Proximity Focus Type Patents (Class 313/526)
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Patent number: 6437339Abstract: A flat panel x-ray imager includes a gain layer (charge multiplication layer) that facilitates imaging at low x-ray exposure levels. The gain layer can be a gas chamber or a solid state material operating in an avalanche mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2001Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: Hologic, Inc.Inventors: Denny L. Y. Lee, Lawrence K. F. Cheung, Andrew P. Smith
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Patent number: 6275270Abstract: A video display system utilizing a video source and an image intensifier having a substrate. A video image source positions at the substrate to provide a photon signal. A photocathode element at the substrate converts the photon signal into electrons. An optically transparent body having first and second surfaces is placed opposite the substrate spaced therefrom. A vacuum chamber is formed between the substrate and the first surface of the second optically transparent body. A fluorescing layer is positioned on said first surface of the second optically transparent body. A source of electrical power provides a voltage potential between the photocathode layer and said fluorescing layer. The intensified video image exits the second surface of the second optically transparent body for viewing.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 1996Date of Patent: August 14, 2001Assignee: Calvest Associates, Inc.Inventor: Joseph Bradley Culkin
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Patent number: 6242268Abstract: Homogeneous assays for determining quantitatively the extent of a specific binding reaction can be carried out effectively on very dilute solutions using measurements of fluorescence if a fluorescence measurement scheme that is capable of rejecting short-lived background fluorescence is employed and if the fluorescent group being measured has the following properties: a. the group being measured must be a rare earth metal chelate complex combination; b. the chelate must be water-soluble; c. the complex combination must also be stable in extremely dilute aqueous solutions, that is, the measured chelate must have at least one ligand having a metal-to-ligand binding constant of at least about 1013M−1 or greater and it must have a fluorescent emission that is long-lived compared to the longest decay lifetime of ambient substances and have a half life of from 0.01 to 50 msec.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 1998Date of Patent: June 5, 2001Assignee: EG&G WallacInventors: Irwin Wieder, Ron L. Hale
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Patent number: 5756989Abstract: Color night vision goggles (NVG), e.g., binocular-style or monocular-style NVG, which include at least one channel. Each channel includes an objective lens for receiving input radiant energy from a low-luminance scene within the field-of-view of the NVG, an input tunable electro-optical filter positioned in front of the objective lens, an image intensifier device for amplifying input radiant energy transmitted by the input electro-optical filter and the objective lens, and for generating output radiant energy which constitutes an amplified image of the low-luminance scene, an eyepiece lens, an output tunable electro-optical filter disposed between the image intensifier device and the eyepiece lens, and a control circuit for generating a control signal having a prescribed frequency. The input and output electro-optical filters sequentially and synchronously transmit successive ones of a plurality of different spectral bands (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1996Date of Patent: May 26, 1998Assignee: McDonnell Douglas CorporationInventors: Philip D. Bear, Larry C. Walrath
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Patent number: 5742115Abstract: A color image intensifier device includes an evacuated envelope with an input window for receiving incident light from the environment. A photocathode is deposited upon the interior surface of the envelope of the input window for converting the incident light into a photoelectron signal. A phosphor layer, emitting several wavelengths approximating white light when struck by and amplified by an intensified photoelectron signal, is deposited upon an interior surface of the envelope proximate an output window to convert the amplified signal into a visible light output image projected from the intensifier.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 1996Date of Patent: April 21, 1998Assignee: Orlil Ltd.Inventor: Michael Gertsenshteyn
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Patent number: 5623141Abstract: A new type x-ray image intensifier has a specially developed x-ray sensit photocathode which has a low/high density alkali halogenide structure and therefore has high conversion efficiency of converting x-ray directly into photoelectrons or a field-assisted x-ray photocathode which has an extracting field and therefore is able to provide a high conversion efficiency of x-ray to photoelectron and high spatial resolution, even high time resolution. The new type x-ray image intensifier consists of the x-ray photocathode, a MCP and a phosphor screen, forming a proximity focus type photoelectric imaging device.A new portable x-ray diagnosis unit has the new type x-ray image intensifier and a new type compact x-ray source that has a very small volume, 30-90 kv acceleration voltage and a cone protective cover at the outlet of x-ray.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1994Date of Patent: April 22, 1997Assignee: Xian Institute of Optics & Precision Mechanics, Academia SinicaInventors: Xun Hou, Xiuqin Liu, Kezhou Ding
