Image intensifying device

An image intensifying device comprising:

• a. a microchannel plate having an input window for receiving an image of a scene, the microchannel plate comprising at least one of a substrate, an emissive film, and a resistive film that suppresses the generation of ions;
• b. a photocathode that is positioned adjacent to the input window of the microchannel plate and separated by a vacuum gap, the photocathode generating photoelectrons in response to the received image of the scene, the microchannel plate generating secondary electrons in response to the generated photoelectrons;
• and
• c. an electron detector that receives the secondary electrons generated by the microchannel plate and that generates an intensified image of the scene.

An image intensifying device comprising:

• a. a photocathode that is formed directly on a cathode window, the photocathode generating photoelectrons in response to an image of a scene,
• b. a microchannel plate having an input surface for receiving photoelectrons generated by the photocathode and being positioned adjacent to the photocathode and spaced from the photocathode by a vacuum gap, the microchannel plate comprising at least one of a substrate, an emissive film, and a resistive film that suppresses the generation of ions, the microchannel plate generating secondary electrons in response to the generated photoelectrons;
• and
• c. an electron detector that receives the secondary electrons generated by the microchannel plate and that generates an intensified image of the scene.