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US 4,603,250 AGranted
Image intensifier with time programmed variable gain
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorsDaniel A. Contini, Terry E. Carsten, Robert J. Basta
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Abstract
A programmable optical sensor is formed by coupling a proximity focused channel intensifier tube to a silicon target vidicon. The photocathode is gated by a first time programmed voltage and the gain of the microchannel plate is also controlled by a second time programmed voltage. The second voltage is less than 1,000 volts permitting the use of solid state circuitry.
Claims5
A programmable optical sensor comprising:
- a proximity focused channel intensifer tube;
- and
- a silicon target vidicon optically coupled to said proximity focused channel intensifer tube but electrically isolated therefrom, said proximity focused channel intensifer tube including an image receiving photocathode, and adjacent microchannel plate having first and second electrodes on opposite sides thereof, and a phosphor screen;
- a first source of direct voltage applying a time programmed variable gating voltage to said photocathode;
- a second source of direct voltage applying a time programmed variable voltage across said opposite electrodes of said michrochannel plate and being independent of and programmed separately from said first source;
- a third source of direct voltage applying a fixed voltage to said phosphor screen;
- optical coupling means between said channel intensifer tube and silcicon target vidicon including a first fiber optic stage in said proximity focused channel intensifer tube adjacent said phosphor screen, and a second fiber optic stage in said silicon target vidicon adjacent said first fiber optic stage.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.