US3231746A - Image intensifier device using electron multiplier - Google Patents

Image intensifier device using electron multiplier Download PDF

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Publication number
US3231746A
US3231746A US116059A US11605961A US3231746A US 3231746 A US3231746 A US 3231746A US 116059 A US116059 A US 116059A US 11605961 A US11605961 A US 11605961A US 3231746 A US3231746 A US 3231746A
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United States
Prior art keywords
image
phosphor
amplifying
emitting means
emitting
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US116059A
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English (en)
Inventor
George W Goodrich
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.)
Bendix Corp
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Bendix Corp
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority to NL279475D priority Critical patent/NL279475A/xx
Application filed by Bendix Corp filed Critical Bendix Corp
Priority to US116059A priority patent/US3231746A/en
Priority to GB20629/62A priority patent/GB978226A/en
Priority to DEB67566A priority patent/DE1291840B/de
Priority to FR900021A priority patent/FR1328599A/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3231746A publication Critical patent/US3231746A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J31/00—Cathode ray tubes; Electron beam tubes
    • H01J31/08—Cathode ray tubes; Electron beam tubes having a screen on or from which an image or pattern is formed, picked up, converted, or stored
    • H01J31/50—Image-conversion or image-amplification tubes, i.e. having optical, X-ray, or analogous input, and optical output
    • H01J31/505—Image-conversion or image-amplification tubes, i.e. having optical, X-ray, or analogous input, and optical output flat tubes, e.g. proximity focusing tubes
    • 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
    • H01J29/023—Electrodes; Screens; Mounting, supporting, spacing or insulating thereof secondary-electron emitting electrode arrangements
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J31/00—Cathode ray tubes; Electron beam tubes
    • H01J31/08—Cathode ray tubes; Electron beam tubes having a screen on or from which an image or pattern is formed, picked up, converted, or stored
    • H01J31/50—Image-conversion or image-amplification tubes, i.e. having optical, X-ray, or analogous input, and optical output
    • H01J31/506—Image-conversion or image-amplification tubes, i.e. having optical, X-ray, or analogous input, and optical output tubes using secondary emission effect
    • H01J31/507—Image-conversion or image-amplification tubes, i.e. having optical, X-ray, or analogous input, and optical output tubes using secondary emission effect using a large number of channels, e.g. microchannel plates
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J31/00—Cathode ray tubes; Electron beam tubes
    • H01J31/08—Cathode ray tubes; Electron beam tubes having a screen on or from which an image or pattern is formed, picked up, converted, or stored
    • H01J31/50—Image-conversion or image-amplification tubes, i.e. having optical, X-ray, or analogous input, and optical output
    • H01J31/56—Image-conversion or image-amplification tubes, i.e. having optical, X-ray, or analogous input, and optical output for converting or amplifying images in two or more colours
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J43/00—Secondary-emission tubes; Electron-multiplier tubes
    • H01J43/04—Electron multipliers
    • H01J43/06—Electrode arrangements
    • H01J43/18—Electrode arrangements using essentially more than one dynode
    • H01J43/24—Dynodes having potential gradient along their surfaces