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Patent number: 5563653Abstract: A microchannel plate for an image intensifier tube, the microchannel plate comprising a substrate having an input surface and an output surface and a plurality of channels extending therebetween, each of the channels defining a channel wall, wherein the microchannel plate operates as an electron multiplier, whereby each of the channel walls emits a cascade of electrons in response to an electron entering a respective one of the channels, and a focusing element formed on an output of at least one of the channels for preventing spatial dispersion of the cascade of electrons exiting the output thereof.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 1995Date of Patent: October 8, 1996Assignee: ITT CorporationInventor: Richard F. Floryan
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Patent number: 5466924Abstract: A proximity-type image intensifier tube has an entrance screen which includes a photocathode which is substantially insensitive to light of wavelengths above 500 nm, and an exit screen having a phosphor layer having a substantial emissivity of notably red light having a wavelength of at least 550 nm. Consequently, optical radiation produced by the exit screen does not produce disturbing feedback radiation from the photocathode. This avoids the need for a reflecting metallic layer on the phosphor layer, as has heretofore been required in order to prevent feedback radiation.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 1994Date of Patent: November 14, 1995Assignee: U.S. Philips CorporationInventor: Gerardus Van Aller
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Patent number: 5381000Abstract: An image intensifier 18 is comprised of an evacuated chamber, an input surface 16 having a florescent material thereon for converting incident radiation into a visible light representative of the incident radiation, a photocathode layer 20 disposed closely adjacent the input surface for emitting a cloud of free electrons 22 into the evacuated chamber in proportion to the intensity of visible light at each point thereon, and an output surface 26 having a scintillating material thereon for converting electrons impinging thereon into a relatively bright light image proportional to the electron energy at each point on the output surface said light image having a first aspect ratio. An electrical potential 24 accelerates the free electrons from the photo-cathode to the output surface. A fiber optic bundle 28 comprised of an input face, positioned outside the chamber to view the bright light image at the output surface, and an output face 34 is provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 1993Date of Patent: January 10, 1995Assignee: Picker International, Inc.Inventor: William J. McKee, Jr.
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Patent number: 5368513Abstract: A method is described for manufacturing a correction mask for an image intensifier tube of the proximity-focus type having an oblong cathode and anode. Such image intensifiers tend to have a non-uniform light output at the anode in response to a uniform input image at the cathode. A measurement is made of the light output distribution along at least one line at the anode under uniform illumination of the cathode, which measurement is used to manufacture a transparency for attachment on the output window of the image intensifier tube. The transparency is provided with a light absorbing line, which line absorbs more light at those positions along the length of the output window where the light output was higher. The absorbence of the light absorbing line is made proportional to the difference between the actual light output and required value light output, whereby the light output of the image intensifier tube is equalized to a required level.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 1993Date of Patent: November 29, 1994Assignee: BV Optische Industrie "de Oude Delft"Inventor: Netty E. Vlasbloem-van den Boezem
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Patent number: 5365056Abstract: The invention is directed to an x-ray image intensifier having an evacuated housing, an input luminescent screen, electron optics, and an image sensor applied inside the housing at that side thereof lying opposite the input luminescent screen. The side of the image sensor facing toward the input luminescent screen is provided with a layer system that includes at least one semiconductor layer that effects an electron conversion of the incident electrons by ionization with charge carrier multiplication and is composed of amorphous semiconductor material.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1993Date of Patent: November 15, 1994Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Hartmut Sklebitz, Detlef Mattern, Martin Hoheisel
