Patent · US Expired

Image intensifier tube having a solid state electron amplifier

US5349177A · kind A · utility

11Cited by
6References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 22, 1993
Grant dateSep 20, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 22, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J31/50
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An image intensifier tube that utilizes a photoresponsive layer for producing electrons in response to received radiation, a solid state electron amplifier for multiplying the electrons produced by the photoresponsive layer, a cold cathode for emitting electrons into vacuum, and a phosphor screen for converting impinging electrons into a visible image. The solid state electron amplifier is formed as a semiconductive layer interposed in between a photoresponse layer and a negative electron affinity layer on the photocathode. The solid state electron amplifier receives the electrons produced by the photoresponsive layer, multiplies the electrons and directs the electrons to the negative electron affinity layer. The negative electron affinity layer then directs the electrons through a vacuum to the phosphor screen producing a viewed image.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.