EP0595468A1 - Dispositif de formation d'images. - Google Patents

Dispositif de formation d'images. Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0595468A1
EP0595468A1 EP93307605A EP93307605A EP0595468A1 EP 0595468 A1 EP0595468 A1 EP 0595468A1 EP 93307605 A EP93307605 A EP 93307605A EP 93307605 A EP93307605 A EP 93307605A EP 0595468 A1 EP0595468 A1 EP 0595468A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
housing
image
end plate
photoelectric surface
image tube
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP93307605A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0595468B1 (fr
Inventor
Kazuyuki c/o HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K. Ishida
Eiji C/O Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. Inuzuka
Shigeo c/o HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K. Takahashi
Hideki c/o HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K. Suzuki
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Hamamatsu Photonics KK
Original Assignee
Hamamatsu Photonics KK
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hamamatsu Photonics KK filed Critical Hamamatsu Photonics KK
Publication of EP0595468A1 publication Critical patent/EP0595468A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0595468B1 publication Critical patent/EP0595468B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J29/00—Details of cathode-ray tubes or of electron-beam tubes of the types covered by group H01J31/00
    • H01J29/02—Electrodes; Screens; Mounting, supporting, spacing or insulating thereof
    • H01J29/10—Screens on or from which an image or pattern is formed, picked up, converted or stored
    • H01J29/18—Luminescent screens
    • H01J29/34—Luminescent screens provided with permanent marks or references
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J29/00—Details of cathode-ray tubes or of electron-beam tubes of the types covered by group H01J31/00
    • H01J29/006—Arrangements for eliminating unwanted temperature effects

