) + elecTRON = ORTHICON – a tube that captures correct images using electrons.
Conceptual Metaphor
An ELECTRONIC EYE of a bygone era.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'ортодокс' (orthodox). The root 'ortho-' here relates to 'correct' or 'straight' imaging, not religious doctrine.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'orthican' or 'orthocon'.
- Using it as a general term for any old camera.
- Pronouncing the 'ch' as /tʃ/ instead of /k/.
Practice
Quiz
An orthicon is primarily a:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The orthicon was completely superseded by first the Plumbicon and Vidicon tubes, and then by solid-state charge-coupled device (CCD) and CMOS sensors from the 1980s onwards.
It comes from Greek 'orthos', meaning 'straight', 'correct', or 'true'. In this context, it implies the tube's function of producing a correct or accurate electronic image from light.
The image orthicon was developed by a team at RCA, led by Albert Rose, Harley Iams, and Paul Weimer, and was first demonstrated in 1939. It became the standard broadcast camera tube for two decades.
Only as a vintage or collectible item from electronic surplus dealers, antique radio fairs, or online auctions. They are no longer manufactured and are considered obsolete technology.