Definitions

  • This invention pertains to an image intensifier having improved uniformity and resolution and more particularly, to an image intensifierhaving a photo-cathode, an electron multiplier and a phosphor screen.
  • An embodiment of the invention is especially adaptable for use with color filters to provide multicolor inteni-fication.
  • a lead 42 is to screen 40 to provide a voltage thereto.
  • Electrodes :1, as, as and 42 extend through the glass wall of enclosure and are connected to corresponding conductive rings 31a, 36a, 38a and 420 formed on the outer periphery of enclosure 20.
  • Wipers 31b, 36b, 38b and Another object of this invention is to rotate the above intensifierdevice with a pair of color filters, one on either side of theintensifier to provide color intensification.
  • FIGURE 1 is a cutaway view in perspective of an FIGURE 2 is a simplified exploded viewof a device using color filtersron either side of an intensifier unit for color intensification and
  • FIGURE 3 is a simplified perspective view of a device having color filters fused to an intensifier unit.
  • Glass envelope 20 is evacuated and hermetically sealed, is circular in shape and has a ring gear 22 attached to its outer circumference.
  • Idler gears 28 are positioned about ring gear 22 to facilitate rotation while centering gear 22.
  • photo-cathode 30 Located inside envelope 20 and fused to a wall thereof is photo-cathode 30 which is constructed of material wellknown to the art for converting light rays impinging on one side thereof to corresponding electron emission from the other side thereof. A lead 31 is connected to cathode 30.
  • Array 32 Located adjacent photo-cathode 30 is an array 32 of channel multipliers of the type disclosed in Patent No. 3,128,408entitled Electron Multiplier filed April 20, 1960 by myself and W. C. Wiley which is the continuationin-part of an earlier application.
  • Array 32 may be fiush with photo-cathode 30 or may be spaced slightly there-
  • Each tube or channel 34 of array 32 is formed of an insulative material with a high resistive coating on the inside of the tube and with the tube diameter being relatively small compared with the tube length so that random velocities of electrons entering the tube will cause the electrons to impinge upon the resistive coating, causing secondary emission and multiplication as disclosed in the above application.
  • the ends of the tubes on one side of array 32 are electrically connected to each other and to lead 36.
  • the ends of the tubes on the other side of array 32 are electrically connected to each other and to lead 38.
  • An accelerating field across the tubes can be provided by applying the proper voltage to leads 36, 38..
  • phosphor screen 42b Adjacent to the other side of array 32 is phosphor screen 42b are in contact respectively with conductive rings 31a,
  • these voltages may be a minus 1700 volts applied to rings 31, a minus 1500 volts applied to ring 360, a plus 1500 volts applied to 38 and a plus-1700 volts applied to ring 42a.
  • the speed of rotation is limited by the per sistence" of the material used in the phosphor screen 40.
  • the phosphor screen 40 continued to glow after being energized while the multiplier-has rotated, a blurring would occur.
  • fast" phosphors are preferred in phosphor screen 40 so that the phosphor persistence is kept to a minimum.
  • a device can be constructed wherein the photo-cathode, amplifier section and phosphor can be moved independently of one another.
  • FIGURE 2 which is an exploded view of'a color intensifier, is shown transmission filters 50, 52 for primary; colors placed on either side of a multiplier 54 which may be like the multiplier 20 shown in FIGURE 1, and rotat 3,231,746" I y Patented Jan. 25, 1966;
  • each filter 50, '52 is divided filters correspond to each other. In fact, the number of color sections, or sets of primary colors, on each filter would be increased in normal usage so that for a given speed of rotation, more sets per second would pass the eye.
  • the filters may be fused as shown in FIGURE 3 to the outside of the intensifier section 54 or fused directly to the photo-cathode and phosphor screen inside the intensifier 54 or otherwise fixed to the intensifier.
  • Motor 56 drives pinion 58 which engages ringgear 60 supported by idlers 62.
  • the filters could be separate from the intensifier 54 and rotated in synchronism at a preferred speed, while the intensifier is rotated at another speed.
  • the light received by the intensifier 54 corresponds in intensity to the amount of the particular color of the image that is transmitted by a particular filter. If there is a large portion of blue in the image, then the intensity or amount of energy falling upon the intensifier from the blue filter will be large. After amplification by intensifier 54, this energy in the form of light waves will pass through a corresponding wedge of filter 52 which changes all light falling on it to blue, and we have an intensified reproduction of the blue portion of the image visible on filter 52. This is also true for the red and yellow portions.
  • the filter sections can be chosen so that infrared or ultra-violet wavelengths can be detected. If the first filter has sections that pass only ultra-violet or infrared and the second filter has corresponding sections that pass a particular visible color, the infrared or ultra-violet radiations will be presented by that particular visible color.
  • the wavelength of received light may be transformed in any desired manner by designing the first filter, corresponding to filter 50, to pass wavelengths desired to be altered, passing through a converter such as a photocathode, which changes all wavelengths into an intermediate energy source such as electrons and then pass through a member to convert back into light waves, as with a phosphor member, and then through a second filter which passes only the wavelengths which are desired to be seen.