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to an image tube for converting an optical image, received by an incident window, into a photoelectric image through a photoelectric surface and reproducing the photoelectric image as an optical image through a reproduction window and, more particularly, is concerned with an image device including means for cooling the photoelectric surface of the image tube.
  • An image tube has a substantially cylindrical closed vessel.
  • One end plate of the closed vessel serves as an incident window for receiving an optical image.
  • a photoelectric surface is formed on the inner surface of the incident window.
  • An optical image incident on the incident window is converted into photoelectrons by the external photoelectric effect of the photoelectric surface.
  • the photoelectrons are accelerated and focused by an electron lens to form an electronic image on fluorescent screen which is formed on the inner surface of the other end plate of the closed vessel.
  • the electronic image formed on the fluorescent screen is then reproduced as an optical image.
  • the other end plate will be referred to as a reproduction window hereinafter.
  • thermoelectrons In such an image tube, the photoelectric surface emits thermoelectrons owing to heat even if no light is incident on the photoelectric surface.
  • the thermoelectrons cause thermal noise, and a decrease in the S/N ratio of the image tube.
  • a method of restricting emission of such thermoelectrons a method of using means for cooling an image tube, especially, a photoelectric surface thereof is available.
  • Fig. 1 shows one of conventional cooling means.
  • This cooling means uses cooling elements 1 based on the Peltier effect.
  • the cooling element will be referred to as Peltier element hereinafter.
  • the cooling means is designed as follows.
  • An image tube 2 is covered entirely with a cylindrical housing 3, and the space therebetween is set at a vacuum.
  • a plurality of Peltier elements 1 are arranged between the outer surface of the side wall of the image tube 2 and the inner surface of the side wall of the housing 3 in such a manner that a heat absorption portion 1a of each Peltier element is located on the side of the image tube, and a heat dissipation portion lb of each Peltier element 1 is located on the side of the housing 3.
  • the heat absorption portions 1a are set at low temperatures to cool the side wall portion of the image tube 2.
  • the photoelectric surface (not shown) formed on the inner surface of an incident window 4 of the image tube 2 is cooled.
  • a device for cooling mainly a photoelectric surface as shown in Fig. 2, is known (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-180930).
  • This photoelectric surface cooling device 5 comprises two annular metal plates 5a and 5b having transparent window plates 6a and 6b mounted on their central opening portions, and a plurality of Peltier elements 7 arranged between the metal plates 5a and 5b. Heat absorption portions 7a of the Peltier elements 7 are in contact with the metal plate 5b.
  • the window plate 6b of the annular metal plate 5b is set at a low temperature. Therefore, since the window plate 6b is mounted on an incident window 4 of an image tube 2 so as to be in contact therewith, a photoelectric surface 8 on the inner surface of the incident window 4 can be cooled.
  • this photoelectric surface cooling device 5 since the window plate 6b having a low temperature is in contact with the incident window 4 of the image tube 2, a reproduction window 9 is also cooled through the side wall portion of the image tube 2. Since the reproduction window 9 is exposed to the atmosphere, dew condensation may occur on the surface of the reproduction window 9. In addition, since most of the image tube 2 is exposed to the atmosphere, the photoelectric surface 8 cannot be sufficiently cooled owing to external heat.
  • an object of the present invention to provide an image device which can effectively cool the photoelectric surface of an image tube to suppress generation of thermoelectrons, thereby increasing the S/N ratio of the image tube.
  • an image device comprising (a) an image tube including a first end plate having a photoelectric surface formed on an inner surface thereof, and a second end plate located on the opposite side of the first end plate and having a fluorescent screen formed on an inner surface thereof, the image tube being adapted to reproduce on the fluorescent screen an optical image incident on the photoelectric surface through the first end plate, (b) a housing adapted to house the image tube with a predetermined space therebetween and having an inner space substantially completely evacuated, the housing including a first transparent portion arranged to oppose the first end plate with a predetermined space therebetween, and a second transparent portion arranged to oppose the second end plate with a predetermined space therebetween, and (c) a plurality of Peltier elements for cooling the photoelectric surface of the image tube and supporting the image tube at a predetermined position in the housing, each Peltier element having a heat absorption portion fixed to the image tube at a position near the photoelectric surface and a heat dissipation portion fixed to the housing at a position near
  • the housing comprises a transparent cup-like main body, an annular metal end plate airtightly fixed to an open end portion of the cup-like main body, and a transparent window plate airtightly mounted on a central opening portion of the cup-like main body, and the image tube is coaxially arranged in the cup-like main body.
  • the transparent window plate is the first transparent portion of the housing
  • the bottom plate of the cup-like main body is the second transparent portion.
  • the cup-like main body consists of a glass material
  • the end plate consists of copper
  • the window plate consists of a glass material.
  • the heat dissipation portion of each Peltier element can be fixed to the end plate of the housing.
  • the heat absorption portion of each Peltier element can be fixed to an outward flange provided on an outer peripheral portion, of the image tube, which is adjacent to the first end plate.
  • the image device of the present invention may include a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the photoelectric surface of the image tube.
  • the temperature detection means is a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of a portion, of the image tube, which is adjacent to the photoelectric surface.
  • the image device may include a control means, electrically connected to the temperature detection means and the Peltier elements, for controlling voltages applied to the Peltier elements to keep the temperature of the photoelectric surface constant on the basis of a detection result from the temperature detection means.
  • the image device 10 includes an image tube 12.
  • the image tube 12 is of a known type and has a substantially cylindrical closed vessel 14.
  • One end plate (the end plate on the left side in Fig. 3) of the closed vessel 14 serves as an incident window 16 for an optical image, on the inner surface of which a photoelectric surface 18 is formed.
  • the other end plate of the closed vessel 14 serves as a reproduction window 20, on the inner surface of which a fluorescent screen 22 is formed.
  • the image tube 12 is coaxially housed in a cylindrical housing 24 with a predetermined space therebetween.
  • the housing 24 is constituted by a cup-like main body 26 consisting of a transparent glass material, and an annular end plate 28 consisting of a metal, preferably a copper material having a high thermal conductivity, and mounted on an open end portion of the cup-like main body 26.
  • a window plate 30 consisting of a transparent glass material is mounted on a central opening portion of the end plate 28.
