US 12,224,148 B2 · Electronically addressable display incorporated into a transmission mode secondary electron image intensifier

Abstract

A night vision system along with an image intensifier tube and method for forming the tube are provided. The night vision system incorporates the image intensifier tube in both an analog channel as well as a digital channel, with an addressable display within the analog image intensifier tube analog channel configured to create an electronically addressable output. An analog image intensifier tube is included in the digital imager for presenting binary digital signals representative of an image, or of symbol indicia, and registering those digital representation from the digital imager onto one or more electron multipliers of the analog image intensifier tube within the analog channel. The provided night vision system also utilizes a cathodoluminescent screen, which is a highly efficient light source that reduces system power.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A night vision system, comprising:

an analog image intensifier tube;
an addressable display within the analog image intensifier tube configured to create an electronically addressable output;
a digital imager configured to receive an optical image and produce a plurality of digital electrical signals corresponding to the optical image;
and
a controller configured to produce a symbol digital electrical input onto the plurality of digital electrical signals;
wherein the analog image intensifier tube is configured to receive the optical image and to produce multiplied electrons from the addressable display comprising an electron multiplier within the analog image intensifier tube, and to also produce electrons from electron emitters on the electron multiplier that are addressed on a pixel-by-pixel basis by the plurality of digital electrical signals.

3 more elements

An image intensifier tube, comprising:

a photocathode secured in a vacuum sealed housing;
a primary electron multiplier spaced from the photocathode within the vacuum sealed housing, wherein the primary electron multiplier comprises a backside surface facing away from the photocathode and containing a first plurality of spaced electron emitters dielectrically spaced from respective first plurality of doped regions;
a secondary electron multiplier spaced from the primary electron multiplier within the vacuum sealed housing, wherein the secondary electron multiplier comprises a backside surface facing away from the primary electron multiplier and containing a second plurality of spaced electron emitters dielectrically spaced from respective second plurality of doped regions;
and
a sensor anode secured in the vacuum housing.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electronically addressable display incorporated into a transmission mode secondary electron image intensifier

Life of this patent

Electronically addressable display incorporated into a transmission mode secondary electron image intensifier

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13