Multiple section photomultiplier tube
AssigneeBurle Technologies, Inc.
InventorFred A. Helvy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multiple section photomultiplier tube constructed as a matrix of several independent tubes in one envelope. The photocathode to dynode spacings are isolated by a separator configuration built with walls which interlock in cooperating slots, and each photocathode operates with its own independent dynode cage. One dynode in each cage is maintained electrically independent, and its connection is brought out of the envelope independently. This permits independent adjustment of the gain for each of the tube's multiple sections, so they can be adjusted to the same response for a standard radiation signal. The entire tube can then be used to monitor a large area for radiation, and will yield the same response over its entire cathode area.
Claims6
A photomultiplier tube constructed within a single vacuum envelope comprising:
- at least two sections, each section including a photocathode, an anode which is independent of the anodes in each other section, and an electron multiplier, with each section capable of furnishing an electrical signal from its anode and the anode signal being related to the radiation affecting that section's photocathode;
- with each section's electron multiplier comprising at least two dynodes, and each section's electron multiplier including at least one dynode which is electrically isolated from the similarly oriented dynodes of all the other sections, and with each such electrically isolated dynode connected to an independent connector pin which penetrates the vacuum envelope of the photomultiplier tube;
- and
- each section's other dynodes, which are not electrically isolated dynodes, being electrically interconnected to the similarly oriented dynodes of other electron multipliers within the tube, with each such group of interconnected dynodes connected to at least one connector pin which penetrates the vacuum envelope of the photomultiplier tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.