  • the window plate 30 is arranged to oppose the incident window 16 of the image tube 12 with a predetermined space therebetween.
  • the window plate 30 serves as an inlet for optical information to be imaged on the photoelectric surface 18 of the image tube 12.
  • the diameter of the window plate 30 is similar to or larger than that of the photoelectric surface 18.
  • an air-cooled or water-cooled annular heat dissipation plate 32 is arranged on the outer surface of the end plate 28.
  • the end plate 28 and the cup-like main body 26, and the end plate 28 and the window plate 30, respectively, are airtightly coupled to each other so that the housing 24 has a hermetically sealed structure. Since it is difficult to directly couple a glass member to' a copper member, a plurality of metals such as chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and indium (In) are preferably interposed between the end plate 28 and the cup-like main body 26 or the window plate 30, as shown in Fig. 5 and 6.
  • chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and indium (In) are preferably interposed between the end plate 28 and the cup-like main body 26 or the window plate 30, as shown in Fig. 5 and 6.
  • An outward flange 34 consisting of copper is formed on the image tube at an outer peripheral portion thereof which is adjacent to the incident window 16.
  • An annular copper plate 36 is fixed to the flange 34.
  • the annular copper plate 36 is arranged to oppose the end plate 28 of the housing 24 coaxially.
  • a plurality of (eight in this embodiment) Peltier elements 38 are arranged between the end plate 28 of the housing 24 and the annular copper plate 36 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.
  • a heat dissipation portion 38a of each Peltier element 38 is fixed to the end plate 28 of the housing 24, and a heat absorption portion 38b of each Peltier element 38 is fixed to the copper plate 36.
  • the Peltier elements 38 are connected to electrodes 40 and 41 extending through the cup-like main body 26, through lead lines 42 and 43 having a low heat conductivity.
  • a temperature controller 44 located outside the housing 24 is connected to the electrodes 40 and 41.
  • a temperature detector 46 such as a platinum temperature sensor is mounted on the annular copper plate 36. Although the temperature detector 46 serves to detect the temperature of the annular copper plate 36, the temperature of the photoelectric surface 18 can be calculated from a detection value from the temperature detector 46.
  • the detection value from the temperature detector 46 is input to the temperature controller 44 through a lead line 48 having a low thermal conductivity and an electrode 50.
  • the temperature controller 44 controls voltages applied to the Peltier elements 38 in accordance with this detection value, thus controlling the temperature of the heat absorption portions 38b.
  • the numeral 52 designates a chip tube, which is used to exhaust air from the housing 24 to set a vacuum therein after the image tube 12 is housed in the housing 24 and the end plate 28 is mounted.
  • the chip tube 52 is closed by using a burner or the like.
  • the numeral 54 designates a getter, which absorbs residual gases to maintain the degree of vacuum after the housing 24 is evacuated.
  • the getter 54 is suspended from a side wall of the image tube 12.
  • the numeral 56 designates electrodes extending through the cup-like main body 26.
  • the electrodes 56 serve to apply voltages to the image tube 12 or extract signals from the image tube 12. These electrodes 56 are properly connected to the image tube 12 through lead lines 58 having a low heat conductivity.
  • optical information is incident on the incident window 16 of the image tube 12 through the window plate 30 of the housing 24, and an image is formed on the photoelectric surface 18 on the inner surface of the incident window 16.
  • the optical image incident on the photoelectric surface 18 is converted into a photoelectric image by the external photoelectric effect of the photoelectric surface 18.
  • the photoelectric image is accelerated and focused by an electron lens (not shown) in the image tube 12 and is reproduced as an optical image through the fluorescent screen 22.
  • the reproduced image is output through the reproduction window 20 of the image tube 12 and a transparent end plate 60 of the housing 24 (i.e. a bottom plate 60 of the cup-like main body 26) which is opposed to and spaced from the reproduction window 20.
  • the Peltier elements 38 serve to absorb heat from the photoelectric surface 18 under the control of the temperature controller 44. More specifically, the heat absorption portions 38b of the Peltier elements 38 absorb heat from the photoelectric surface 18 through the incident window 16, the outward flange 34 and the annular copper plate 36, and the Peltier elements 38 dissipate the heat from the heat dissipation portions 38a to the annular heat dissipation plate 32 mounted on the end plate 28. Since the image tube 12 is supported only by the Peltier elements 38 in the vacuum in the housing 24, the image tube 12 is free from the influence of external heat, and hence the photoelectric surface 18 is efficiently cooled.
  • the temperature of the photoelectric surface 18 could be decreased to -40°C.
  • the temperature of the photoelectric surface could be decreased to only -20°C.
  • the cooling efficiency with respect to a photoelectric surface is very high, and a reduction in energy consumption can be achieved.
  • this cooling temperature varies depending on the thermal capacities of the Peltier elements 38, the annular heat dissipation plate 32, the housing 24, and the like.
  • Fig. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the temperature of the photoelectric surface 18 and the number of thermoelectrons (dark count) in the dark. It is apparent from this graph that the number of thermoelectrons is reduced with a decrease in the temperature of the photoelectric surface 18. When the generation of thermoelectrons is restricted, thermal noise is reduced and the S/N ratio is increased.
  • the heat absorbed from the photoelectric surface 18 is dissipated from the annular heat dissipation plate 32 through the heat dissipation portions 38a of the Peltier elements 38 and the end plate 28.
  • part of the heat is transferred to the cup-like main body 26 of the housing 24 so that the temperature of the bottom plate 60 on the output side of the housing 24 can be set to be higher than the external temperature.
  • dew condensation on the surface of the bottom plate 60 of the housing 24 can be prevented.
  • the heat from the Peltier elements 38 is also transferred to the window plate 30 on the input side of the housing 24, no dew condensation occurs on the window plate 30. It is apparent that no dew condensation occurs on the incident window 16 and the reproduction window 20 of the image tube 12 housed in the housing 24.
  • the temperature of the window plate 30 of the housing 24 was 23°C
  • the temperature of the bottom plate 60 on the output side of the housing 24 was 20°C.
  • Fig. 8 is a graph showing the spectral sensitivity characteristics of the image tube 12, which are obtained when the temperature of the photoelectric surface 18 is set to be -25°C and +25°C, respectively. As is apparent from this graph, the spectral sensitivity characteristics change with a change in the temperature of the photoelectric surface 18. Therefore, the spectral sensitivity characteristics can be stabilized, and the performance of the image tube 12 can be improved, by means of keeping the temperature of the photoelectric surface 18 constant by the temperature controller 44.
EP19930307605 1992-09-24 1993-09-24 Dispositif de formation d'images. Expired - Lifetime EP0595468B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP254637/92 1992-09-24
JP25463792A JP3276418B2 (ja) 1992-09-24 1992-09-24 イメージ管装置