  • a converter such as a photocathode
  • the movement of the intensifier section may be other than rotative to improve the resolution and uniformity.
  • oscillatory movement may be used.
  • Other multiplier devices than the one illustrated in the preferred embodiment may be used and if the movement as described is imparted to the multiplier device, the advantages of this invention will accrue.
  • Apparatus for multiplying a two dimensional information conveying signal comprised of unit portions cornprising particle multiplying elements
  • said particle multiplying elements arranged in a two dimensional array for receiving and multiplying the two dimensional signal
  • envelope means for enclosing said particle multiplying elements.
  • each of said particle multiplying elements comprising a surface defining a tubular passage
  • each of said passages having its longitudinal dimension substantially greater than its diameter, said surfaces being disposed in closely spaced relationshi said surfaces being disposed in fixed relation to one another,
  • each of said surfaces having resistive and secondary electron emissive properties
  • said plurality of surfaces being adapted for connection at each end of the array to a voltage source to produce an electrical current fiow through said resistive and secondary electron emissive surfaces to produce an electrical field in said tubular passages.
  • An image intensifier device for receiving and intensifying an image comprising,
  • particle amplifying means for amplifying the particles emitted from said emitting means and being positioned to receive the particle emission from said emitting means
  • phosphor means being positioned to receive the amplified particles from said amplifying means
  • said emitting means, amplifying means, and phosphor means each being a composite of elements
  • amplifying means, and phosphor means to move at least one of said emitting means, amplifying means, and phosphor means relative to the received image at a sufficient rate so that different portions of said at least one means intercept and rwpond to a given point of said received image without changing substantially the field of view to improve' resolution and uniformity in the intensified image.
  • An image intensifier device for receiving and intensifying an image comprising light responsive particle emitting means being adapted to receive the image to be intensified,
  • particle amplifying means for amplifying the particles emitted from said emitting means and being positioned to receive the particle emission from said emitting means
  • phosphor means for receiving the amplified particles at its input side and emitting light waves corresponding to said received amplified particles at its output side, said phosphor means heingpositioncd to receive the amplilietl particles from said amplifying means, means coupled to at least one of said emitting means, amplifyingmeans, and phosphor means to move at least one of said/emitting means, amplifying means, and phosphor means relative to the received image at a sufficient rate so that different portions of said at least one means intercept and respond to a given point of said received image without changing sub stantially the field of view to improve resolution and uniformity in the intensified image, envelope means for enclosing said emitting means, am-
  • An image intensifier device for receiving and intensifying an image comprising light responsive particle emitting means being adapted to receive the image to be intensified, particle amplifying means for amplifying the particles emitted from said emitting means and beingpositioned to receive the particle emission from said emitting means, phosphor means being positioned to receive the amplified particles from said amplifying means, means coupled to at least one of said emitting means, amplifying means, and phosphor means to move repetitiously and continuously at least one of said emitting means, amplifying means, and phosphor means relative to the received image at a sufficient rate so that different portions of said at least one means intercept and respond to a given point of said received image without changing substantially the field of view to improve resolution and uniformity in the intensified image, envelope means for enclosing said emitting means, am-
  • An image intensifier device for receiving and inten' sifying an image comprising 1 light responsive particle emitting means being adapted to receive the image to be intensified, particle amplifying means for amplifying the particles emitted from said emitting means and being positioned to receive the particle emission from said emitting means, phosphor means being positioned to receive the amplified particles from said amplifying means, means coupled to at least one of said emitting means, amplifying means, and phosphor means to move rotatively and continuously at least one of said emitting means, a mplifying means and phosphor means relative to the received image at a sufficient rateso that different portions of said at least one means intercept and respond to a given point of said received image without changing substantially the field of view to improve resolution and uniformity in the intensified image,
  • each of said tubes having a continuous resistive secondary emissive coating therein
  • the intensifier of claim 4 with a first: color filter means being placed between the image to be intensified and the light responsive particle emitting means,
  • said first and second color filter means being divided into color zones whereby images may be intensified in color.
  • the intensifier ofclaim 9 with said first and second color filter means having substantially identical color zones and being in rigid relationship to the particle amplifying means.
  • said first color filter means being fused to one of said .walls and said second color filter means being fused to the other of said walls.

