Header assembly for an intensified charge coupled image sensor

In an intensified charge-coupled image sensor having a longitudinally extending optical axis, said image sensor comprising

• an image intensifier section including an envelope having therein a photoemissive cathode for emitting photoelectrons in a pattern corresponding to the intensity of radiation incident thereon, and
• a header assembly including a charge-coupled device for receiving the photoelectrons from said cathode, an insulative header for retaining said charge-coupled device, a header input member attached between said insulative header and said image intensifier section, and closure means for closing the output end of said header assembly, wherein the improvement comprises
• said insulative header including a plurality of substantially rectangular insulative members joined together in layers to form a hermetic, dimensionally stable, thermally inert structure, said header having a first major surface, an oppositely disposed second major surface, an imaging aperture formed in the insulative header and having a sidewall, the imaging aperture being disposed about the optical axis of the image sensor and being smaller than the charge-coupled device, the first major surface of the header and the sidewall bordering the imaging aperture having a first conductive layer thereon, the second major surface having a second conductive layer thereon, the first and second conductive layers being insulated from each other, the header including an electrode surface having a plurality of discrete electrode pads thereon, the electrode pads being disposed between two of the insulative members, the electrode pads extending outwardly from the periphery of the imaging aperture, half of the pads being located at spaced intervals along one long side of the header and the other half of the outwardly extending contact pads being located at spaced intervals along the other long side of the header, each of the contact pads being connected at its outward end to a different electrical lead, the electrical leads being arranged in oppositely disposed rows and lying in a plane that is transverse to the optical axis of the image sensor,
• said header input member having a substantially rectangular portion attached to the first conductive layer on the first major surface of the header and an annular portion attached to the image intensifier section of the image sensor, and
• the closure means including a header output member having a substantially rectangular portion attached to second conductive layer on the second major surface of the header and an annular portion attached to an end closure cap.