Vented header assembly of an image intensifier device
AssigneeITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
InventorsWilliam Eric Garris, Benjamin Ryan Brown, David Anthony Richards
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An image intensifier device and a method of fabricating the image intensifier device are disclosed. The image intensifier device includes a microchannel plate (MCP) having a thin-film applied to a surface thereof. An anode assembly comprising an image sensor mounted to a header is positioned adjacent the MCP. A spacer defining a mounting surface is positioned against a mounting surface of the header of the anode assembly for separating the MCP from the anode assembly. A recess is defined in either the header or the spacer at the interface between the header and the spacer. The recess forms a passageway defined between the spacer and the header thru which organic gases pass.
Claims20
An image intensifier device comprising:
- a microchannel plate (MCP) having a thin-film applied to a surface thereof;
- an anode assembly comprising an image sensor mounted to a header and being positioned adjacent the MCP;
- a spacer defining a mounting surface that is positioned against a mounting surface of the header of the anode assembly for separating the MCP from the anode assembly;
- and
- a recess defined in either the header or the spacer at the interface between the header and the spacer, wherein the recess forms a passageway defined between the spacer and the header thru which organic gases pass.
An image intensifier device comprising:
- an evacuated housing;
- a microchannel plate (MCP) positioned within the housing and having a thin-film applied to a surface thereof;
- an anode assembly comprising an image sensor mounted to a header and being positioned adjacent the MCP;
- a spacer defining a mounting surface that is positioned against a mounting surface of the header of the anode assembly for separating the MCP from the anode assembly;
- at least one recess defined in the header of the anode assembly, said recess extending at a pre-determined angle with respect to said mounting surfaces of the header, wherein the recess forms an open passageway extending between the spacer and the header of the anode assembly thru which organic gases pass;
- and
- getter material deposited on a surface of said recess for absorbing organic gases to maintain a vacuum condition within the evacuated housing.
A method of fabricating an image intensifier device comprising the steps of:
- mounting an image sensor on a header of an anode assembly;
- positioning a mounting surface of a spacer to face a mounting surface of the header of the anode assembly such that a passageway is defined at the interface between the spacer and the header;
- positioning a filmed MCP on another surface of the spacer such that the spacer is positioned between the filmed MCP and the image sensor and a space is defined between the filmed MCP and the image sensor;
- and
- applying a vacuum to draw organic gasses from the space between the filmed MCP and the image sensor and through the passageway defined at the interface between the spacer and the header.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.