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  • Image-Pickup Tubes, Image-Amplification Tubes, And Storage Tubes (AREA)
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US116059A 1961-06-09 1961-06-09 Image intensifier device using electron multiplier Expired - Lifetime US3231746A (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL279475D NL279475A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1961-06-09
US116059A US3231746A (en) 1961-06-09 1961-06-09 Image intensifier device using electron multiplier
GB20629/62A GB978226A (en) 1961-06-09 1962-05-29 Image intensifier device
DEB67566A DE1291840B (de) 1961-06-09 1962-06-06 Elektronenoptischer Bildverstaerker
FR900021A FR1328599A (fr) 1961-06-09 1962-06-07 Procédé pour le renforcement des images et renforçateur d'images conçu pour sa mise en oeuvre

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US116059A US3231746A (en) 1961-06-09 1961-06-09 Image intensifier device using electron multiplier

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3231746A true US3231746A (en) 1966-01-25

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US116059A Expired - Lifetime US3231746A (en) 1961-06-09 1961-06-09 Image intensifier device using electron multiplier

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US (1) US3231746A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1291840B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR1328599A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB978226A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL279475A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3397316A (en) * 1963-10-22 1968-08-13 Aviation Uk Optical frequency-changing devices and materials for use therein
US3619496A (en) * 1969-05-29 1971-11-09 Ocean Metrics Inc Television brightness control system
US3987299A (en) * 1974-05-30 1976-10-19 N.V. Optische Industrie De Oude Delft Method and apparatus for forming color images using an image intensifier tube
US4374325A (en) * 1979-07-11 1983-02-15 English Electric Valve Company Limited Image intensifier arrangement with an in situ formed output filter
US4672457A (en) * 1970-12-28 1987-06-09 Hyatt Gilbert P Scanner system
US4739396A (en) * 1970-12-28 1988-04-19 Hyatt Gilbert P Projection display system
US5162647A (en) * 1991-02-28 1992-11-10 Itt Corporation Color image intensifier device utilizing color input and output filters being offset by a slight phase lag
US5398041A (en) * 1970-12-28 1995-03-14 Hyatt; Gilbert P. Colored liquid crystal display having cooling
US5432526A (en) * 1970-12-28 1995-07-11 Hyatt; Gilbert P. Liquid crystal display having conductive cooling
EP0682451A2 (en) 1994-05-13 1995-11-15 Precision Optics Corporation Viewing scope with image intensification
US5543862A (en) * 1995-01-23 1996-08-06 Calvest Associates, Inc. Video display and image intensifier system
US20040036013A1 (en) * 2002-08-20 2004-02-26 Northrop Grumman Corporation Method and system for generating an image having multiple hues
US20110116253A1 (en) * 2009-11-18 2011-05-19 Takashi Sugiyama Semiconductor light source apparatus and lighting unit
EP1733273A4 (en) * 2004-03-17 2012-04-25 Tenebreax Corp METHOD FOR PROVIDING COLOR IMAGES FROM AN ELECTRIC OPTICAL MONOCHROMIC EQUIPMENT USING TWO OPTICAL CHANNELS AND SYSTEMS, DEVICES AND EQUIPMENT IN RELATION TO THEREOF
US9366397B2 (en) 2013-01-18 2016-06-14 Stanley Electric Co., Ltd. Semiconductor light source apparatus

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2210034A (en) * 1935-11-08 1940-08-06 Emi Ltd Electron multipler
US2374916A (en) * 1940-07-09 1945-05-01 Biedermann Friedrich Apparatus for the reversal of color photographic negatives
US2422937A (en) * 1943-12-03 1947-06-24 Rauland Corp Tube for color television
US2727182A (en) * 1950-11-06 1955-12-13 Hartford Nat Bank & Trust Co Image transformer with electronoptical image projection
US2976447A (en) * 1959-03-12 1961-03-21 Gen Dynamics Corp Image storage apparatus
US3058003A (en) * 1957-04-08 1962-10-09 Hyman A Michlin Flexibly controlled resultant color display sign
US3115807A (en) * 1960-06-17 1963-12-31 Logetronics Inc Electronic masking
US3128408A (en) * 1958-09-02 1964-04-07 Bendix Corp Electron multiplier

