Optical imaging system utilizing a charge amplification device
US5602397A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 1, 1995 |
| Grant date | Feb 11, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 1, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J47/02
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An optical imaging system includes an array of optical imaging devices each comprising a device for providing charge amplification in a gaseous medium. A preferred embodiment of such a charge amplification device includes a substrate having a cavity defined therein, an anode surface positioned in the bottom of the cavity and a cathode positioned adjacent the cavity opening. A drift electrode is juxtaposed over the substrate opposite the cavity and defines a region containing a gaseous medium. As ionized charge pairs are established in the gaseous medium due to radiation provided by an external radiation source, electrons are attracted toward the anode where they undergo avalanche multiplication with the gaseous medium under the influence of an intense electric field established between the anode and cathode. As a result of the avalanche process, the gaseous medium within the avalanche region emits photons, predominately in the UV region, which are collected by the substrate and provided to a photon detector coupled thereto. The substrate is preferably provided with a wavelength shifting material operable to shift the UV light to the visible region, where it is thereafter imaged by …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.