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Patent number: 5233183Abstract: An image intensifier device for producing a color output image includes in a proximity focused intensifier tube, an RGB color filter matrix screen printed upon a glass wafer which is laminated to the input faceplate of the tube and sandwiched between the faceplate and the photocathode. The RGB matrix filters incident light into RGB components which are amplified by the tube. The output image is colorized in a first embodiment by passing white light fluorescing from a phosphor layer through an RGB output filter matrix which is functionally aligned in an operating tube with the input matrix. In a second embodiment, a UV emanating phosphor layer excites an RGB matrix of secondary phosphors. In a third embodiment, IR filters are included in the RGB input matrix and a narrow band output filter is assigned to represent IR information in the RGB output matrix. In a fourth embodiment a plurality of RGB phosphors replace the phosphor layer of the previous embodiments and directly fluoresce color information.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 1991Date of Patent: August 3, 1993Assignee: ITT CorporationInventor: Robert J. Field
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Patent number: 5095202Abstract: A proximity image intensifier for use in a light amplifier in a high-sensitivity hand-held camera for broadcasting service or the like, which includes a photocathode for photoelectrically converting an optical image, a phosphor screen for receiving photoelectrons from the photocathode and producing an intensified optical image, and a high-voltage power supply for applying a high voltage across the photocathode and the phosphor screen. For protecting the phosphor screen from burnout due to a spot of incident light, a resistor is interposed in a power supply path at a position immediately before at least one of the photocathode and the phosphor screen to reduce an electrostatic capacitance between the photocathode and the phosphor screen.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1991Date of Patent: March 10, 1992Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.Inventors: Yasushi Watase, Toshio Ikuma
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Patent number: 5045682Abstract: An X-ray image intensifier includes an input screen for converting incident X-ray into photoelectrons. The input screen has a substrate, a phosphor layer having a layer number of columnar crystals of a phosphor formed with gaps therebetween on the substrate, and a photoelectric layer directly or indirectly provided on the phosphor layer. The columnar crystals at a peripheral edge portion of the input screen are thinner than the columnar crystals at a central portion of the input screen.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 1990Date of Patent: September 3, 1991Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Katsuhiro Ono, Hidero Anno
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Patent number: 5023511Abstract: An image intensifier tube having a photocathode, a microchannel plate and an anode. The anode includes a lens element with a phosphor screen deposited thereon as an output window. The lens element may take the form of either a plano-convex or plano-concave element and has either a spheric or aspheric curved surface. In a modified version a plano glass element is affixed to the plano surface of the lens element. Methods of forming the tube with the lens element are at the time the finished tube is assembled in the intensifier device or at the time the tube is constructed.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1990Date of Patent: June 11, 1991Assignee: ITT CorporationInventor: Earle N. Phillips
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Patent number: 4961026Abstract: In an image intensifier comprising an evacuated vessel with a first disk which forms an input window and on whose inner surface a photocathode is disposed, and with a second disk which forms an output window and on whose inner surface a fluorescent screen is disposed. The spacing between the first and second disks is small in relation to the diameter of the image intensifier. The input and output windows are plane-parallel, and a spacer ring is disposed between the first and second disks whose inside diameter increases from the area of the first disk in the direction of the second disk. The spacer ring is spaced at its inside diameter as close as possible to the first disk.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 1989Date of Patent: October 2, 1990Assignee: Proxitronic Funk GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Hans W. Funk, Kurt Frank, Bernd Engel
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Patent number: 4940919Abstract: A proximity type image intensifier having an evacuated electrically conductive tube envelope is described. The image intensifier tube includes improved structure for supporting components within the tube envelope. The support structure includes a support ring having a first inwardly extending edge portion which defines a support surface for supporting the component, and a second inwardly extending edge portion which defines a compression surface and component access aperture. The retaining ring includes a planar inner surface and an outer edge surface. The inner surface contacts the component supported in the support ring. The retaining ring is allowed to expand whereupon the outer edge surface engages the support ring compression surface. Radial expansion of the retaining ring creates an axial compression force between the retaining ring inner surface and the support surface about the circumference of the component being supported.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 1989Date of Patent: July 10, 1990Assignee: Picker International, Inc.Inventors: Richard S. Enck, Jr., Gregg A. Hindenes, Ian K. Glasgow