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE689001C (de) * 1936-05-15 1940-03-08 Aeg Anordnung zur Verstaerkung der Helligkeit von Leuchtschirmen, insbesondere von Braunschen Roehren
GB819217A (en) * 1956-11-30 1959-09-02 Nat Res Dev Improvements in or relating to photo-electron image multipliers

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2210034A (en) * 1935-11-08 1940-08-06 Emi Ltd Electron multipler
US2374916A (en) * 1940-07-09 1945-05-01 Biedermann Friedrich Apparatus for the reversal of color photographic negatives
US2422937A (en) * 1943-12-03 1947-06-24 Rauland Corp Tube for color television
US2727182A (en) * 1950-11-06 1955-12-13 Hartford Nat Bank & Trust Co Image transformer with electronoptical image projection
US3058003A (en) * 1957-04-08 1962-10-09 Hyman A Michlin Flexibly controlled resultant color display sign
US3128408A (en) * 1958-09-02 1964-04-07 Bendix Corp Electron multiplier
US2976447A (en) * 1959-03-12 1961-03-21 Gen Dynamics Corp Image storage apparatus
US3115807A (en) * 1960-06-17 1963-12-31 Logetronics Inc Electronic masking

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3397316A (en) * 1963-10-22 1968-08-13 Aviation Uk Optical frequency-changing devices and materials for use therein
US3619496A (en) * 1969-05-29 1971-11-09 Ocean Metrics Inc Television brightness control system
US4672457A (en) * 1970-12-28 1987-06-09 Hyatt Gilbert P Scanner system
US4739396A (en) * 1970-12-28 1988-04-19 Hyatt Gilbert P Projection display system
US5398041A (en) * 1970-12-28 1995-03-14 Hyatt; Gilbert P. Colored liquid crystal display having cooling
US5432526A (en) * 1970-12-28 1995-07-11 Hyatt; Gilbert P. Liquid crystal display having conductive cooling
US3987299A (en) * 1974-05-30 1976-10-19 N.V. Optische Industrie De Oude Delft Method and apparatus for forming color images using an image intensifier tube
US4374325A (en) * 1979-07-11 1983-02-15 English Electric Valve Company Limited Image intensifier arrangement with an in situ formed output filter
US5162647A (en) * 1991-02-28 1992-11-10 Itt Corporation Color image intensifier device utilizing color input and output filters being offset by a slight phase lag
US5733246A (en) * 1994-05-13 1998-03-31 Precision Optics Corporation Viewing scope with image intensification
EP0682451A2 (en) 1994-05-13 1995-11-15 Precision Optics Corporation Viewing scope with image intensification
US5543862A (en) * 1995-01-23 1996-08-06 Calvest Associates, Inc. Video display and image intensifier system
US20040036013A1 (en) * 2002-08-20 2004-02-26 Northrop Grumman Corporation Method and system for generating an image having multiple hues
US6861638B2 (en) * 2002-08-20 2005-03-01 Northrop Grumman Corporation Method and system for generating an image having multiple hues
US20050145778A1 (en) * 2002-08-20 2005-07-07 Northrop Grumman Corporation Method and system for generating an image having multiple hues
US7098436B2 (en) 2002-08-20 2006-08-29 Northrop Grumman Corporation Method and system for generating an image having multiple hues
EP1733273A4 (en) * 2004-03-17 2012-04-25 Tenebreax Corp METHOD FOR PROVIDING COLOR IMAGES FROM AN ELECTRIC OPTICAL MONOCHROMIC EQUIPMENT USING TWO OPTICAL CHANNELS AND SYSTEMS, DEVICES AND EQUIPMENT IN RELATION TO THEREOF
US20110116253A1 (en) * 2009-11-18 2011-05-19 Takashi Sugiyama Semiconductor light source apparatus and lighting unit
US8684560B2 (en) * 2009-11-18 2014-04-01 Stanley Electric Co., Ltd. Semiconductor light source apparatus and lighting unit
US9366397B2 (en) 2013-01-18 2016-06-14 Stanley Electric Co., Ltd. Semiconductor light source apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB978226A (en) 1964-12-16
DE1291840B (de) 1969-04-03
FR1328599A (fr) 1963-05-31
NL279475A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

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