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0595468A1 true EP0595468A1 (fr) 1994-05-04
EP0595468B1 EP0595468B1 (fr) 1997-03-05

Family

ID=17267790

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19930307605 Expired - Lifetime EP0595468B1 (fr) 1992-09-24 1993-09-24 Dispositif de formation d'images.

Country Status (3)

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EP (1) EP0595468B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP3276418B2 (fr)
DE (1) DE69308469T2 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1411602A1 (fr) * 2001-07-24 2004-04-21 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Module semi-conducteur optique et procede de production correspondant
EP2560188B1 (fr) * 2011-08-16 2020-04-22 Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH Dispositif de détection
EP2560189B1 (fr) * 2011-08-16 2020-06-17 Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH Dispositif de détection

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4128654B2 (ja) * 1998-05-13 2008-07-30 浜松ホトニクス株式会社 電子管装置
JP2009170171A (ja) * 2008-01-11 2009-07-30 Hamamatsu Photonics Kk イメージ管ユニット
DE102018111885A1 (de) * 2018-05-17 2019-11-21 Instrument Systems Optische Messtechnik Gmbh Energieeffiziente Sensortemperierung mit zwei Peltier-Elementen

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3712986A (en) * 1969-04-03 1973-01-23 Westinghouse Electric Corp Electron imaging device utilizing a fiber optic input window
JPS62180930A (ja) * 1986-01-31 1987-08-08 Hamamatsu Photonics Kk 光電陰極を冷却する装置
US5118947A (en) * 1989-07-25 1992-06-02 Fujitsu Limited Infrared rays detecting apparatus with integral temperature control element

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3712986A (en) * 1969-04-03 1973-01-23 Westinghouse Electric Corp Electron imaging device utilizing a fiber optic input window
JPS62180930A (ja) * 1986-01-31 1987-08-08 Hamamatsu Photonics Kk 光電陰極を冷却する装置
US5118947A (en) * 1989-07-25 1992-06-02 Fujitsu Limited Infrared rays detecting apparatus with integral temperature control element

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 12, no. 24 (E - 576) 23 January 1988 (1988-01-23) *

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1411602A1 (fr) * 2001-07-24 2004-04-21 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Module semi-conducteur optique et procede de production correspondant
EP1411602A4 (fr) * 2001-07-24 2005-02-23 Sumitomo Electric Industries Module semi-conducteur optique et procede de production correspondant
EP2560188B1 (fr) * 2011-08-16 2020-04-22 Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH Dispositif de détection
EP2560189B1 (fr) * 2011-08-16 2020-06-17 Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH Dispositif de détection
EP2615621B1 (fr) * 2011-08-16 2020-06-17 Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH Dispositif de détection

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69308469D1 (de) 1997-04-10
JPH06103939A (ja) 1994-04-15
EP0595468B1 (fr) 1997-03-05
JP3276418B2 (ja) 2002-04-22
DE69308469T2 (de) 1997-07-17

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