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Patent number: 4929867Abstract: Shown is an integral two-stage vacuum tube with means for efficient optical coupling of the light from an output screen of the first stage into the photocathode of the second stage.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 1988Date of Patent: May 29, 1990Assignee: Varian Associates, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth A. Costello, Hugh F. MacMillan
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Patent number: 4871943Abstract: A method of manufacturing a photomultiplier tube (10) comprising a tube body (20), a photocathode (30) and an electron multiplier element (40) destined to be placed at a small distance from the photocathode (30). According to the invention the tube (10) is provided with sliding means (50) of the electron multiplier (40) parallel to the axis (22) of the tube body (20), means (50) provided with abutments (53) situated in the proximity of the said window (31).Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 1988Date of Patent: October 3, 1989Assignee: U.S. Philips Corp.Inventor: Gilbert Eschard
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Patent number: 4861977Abstract: The housing of an elongated proximity-focus image intensifier comprises at least two elongated parts. The parts have in cross-section such dimensions and such a configuration that the housing is self-supporting. An exemplary embodiment of such a housing which is essentially rectangular in cross-section has a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls, all having an essentially rectangular cross-section. In the case of at least two pairs of adjacent walls the edge in the longitudinal direction of the surface, facing the interior of the housing, of a first of the pair of walls is provided with profiling in the form of a recessed section in which the longitudinal edge of the adjacent tube wall is received.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 1988Date of Patent: August 29, 1989Assignee: B.V. Optische Industrie `De Oude Delft`Inventor: Marcel R. de la Fonteijne
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Patent number: 4855586Abstract: An X-ray detector tube comprising an essentially rectangular, elongate housing (1) having a forward wall, a rear wall and sidewalls, which tube has an elongate proximity focus image intensifier mounted therein and which housing has a vacuum established therein, in which the rear wall (5) of the tube exhibits a considerably higher resistance to deformation than the sidewalls.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1986Date of Patent: August 8, 1989Assignee: B.V. Optische Industrie "De Oude Delft"Inventor: Johannes J. Houtkamp
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Patent number: 4755718Abstract: New fiber optic elements and a new microchannel plate for proximity focus image intensifier tubes and a method for making them are provided. Higher resolution is provided at the center of the field of view by the use of graded fiber and channel sizes and by the use of convex and concave surfaces in proximity focus.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 1986Date of Patent: July 5, 1988Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventor: E. Vincent Patrick
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Patent number: 4724357Abstract: An image intensifier tube and a method of making same are disclosed wherein veiling glare caused by the amplification of off axis light is reduced. Included is a non-reflective, near infrared light absorbing first layer formed on the face plate of the tube adjacent any surface at which off-axis light could otherwise be reflected to the photoemissive device associated with the face plate and an electronically conductive second layer formed on top of the first layer. Such coatings are preferably formed by sputter deposition.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 1986Date of Patent: February 9, 1988Assignee: ITT Electro Optical Products a Division of ITT CorporationInventor: Monte J. Drinkwine
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Patent number: 4684846Abstract: The invention relates to luminescent screen comprising an optical fibre plate formed by the reunion of elementary optical fibres constituted by bars of core glass (10) enveloped by a cladding glass (12), the optical fibre plate being provided with cavities obtained after having hollowed out partially the core glass. The bottom of the cavities is covered by a deposit of a restoring material (30) which is transparent to the luminous flux, improving the surface state and the flatness of the bottom of the cavities and tending to minimize the break (32) at the intersection between the bottom and the wall of each cavity. The restoring material preferably has an optical index near that of the core glass in order to ensure the optical continuity. Said screen of high resolution and high luminous efficiency is used in display tubes such as night-vision tubes, X-ray converter tubes, slid scanning tubes, cathode ray tubes used in oscilloscopy or in television.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 1985Date of Patent: August 4, 1987Assignee: U.S. Philips CorporationInventors: Valere Duchenois, Michele Fouassier, Hugues Baudry